This biography investigates the complex professional and personal life of George S. Kaufman, one of the most influential playwrights and directors of the American theater in the early 20th century. Malcolm Goldstein, a scholar of American drama, utilizes a wealth of primary source material, including private correspondence and extensive interviews with Kaufman's inner circle, to construct a comprehensive portrait. The book argues that Kaufman's wit and collaborative spirit were the primary engines behind the success of the Broadway stage during his era, while also examining the private anxieties that fueled his creative output.

Experts and theater historians frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the mechanics of the American stage during the mid-20th century. Readers often note the thoroughness of the research and the balanced, objective tone maintained throughout the narrative.