Book Description

In this vibrant, engaging biography of Albert Camus, the internationally acclaimed author of The Stranger, The Plague, and The Fall, French writer and journalist Olivier Todd has richly tapped resources never before available-personal correspondence, notebooks, public records--as well as exclusive interviews with Camus's family, friends, fellow workers, mentors, and lovers. What emerges is the study of a man caught in conflicts between family loyalties and his own passionate nature, between the call to political action and devotion to his art, between his support of the native Algerians and his identification with the forgotten poor whites. Exploring Camus's impoverished childhood in the Algerian city of Belcourt, his underground activities during the Occupation in Paris, the intrigues of the French literati who embraced him after the publication of his first novel, L'Etranger, Todd uncovers the solitary private man behind the mask of his celebrity. He shows us a writer isolated by his own success, crippled by the charms of women he could not resist, debilitated by the tuberculosis that did not kill him. The auto accident that did adds only to the ironies in the life of this international giant of twentieth-century literature. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Read the French Edition of this book.
The only real problem I have with this book was that the American edition has been abridged. Over 150 pages have been cut. As a result much of the portrait of Camus as a philosopher has been deleted. So I would recomend reading the French edition if at all possible

a biography of a biographer
If you want camus' angle on his life, read the first man, if you want an outsiders opinion, oliver todd is as good as it gets. Todd is a stickler for detail which is what anyone reading a biography really wants, so it's a must read on my list

An excellent job of capturing Camus....
This book provides an interesting portrait of someone whom most would now qualify as one of the more interesting (if not most important) authors of the twentieth century. This book documents his early life (somewhat disappointingly for anyone who has read 'The First Man'-- Camus' own account) through his dallainces with careers and women to his litery triumphs.

This is a well-written and researched book, with the only negative from me that Camus comes out a lot less heroic and a lot more bitter and stereotypically hepcat and existentialist, which was a disappointment for I, who had raised him toward being a god....

A must read for anyone interested in Camus....

A great book about a great Author
Mr. Todd has written a wonderful account of Albert Camus' life. From his beginnings, throughout his life and his writings, to his untimely death and beyond, he includes all the information you would ever want to know about this Existentialist author. Anyone interested in French Authors, Existentialism, or just interested in Camus' life and times should pick up this book.

An outstanding and important piece of work
If you ever wanted to know anything about Albert Camus, this is the book to read. An exceptional job of research and writing. I hated to see it end. Oliver Todd is an excellent writer and his book a joy to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Covering all aspects of America's new--and controversial--President's wife, this comprehensive biography offers an unprecedented view of our first baby boomer First Lady, and provides a better understanding of lawyer, board member, and commision member Hillary Clinton. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent updated summary of the H. Clinton career.
Good anecdotal material coupled with some excellent insights into the First Lady's life and personality.

Very good
I read this book twice, and I loved it both times! ... Read more

Book Description

This is the absorbing, touching story of a lonely boy from a troubled family who found the secret of making people laugh - and dreamed of becoming a comedy star.

When Jim Carrey's father (himself a frustrated performer) lost his job, the whole homeless family was enlisted to work as night cleaners at a factory in exchange for lodging in a strange suburb. Scrubbing washrooms by night turned Jim Carrey into a desperate and angry school dropout, and made Jim determined to succeed in a new life.

Jim developed a series of celebrity impressions that led to his comedy club breakthrough when he was 19. But his drive for the big time took him to Los Angeles, where he scuffled in comedy clubs and then landed a role in the hip TV series "In Living Color." That paved the way for a phenomenal movie breakthrough with the surprise hit "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective." More hits followed: "Mask," "Dumb and Dumber" and "Liar, Liar. "

Now, after his dramatic performance in "The Truman Show," Jim Carrey's career is taking an intriguing new direction. His role as the late comedian Andy Kaufman in the forthcoming "Man In The Moon" is already being described as Oscar material this March. Hilarious and poignant, "Jim Carrey: The Joker Is Wild" tells for the first time the full, astounding inside story of Jim Carrey's bumpy rise to stardom. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Surviving Through Poverty
Growing up in poverty is not an easy thing to do. You wouldn't think that very many, if any, "famous people" would grow up being poor. Well, Jim Carrey is one of many who did. Growing up for him wasn't easy at all. It was always in his genes to become a comedian. But his first gig didn't go as planned, it was very disappointing. He dropped out of school at the age of sixteen, trying to pursue his career in comedy. He continued to go to the club where he was made a fool of. His comedy breakthrough came at the age of 19. His big jump off was when he got a role in a TV series, "In Living Color." This got him started for other movies such, as "Mask," and "Liar, Liar." As they all say, the rest is history.
The thing that I liked most about Jim Carrey, was that he never gave up on his dream of being a comedian. At home, everybody thought that he was the funniest person ever. But when he went to his first gig at Yuk-Yuk's, it wasn't what he thought. It was a humiliating time for him. But he didn't let that stop him. When he was a little older, he went back to that club and performed again. He then became a regular there. This proves to show you that you should never give up on your dreams. Just because you have one bad night or act, it doesn't mean you have to give up on your dream.
Something that disturbed me about Jim Carrey was that he dropped out of school. I mean, it was his own choice but then again it sends the wrong message to children. By him doing this, and kids reading it he is saying that you can still make even if you drop out of school. The thing is that we want kids to stay in school and get an education for themselves. But people make their own decisions in life. It is up to them and what they want to do in the future.

The Review
I am a big Jim Carrey Fan and reading this book I realized I didn't know as much about him as I thought i did. This biography was well written and very detailed, you get to know Jim as you go through the book, from his succeses, his failures, his life as a celebrity. you also get to know how much he struggled over the years and how hard it was for him and just how hard it is to become a comedian. I definitley reccomend redaing htis book, it is good from the minute you open and close it from cover to cover.

If you like good writing . . .
Then find another book. Mr. Knelman seems incapable of painting his prose anything but purple. I couldn't get past the first chapter. There's a good book about Mr. Carrey waiting to be written; but this isn't it.

