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Gypsy: A Memoir
The dazzling, no-holds-barred memoir that inspired a Broadway legend—Gypsy is a true American original, told by the woman who lived it with wit, grit, and a rhinestoned wink.
Before there was Mama Rose or Let Me Entertain You, there was Gypsy Rose Lee—a whip-smart, fearless, and gloriously complicated woman whose life on the road with her unstoppable stage mother and spotlight-stealing little sister became the stuff of showbiz legend.
Now back in the spotlight thanks to the acclaimed Broadway revival starring Audra McDonald, Gypsy is Lee’s funny, subversive, and poignant memoir of growing up in the ragtag world of 1920s vaudeville and emerging, against the odds, as a singular star of 1930s burlesque.
Told in her unmistakable voice—wry, stylish, and heartbreakingly observant—Gypsy reveals a vanished world of stage mothers, train-jumping troupes, and smoke-filled nightclubs, where gin was homemade and ambition was everything. Alongside rare photos and memorabilia from her own scrapbooks and an afterword by her son Erik Lee Preminger, this unforgettable memoir captures the real woman behind the myth: sharp, resilient, and always in command of her story.
Before there was Mama Rose or Let Me Entertain You, there was Gypsy Rose Lee—a whip-smart, fearless, and gloriously complicated woman whose life on the road with her unstoppable stage mother and spotlight-stealing little sister became the stuff of showbiz legend.
Now back in the spotlight thanks to the acclaimed Broadway revival starring Audra McDonald, Gypsy is Lee’s funny, subversive, and poignant memoir of growing up in the ragtag world of 1920s vaudeville and emerging, against the odds, as a singular star of 1930s burlesque.
Told in her unmistakable voice—wry, stylish, and heartbreakingly observant—Gypsy reveals a vanished world of stage mothers, train-jumping troupes, and smoke-filled nightclubs, where gin was homemade and ambition was everything. Alongside rare photos and memorabilia from her own scrapbooks and an afterword by her son Erik Lee Preminger, this unforgettable memoir captures the real woman behind the myth: sharp, resilient, and always in command of her story.
408 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
November 4, 2021
I'm not even going to try to give this an unbiased review: Gypsy , particularly the 1993 movie, is one of my favorite musicals and Mama Rose is one of my dream roles. Listening to the song "All I Need is the Girl" helped me through the worst week of my life because the music gave me sheer joy. That being said, considering that Louise Hovick had the bare minimum of an education, this book is very well-written. While it's not paced the best (which I get is a weird thing to say about a memoir, but not every life event is weighted equally) and the first act in particular felt like a lot of anecdotes strung together, Louise's writing is surprisingly good--and, if I may add, anywhere from outright to darkly comedic at times. I can definitely see why her personality lended so much to her popularity in burlesque; the scene where Murphy says she doesn't want to go back to Chicago because the people there know she's a lesbian and Mama Rose thinks "lesbian" is a niche religious group almost had me in tears. But it's also very heartwrenching at times, like when Louise's pet monkey accidentally strangled to death or whenever the troupe members all inevitably left. It was also fascinating to see the changes made between the book and the show, such as Herbie being a mix of a lot of various agents, but a lot of stuff was the same, just streamlined a little.
Also, and I think this was specific to the library edition I had, a lot of the captions on the photographs included got cut off by the way they were put into the book.
Also, and I think this was specific to the library edition I had, a lot of the captions on the photographs included got cut off by the way they were put into the book.
March 20, 2011
Arthur Laurents once said Gypsy Rose Lee was "allergic to the truth", and while that might be true, this was still a fascinating book. I knew next to nothing about Gypsy Rose Lee - only what was shown in the musical version of this very book, but it got me interested enough to go out of my way to find this book and read it. And it was well worth the inconvenience. Even if the stories are slightly fudged, I get the impression that there is a great deal of truth in the book, and it is indeed a book worth reading. Gypsy was a very intelligent lady, and that intelligence shines through in her memoirs. Her tales of being a child in vaudeville and later her transition into the burlesque entertainer/strip-tease queen that we know her as today are engrossing, as is, of course, Madame Rose - the ultimate stage mother. If you get the chance I would definitely suggest picking up this book.
February 22, 2007
Who knew that the most famous stripper of all time, Gypsy Rose Lee, wrote an autobiography? Well, she did. This is what the musical "Gypsy" was based on. If you like the musical, you will adore the book. It's full of hilarious stories about Gypsy's eccentric mother and goes much farther than the musical into Gypsy's life after she makes it as a stripper. There's also a great collection of photographs. Gypsy's writing style is fun and easy to read--she's at her best writing humor.
November 8, 2018
I am completely blown away by Gypsy Rose Lee's writing ability... She wrote this book herself. It wasn't ghostwritten, and it's phenomenal. If she was as magical onstage as her writing was then I understand why she's famous. I was not expecting to be so blown away by this memoir. If you're interested in her life READ IT. It's so excellent.
January 22, 2016
The book is wonderful!
And she is/was one of us - a Geek. When she was a kid she would read 'Weird Tales' magazine.
She also had a wonderful way of looking at things, one in particular I adore:
'You don't need to be religious to believe in God, just observant
If you have seen the movies you will love the book.
