In Person, Lena Horne: As Told to Helen Arstein and Carlton Moss

In Person: Lena Horne is a luminous and candid self-portrait of one of the twentieth century's most iconic performers - a woman whose voice, beauty, and courage helped transform American entertainment and civil rights. In this intimate memoir, Lena Horne reflects on her life in show business with warmth, wit, and a sharp sense of justice, tracing her journey from Harlem's Cotton Club to Hollywood soundstages and the frontlines of social change.With characteristic poise and honesty, Horne recounts her early struggles against racism and typecasting in a segregated industry, her rise to fame as MGM's first major Black star, and her refusal to compromise dignity for opportunity. Her recollections shimmer with the glamour of nightclubs and film sets, yet beneath the glitter lies a deeply personal story of resilience - of a woman who learned to balance the demands of artistry, activism, and self-respect.Beyond its celebrity allure, In Person is an act of reclamation: Horne's assertion of her own narrative in a world that often sought to define her. She writes with a performer's rhythm and a philosopher's clarity, capturing the pulse of American culture as it evolved through jazz, war, Hollywood, and the civil rights movement.Candid, defiant, and wise, In Person: Lena Horne remains one of the great autobiographical testaments of the modern stage - a book as graceful and uncompromising as the woman herself.