The REAL Jim Carrey
For anyone who thinks Jim Carrey led a charmed life before getting where he is today, this book is a definite read. It opens a lot of doors into understanding his acting style, why he does comedy and why he is an actor.....he lives for attention and approval, and all his fans are happy to give that to him. He came from the school of REAL hard knocks. This makes me admire him all the more for perserving in the face of multiple adversities and giving us the performances we love to watch over and over. My personal favorite of all is The Truman Show, and the Majestic is right up there too. Catching up on his old films after reading this book, and I can see where he was coming from in his life at the time. The author did a tremendous job of writing this bio and I truly thank him for shedding light on someone I thought was "just another pretty face"....a wonderful bio on Mr. Carrey. I hope he gives some thought to bringing it up to date at some point. Jim Carrey I salute you for your wonderful acting. Great book; simply great.

Excellent book!
Martin Knelman is a wonderful writer and of all the books I have read about Jim Carrey, his was the best written and most interesting of them all. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who either loves Jim Carrey or who would just like to know more about him and his amazing rise to fame from out of terrible hardships. Book has lots of insight, some photos and a list of films. ... Read more

Book Description

Behind the headlines, there was one fascinating woman. This is her story.

Monica Lewinsky. You know her name, you know her face, and you think you know her story: the pretty young intern who began an illicit affair with the President of the United States-- a liaison that ignited an unprecedented political scandal and found Bill Clinton as the second U.S. president to ever be impeached. But there is much more to the Monica Lewinsky story than just that. Now, Andrew Morton, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Diana: Her True Story, takes you beyond the headlines and the sound bites to discover the real Monica Lewinsky, a woman as interesting, intelligent, and misunderstood as they come.

Read Monica's Story and you'll discover:

* How a difficult childhood shaped Monica's tumultuous adult romances
* Her relationship with Bill Clinton: how she saw a side to him few know-- and why she sometimes still misses her "Handsome"
* The betrayal by Linda Tripp-- and how Monica's trusting nature snared her in Tripp's treacherous web
* The horror of Kenneth Starr's exhaustive and intrusive inquiry-- how it affected her and her family, and how it still haunts her
* Where Monica will go from here: What are her career plans? Will she realize her dream of marrying and starting a family in the wake of the scandal?
* And much, much more

With sixteen pages of photos.
... Read more

Reviews (77)

Walk A Mile In HER Shoes
Everyone knows that there are 3 sides to every story: theirs, yours, and the truth. This book tells Monica's Story . . . and make no mistake about it, it needs to be told.

Having worked with politicians for many years, I feel that it has more than just a ring of truth to it. Whether or not one chooses to believe it, Monica was one of the victims in this fiasco. Not an innocent victim, but a victim none-the-less.

Was she young, naive, and impressionable? Most definetely. Was she wrong to have an affair with Bill Clinton? No more so than anyone else who has an affair, because - like it or not - she's human like the rest of us. Is it easy for others to throw stones? Apparently so.

In this book, you'll discover how Monica was able to develop a relationship with the President of the United States, what she was thinking, what went wrong, and how her life and that of her family and close friends was subsequently affected.

You'll also get an up-close-and-personal look into the life experiences that helped shape Monica into the young woman she WAS and the woman she has BECOME.

But perhaps most disturbing of all, you'll see just how far Ken Starr was willing to go in his obsession to ruin Bill Clinton.

Andrew Morton tells Monica's Story with candor and precision, leading us expertly through events that won't be documented in history books. He shows us that Monica wasn't/isn't some ogre to be reviled . . . simply a young woman who had the misfortune of falling in love with the most powerful man in the world. Someone that, unfortunately, others had a vendetta against and, because pf that, she paid dearly.

It is a story of passion, obsession, betrayal, and corruption. It happened to Monica . . . and it could happen to you.

Excellent insight into Kenneth Starr's tactics
I highly recommend this book, as I found it to be an excellent read. I wanted to read the book so I could see exactly how the Independent Counsel's office treats people targeted by it. I found out by reading the book that it was much worse than I thought, and I was disappointed that this happens in America. Regarding Monica's personal behavior, people are commonly of the opinion that Monica Lewinsky shouldn't have had an affair with a married man, shouldn't have shown him the top of her thong, shouldn't have done a lot of things. I wonder if the most intimate, secret, private lives of these common critics would stand up to similar scrutiny. She made mistakes, and the book tends to be somewhat apologist, but any woman reading the book who was ever young and in love with the wrong man, and found herself unable and unwilling to extricate herself in a healthy manner, will be nodding her head throughout the book. I think that people who are so quick to judge should step back, take a breath, and think about the mistakes they have made in their lives and be thankful those mistakes were not specified in explicit detail before Congress, and broadcast live on CNN. The greatest thing I took from this book, though, was a true fear at the lack of checks and balances in the Independent Counsel statute, and how Orwellian the system really is.

Puritanical virtues alive and well, but the economy?
This book was quite dumb, and all that it does is emphasize how dumb people can be. If you're a Republican right-winger who's more interested in a president's, a man's, sexcapades than what he does with the economy, then read on by all means. This mindless book was made for you.

A Valuable Historical Document
This fine biography illuminates for us a portrait of a man who is the quintessential, literal embodiment of all the Democrat Party's morals, ethics, ideologies and standards -- along with the woman who does the same for all Democrat females. It is a valuable historical reference. Don't miss it.

Monica RULZ
Any woman in her early twenties, who has ever fallen in love with a man who is married and forbidden by conventional ethical and professional standards, will find empathy in this book.

Whatever side of truth or political scenario this book attempts to portray, I primarily read it as a romance and enjoyed it more than ever. The book's appeal lies in the dynamics of the affair between the young intern and the president, rather than any political truth-finding. Maybe, there are too many 'truths' out there, and who are we to judge which one is true. This is Monica's version, so why quibble about absolute realities?

The book certainly does a good job of revealing her a human figure rather than a man-hunting slut responsible for the impreachment of Clinton.

Why marvel Marie Antoinette and Josephine, and not Monica? I admire Monica Lewinsky as a person who enjoys poetry, loves life, watches her weight, experiments with men, and most of all braves what the world thinks of her. I really think people ought to stop thinking of her as a sex symbol.