And she is/was one of us - a Geek. When she was a kid she would read 'Weird Tales' magazine.
She also had a wonderful way of looking at things, one in particular I adore:
'You don't need to be religious to believe in God, just observant
If you have seen the movies you will love the book.
September 4, 2022
When my husband and I were watching the musical the other day, he told me the story was based on a real performer’s memoir. The movie was just so over-the-top, I was eager to find out what was real and what was given the Hollywood shine. Surprisingly, I felt there were even more insane stories that didn’t make it into the book!
That being said, it was still kind of difficult for me finish. It was a bit tedious at times, and I wish there was more about her life after she became famous. I also wish there were more dates to put her experience in context, as well as more of her internal thoughts/opinions. Did she like her mother? Did she like show business? Where did her son come from? So many questions!
But all in all, fairly entertaining and I’m glad I read it. Gypsy Rose Lee lead and extraordinary life, indeed!
That being said, it was still kind of difficult for me finish. It was a bit tedious at times, and I wish there was more about her life after she became famous. I also wish there were more dates to put her experience in context, as well as more of her internal thoughts/opinions. Did she like her mother? Did she like show business? Where did her son come from? So many questions!
But all in all, fairly entertaining and I’m glad I read it. Gypsy Rose Lee lead and extraordinary life, indeed!
July 30, 2010
When I was lucky enough to play the role of "Louise" (aka Gypsy Rose Lee) in "Gypsy", I found and read her autobiography - self written, it was an amazing view into an unusual, dysfunctional family (a mother and two daughters) and into the life of a strong, intelligent woman who made a permanent mark in show business. I loved every word and felt like I knew her personally when I was done, for someone who loves performing, it is a must read!
March 20, 2010
Gypsy is my all-time favorite musical, so I really enjoyed this book and learned more about Gypsy and her strong-willed mother. Although I am learned that the musical didn't follow her life exactly in a lot of ways, this book is far from disappointing to me. Anyone who enjoys celeb biogs will really enjoy this one.
January 24, 2025
This 1957 memoir follows the early life of Ellen June Hovick aka Rose Louise Hovick, alias Gypsy Rose Lee, who became a legend in her lifetime.
The author was older sister of later Hollywood actress June Havoc. The pair began in Vaudeville as toddlers, managed under the tutelage of their mother. Baby June was the cute headliner with gawky Rose in the lineup, the latter often in boys' clothes or a pantomime cow's rear end. When the maturing June deserted the act, Rose stepped out of the cow's behind and into the spotlight, becoming Gypsy. She became an icon of big-time burlesque, as vaudeville outran its course and the options narrowed – she had to do something, with mouths to feed and a mother who had kept her from any schooling. Showbiz was all Rose had ever known when she made this fatalistic transition.
She was a self-made lady, a raconteur, an entertainer of the highest order. Of the many (purportedly self-generated) myths about this original queen of reinvention, the greatest was that generated by the mists of time – that she was just a stripper. No such thing, she instead tastefully removed and discarded the odd glove, stocking or feather, shifting emphasis onto the 'tease' in striptease.
Also an actress, author, playwright and radio talk host, Gypsy turned her talents in many directions. She was a formidable intellect, admired collector of rare objets d'art and antiques, widely read, conversant on a glorious array of cultural topics and one of the best dressed women in the public eye. A renowned philanthropist, she gave generously to and supported a vast range of worthy causes.
Herein lies the inspiration behind Sondheim's blockbuster stage and screen musical Gypsy, considered by many the greatest American musical ever. Adaptations famously showcased a gorgeous young Natalie Wood in the 1962 movie's title role. As Gypsy's archetypal overbearing stage mother, Mama Rose, starred the wondrous Rosalind Russell, scoring the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. Russell's role, earlier created onstage by 'brass diva' Ethel Merman, who won the 1959 Tony Award, became one of theatre's most coveted. Stage revivals have seen subsequent 'Mamas' Angela Lansbury, Patti Lapone and Bernadette Peters reap award after award.
This is a gorgeously written, marvellously entertaining read from a woman with a heart of gold and the sheer, glittering class of showbiz royalty. I adored reading her anecdotes in this delicious memoir, never wanting to put it down and making excuses for early nights with her.
Someone threw away the mold when this fabulous lady was made.
The author was older sister of later Hollywood actress June Havoc. The pair began in Vaudeville as toddlers, managed under the tutelage of their mother. Baby June was the cute headliner with gawky Rose in the lineup, the latter often in boys' clothes or a pantomime cow's rear end. When the maturing June deserted the act, Rose stepped out of the cow's behind and into the spotlight, becoming Gypsy. She became an icon of big-time burlesque, as vaudeville outran its course and the options narrowed – she had to do something, with mouths to feed and a mother who had kept her from any schooling. Showbiz was all Rose had ever known when she made this fatalistic transition.
She was a self-made lady, a raconteur, an entertainer of the highest order. Of the many (purportedly self-generated) myths about this original queen of reinvention, the greatest was that generated by the mists of time – that she was just a stripper. No such thing, she instead tastefully removed and discarded the odd glove, stocking or feather, shifting emphasis onto the 'tease' in striptease.
