LANA DEL REY

A richly illustrated biography of Lana Del Rey, tracing the construction of her persona, which was shaped by reinvention, contradiction, and the storytelling that surrounds contemporary celebrity.

Fragassi offers readers an overview of the life and career of the American singer-songwriter born Elizabeth Grant in 1985, following her path from her early years in sleepy, rural Lake Placid, New York, where she struggled with traditional schooling. Financial aid enabled her to attend a college prep boarding school in Connecticut, where she felt alienated by her classmates’ wealth; they called her “WT from LP (White Trash from Lake Placid).” The narrative describes Lizzy’s early artistic interests and experimentation and foregrounds the formative forces of isolation and literary inspiration. Organized chronologically, the book blends music commentary with discussions of fashion and the imagery and nostalgia of Americana. The author argues that the tension between sincerity and performance is central to the artist’s appeal: “Part of the mystery around Lana is that she is such a study in contradictions.” The prose is brisk and accessible, and numerous color photos contextualize the subject’s shifting aesthetics and eras. The author acknowledges controversies involving privilege, race, feminism, and authenticity, although the analysis is light. Overall, the book succeeds in introducing ways that pop stardom can be shaped through narrative control, visual symbolism, and persistence.

An inviting, photo-rich overview that will satisfy curious fans and those interested in how modern pop identities are made.