Tragic as the love story's end is, Monica RULZ!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Christopher Columbus, Mariner
Christopher Colubus, Mariner, is a very enlightening novel concerning Christopher columbus and his travels that made him immortal. By reading this book, I discovered many interesting facts about Columbus. Columbus, known by many different names, was not the Mr. Perfect that some people make him out to be. In fact,his life was far from perfection. As Morison's epic story unfolds , the reader becomes more and more connected with the hero. He was a normal person,seeking a place in the world.The readers also get the chance to balance on the edge of their seats as Columbus deals with mutiny,battles with cannibals, befriends natives, and rescues beautiful girls. He faces diseases, mosquitoes, storms, and quicksand. This wonderful, interesting work of art certainly does old Chris justice. Unfortunately, Columbus is'nt here to read it, nor did he receive the respect or the recognition he deserved at the time that he lived.But, like many renowned people- Mozart, Beethoven, and Van Go to name a few- he received his due credit after death.

Mariner yes, but none else.
This is one of several books I have been reading to answer the currently raging debate over Christopher Columbus, explorer or Indian slaughterer? Written in the late 1940's, the author Morison spends the first pages of this book hailing Columbus as the "Discoverer of the New World", which we know is not true. Page 1 also states that "This was the most spectacular and most far-reaching geographical discovery ever recorded in human history." This and other terms of unbridled honor almost turned me off, but I later found that Morison balances his opinions well with candid observations of what Columbus did poorly. He clearly points out that Columbus was a terrible scientist and mathemetician, poor governer over people, a self defeating negotiator, and an absolute failure as a colony planner. Although Columbus was generally very compassionate toward the natives, his short comings eventually lead to absolute bedlam in the "Indies" and when faced with this strife, Columbus and his two brothers responded by killing both natives and Spaniards, which further lead to the expulsion of the Columbus brothers from the region. I found the book to be extremely informative and it gave me a clear picture of how Columbus came to be a hero, victim and tyrant at the same time. Morison makes the conclusion that Columbus was an extroardinary seaman and mariner, and he would have been best served if he had stuck with only that. Every other enterprise Columbus tried only lead to failure and shame. I highly recommend the book despite its antiquated writing style. Buy it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Well done biography of Clinton
This is a very well written biography of Hillary Rodham Clinton's life from childhood to the aftermath of the Monica scandal. It portrays Clinton as a woman of uncommon intellect and empathy. Warner shows Clinton's dream of a better well-being for America's children, and her personal and not so personal successes and failures. I believe Warner does show the "real" Hillary Clinton.

Another Book About Hillary Another Enigma?
Well, the books on Hillary are coming too fast and furious to read all of them. Yet, better to learn more than less. What I cannot understand is why people just do not leave her alone and let the people decide when she runs for election. Speaking of elections, Hillary should switch from running for the Senate of New York to running for The Presidency of the United States. Why? Because she has a great opportunity to win based on her their power of incumbency. No can manipulate people, votes and power better than these two political gurus. If she loses the Senate race and when he leaves the seat of power, like what is in the book, the choice for Americans will be to not recall the past. She is viable, willing and able to win the Presidency now not in 2004. The book discloses such insight between the lines. She has the right to put forth her agenda and have it accepted or rejected by the voters. Read it, it will not provide you with the greatest of stories but it is interesting.

A thoughtful book about Hillary Clinton's work and life
This book portrays Hillary Clinton as an intelligent, complex, strong, sensitive person. Her identity as a thoughtful, dedicated public servant has been derailed by marital troubles, the harrowing pursuit by partisan bloodhounds, and the fickle opinion of the press and public. This is a book about the stigma that still exists in being a smart, bold woman. It is a sad, frustrating story about misunderstandings, personal foibles, and distortions of Clinton motives and activities created by politics and the media. A believable portrait of Hillary Clinton as a lively, spirited individual who cast her fate with a man whose ideals she shares, suffering pain and doubt that the public and press presume to be privy to but don't understand. We see her expend her incredible energy and talents in public service, only to have her intentions twisted. The book details a great body of work she's done in the areas of family and child advocacy, which endears her as a truly dedicated public servant. I want my daughter to read this book and to learn to persevere, as I cheer Hillary Clinton on to do. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Johnny Cash fans will love this book!
"Johnny Cash" by Frank Moriarty is a large, coffee table format book about country music's biggest living legend. It is filled with excellent photos and concise text chronicling Cash's incredible career. Fans will love it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Little Gem
A wonderful collection of the random thoughts of a brilliant writer..he later used these notes to create his masterpieces, unforgettable and poignant, a treasure to have in one's library.

don't bother
Larry McMurtry once wrote that one should never set out to read everything written by a particular author. Of course that was Larry McMurtry and I have come to realize that he was right about himself and many other authors. "Notebooks 1935-1942" is evidence that it is true even about Albert Camus. Enthralled by "The Stranger" and "The Plague", I set out to read everything by this author. I blamed myself for not enjoying his complicated essays. I also blame myself for thinking that this collection of random thoughts, scenarios, and quotes would be worth the time it took to read it. There are occassional observations of note but they are lost in the lack of continuity of thought. The art of literature lies not in having great ideas. The art of literature lies in creating stories and scenarios that enable the reader to discover the truths the author would like discovered.

For students of Camus there could be some benefits in reading this "book". The first part of the notebook generally focuses on material used in "A Happy Death" while the very latter part of the notebook generally focuses on material used in "The Plague".

So many Books, so little time. Don't waste your time on this one. ... Read more

Book Description

Martin Gilbert's landmark eight- volume biography of Winston Churchill is considered one of the greatest ever written. And the story behind it is every bit as fascinating as its celebrated subject. In Search of Churchill is the critically acclaimed tale of the author's thirty-year quest for one of the legendary leaders and dominant personalities of the twentieth century. This brilliant account is at once a striking portrayal of Winston Churchill as seen through the eyes of those closest to him and a rare, inside look at "the Agatha Christie side of the historian's art" (London Financial Times).

In Search of Churchill reveals the staggering extent of Gilbert's research, an epic undertaking that he began in 1962 as Randolph Churchill's assistant. From that auspicious beginning to the exultant moment when, some twenty-five years later, the author "reached the final file in the bottom drawer of the last filing cabinet," we witness the extraordinary process of countless interviews, of digging ever more deeply to dispel the myths and stereotypes, of alternately charming and cajoling those sources reluctant to confide.

