Gilded Lili: Lili St. Cyr and the Striptease Mystique

By Kelly DiNardo

Burlesque. A unique form of entertainment...and one of the most celebrated forms in burlesque was that of the inimitable Lili St. Cyr. Her body of work as a striptease artist - featuring her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823088898
• ISBN13: 9780823088898
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Back Stage Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.8" x 6.2"

Customer Reviews

Any library strong in biography and pop culture will relish this lively survey

GILDED LILI: LILI ST. CYR AND THE STRIPTEASE MYSTIQUE is a top pick for any interested in the last real queen of striptease. From her poverty childhood in a small town to her eventual escape to become one of the top exotic dancers of her times, performing for famous personalities, this examination considers her life and American sexuality and values in general, in a tasteful, ongoing recommendation for any general lending library.

Excellent reasearch

It is very obvious that this author did a tremendous & thorough amount of research on this star of a by-gone era. The male social mores of the movie industry are illustrated, as is the role of women in that generation. An excellent story as well as a history of the time. It would make a terrific movie.

Clever, Thorough, Insightful and Compassionately Told

I really enjoyed the book--it is extremely well written, clever and tender in its narrative (particular in the end). It sheds so much light on only on Lili but on the context of the times she was living in. I also thought that Lili's life story and the surrounding growth and decline of burlesque was also well researched and referenced. My favorite part was perhaps the epilogue though, where I felt Kelly DiNardo really cast an appreciative, sincere light on what Lili achieved during her lifetime and applauded her for her authentic sensual humanity :) I highly recommend this to all people who are looking for a thrilling, entertaining read with brains and empathy behind the narrative.

Gilded enlightenment

Enjoyed Gilded Lili hugely. Very enlightening presentation of context; considerably broadened my understanding of societal issues in first half of 1900's, while acquainting me with a real and warm person who made a life for herself against huge odds in a much misunderstood and maligned field. Thanx, Ms DiNardo!

Gilded Lili

Gilded Lili is the fascinating story of a woman, famous in her time, but little known today. Kelly DiNardo recounts her life in lively prose that traces the history of burlesque in America through one woman's experience. Lili St. Cyr's life was tragic in many respects, and could serve as a cautionary tale for many of today's current crop of celebrities. Ms. DiNardo's book put's into precise historical context Lili's struggle to remain independent, both personally and financially, in a time when women had few options to reach the level of success she managed to achieve and sustain for 20 years. Her choices, both good and bad, reflect the dramatically changing attitudes towards sex, women and relationships during the first half of the 20th century.