Also an actress, author, playwright and radio talk host, Gypsy turned her talents in many directions. She was a formidable intellect, admired collector of rare objets d'art and antiques, widely read, conversant on a glorious array of cultural topics and one of the best dressed women in the public eye. A renowned philanthropist, she gave generously to and supported a vast range of worthy causes.
Herein lies the inspiration behind Sondheim's blockbuster stage and screen musical Gypsy, considered by many the greatest American musical ever. Adaptations famously showcased a gorgeous young Natalie Wood in the 1962 movie's title role. As Gypsy's archetypal overbearing stage mother, Mama Rose, starred the wondrous Rosalind Russell, scoring the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. Russell's role, earlier created onstage by 'brass diva' Ethel Merman, who won the 1959 Tony Award, became one of theatre's most coveted. Stage revivals have seen subsequent 'Mamas' Angela Lansbury, Patti Lapone and Bernadette Peters reap award after award.
This is a gorgeously written, marvellously entertaining read from a woman with a heart of gold and the sheer, glittering class of showbiz royalty. I adored reading her anecdotes in this delicious memoir, never wanting to put it down and making excuses for early nights with her.
Someone threw away the mold when this fabulous lady was made.
Read
April 16, 2017Of course she finesses a lot of details--they all did. But the parts that ring true (because I've seen echoes in so many autobiographies and biographies of early film stars who started from similar beginnings) are the harrowing details of life in vaudeville.
I hope someone is doing a study of the life of the traveling players because that part of our history seems to have come to an end, and at least for the children dragged from flophouse to flophouse as their mothers and or fathers (usually mothers, I find) pursued their dream of fame and riches, maybe that's good.
I hope someone is doing a study of the life of the traveling players because that part of our history seems to have come to an end, and at least for the children dragged from flophouse to flophouse as their mothers and or fathers (usually mothers, I find) pursued their dream of fame and riches, maybe that's good.
February 27, 2014
I enjoyed this book written by a famous stripper on which the musical "Gypsy" was based. My only complaint was how abruptly it ended. I was reading a first edition of the original 1957 version, so I do wonder if the updated version tells more of the story.
May 7, 2019
This book is phenomenal and hard to put down. Her life story is so outrageous yet believable. Even if you've never heard of her, I can guarantee you will find her life interesting. Truly anyone can enjoy this book.
July 26, 2010
I really liked her no nonsense style. I also read her book G String murders.
Read
July 26, 2011It's debatable how much of this is entirely and absolutely true (to a given value of true), but boy, is it a page-turner of a read!
February 5, 2012
what a dame - but how much is true? Somehow I don't think that really matters.
September 10, 2024
This is the book upon which the musical Gypsy is based. Until recently, it has been out of print for many years. I was excited to see it available again and have a chance to read it, even though the new cover does not reflect the tone or style of the book and the original title was simply, Gypsy: A Memoir. I assume the new edition has added the phrase Memoirs of America's Most Celebrated Stripper because most people of this generation would not know who Gypsy Rose Lee was.
Most books of this sort are ghost written. However, Gypsy Rose Lee worked at being a writer. In addition to this memoir, she wrote a couple of murder mysteries (The G-String Murders and Mother Finds a Body) and various articles for magazines. She did have editorial help, but she did write the texts herself.
Her memoir is divided into three parts (or "Acts"). The first two are terrific. The third is not quite as good but still interesting.
Parts one and two describe her childhood and early adolescence in vaudeville with her sister and pushy mother. Because Gypsy grew up in vaudeville, she is first and foremost an entertainer, and this book is written to entertain. The book's central character is her mother, who is downright Dickensian in her outrageous peculiarities. Like so many of Dickens' comic villains, she is a hoot-- but with a really dark side lurking just beneath the surface. The scenes are crafted with care to deliver the punch lines.
And yet even though on one level this is a highly sanitized memoir, one another level it contains a lot of authenticity. The details of being on the vaudeville circuit in the early 20's are vivid--the sleeping arrangements in the pullman cars, the smelly hotel lobbies, the hot plates sneaked into hotel rooms to save on food expense, the descriptions of their evolving act and the other vaudevillians they worked with and learned from. This is about as good a portrait of early vaudeville as you'll find. Gypsy's transition from vaudeville to burlesque in her teen years is also full interesting, vivid detail. There are lots of pictures, most of which I had not seen before, which enhance the book.
The last third of the book, which covers the early and middle 30's when Gypsy had achieved significant fame, are not quite as interesting, although she does devote several pages to rooming with Fanny Brice and their friendship while both were appearing in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1936. That is interesting.
All in all, a really good read if you are interested in old time show business.
Most books of this sort are ghost written. However, Gypsy Rose Lee worked at being a writer. In addition to this memoir, she wrote a couple of murder mysteries (The G-String Murders and Mother Finds a Body) and various articles for magazines. She did have editorial help, but she did write the texts herself.
Her memoir is divided into three parts (or "Acts"). The first two are terrific. The third is not quite as good but still interesting.