Now, share some of the great moments in Martin Gilbert's pursuit, and meet an unforgettable cast of characters along the way: secretaries, assistants, diarists, correspondents, soldiers, politicians, civil servants; the eminent and the unknown. All had tales to tell, many appearing for the first time in this book.

Through these intimate recollections a remarkable pattern emerges. The impressions Churchill made on those he met, even as an adolescent, were indelible. From schoolmates to members of parliament, family friends to casual acquaintances, all were convinced he was unique —and a true man of destiny. Here, then, is an un-paralleled opportunity to view the complex character of the man behind the public persona—seen at his most unguarded moments.

Filled with intriguing anecdotes that could not be included in the formal biography, In Search of Churchill unfolds with vigorous enthusiasm and unbounded affection for its subject. It is must reading, not only for Churchill devotees, but for all those interested in the art of biography.

The critically acclaimed story behind the writing of one of the greatest biographies of the twentieth century

"The process of finding out about any historical character can be a surprising one. . . . In this book I share some of my experiences, in the hope that they may be of interest or amusement, and that something further will emerge from them of the character, struggles, and achievements of Churchill himself." —Martin Gilbert, from the Preface

Praise for In Search of Churchill

"Gilbert here gives us Churchill's vast humanity with the politics largely left out. Readers daunted by the 8,000-odd pages of the official life should start here. They will love it." —The Times (London)

"The work [Gilbert] has done puts all historians of the 20th century, and all students of Churchill, incalculably in his debt." —London Sunday Telegraph

"The portrait of Winston Churchill is . . . vivid and painted with an affection and humour that rarely appear in the official biography." —London Daily Telegraph ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Discovering the Real Winston!
The life of Winston Churchill was so eventful and the available documents relating to his life so voluminous, that penning a complete and unabridged biography of Churchill is truly a lifetime task. So it has been for British historian Martin Gilbert, charged with the task of being Churchill?s official biographer. In this book, Gilbert recounts the events by which he came to become the most extensive living resource of Churchill knowledge and artifacts.

Gilbert came to his task in a roundabout way. Fresh out of Oxford in the early sixties, the young historian concedes he knew comparatively little about Churchill as the great man was not a highly regarded figure among the Oxford academy at that time. Churchill?s son Randolph had been hired by a publishing house to write the multi volume official biography of his father. Gilbert was hired as one of several research assistants. Expecting to stay with Randolph only a short time, Gilbert ended up working with him for more than half a decade. In the first part of the book, Gilbert describes the experience of working with the mercurial and difficult Randolph in putting together the first volumes covering Churchill?s early life. On Randolph?s death in 1968, Gilbert was asked by the publisher to take over the project. Gilbert agreed to do so and a lifetime task was set before him. In ensuing chapters, Gilbert describes his frustrations and pleasures at the enormous amount of written materials by or about Churchill. Perhaps no other historical figure has such an extensive archive. As recounted by Gilbert, his explorations of Churchill?s letters and papers taught him much, not only about Churchill?s impact on British and world history but about Churchill?s character. Yet as Gilbert states, no historical figure can be brought to life merely on the basis of written documents. Fortunately for Gilbert, at the time he did much of his research, in the sixties, many of the people in Churchill?s life were still alive to be interviewed. This includes many of his secretaries, a number of military and political figures with whom he worked and his wife and children. From decades of research, Gilbert emerged with a compelling portrait of a truly great character. A man, not without his faults but still a great liberal, a great democrat, a great leader and a great family man. The book is filled with anecdotes and quotes from Churchill. As one example, Gilbert discovered a letter of response from Labour Prime Minister Ramsey McDonald praising Churchill for his kindness and friendship. Gilbert never found the original letter Churchill wrote to McDonald but wonders what it could have said to elicit such a response from a man Churchill had referred to in open Parliament as ?the boneless wonder?.

Anyone who admirers Winston Churchill and Martin Gilbert must read this book. It is an absolute necessity to any Churchill library. Anyone who would like to learn a little about one of the 20th centuries truly great figures should read it as well.

Take a 30 year literary ride
Biographers spend years, and in this case decades, to bring their work, their subject to us. The manner their books came about is generally shared in their acknowledgement, or a section thanking those people and institutions that were instrumental in helping create the work. Sir Martin Gilbert is one of the great Historians of our time, and his main work as a historian is certainly a man that is truly unique, a historic original, a man who's peers can be counted on one hand.

"In Search Of Churchill" allows the reader to get about as close as he can to the writing of a biography without actually being one of Sir Martin's assistants. His work documenting Churchill is about to cross into its fifth decade. Sir Martin began as an assistant to Sir Winston Spencer Churchill's Son Randolph in 1962. In 1968 he took the task on alone, and has carried it forth, and continues to do so to this day.

Alone of course is the wrong word, while he certainly has written thousands of pages of what many consider the greatest biographical work ever done, hundreds of others living, and others through the papers they left behind, have helped Mr. Gilbert on this lifetime task. Churchill has not been the only subject of this great biographer which is yet another testimony to this historian.

Churchill is a constant, he is quoted almost daily, his speeches are legendary, as are his quips, which were at times poked in fun, and at others ended the careers of their target. Mr. Gilbert works toward answering questions that may not have a definitive answer, but if there is an individual to put forth valid opinion, none are more qualified than he. Why is Churchill a figure of history that has not been relegated to the past's vague memory, why does he routinely appear on magazine covers in this Country and others on a yearly basis? What was it about this man that has spawned an International Churchill Society who counts thousands on Continents around the world as paying members? Why are their new books on this man written on a regular basis, and how many authors have their books in print a century after they were written. Great Author's works line the shelves, but writing was an avocation for this man in addition to his other talents.

Mr. Gilbert brings you along to "meet" people who worked with Mr. Churchill. As his life spanned from the 1870's to the 1960's those who knew him are legion. He was Prime Minister twice, held nearly every major Government position, won the Nobel prize, painted, and held the fort for the Western Democracies until help finally came. If such a man had not lived so large and so long he would almost be more believable as legend and or myth rather than the Statesman, warrior, orator, and one of England's greatest citizens that he continues to be, in some cases in memory only. He did have a head start, as his Mother was American, and perhaps that makes us in the USA feel we can claim him as partly ours.

