Goddess - Madonna

New York, Cliff Street Books, HarperCollins, 2001. 2001. First Edition. Hardcover. 8vo hardcover 448pp index, b/w illus. very good / very good d/w. From the moment Madonna first appeared on the international music scene, she has been hounded, criticised, honoured, revered, and ignored - and despite these conflicting reactions has managed to set social, sexual, and musical trends of the last two decades. She is a chameleon figure who has changed her look and her sound dramatically over the years, and despite her exhibitionist tendencies and the intense scrutiny of the press, has remained an enigma to the public, keeping her most intimate identity hidden from all but her closest acquaintances. Goddess begins with material from a 1993 interview Victor had with Madonna, and ends with one scheduled for 6/22/01. The author has interviewed Madonna's maternal grandmother, father, stepmother, siblings, first boyfriends, high school friend with whom she had a lesbian relationship, dance teacher/mentor, and many more people from her formative years. Victor examines her emotional life, her career, the fact or fantasy of her lesbian and heterosexual relationships, her taste, her genius for reinvention, her brilliant business sense. Goddess explores the highs and lows of Madonna's exploits in front of the camera and behind the scenes, based on interviews with people who knew her in New York before she was famous and new sources including former lovers, household employees, and business associates. In asking questions narcissist or intellectual, autodidactic or just a quick study, Victor explores the source of Madonna's perfectionism, drive, instinct and talent. .