Parts one and two describe her childhood and early adolescence in vaudeville with her sister and pushy mother. Because Gypsy grew up in vaudeville, she is first and foremost an entertainer, and this book is written to entertain. The book's central character is her mother, who is downright Dickensian in her outrageous peculiarities. Like so many of Dickens' comic villains, she is a hoot-- but with a really dark side lurking just beneath the surface. The scenes are crafted with care to deliver the punch lines.
And yet even though on one level this is a highly sanitized memoir, one another level it contains a lot of authenticity. The details of being on the vaudeville circuit in the early 20's are vivid--the sleeping arrangements in the pullman cars, the smelly hotel lobbies, the hot plates sneaked into hotel rooms to save on food expense, the descriptions of their evolving act and the other vaudevillians they worked with and learned from. This is about as good a portrait of early vaudeville as you'll find. Gypsy's transition from vaudeville to burlesque in her teen years is also full interesting, vivid detail. There are lots of pictures, most of which I had not seen before, which enhance the book.
The last third of the book, which covers the early and middle 30's when Gypsy had achieved significant fame, are not quite as interesting, although she does devote several pages to rooming with Fanny Brice and their friendship while both were appearing in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1936. That is interesting.
All in all, a really good read if you are interested in old time show business.
July 21, 2021
Here she is boys...here she is girls...it’s Gypsy Rose Lee.
But before Gypsy Rose Lee there was the gypsies, Madam Rose, Dainty June, and Louise who played a boy, or the rear end of a cow...before she read scenes in burlesque theater, and later on evolved as the queen of tease.
Gypsy is a memoir told by the iconic queen of burlesque herself, and her son. It’s considered show stopping, memorable, and an amazing stunner of a story...but many believe Gypsy was allergic to the truth.
I can’t speak on her behalf, except maybe for the simple fact that her mother Madam Rose was a grandiose exaggerator. I don’t suspect truth comes naturally.
Louise and Dainty June travel the country, as their mother makes bold and sometimes questionable choices regarding their well being. However she tries all the way to provide. Or at least use her kids and pay them back in stipends. Going from a group of boys to girls as their traveling entourage evolves, June runs away and gets married...and Herbie starts gives up on Madam Rose. She isn’t the old fashioned woman he wants. She is now selling out her daughter.
Through it all, Gypsy and Madam Rose are constants in their quest to grow and become something.
Until they run out of options, and Gypsy and Madam Rose end up having to put on a show in the house of burlesque that goes deeper than just reading scenes...Much to the chagrin of Herbie...and she becomes transparent in her dramatic show Madam Rose forges as principles. But in reality, they are too deep in career embedded lava to give up and walk away now. It’s the stage or bust. Vaudeville is dead...but you don’t have to take it all off do you? There’s always a little thing called a tease.
The story evolves, and Gypsy is signed into work with Mr. Ziegfeld of the Ziegfeld Follies.
There is so much to the story, but in a tease like fashion, I’ll leave you there with no spoilers.
But before Gypsy Rose Lee there was the gypsies, Madam Rose, Dainty June, and Louise who played a boy, or the rear end of a cow...before she read scenes in burlesque theater, and later on evolved as the queen of tease.
Gypsy is a memoir told by the iconic queen of burlesque herself, and her son. It’s considered show stopping, memorable, and an amazing stunner of a story...but many believe Gypsy was allergic to the truth.
I can’t speak on her behalf, except maybe for the simple fact that her mother Madam Rose was a grandiose exaggerator. I don’t suspect truth comes naturally.
Louise and Dainty June travel the country, as their mother makes bold and sometimes questionable choices regarding their well being. However she tries all the way to provide. Or at least use her kids and pay them back in stipends. Going from a group of boys to girls as their traveling entourage evolves, June runs away and gets married...and Herbie starts gives up on Madam Rose. She isn’t the old fashioned woman he wants. She is now selling out her daughter.
Through it all, Gypsy and Madam Rose are constants in their quest to grow and become something.
Until they run out of options, and Gypsy and Madam Rose end up having to put on a show in the house of burlesque that goes deeper than just reading scenes...Much to the chagrin of Herbie...and she becomes transparent in her dramatic show Madam Rose forges as principles. But in reality, they are too deep in career embedded lava to give up and walk away now. It’s the stage or bust. Vaudeville is dead...but you don’t have to take it all off do you? There’s always a little thing called a tease.
The story evolves, and Gypsy is signed into work with Mr. Ziegfeld of the Ziegfeld Follies.
There is so much to the story, but in a tease like fashion, I’ll leave you there with no spoilers.
January 14, 2021
I recently saw the musical "Gypsy" for the first time, and I was curious about the life Gypsy Rose Lee led. The book definitely doesn't disappoint, though to be honest, having seen "Gypsy," I pretty much came into the book knowing what took place.
I was kind of hoping for more information on her later years in life, and her relationship with her sister, but the book doesn't really delve much into that.
I was kind of hoping for more information on her later years in life, and her relationship with her sister, but the book doesn't really delve much into that.
March 8, 2025
3.5⭐️ a lot of great information about her childhood in vaudeville and transition into burlesque plus her relationships with her mother and sister. yet, it was a lot of yapping, idk if this wasn’t required for a class i don’t think i would purposefully have read it.