The embassy in Washington D.C. has a statue of Churchill, in mid-stride he has one foot on American soil and one on the territory of the English Embassy. In life his influence, his determination, and sense of destiny spanned the Globe. Even in death he spans the 2 Countries he loved the most.

His like will never be seen again.

A Must Read
If you enjoy biograhpies or Churchill, this is a book for you. Gilbert has come across some fascinating material in his pursuit of the great man. It is also interesting to see how exactly a biography is written. The book starts out focusing more on the author, but works its way into Churchill. Gilbert steps away from merely events in his life and through letters and those who knew him best, gets down to the inner man. The best part is a letter Churchill dictated when he was only a small boy where he predicts a great deal of his future. Gibert goes right to the heart of Churchill.

Myths and Lies debunked
Churchill has always been somewhat of an enigma; undoubtedly a brilliant politician who, more than any other figure in contemporary 20th Century History, helped shape the lives of millions. Much has previously been made of disasters associated with his decisions both militarily and politically. Through Mr. Gilbert's brilliant research and analysis, however, many of these are shown to have been fabrications or nothing other than spurious lies. Through these pages you learn that he was the "scapegoat" for the Dardanelles debacle and that he was a far more compassionate and human individual than some would have us believe. His treatment of social issues, including organised labour, was before its time and he was certainly not the "heartless" war-monger so often portrayed in this revisionist era. Surely the greatest historical debate would be to pitch Mr. Gilbert against the most articulate revisionist, Mr David Irving: I have no doubt, having read this excellent book, that Gilbert would secure a knock-out in the first round. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

An honest attempt to de-deify Callas
I remember the first time I read this book I became angry because I thought Scott was trying to make Callas less important than she had always been in my eyes. It is good to see something through another's eyes, particularly when they belong to a very incisive, observant writer. I have have gone back over the ensuing years and re-read chapters. Each time I find an item that makes me stop and think about my position on Callas. I still love Callas above any other singer, but I am much more honest in my admiration for her art. It wouldn't hurt some of her hysterical followers to examine the reasons behind their rabid worship of a person, who was after all, just human. Maria herself disliked being called "Divina" I am very offended by those who hurl epithets at anyone who dares not to worship at the altar of their godesses. To call a work this well researched and thought out "garbage" displays a small mind indeed.

Disrespectful, factually incorrect, and strangely biased...
The one thing that Scott's biography of Callas has going for it is that he mostly sticks to Callas the artist, and avoids the gossip and speculation surrounding her personal life. However, what exists is a choppy, extremely opinionated, narrow minded repetition of all the same facts that are better found in other sources. He mentions that Callas "mistakes artfullness for artistry" about 100 times too. He basically feels that the deepening of her interpretation as her voice grew weaker was not real, and that her lyric and dramatic interpretation became more false as time went on. As the book plods on rehashing the same old information we have read over and over again elsewhere.

I own almost all the Callas biographies that have appeared in English, and I hated this book so much that I pulled out the photo section in the center to keep the pictures, and sent the book to the recycling center the day after I had the misfortune to purchase it.

Carefully researched study of Callas the musician
Michael Scott's book on the life and career of Maria Callas holds a strong appeal for the musician. Although he orders his study chronologically and includes quite a bit of biographical detail, this is not a book for gossip lovers. Instead, Scott dispassionately evaluates Callas' singing in general and major performances and roles in particular.

Scott's basic thesis is that Callas reached her vocal peak early, in the first part of the 1950s, and her great weight loss was in large part responsible for a general vocal decline thereafter, at first slow, then precipitous after her divorce from Meneghini.
At times his viewpoint provides a useful corrective to stories that have been handed down and repeated that are not exactly true--his take on the infamous Rome Norma of January 1958 is a striking example. His opinion that the root cause of many of the "scandals" that dogged her career was escalating vocal trouble certainly deserves serious consideration.

On the other hand, Scott is too quick to dismiss much of Callas' work from the later 1950s. By then, the early, prodigious vocal endowment had somewhat diminished, true; but for most opera lovers these years were the time when her still responsive voice was matched with her most exquisite musicianship.

Most readers will disagree, perhaps vehemently, with some of Scott's judgements and opinions; yet, by virtue of his firsthand witnessing of many of Callas' performances and determined avoidance of scandalmongering, his book joins a select company of work by Fitzgerald, Ardoin, Jellinek and a few others as one that sheds true light on the art of this much-discussed singer.

Serious but flawed view of an important artist
Impresario Scott has done good research here. The book is a serious study of Callas the uncompromisingly committed musician, rather than Callas the celebrity or "tragic figure." In addition, Scott makes some important points about the nature of performance practice, including a brief evaluation of Toscanini's legacy, calling him to task for discarding earlier traditions--both good and bad--in the name of "textual accuracy": a bold and accurate statement. Yet Scott is harsher than necessary when discussing the work of the thin post-1953 Callas. Despite some losses in her post-1953 (and pre-1960) voice, his view is unnecessarily narrow, dismissing some of her most brilliant artistic achievements. Finally, the book is in serious need of editing. Many sentences are fragmentary and cryptic, the punctuation used in a rather haphazard fashion. There are also a number of factual errors and inconsistencies.

The Ultimate Callas Reading.
This is the best book on Callas currently available. And do you want to know why?

Because it concentrates on Callas the Musician.

Not Callas the supposedly famous workaholic. Of course she rehearsed all hours of the day and night, what was the alternative? The leering Meneghini? Did she sleep with him often? I bet she did! You can't stay at La Scala rehearsing all day. Mercifully not Santa Maria di Galatopulos either. Nor Callas the cheapskate who has been mugged by her friends with sawdust filled socks,[Stancioff and Robert Sutherland], Still less Little Maria the tiresome daughter, sister, cousin! wife.

Callas the musician, whose voice disintegrated while she was singing. Callas who sang for a short time in Europe and America for about a decade or so after the end of the war. Callas, who, while mouthing platitudes about being faithful to 'the composer' didn't hesitate to take the scissors to score after score. Callas who stopped singing to go on a cruise and didn't see the opera world speed up and got sadly stranded.

