Stripping Gypsy

Hailed as an "endlessly fascinating biography of an extraordinary woman" (Daily Express) and "a page turner" (Independent), Noralee Frankel's lively biography illuminates the fascinating career of Gypsy Rose Lee, a woman who created and recreated her own identity to fit changing times. Placing the famed stripper's life in a refreshing new light, Frankel reveals that though Lee was not above using her femininity to full advantage, she aspired to much more than admiration for her physical beauty. Indeed, those who know Lee only from the beloved musical and film Gypsy!--which celebrates her unconventional rise to stardom--will be surprised to discover a woman who was not only a sex object, but also a best-selling writer, artist, political activist, and union leader. In addition to her highly successful strip-tease act and film career, Lee published two popular mystery novels and a memoir, wrote two plays, showed her original artwork in famed Modern Art-impresario Peggy Guggenheim's gallery, and gained notoriety for her participation in liberal politics.