Rudolf Nureyev is the most famous dancer in the history of ballet. Nureyev revolutionized ballet, escaped from the USSR, became a glamorous icon, became famous not only for his ballet steps, but also for his fights, he was a monster and a handsome man rolled into one. He was pursued by paparazzi around the clock, and with his adventures he fed hundreds of secular observers. Millions and millions of words have been written about him. But despite the fact that Rudolf Nureyev’s life passed in the merciless spotlight, the secret of his personality remained a secret. Nureyev had too many faces, but what was he really like? A generous egoist, a generous miser, a shy brawler, a noble scoundrel... In “The Dancer,” fiction is closely intertwined with facts. Colum McCann observes Nureyev through the eyes of people who have always been in the deep shadow. Their voices tell the story of how a desperate and lonely boy from a poor family gradually turns into a great artist, merciless to himself and the whole world, trying to make the beautiful world go round with his dance.