Nureyev: His Life

By TERRY TEACHOUT

Did Rudolf Nureyev really have a fling with Bobby Kennedy? This recently surfaced rumor isn't mentioned in the new biography of the most celebrated male ballet dancer of the postwar era. But even so, Nureyev's list of lovers was quite sufficiently star studded. (Did they or didn't they? Only Mick Jagger knows for sure.) Fortunately, Diane Solway is interested in more than just gossip, and her fact-crammed, plainly written chronicle is the most detailed and dependable account to date of Nureyev's hectic life. What fails to come through, oddly enough, is his artistry--if you never saw him dance, this book won't tell you what you missed--but the bare facts still make for a riveting read.

--By Terry Teachout