Scott clearly loves Callas, and is refreshingly clear sighted about her. He is not blind to her faults, vocal or otherwise, and it's time someone shot down the image of Walter Legge as Callas's recording Svengali. She'd have been better off staying at Cetra almost. There are some strange double standards in opera. For years people carped about Joan Sutherland's choice of her husband as her conductor, but no-one ever thinks to quibble about Rescigno's Charlie McArthur like contribution to Callas' art. Listen to Callas's recordings with Tonini and hear the difference.

There are a few inaccuracies in this book, more editorial than factual, but I can live with them.

It's good to see Callas discussed frankly, and without denigrating her artistic achievements Scott made me aware of how unnecessary Callas's tragedy actually was. Let's face it, she was almost an Upper Class Version Of Judy Garland. Almost.

I've always been able to take or leave Callas, and if it weren't for Scott, and Wisneski, Ardoin and Fitzgerald, and Ardoin's Callas Legacy, I would be increasingly leaving her. But I don't. I'm too fascinated by this woman, as we all are, lets face it, who managed to have a career in spite of herself.

This is the book on Callas that, more than any other, will stand the test of time, because as younger people discover her art for themselves, names like Walter Legge, Onassis, Rudolf Bing, Meneghini et al will be forgotten figures of the past. As Scott cleverly points out: We have her recordings and that's enough. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

American Moralist in the White House
"Jimmy Carter - American moralist" is an excellently researched and well written biography of the 39th American president. It provides us with a fine introduction to the ex-president's private and public life. The book is very detailed in exploring Carter's childhood and early political career. Although I found that part interesting to read, I wish it had been as detailed on the account of his presidency. As a born-again Christian there is no doubt that morality played (and still plays) a major role both in Carter's private as well as public life. Unfortunately, strong moral and ethics is not enough to make a good leader and president (I think Bill Clinton is the best example on that...)

President Carter endured the lowest poll ratings ever to be recorded. And after leaving office he spent years as America's favorite guy to pick on. He dedicated himself to volunteer work, especially working with the organization "Habitat for Humanity". More than a decade would pass before he again, in the mid-90'ies, would enjoy life in the public limelight. In 1994 Atlanta Georgia, he got his (long overdue) tribute in bronze, his public ratings was again soaring, and he received invitations to join peace negotiating teams etc.

"Jimmy Carter - American moralist" (together with Powell's "My American Journey") was my introduction to reading about American politics and history. In this book, the author strikes a perfect balance between political jargon, facts and figures. And the result is a biography easy to read, even for lay readers like me. I learned a lot from reading this book, and it inspired me to continue to explore the field further.

An interesting biography!

A fresh look at a forgotten president
Jimmy Who? That was the question many American asked themselves during the 1976 presidential campaign. Who was this obscure southern governor positioning himself into the highest office in the land? Twenty-five years later, many Americans find themselves asking this exact same question despite a presidential term and a prominent life in volunteer work. While a full understanding of Jimmy Carter is impossible, Mr. Morris provides a fine introduction to his life. The author puts a strong emphasis on the role morality played both in Carter's private life and public image. The book is especially strong in exploring Carter's childhood and early political career - a topic that is neglected in every other Carter book. Less emphasis is placed on Carter's presidential term. Major incidents that shaped the late 1970s receive only a few pages each. What are we to make of Jimmy Carter's presidency? Even though the Southern Baptist may have been the most ethical and decent man to occupy the White House this century, the record is wanting, at best, miserable at worst. This is because Carter lacked any core vision of where he wanted to take his country. He never explained to voters or to himself the direction he wanted to take us. Further, in cases where Carter was more assertive, like energy policy, he was inexperienced in how Washington politics worked. He stumbled badly in his Congressional relations and he never constructed a loyal constituency out of the American public. There were some positives, such as the Egypt-Israel peace accords and legislation deregulating the airline and trucking industries. The Iran Hostage affair was a perplexing situation that would have frustrated any leader. But on economics and Cold War relations, the most important issues of Carter's term, his administration was especially inept. Even though Carter had private misgivings about Keynesianism, he couldn't bring himself to repudiate the tenets of social liberalism. Government spending surged under Carter's term. Inflation proved resistant to his wage and price contols. Under Carter's foreign policy team, detente continued to be a one-way street working to Moscow's advantage. It took a man with a far different perspective of the world, Ronald Regan, to reverse Carter's shortcomings. It is unfair to label Jimmy Carter a failure. Only the harshest critic can label a man who rose to the highest office in the land - and served with honesty and integrity- as a "failure." But Carter's presidency was constrained by a lack of vision, competence, and a failed ideology. The responsibility for this situation lies solely with this farmer's son from Plains.

Needs more facts, less analysis
Although Morris writes and interesting biography, the strength of the book is when he's telling Carter's story and the environment in which Carter acts. I found the psychoanalysis less compelling. I would have preferred if the author drew his conculsions in the text and relegated his descriptions of the school of sociological thought that a particular Carter behavior might have fit to the endnotes. Sociology too often interferes with a good story that Morris generally tells well, especially Carter's childhood. I wish the book had a more detailed account of Carter's Presidency. What's there is good, but more is needed. I thought the author offered many interesting political insights, but found his comparison of the economic record of Carter and his neighboring Presidents very poor. The economic analysis relies too heavily on comparing 4-year averages of certain indicators rather than describing what the trends were, what the causes were, and how well Carter acted to address the trends.

Fine Biography for Carter's Childhood.
The strength of this book lies in the depth of it's treatment of Jimmy Carter's formative years. It falls short on details of his governing years. Many conclusions are transparently flimsy but, for someone coming in with little knownledge of Carter's life like myself, it was an informative read. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (12)

Another fine effort from Anne Edwards
Not having read any biographies on Maria Callas before, I can't judge against other authors' works on the subjects. ...I really enjoyed this version of Callas' work and art. I will second the ... opinion ... of Anne Edwards omitting dates/years when recounting major events--it did make it difficult to place these events in their proper context/chronology.

However, overall I found the book's emphasis on Callas personal life as well as her artistic life to make for a very well-balanced view. I would recommend it to anyone interested not only in opera, but in the life of a great legend! One other shortcoming would be Edwards' lack of attention to the details of Callas' performances--this is not a technical look at her voice, but a general overview of her unique gifts of displaying real emotion through her voice and gestures, both on the stage and in the recording studio.