December 19, 2025
Having seen the musical Gypsy at least ten times with different ladies in the lead role, I decided it would be fun to revisit Gypsy Rose Lee’s Gypsy, a Memoir, after having read it the first time when I was a teen back the early 1960s. What a joy it was! I love the theater and its sometimes outlandish personalities, so just reviewing Gypsy’s life was fun. But also, it was enlightening, as a musical theater aficionado, to compare the book with the choices Arthur Laurents made when he wrote the script for the show. It is said that Gypsy bent the truth in the book, and her own son admits in an afterward that her philosophy was “why tell the truth when a story can be much more interesting without it,” so one must take her memories with a grain of salt. Besides what I’ve read (that her sister June objected to her portrayal in the musical and thus its name was appended to appease her,) it is also obvious that the musical is called Gypsy, a Broadway Fable because the story Ms. Lee tells in her book and the show may or may not be entirely accurate. But what a colorful character. And what a delight to reread this book after low these many years.
December 12, 2015
Having never been to a strip club or "gentleman's club," I can't judge the value or hilarity of Gypsy Rose Lee's act. The thing that impressed me about her was her intelligence, her great sense of humor, and her obsessive lifetime reading habit. Although I read another (much duller) book about her that tried to distinguish all her lies and stories from what actually happened, this book, however fast and loose with the facts, is really well-written. The first stories were published in The New Yorker, and they are the best, although the quality doesn't trail off until the last two or three.
Louise Hovick (Gypsy's birth name) had the stage mother from hell (although she didn't try to kill her, like Clara Bow's mother; or try to outdo her by breeding a red, white, and blue chicken, like Frances Farmer's mother). Gypsy's mother, Rose, was aggressive, a pathological liar and narcissist, and ruined Gypsy's and her sister's, June Havoc's, early life in vaudeville by forcing them to perform ridiculous simple-minded acts, in which June was "Baby June" until that no longer sold, then "Dainty June" until she was in her mid-teens, and she eloped with one of the boy dancers.
When it was just Rose and Louise after June and the boy dancers had left, Rose decided to take Louise into burlesque, "until vaudeville came back again," which it never did. Rose even signed her up to strip--although she never did all the way--and they played sleazy clubs in disreputable areas of cities.
So Gypsy became the equivalent of a .400 hitter in triple A baseball, even though she continually tried to make it on the legitimate stage and was never able to.
Evidently her act consisted of her talking to the audience the entire time and doing such daring things as throwing pins into the tubas in the pit. She never claimed she could dance or sing, but her showmanship made her hugely popular. She lived a very wealthy life with at least two residences and a town car and decided she could never make the money in acting that she did in burlesque.
She wrote two murder mystery novels, at least one of which I intend to read, and was a fairly brilliant writer for someone who'd hardly had a single normal day of schooling. It was all from her reading, she said.
This book is really entertaining and gives a good glimpse into both the Roaring Twenties and the Depression. If the facts aren't always correct (for example, did her mother really shoot a cow from inside their tent?), the book is fun to read.
Louise Hovick (Gypsy's birth name) had the stage mother from hell (although she didn't try to kill her, like Clara Bow's mother; or try to outdo her by breeding a red, white, and blue chicken, like Frances Farmer's mother). Gypsy's mother, Rose, was aggressive, a pathological liar and narcissist, and ruined Gypsy's and her sister's, June Havoc's, early life in vaudeville by forcing them to perform ridiculous simple-minded acts, in which June was "Baby June" until that no longer sold, then "Dainty June" until she was in her mid-teens, and she eloped with one of the boy dancers.
When it was just Rose and Louise after June and the boy dancers had left, Rose decided to take Louise into burlesque, "until vaudeville came back again," which it never did. Rose even signed her up to strip--although she never did all the way--and they played sleazy clubs in disreputable areas of cities.
So Gypsy became the equivalent of a .400 hitter in triple A baseball, even though she continually tried to make it on the legitimate stage and was never able to.
Evidently her act consisted of her talking to the audience the entire time and doing such daring things as throwing pins into the tubas in the pit. She never claimed she could dance or sing, but her showmanship made her hugely popular. She lived a very wealthy life with at least two residences and a town car and decided she could never make the money in acting that she did in burlesque.
She wrote two murder mystery novels, at least one of which I intend to read, and was a fairly brilliant writer for someone who'd hardly had a single normal day of schooling. It was all from her reading, she said.
This book is really entertaining and gives a good glimpse into both the Roaring Twenties and the Depression. If the facts aren't always correct (for example, did her mother really shoot a cow from inside their tent?), the book is fun to read.
August 18, 2016
When Christina Crawford's "Mommy Dearest" was released in 1978, it brought attention to family violence and the abusive nature of Joan Crawford towards her children. However, after reading Gypsy Rose Lee's memoir, the experiences she and her sister June endured with their mother make Joan Crawford appear like Mother of the Year. The book, written in the late 50s, is dedicated to Lee's son and intended to provide answers to his questions (ostensibly about her childhood and family life with her femininely "ruthless" mother). As a result, Rose Hovick emerges as the most narcissistic, manipulative, deceitful, and selfish matriarch imaginable, despite the "objective" first person narrative generously sprinkled with wry asides that Ms. Lee employs.
