Findings: Leonard Bernstein.

BERNSTEIN, Leonard.

Item Number: 135046

New York: Simon and Schuster, 1982.

First edition of Bernstein’s warm and brilliant autobiography. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with photographs. Association copy, inscribed by Bernstein on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “For Jack, my dear friend with love + thanks, Lenny B ’82.” The recipient, Jack Gottlieb, was not only Bernstein’s personal assistant, but a trained composer and musician who played an instrumental role in the shaping and publication of Bernstein’s first three books. In his memoir “Working with Bernstein”, Gottlieb relayed, “Close to my heart were the editing jobs I did on three of Bernstein’s popular books. First was ‘The Joy of Music,’ on which I had the pleasure of working with the genial Henry Simon of Simon and Schuster. The next two books, also S&S publications, were co-edited with gentlemen who have since become distinguished men of letters: Michael Korda on ‘Young People’s Concerts for Reading and Listening’ and Robert Gottlieb (no relation) on ‘The Infinite Variety of Music’ (pp. 22-23). In addition to managing negotiations with Bernstein’s publishers, Gottlieb managed Bernstein’s over-booked professional schedule and shared the unique experience of navigating the 20th century American landscape of conducting and composition as a relative minority of Jewish faith and ancestry. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Robert Anthony, Inc. An exceptional association copy.

Here, in the words of Leonard Bernstein, taken from his letters, his writings, his own personal notes, is a brilliant and unexpected self-portrait of the man, the artist, and the life. Findings is a book of extraordinary discoveries - self-discoveries, musical and personal treasures. Bernstein's poetry, his essays and correspondence, his critical studies of music and musicians from the great masters to pop music and jazz, convey as nothing else can the incredible energy, talent, and genius of the man who more than and other person has confirmed the maturity and the originality of American culture.