Viva La Divina...

Actress Of The Opera: The Life Of Maria Callas
Anne Edwards has written several biographies on famous women, among them actress Katherine Hepburn, singer-actress Judy Garland and legendary actress Vivien Leigh. She does extensive research into the lives of these female artists and their lives, both personal and public, giving us the real scoop on who they were as well as providing the reader with an authentic look at the 20th century. Maria Callas (1923-1977) is synonymous with opera. Any real opera fan will know who she was and what she was all about. She was a legend in the opera world and raised the bar for other sopranos that would follow in her footsteps- among them Leonie Rysanek, Joan Sutherland and Shirley Verrett. This biography describes in detail everything there is to know about Maria Callas - her origins as a Greek immigrant living with her parents in New York City, the frustration she endured after being rejected to perform at the Met, her trouble with her weight (even bulimia), her impressive career, her marriages, the last being wed to Aristotle Onaissis the Greek millionaire who would divorce her to marry the widowed Jacky Kennedy. This is truly an intimate biography as the title reveals and we feel as if Anne Edwards herself had lived as Maria Callas herself.

Maria Callas was born in Greece. Throughout her life, though she adopted American culture and nuances (even becoming a staunch follower of Audrey Hepburn's supermodel glamour)she remained innately Greek. Her passion, her fire and her temperament was all expressive of her Greek blood. Yes, she was infamous for her diva attitude (and this was before Diana Ross) and she was even known to have struck a reporter/paparazzi when he dared to get her in business, but we like our Maria Callas that way. Can you imagine how uninspired her performances at the opera would have been had she not been a strong woman ? It is her intensity that most attracts us to the great Maria Callas.

Never was her Greek soul more pronounced than in her opera performances. This is why people overlooked her flaws- Maria Callas had faults in her voice (at times her tessitura and dramatic vocals can sound too harsh and scratchy,at times her chest voice was so deep she sounded like a man). One can also comment on the fact that she sang only in Italian, never bothering to expand her repertoire into the German operas of Wagner, Mozart or the French operas of Massenet, Bizet, etc. When she sang Carmen, which was written in French, she sang in Italian and she mostly sang Italian versions of otherwise French or German operas. She overcame these issues by truly delivering drama, acting, for she knew that opera was as much about acting as it was about singing. She reigned supreme in the role of Bellini's Norma, caused a great sensation in the fiery roles of Puccini's Tosca, Turandot, La Vestale and most notably as Medea. For Medea, she appeared in one film version, her only film work she ever did. She was said to be the most acclaimed Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata, the best Lucia of the Donizetti opera, and the best Madam Butterfly. Working with Maria Callas might have proved difficult. She was extremely dedicated but egotistical. Somehow, she managed to work with other such big egos as conduct Herbert Von Karajan and tenors Franco Corelli and John Vickers.

Maria's opera performances were a blaze of glory, but all good things come to an end. Eventually, her voice wore thin. By the 70's she was not performing with dynamic frequency if she was performing at all. She was in her 50's when she died, in a luxurious apartment in Paris. She had been addicted to sleeping pills since she had always been a nocturnal woman and had trouble sleeping at night. Contrary to the popular legend, Callas did not die of a broken heart when her last husband millionaire Onaissis divorced her to marry Jackie Kennedy. She was a strong woman who would not pine for a man she loved for very long. She had just simply become tired of life and was decidely single but proud in the last years of her life. And she had reason to be. She had lived quite a life. Behind her was a career in opera that many sopranos still envy

Warning!!!
I have to admit that I have not read this book. I was reading the reviews published here to decided whether or not to read it. I was amazed at the number of errors in the review by Rudy Avila. For example, Callas never married Onassis...that's a biggie. And, who on earth wouldn't know that Jackie Kennedy is usually spelled with an "ie" and not a "y"? Of course, if he really knew his stuff, he would know that Mrs. Kennedy never referred to herself as "Jackie", preferring the more formal "Jacqueline". If he got his information from this book, then this book is extremely inaccurate and misleading. If he is just making stuff up, he should not be writing reviews. Now that I have gotten myself all worked up over this, I suppose that I will have to read it and write an ACCURATE review when I am done.

Dont Waste Your Time
This biography of Maria Callas is the worst kind of tabloid trash. Derivative, poorly written and researched, riddled with errors and inaccuracies, it can't even begin to compete with other, better books on the Diva. Its primary concern is Maria Callas' sex life, and in fact the author appears obsessed with sex - who is getting it and who is not, who is cheating on whom, who is a great lover and who is a lousy lover, and who is gay and who is straight. Of Callas the Artist you will learn little here

The book reads like a Harlequin Romance version of Callas' life, with breathless, overwritten prose that runs the gamut from annoying to sick-making. Worst of all is the endless stream of factual inaccuracies, many of them real howlers, which expose not only the shoddy research and editing but also the author's embarassing ignorance of matters operatic.

I'm giving this book one star because I have to in order to publish this review. But if I had the option, I would not give it any at all.

Don't waste your time or money on this turkey.

Subpar
Edwards' bio of Callas borders too much on the tabloidish side, hardly on her career. Certain sections reads like she was pulling an alnighter in writing it, and the last two pages had serious editing problems. Try Callas works by John Ardoin, Henry Wisneski and Michael Scott ... Read more

Amazon.com

Too many rock books--particularly those about the recently, luridly dead--are hastily assembled from clippings and feature only the most superficial assessment of the artist and music in question. It's a pleasure to report, then, that veteran music journalist Christopher Sandford has produced a solidly researched and coherently argued portrait of Nirvana's front man. The author doesn't flinch from the ugly aspects of Kurt Cobain's personality and lifestyle, nor is he wholly admiring of the music. This critical perspective ultimately makes Cobain more human and his 1994 suicide more tragic. ... Read more

Reviews (55)

