5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a must read
This was a compelling and moving memoir, filled with humor and nuance. Not to be missed!
Giraud Lorber
The Dressing Drink
A memoir of glamour, secrets, and survival.
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Dressing Drink is lush, intimate, and unsettling — a dazzling portrait of glamour and loneliness, control and longing. Flagg’s writing sparkles with wit and sorrow, offering a haunting, theatrical memoir that lingers like the ritual at its heart.
A deeply personal memoir, The Dressing Drink traces a life shaped by old Hollywood glamour, hidden family histories, and long-buried truths.
Spanning decades—from elite society to backstage dressing rooms—Thomas King Flagg uncovers a story of identity, survival, and the forces that shaped his path.
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What if the truth you were hiding could set you free?
Start with the opening chapter of The Dressing Drink and experience the story before you dive in.
A life shaped by glamour, secrecy, and long-buried truths.
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About the Book
Born into a world of privilege and performance, Thomas King Flagg grew up surrounded by glamour, secrecy, and contradiction.
From the legacy of old Hollywood to the realities behind it, The Dressing Drink explores themes of identity, power, loss, and resilience—uncovering a deeply personal story shaped across decades.
Both intimate and expansive, the memoir reveals the truth behind a life lived between spotlight and shadow.
Reviews
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Dressing Drink is a book you will remember long after you set it down.
A rare glimpse into the life of a complex being. It may have taken 40 years to write the book, but it is a look back at what makes us who we are today. When one thinks of their ancestors and the complexity of their beings, intertwined in our own, we are left with a longing to be with them and to see them again. It’s not easy to pick up the pieces of a shattered childhood nor is it an easy voyage to adulthood, but to examine what actually happened and to reckon with the past, is something that takes courage to do. Well done!
Bonnie M.
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow, a diamond
Masterful example of visual writing. Beautifully done. Could not put the book down.
Tim P
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bravo, Thomas King Flagg!
“The Dressing Drink” transcends the boundaries of a typical memoir… a hauntingly beautiful exploration of a fractured past, woven with nostalgia and longing. From the glamour of old Hollywood to the hidden truths that shaped our world, Flagg writes with raw vulnerability and lyrical insight, turning grief and chaos into a transformative journey of self-discovery. A hauntingly beautiful memoir—raw, lyrical, and transformative. A triumph of truth-telling and an undeniable page-turner.
Scott M.
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
One of a kind Autobiography
This is a fabulous, heart breaking, exhilarating, funny and utterly endearing story you will not be able to put down. It would make a great limited series! Highly recommended!
Kate
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Society and Theater
Tommy is an excellent writing with a captivating family history that kept me turning pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this as it combined high society and the theater world as he sought understanding. Great read, hope many enjoy this engaging memoir.
Paul Joseph Viola
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reader Views
A revealing memoir about Flagg’s dysfunctional upbringing... detailed, literary, and emotionally rich. Flagg lets his family speak for themselves, stripping away the glamor to reveal raw, compelling humanity. A perfect tribute to two complex lives lived on the edge of spotlight and shadow.
Julie Sara Porter, Reader Views
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Raised by poodles & loved by UBE & Mira
A rare glimpse into the life of a complex being. It may have taken 40 years to write the book, but it is a look back at what makes us who we are today. When one thinks of their ancestors and the complexity of their beings, intertwined in our own, we are left with a longing to be with them and to see them again. It’s not easy to pick up the pieces of a shattered childhood nor is it an easy voyage to adulthood, but to examine what actually happened and to reckon with the past, is something that takes courage to do. Well done!!!!
Mark Twain
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Literary Titan!
The Dressing Drink is lush, intimate, and unsettling — a dazzling portrait of glamour and loneliness, control and longing. Flagg’s writing sparkles with wit and sorrow, offering a haunting, theatrical memoir that lingers like the ritual at its heart.
Literary Titan
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Where Loss Meets Resilience-A Toast to Survival
The Dressing Drink transcends the boundaries of a typical memoir… a hauntingly beautiful exploration of a fractured past, woven with nostalgia and longing. Flagg writes with raw vulnerability and lyrical insight… the ‘dressing drink’ becomes a powerful metaphor for preparing oneself to face life’s challenges. Balancing tragedy with moments of light, this courageous book is a triumph of truth-telling and an undeniable page-turner.
Dancedoglady
Beyond the Book
Discover Thomas King Flagg’s work across performance, education, and global dance initiatives.