And although the style is quite entertaining with detailed glimpses of life on the road, the pathological infantilizing of June, and the insistence of denying Gypsy's femininity along with consistent deprecating remarks to destroy her self-confidence are disturbing to read.
Of course, it is understood that as a memoir, this book's veracity should all be taken with a healthy grain of salt, but if a fraction of this is true( and based on historic events from Rose Hovick's brushes with the law), it's still a strong indictment against a malevolent mom.
Unfortunately, this section of the book is also the most interesting as the rest neglects to mention Gypsy's own three divorces, her son, or her own life in depth once she escaped the constant control of her mother. The narrative becomes flat and merely seems to catalogue various performance reviews and work history. In fact, it leaves the impression that her life lacked any true sense of fulfillment, belonging, self-worth, or love.
Sadly, an afterword by Rose's son that might have provided insight into her later life is also somewhat disjointed and vague. But perhaps this lack of closure ultimately embodies the famous burlesque queen whose performance relied on ribald humor and the ability to tantalize an audience as a substitute for those lacking essentials of her personal life.
And although the style is quite entertaining with detailed glimpses of life on the road, the pathological infantilizing of June, and the insistence of denying Gypsy's femininity along with consistent deprecating remarks to destroy her self-confidence are disturbing to read.
Of course, it is understood that as a memoir, this book's veracity should all be taken with a healthy grain of salt, but if a fraction of this is true( and based on historic events from Rose Hovick's brushes with the law), it's still a strong indictment against a malevolent mom.
Unfortunately, this section of the book is also the most interesting as the rest neglects to mention Gypsy's own three divorces, her son, or her own life in depth once she escaped the constant control of her mother. The narrative becomes flat and merely seems to catalogue various performance reviews and work history. In fact, it leaves the impression that her life lacked any true sense of fulfillment, belonging, self-worth, or love.
Sadly, an afterword by Rose's son that might have provided insight into her later life is also somewhat disjointed and vague. But perhaps this lack of closure ultimately embodies the famous burlesque queen whose performance relied on ribald humor and the ability to tantalize an audience as a substitute for those lacking essentials of her personal life.
July 6, 2016
Gypsy: Memoirs of America's Most Celebrated Stripper is, well, exactly what it sounds like -- the life story of the infamous Gypsy Rose Lee, the undisputed queen of the burlesque strip-tease. Like most, I'm familiar with Gypsy Rose Lee because of Arthur Laurents' 1959 musical (having been in a community theatre production of it during high school). When I realized that the musical was based on this book, I decide to give it a go, and see what I did and didn't recognize.
What I Liked:
- The entire story is told in a very matter-of-fact way. There are no deliberate attempts at creating drama, nor is any of the natural tension "fluffed up" for the reader.
- I really enjoyed the photo inserts. They cover Lee's entire life, and I applaud her courage in including awkward childhood pictures.
- Wow, what a memory! Ms. Lee was in her forties when this book was published. I'm in my twenties now, and I can't remember my childhood half as well as she seems to remember hers.
- This isn't really anything to do with the book itself, but as I read it, I realized how masterfully adapted the musical is. It takes the high points and makes them higher, grabs onto subtle character flaws and makes them thematic, and streamlines the entire story without making it unrecognizable.
What I Didn't Like:
- This book is billed as a memoir, but it hedges on autobiography. It covers almost all of Lee's life, starting with performing in fraternity lodges as a small child, and ending with her success in the Ziegfeld Follies. While I enjoyed its completeness in a way, it did drag a little at some points.
Four Stars: This book was really really good and I'll definitely recommend it to people with relevant interests.
What I Liked:
- The entire story is told in a very matter-of-fact way. There are no deliberate attempts at creating drama, nor is any of the natural tension "fluffed up" for the reader.
- I really enjoyed the photo inserts. They cover Lee's entire life, and I applaud her courage in including awkward childhood pictures.
- Wow, what a memory! Ms. Lee was in her forties when this book was published. I'm in my twenties now, and I can't remember my childhood half as well as she seems to remember hers.
- This isn't really anything to do with the book itself, but as I read it, I realized how masterfully adapted the musical is. It takes the high points and makes them higher, grabs onto subtle character flaws and makes them thematic, and streamlines the entire story without making it unrecognizable.
What I Didn't Like:
- This book is billed as a memoir, but it hedges on autobiography. It covers almost all of Lee's life, starting with performing in fraternity lodges as a small child, and ending with her success in the Ziegfeld Follies. While I enjoyed its completeness in a way, it did drag a little at some points.
Four Stars: This book was really really good and I'll definitely recommend it to people with relevant interests.
