Stephen Sondheim by Daniel Okrent review – a superb biography of the musical master
Daniel Okrent's biography of Stephen Sondheim offers a captivating blend of gossip and insightful analysis of the musical genius's life and work. The book explores Sondheim's relationships, influences, and struggles in the mid-20th-century New York theater scene. Okrent effectively captures the complexities of Sondheim's character and his evolution as a composer.
- ▪The biography provides a detailed look at Sondheim's life and the theatrical world he inhabited.
- ▪Okrent highlights Sondheim's early struggles and his eventual emergence as a unique voice in musical theater.
- ▪The book features anecdotes about Sondheim's relationships with notable figures like Leonard Bernstein and Ethel Merman.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Stephen Sondheim in 2000. (Photo by Eamonn McCabe/Popperfoto via Getty Images) Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/The GuardianView image in fullscreenStephen Sondheim in 2000. (Photo by Eamonn McCabe/Popperfoto via Getty Images) Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/The GuardianBook of the dayBiography booksReviewStephen Sondheim by Daniel Okrent review – a superb biography of the musical masterPacked with gossip and incident, this book is also a fascinating study in the gestation of geniusEmma BrockesThu 21 May 2026 02.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleAmong the many great pleasures of Daniel Okrent’s new biography of Stephen Sondheim – a book perfectly weighted between the gossipy and erudite – is its rendering of the milieu beyond its immediate subject.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Guardian — Books.
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