MAE WEST An Icon in Black and White

This extensively researched audio biography of the iconic star who made sex fun and funny casts Mae West as a subversive trickster who pushed the boundaries of race and gender. Listeners follow West's evolution from exploited child actor to Broadway siren and movie star. Lesser known is how West created and controlled all her dramatic content--as a playwright, novelist, screenwriter, director, and producer. This allowed her to continually explore taboo topics like miscegenation. The author reveals the complexity of West's career by showing how she both enforced and shattered norms around race and sexuality. Narrator Holly Palance avoids mimicking West's trademark accent and comedic delivery, an approach that effectively castrates West's fiery dialogue. This is a missed opportunity to make the audiobook superior to print. J.T. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2021]