December 2, 2025
For the last month or so since I saw it, the musical Gypsy and the story of the Hovick family has had a grip over me. I've been familiar with it, but I guess had never really processed that it's a true story or that these are real people, especially with how wild the story can get at times. Reading this book, I was shocked at how some of the more absurd elements of the show were both true and also somewhat tame compared to some of what Gypsy Rose Lee described her life to be. The amount of animals, in particular, amazed me. I was shocked by how Louise (Gypsy) did not become the sole subject of her mother's attention when June left, but rather seemed to share the stage with the Hollywood Blondes. I was surprised at how often they worked as kids and the presence of their agent Gordon. Most of all, I was surprised by the discrepancies in character between the memoir and the musical, especially that of Rose (of course). Gypsy describes her mother in a much better light than those around her. She states things very matter-of-factly and doesn't really seem to criticize her. It's definitely true that her actions speak for themselves, but Gypsy never really spoke of her feelings for her mother and only the feelings of certain situations they found themselves in. Compared to the show that is centered around Rose and her desire to be/make her kids stars, the portrayal of Rose is extremely different as Louise is ambitious and the act does fairly well. I know she criticized it, but I would be interested in seeing what June Havoc had to say about her mother's portrayal in both. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this story because it really is an absurd one, but wouldn't recommend it unless people already had a fascination like I did.
March 13, 2014
Dalla lettura si evince chiaramente come Gypsy Rose Lee, a parte spogliarsi, non è che sappia far molto nella vita. Senza dubbio scrivere non è tra le sue doti nascoste. L'autobiografia (romanzata?) riesce ad intrattenere egregiamente il lettore, ma stringi stringi, a lettura finita, rimane poco tra le sua mani. Troppo spazio viene dedicato al prima dell'avvento di Gypsy, in particolare all'infanzia dominata dalla sorella June. Dopodiché, il ritmo accelera fin troppo: si ha quasi l'impressione che la nostra voglia glissare su molti aspetti della vita della ballerina di burlesque... la maggior parte, forse. Sorprendentemente parca è anche la parte relativa alla vita privata: il libro, recita la dedica, è stato scritto affinché il figlio non si faccia domande, ma non credo che tale obiettivo sia stato raggiunto. Gypsy non pone mai abbastanza l'accento su temi davvero interessanti come il sotterraneo conflitto con la madre - donna da cui tenersi alla larga il più possibile - June, ed anche la sua iniziazione agli uomini e all'amore. Come si pone una donna che campa dell'eccitazione degli uomini, del gioco del vedo-non vedo, nei confronti del sesso, di una relazione stabile? Risulta molto difficile credere che la nostra, che di certo non è una stupida, non abbia un'opinione in merito. Ne mettesse a parte anche il lettore...?
L'autobiografia non è brutta di per sé, anche se molti dei suoi contenuti probabilmente non sono da prendere per oro colato, ma manca quello che dovrebbe avere un'autobiografia come si rispetti: la vita vera. Altrimenti, che differenza c'è con un semplice romanzo, o con uno spettacolo teatrale?
L'autobiografia non è brutta di per sé, anche se molti dei suoi contenuti probabilmente non sono da prendere per oro colato, ma manca quello che dovrebbe avere un'autobiografia come si rispetti: la vita vera. Altrimenti, che differenza c'è con un semplice romanzo, o con uno spettacolo teatrale?
November 18, 2014
I have always found Lee to be a very fascinating woman, I attribute this to not knowing a whole lot about her outside of vaudeville/burlesque. I was always left wanting to learn more, a certain mystique surrounded her adding to my curiosity. I decided to read her words and story in hopes of discovering more.
Once again I find mystique surrounds Lee. Her story is fairly generic, she doesn’t divulge a plethora of information, rather just enough to add clarity to the audiences assumptions. Really no surprises were revealed from her mighty pen. She throws in bits and pieces of her unconventional childhood, and overbearing conniving mother. Describes vaudeville forward to burlesque. You recognize her business savvy giving merit to her being far more than a pretty face.
Mentioning her son Erik is about as personal as Lee manages. No reference to the father of her son or her romantic relationships discussed.
There are plenty of historical references tossed about serving as the source of navigation since Lee omits specific dates in referencing her life experiences creating a level of frustration for the reader.
In all certitude, Lee possess a quiet grace, perhaps this can be a credit for her strong desire for privacy. On stage she revealed just enough and it carried over to offstage. She is a legacy an enigma to her fans, a lady, and memorable in many ways.
Once again I find mystique surrounds Lee. Her story is fairly generic, she doesn’t divulge a plethora of information, rather just enough to add clarity to the audiences assumptions. Really no surprises were revealed from her mighty pen. She throws in bits and pieces of her unconventional childhood, and overbearing conniving mother. Describes vaudeville forward to burlesque. You recognize her business savvy giving merit to her being far more than a pretty face.
Mentioning her son Erik is about as personal as Lee manages. No reference to the father of her son or her romantic relationships discussed.
There are plenty of historical references tossed about serving as the source of navigation since Lee omits specific dates in referencing her life experiences creating a level of frustration for the reader.
In all certitude, Lee possess a quiet grace, perhaps this can be a credit for her strong desire for privacy. On stage she revealed just enough and it carried over to offstage. She is a legacy an enigma to her fans, a lady, and memorable in many ways.
January 18, 2011
"I found it irresistable. It's quite a performance. I bet some of it is even true, and if it wasn't, it is now."
