Allegra Rossi's new book, "Barbra: A Retrospective," is the kind of a Streisand book that gives all Streisand authors a bad name. In a word, this book is a DISASTER. There is no other way to explain the voluminous factual inaccuracies and errors on practically every page.
And there are also dozens of typos, mistaken information and sheer lies that proliferate sections of the book that are easily correctible with a basic Google search -- one that was clearly never done. In short, "Barbra: A Retrospective" is an unworthy effort to salute a great artist…and the fault must be assessed to the author whose name is on that book, Allegra Rossi.
I don't like having to deliver this review. In fact, it pains me that a beautifully packaged, coffee-table style book about Streisand -- an artist who strives for excellence in everything she does -- is such a train wreck. Instead of being inspired by Streisand's exacting standards -- Barbra's willingness to do it right no matter how long it takes or whose feathers you ruffle -- Rossi offers up a superficial effort at best.
It appears that Ms. Rossi didn't actually read any of the Streisand biographies, the "films of" book or scrapbooks, the memoirs of Streisand collaborators/friends like Marvin Hamlisch, Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne, Barry Dennen et. al, for insightful information.
There has been little to no fact-checking because dates are wrong and there are even incorrect character names and historic facts. Ms. Rossi apparently didn't bother to read the album liner notes including those written by Barbra herself!
Alas, Ms. Rossi has neither self-edited her work nor had a competent editor do it for her. (And knowing the process myself, it's the author that gets the final sign off on proofed pages.)
What's worse is this -- Ms. Rossi calls herself a life-long fan but does not seem to have learned very much about Streisand by listening to her albums, watching Barbra's movies, viewing her TV specials, or studying the myriad of interviews that Barbra has done in magazines and on radio and television through the years.
This cannot be said more strongly -- if you buy this book, don't believe what you read! The mountain of mistakes simply adds to the fabrications and fictions created about Streisand while obscuring the truth. If Barbra Streisand issues a Truth Alert for this book, it will likely fill an entire page on her website!
Just for the record, here are five major examples of the errors in the book:
- Despite photos of the front and back cover -- with song listings -- of the album, Rossi writes that "My Name Is Barbra, Two" includes the song "I Like Him." In fact, that song was the B-side to the single "He Touched Me" and never included on the album.
- For "Nuts," there's a full page photo of Barbra as Claudia, but it was actually Barbra as Rose from "The Mirror Has Two Faces."
- Rossi claims that Barbra sings Cole Porter songs all through "What's Up Doc" -- even though sings just one Porter song, "You're the Top" over the opening and end credits. A snippet of "As Time Goes By" is sung in the film, but it was not a Cole Porter song.
- Rossi refers to fashion photography Herb Ritts when attempting to write about "Nuts" director Martin Ritt.
- Rossi states that Barbra received the Directors Guild of America (DGA) award as Best Director for "The Prince of Tides." In fact, Streisand was nominated but did not win. Jonathan Demme did for "The Silence of the Lambs."
There are many, many more inaccuracies -- enough to fill this column many times over. Here's a baker's dozen of some falsities in the book, just to prove the point that the author didn't do her homework.
It's disappointing to say the least. In this day and age, when there is so much solid information about Streisand available -- in books like James Spada's "Her Life" and Swenson and Nickens' "The Films of Barbra Streisand" -- not to mention excellent web sites like Barbra-Archives.com (where there's a comprehensive library of Streisand magazine cover stories and interviews) and BarbraTimeless.com, as well as Barbra's official web site that includes a detailed biography, there's no excuse for the plethora of wrongs in this book.
Rossi's introduction, essentially her opinion of Barbra Streisand's career, reads well. There she doesn't need to present data; just tell the reader why Streisand deserves a tribute book. Rossi is effusive in her praise and in awe of Barbra's accomplishments.
That preface suggests "Barbra: A Retrospective" will deliver a quality read. It does not, and if any new or casual fan reads this book, he or she will come away loaded up with misinformation. Sadly, because it's published, the assumption is that it must be true -- it's on the printed page. Well, as aforementioned, "Don't believe what you read."
But there is hope for Barbra fans when it comes to the printed word. Streisand aficionados who've read the galleys of William Mann's upcoming Barbra book, "Hello Gorgeous," are very high on it. That sounds like the Streisand book to embrace.
According to Chris Nickens, who's researched and co-wrote a couple of the best Streisand tomes, Mann's book is a pleasure to read. That one covers a specific aspect of Streisand's life -- 1960-64, ending with her success on Broadway with "Funny Girl."
"I can assure fans that Bill has done a wonderful job in capturing the frenetic early years of the Streisand career," said Mr. Nickens. "His research has been exhaustive, he presents a good deal of newly-found information, and he has managed to present even previously published material in a fresh, more complete context. Because he had the luxury of concentrating on just a few years, he has fleshed out many aspects of Barbra's life and stunning rise to stardom in a way that previous authors didn't.
"I respect Bill Mann as a writer and believe he has produced a fascinating, truthful book that gives Barbra her due, while also exposing some of the nonsense and drama that went on behind the scenes. This response is not based on my friendship with Bill -- I hope we are friends, though we have never met in person. Frankly I did not look forward to reading still another book on Barbra, but this one surprised me, as I'm sure it will many other fans."
So, in conclusion; wait for November when "Hello Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand" is published. If you have already ordered or feel compelled to get "Barbra: A Retrospective," use it as a paperweight or just enjoy gazing at the pictures.
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