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I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir

by Harvey Fierstein

Knopf ·2022 ·386 pages
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About This Book

A poignant and hilarious memoir from the cultural icon, gay rights activist, and four-time Tony Award-winning actor and playwright, revealing never-before-told stories of his personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, and of his fabled career Harvey Fierstein's legendary career has transported him from community theater in Brooklyn, to the lights of Broadway, to the absurd excesses of Hollywood and back. He's received accolades and awards for acting in and/or writing an incredible string of hit plays, films, and TV shows: Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, Cheers, La Cage Aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies, and Kinky Boots. While he has never shied away from the spotlight, Mr. Fierstein says that even those closest to him have never heard most of the tales--of personal struggles and conflict, of sex and romance, of his fabled career--revealed in these wildly entertaining pages. I Was Better Last Night bares the inner life of this eccentric nonconforming child from his roots in 1952 Brooklyn, to the experimental worlds of Andy Warhol and the Theatre of the Ridiculous, to the gay rights movements of the seventies and the tumultuous AIDS crisis of the eighties, through decades of addiction, despair, and ultimate triumph. Mr. Fierstein's candid recollections provide a rich window into downtown New York City life, gay culture, and the evolution of theater (of which he has been a defining figure), as well as a moving account of his family's journey of acceptance. I Was Better Last Night is filled with wisdom gained, mistakes made, and stories that come together to describe an astonishingly colorful and meaningful life. Lucky for us all, his unique and recognizable voice is as engaging, outrageously funny, and vulnerable on the page.


Reviews

"Defined by a campy yet bittersweet comic sensibility, Fierstein's vivid writing about the pratfalls, exhilaration, and painstaking craft of a life in theater beguiles."

Publishers Weekly Read review ↗ Near the Top

"Despite Fierstein's somberness when appropriate, he also excels at showcasing his quick wit."

Kirkus Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"His wistful book is laced with understandable nostalgia ..."

Richard Cytowic· The New York Journal of Books Read review ↗ Near the Top

"His memoir is filled with evocative characters and scenes, and his wit and way with dialogue shine."

James Collins· Library Journal Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"I Was Better Last Night is filled with the same energy, quick wit, wise observations and big heart that are hallmarks of his plays and musicals."

Kevin Howell· Shelf Awareness Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Medical matters, including a suicide attempt in the mid-1990s, are handled with matter-of-fact frankness ..."

Alexandra Jacobs· The New York Times Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"He writes courageously about his alcoholism ..."

CHARLES MCNULTY· Los Angeles Times Read review ↗ Near the Top

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