- John Steinbeck
This sums up exactly how I feel about Gypsy Rose Lee's Memoirs. Her sister June Havoc wrote two memoirs, one of which covers this same period. I'm now seeking these out to see how the events in them compare. These memoirs are constructed almost cinematically, beginning with a 'present day' Gypsy, who, when snowed in, is asked questions about her life by her son, facilitating the 'flashback' of the rest of the book. Several of the stories are too over the top to believe, but maybe they are the truth. Other stories start to take on a sameness, where the surroundings are described, then a problem arises, which Gypsy's mother Rose then sets about to solve in a flamboyant fashion. If I could compare it to a work of fiction it would be Patrick Dennis' 'Auntie Mame'. Despite this sameness in some stories, it is a fascinating work, showing the sometimes absurd existence of vaudeville and burlesque performers. It also becomes quite poignant in sketching out a different concept of family and women's lives. The older Gypsy Rose Lee's tour with Fanny Brice serves as an epilogue that wraps up all these themes in a neat and cyclical way.
- John Steinbeck
This sums up exactly how I feel about Gypsy Rose Lee's Memoirs. Her sister June Havoc wrote two memoirs, one of which covers this same period. I'm now seeking these out to see how the events in them compare. These memoirs are constructed almost cinematically, beginning with a 'present day' Gypsy, who, when snowed in, is asked questions about her life by her son, facilitating the 'flashback' of the rest of the book. Several of the stories are too over the top to believe, but maybe they are the truth. Other stories start to take on a sameness, where the surroundings are described, then a problem arises, which Gypsy's mother Rose then sets about to solve in a flamboyant fashion. If I could compare it to a work of fiction it would be Patrick Dennis' 'Auntie Mame'. Despite this sameness in some stories, it is a fascinating work, showing the sometimes absurd existence of vaudeville and burlesque performers. It also becomes quite poignant in sketching out a different concept of family and women's lives. The older Gypsy Rose Lee's tour with Fanny Brice serves as an epilogue that wraps up all these themes in a neat and cyclical way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2017
The first half of this book was like candy for a musical theatre geek like me. It was fun to see where the musical came from - how awful Mama Rose really was in real life, how Louise and June were truly raised on the road, and how Herbie was more like a composite of a few different people than an actual person (though there was a similar character who the book referred to as "Gordon").
The afterword was also really sweet. Gypsy Rose Lee's son wrote about going with his mother to see the opening of the musical on Broadway, and about realizing during the song "Little Lamb" how desperately lonely his mother had been in her youth.
But the second half of the book, all about her navigation of burlesque, wasn't that exciting. Perhaps that's why it was shortened into about 2 songs in the actual musical... or perhaps it's *because* I couldn't find relatable content from the show that it didn't feel that compelling.
Anyway, it feels like a bit of musical theatre cred to my name that I've now read this memoir.
The afterword was also really sweet. Gypsy Rose Lee's son wrote about going with his mother to see the opening of the musical on Broadway, and about realizing during the song "Little Lamb" how desperately lonely his mother had been in her youth.
But the second half of the book, all about her navigation of burlesque, wasn't that exciting. Perhaps that's why it was shortened into about 2 songs in the actual musical... or perhaps it's *because* I couldn't find relatable content from the show that it didn't feel that compelling.
Anyway, it feels like a bit of musical theatre cred to my name that I've now read this memoir.
April 7, 2019
Interesting memoir. 3.5 stars
Gypsy Rose Lee a woman living in the early 20th century tells about her youth on the Vaudeville circuit and later her start and eventual fame as a Burlesque Dancer.
Not having ever heard of Gypsy before and not having much of an idea what Burlesque is exactly I picked it up and started reading/ listening. In all, this is an interesting memoir. It tells a lot of who she is and how she became, who she is. What those times and places were like and adds a large collection of interesting stories and anecdotes.
The stories range from tragic, funny and uplifting, but some I suspect were a bit elaborated and expanded in the telling. I'm not quite quite sure what, if any if all of this is actually true, but it was an interesting read. This book provided an view into a time I have very little knowledge of and this is one of the things that kept me reading.
All in all, this was a fine memoir of an interesting person in and interesting time and place. so enjoy it with all you can, but bring a pinch of salt jut to be sure.
Gypsy Rose Lee a woman living in the early 20th century tells about her youth on the Vaudeville circuit and later her start and eventual fame as a Burlesque Dancer.
Not having ever heard of Gypsy before and not having much of an idea what Burlesque is exactly I picked it up and started reading/ listening. In all, this is an interesting memoir. It tells a lot of who she is and how she became, who she is. What those times and places were like and adds a large collection of interesting stories and anecdotes.
The stories range from tragic, funny and uplifting, but some I suspect were a bit elaborated and expanded in the telling. I'm not quite quite sure what, if any if all of this is actually true, but it was an interesting read. This book provided an view into a time I have very little knowledge of and this is one of the things that kept me reading.
All in all, this was a fine memoir of an interesting person in and interesting time and place. so enjoy it with all you can, but bring a pinch of salt jut to be sure.
April 15, 2014
So I guess when you read a book about a person who also penned said book about themselves you should expect a bit of a hagiography and a whitewashing of the facts and times of their life. This book smears over the details to make them all nice and creamy and buttery. No mention of her husbands or marriages. She glosses over the estrangement and reconciliation between her sister June and her. She cheerfully recounts her childhood as an adventure and nary complains about a lost childhood. This near constant polishing of her life tarnishes the integrity of what could have been an amazing autobiography.
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