Dont get your hopes up for this book!
If you're a fan of Kurt Cobain, I would highly suggest reading something else. I found this book by Christopher Sanford to be just flat out boring and disappointing. The author jumps around way too much with events and puts in his "negative" opinions and comments as if he didn't like Kurt Cobain. The beginning starts off interesting as the story is set in Cobain's hometown Seattle, Washington. I learned and red about his family and childhood. How he took medication at such a young age and never really fit in at school. And how he went through his parents getting divorced and the effects it would later have on him in life. After the first few chapters that's when it started to get boring. But then slowly picking up the pace as the author wrote more about how the legendary band, Nirvana, and how they formed. Their hit album, Nevermind went platinum 10 times and sold over 7 million copies. As the fame hit these small town boys from Seattle, it seems that's when trouble came for Cobain. As he delt with major drug addictions from marijuana, bottles of cough syrup, and alcohol, it was the heroin that got to him. One thing I learned that I found to be interesting was that Cobain had chronic stomach pains growing up that was inherited from his mother. It was pain that didn't stop which was why he partly did drugs, to be at ease from it. Throughout the book the events skip around a lot going from Cobain's music to Nirvana's world wide tour, to his sexual partners, his drug abuse, Courtney Love, his suicide and pretty much everything else just seemed slapped together. I'd have to say that reading articles in newspapers or magazines are more desirable. Overall the author came across as being harsh, as his judgments toward Cobain I though were rude. I was expecting this book to be an interesting biography of the guy who played in a remarkable band that has made history as they helped grunge music emerge from the early 90's.

Save your money
I'll have to agree with the other reviews. This is one of the worst books about Cobain and doesn't exactly add any new credible information. The book is highly repetitive in diminishing Cobains talent and exaggerates his drug use as a child. It is proposterous to conclude that Cobain turned into a drug addict because he was put on ritalin as a kid. Many examples and stories are of extreme questionable validity that it would have been better not to include them. For example, the statement of a women claiming that Cobain would have raped her if he had the chance. Quite a statement to make and even worse to put it in a book in hopes to gain credibility? Another particularly questionable comment of an interviewee for the book was that of a women that claims she always felt an 'evil presence' when she walked by his house in Aberdeen. Haha. Hard for me to believe someone with at least an ounce of ambition of making this an accurate description of someones life would actually include statments like these in a book.

All in all, Sandfords credibility was shot after the first couple of chapters. I finished reading the book nonetheless, mostly in hopes of finding any relevant and useful information, unfortunately there was none. There is nothing worthwhile in this book that wouldn't have been covered by any other Cobain biography.

Tiring Read
Although this work does contain some insights into the life of Kurt Cobain, it's repetitive, often self-contradictory, and far too long for the amount of information presented. Many quotes appear without attribution, while others are used over and over again too re-emphasize tired points. Sandford makes frequent analogies between Cobain and Jimmy Hendrix which seem to serve more as a vehicle for the author's extensive knowledge of latter than to contribute to an analysis of the former's life. Other potentially interesting inquiries are ignored (e.g. surprisingly, to me at least, members of the band R.E.M. pop up several times as friends and likely musical collaborators of Cobain, yet there is no discussion of how the parties knew each other, what the context of the relationship was, etc.) On the whole it seems that the author was faced with limited cooperative sources and was forced to over use this material and augment it with filler and speculation to complete the book.

Those who can't, criticize
Not much more to add to what's already been posted. This is an extremely negative, spiteful "biography" with dubious claims and quotations. Sources are scarce and often anonymous...lots of bitter commentary on Seattle, Kurt, and Nirvana fans.

I've read a lot about Cobain, not all of it pleasant, but this is just vile and mean-spirited. Not to mention unsupported. I feel ripped off.

Awesome Piece Of Work
I never knew all the details of Cobain till i read this book, just about everything you need to know about Kurt ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

Filling in the Gaps
Best's "Churchill" is somewhat bland, but it fills in many of the details left out of more dramatic biographies. The author shows how Winston Churchill's intelligence, energy and creativity transformed a wide variety of mundane assignments. Churchill built his reputation the hard way, by mastering the details, not by avoiding them.

Churchill: A Cogent Inspiration to Future Leaders
Geoffrey Best has realized an impressive tour de force in concisely narrating the life of Winston Churchill in less than 350 pages. Best excels at making a cogent analysis of Churchill's strengths and weaknesses. Churchill knew early on that he was called to great things and made his best to make it happen. Churchill's road to destiny was not straightforward in part because of his own personality. "Churchill: A Study in Greatness" is an invitation to know more about an exceptional man who stands out in world history while most of his critics and detractors have sunk into total oblivion.

True Greatness
Geoffrey Best undertakes an unenviable task with this book. He attempts to capture the life of one of England's greatest leaders in one book. Best is successful in his attempt.

While it is obviously impossible to list all of Churchill's great stories and accomplishments in just over 300 pages, Best is entertaining in his approach. While this chronological tale may be a bit dry to the average reader, those who enjoy history will embrace this book. Best documents Churchill's attitude that he was destined for greatness early in life, discusses many of his war strategies, and is thorough enough to look into Churchill's family and personal life. Many people are unaware of the tragic lives of his three children, all of which are alluded to in this book. There truly is more to this man than is demontrated in the common pictures history books record of him.

Churchill worked toward bettering England and world almost unitl his death. This man who was largely self taught played a large role in shaping contemporary Europe even when he was no longer the Prime Miister. Even when his idea of the United States of Europe failed, he continued to be an early proponent of arms control and ending communism. The chapters which discuss his later years are among the most fascinating parts of this book.

Books on the life of Churchill can go into much greater detail than this. This book is an excellent starter for learning about the life of Churchill.

Geoffrey Best on Winston Churchill
I bought G Best's book because of its apparently good review in John Lukacs book on WSC.

It probably appeals to readers who want a general read about WSC, but in the sense that it appears to be written from existing book sources, it does not seem to offer any new insights - at least it did not for me.

Not very informative
Churchill is one of the most amazing figures of the last century - yet with all of his background to pick from, this book doesn't present much of him.
This is basically the author sort of randomly meandering around through Churchill's life and then stating his opinion of certain decisions Churchill made. And it's done without providing much of a framework for the various events he discusses. I've read a lot about Churchill and yet I was lost at times trying to figure out where/what/when on some of the events.
There is a lot better out there (William Manchester's 2 volumes for example). ... Read more