In the first full-scale life of the most important composer-lyricist at work in musical theatre today, the author draws on her extended conversations with Stephen Sondheim as well as on her interviews with his friends, family, collaborators, and lovers to bring us not only the artist--as a master of modernist compositional style--but also the private man. We see Sondheim at work with composers, producers, directors, co-writers, actors, the greats...