Gypsy: The Art of the Tease

Icons of America

by Rachel Shteir

From “the man on whom nothing was lost,” a unique guide to the elements of statecraft, presented through spirited interpretations of classic literary works

A true icon of America at a turning point in its history, Gypsy Rose Lee was the first—and the only—stripper to become a household name, write novels, and win the adulation of intellectuals, bankers, socialites, and ordinary Americans. Her outrageous blend of funny-smart sex symbol with the aura of high culture—she boasted that she liked to read Great Books and listen to classical music while taking off her clothes on-stage—inspired a musical, memoirs, a portrait by Max Ernst, and a species of rose. Gypsy is the first book about Gypsy Rose Lee’s life, fame, and place in America not written by a family member, and it reveals her deep impact on the social and cultural transformations taking shape during her life.

Rachel Shteir, author of the prize-winning Striptease, gives us Gypsy’s story from her arrival in New York in 1931 to her sojourns in Hollywood, her friendships and rivalries with writers and artists, the Sondheim musical, family memoirs that retold her history in divergent ways, and a television biopic currently in the making. With verve, audacity, and native guile, Gypsy Rose Lee moved striptease from the margins of American life to Broadway, Hollywood, and Main Street. Gypsy tells how she did it, and why.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

222 pages, Hardcover

First published March 24, 2009

About the author

Rachel Shteir is associate professor, The Theatre School, DePaul University, and author of Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show. She lives in Chicago.

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not a very big book, but it got boring rather quickly. I always liked the Gypsy Rose Lee persona, knowing, as we all did, that it was carefully calculated. Unfortunately, I think the author tries to make Gypsy Rose stand for too much sociologically.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't actually finish the entire book, I just couldn't do it. While Gypsy's life is interesting, and I find it fascinating the way she changed striptease from taboo to "American pastime," the book was hard to follow and ended up being a little boring. The author tends to skip around within subjects instead of presenting her life in a cohesive way. Perhaps I was just distracted and didn't get into it, but I've read better bios.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic story, subpar story telling. Written as if everyone already knows the history of striptease, which few people probably do. I kept getting caught up in sentences that were phrased in an overly complicated way. Really disappointing.

[Brett Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise rundown of stripteaser Gypsy Rose Lee. Doesn’t really tell everything but does a fairly good job at getting to some version of the truth about what she was like. She had a reputation for using humour to evade questions so there’s a lot to sort through. Enjoyable read.

[Scott Fuchs · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a self respecting bibliophile I could not resist buying a book published by Yale University Press titled "Gypsy" {as in Rose Lee]? - especially when the remainder price is $3.99 - The book's subtitle is "The Art of the Tease" and 'therein lies the rub'. The author, with one previous book on the subject puts us in a netherland, lost between the title and subtitle. As much as I'd rather call these 'segues' 'a stretch' they are just plain over intellectulaztion on a subject that easily speaks for itself in less portentous terms. There is no denying the show business importance of the striptease [show], but good god!, it certainly never, rendered the mythic proportions of, for instance, The Group Theatre or The Berliner Ensemble.
My enjoyment is based upon some new facts about Gypsy's life and especially those of her mother. so differently [and heroically] pwritten by Arthur Laurents in his libretto for the eponymous Broadway musical.

[University of Chicago Magazine]

Rachel Shteir, AB'87
Author

From our pages (July–Aug/09): "In this biography of Gypsy Rose Lee, from her childhood on the vaudeville circuit to her performances on the burlesque stage to her novels and memoirs, Shteir shows how Gypsy brought striptease into the public eye. When she wasn’t taking her clothes off, this thinking man’s strumpet claimed to enjoy reading the Great Books and listening to classical music. Shteir, the author of Striptease (2004), looks at the varied retellings of Lee’s life, from memoir to musical, and analyzes her effect on American culture."

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography of burlesque and striptease performer, Louise Havick, who found fame as Gypsy Rose Lee. From the information given by the author, it appears that Gypsy was an expert with smoke and mirrors and the truth about her life will never be fully known. Still, it made for a good introduction to Gypsy and the times she lived in.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's more about the business dealings Gypsy had after becoming famous
than about her life as a "Stripteaser".

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was hoping for. Too academic for my taste.

[Sara]

09 'also of interest'-the week

[Lisa Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok, maybe could have been more indepth

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lively introduction to a fascinating woman.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting look at Gypsy Rose Lee's life in a socio/political light. Well researched, and really well written-zipped through it quickly-just fascinating!