Book Description

In a story that will reverberate throughout the media world, Judy Bachrach traces the course of two careers and one romance -- all driven by soaring ambition. With the right amount of energy, money, and desire, Tina Brown and Harry Evans knew how to handle virtually everything that came their way. Once they arrived from England, they felt destined to climb to the heights of the American media. The couple epitomized within elite corporate as well as social circles what might be called parvenu royalty, which covered both of them with the dazzling glaze of power, position, and fame. Underneath, of course, they were quite different: nature's Americans, one might say, hungry, passionate, forever reinventing themselves.

Tina put her stamp on Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Talk magazine. Harry ran Random House. Over the years, they artfully crafted and recrafted the faces they showed the world, confident they were a match for anybody...especially for each other. They were constantly in the public eye, throwing parties, accepting the adulation of their peers -- all the time making sure that no one really knew anything about them. But what happens to the perfect married couple -- wealthy, attractive, running twin empires, the darlings of the media, the envy of their bitter rivals -- when their world starts to fall apart and the enchantment fades? This rich, fast-paced story of Tina Brown and Harry Evans is not only a brilliant account of two media stars, but also a tale of how this British couple molded and shaped every aspect of the American publishing world -- until it inevitably turned on them. Written with laser-sharp wit and a perceptive eye for revealing detail, Tina and Harry Come to America reads like a bestselling novel and is, at times, uncanny in its resemblance to William Thackeray's Vanity Fair -- a riveting, cautionary tale of power and the media. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

nasty fun
This book is a nasty, in a sophistiacated 1930s sort of way. Think, Clare Booth Luce's "The Women". This book is the story of an unrelenting social climber who had genuine talent and ability on her side but little grace, humility or kindness. And it caught up with her. The book does a good job of showing why Ms. Brown has so many enemies and why she rose to such starry heights in the first place. It's great for people who love NYC, or who love journalism, or anyone who just wants a juicy piece of shameless gossip.

Bitchy but amusing
WHAT did Tina Brown do to Judy Bachrach? That's really the question you keep asking yourself while reading this bitchy if amusing book. Not that Ms Brown and Mr Evans don't deserve quite a bit of the stick they get here, but it is so... unrelenting. Judy Bachrach now works for Tina Brown's successor at Vanity Fair, and she applies to Tina and Harry the gossipy techniques which made VF's success. She should have applied fuller disclosure to her motives.

That being said, most details here are probably accurate. Thebook is not published in the UK for fear of libel suits. Not very sportsmanlike of Tina and Harry.

CORRECTION TO MY REVIEW
Hi there and apologies for bothering you. Judy Bachrach has contacted me to point out that when I say an anecdote was repeated twice at the start of the book, I should in fact have said an entire quote. I know this sounds like splitting hairs, but she seems a little perturbed by this and so if you could change the review to make it 100 percent accurate I'd be very grateful. Many thanks in advance for your understanding.

David Ljunggren

get real
journalism and its practice isn't really everybody's top interest, but this is one of the best books i've ever read. tina brown is the editor of our generation, and how she did it is of compelling interest to women in journalism everywhere. one way she did it was by writing what can only be called faye wray journalism in the 1970s -- something invented by older blondes on this side of the atlantic. it makes for a great read, and it helped both of them find rich mentors. that's part of the way the world is, and this book is exactly about that, including the anti-semitism of britain (tina is one-fourth jewish) and how when she could not conquer british society as she wished, tina chose to conquer hollywood. (her father, whom she loved, was a B-movie producer.) how she persuaded media mogul s.i. newhouse to fund her money-losing yet spectacular rise is suggested (let's just say blondeness is involved). the biography of her husband, harry evans, is as compelling as tina's -- almost d. h. lawrence -- starting out sexually compulsive as the crusading editor in some polluted northern england rust belt town. how tina has mined her older husband's gift for graphics is displayed. i loved the roseanne issue of the new yorker which all the white boys hated. roseanne is tina and tina is roseanne. and i'll wager (were i a bettin' man) that that's why people hate this book. you need to read it. tina (along with katharine graham and princess diana) was a captain of the girl team. and this is how she got there. cover 'em up if you got 'em.

This books leaves many questions unanswered
I started this book with the conviction that I would finally learn what had made Tina Brown such a feared and respected editor. Unfortunately, when I finished it I was somewhat disappointed. Judy Bachrach certainly does a good job of finding disaffected former employees who dish out all sorts of dirt on Tina Brown and detail working practices and habits which seem to have caused her underlings some serious grief. But what I did not really learn was what exactly why she was brought across from London to edit first Vanity Fair and then the New Yorker. She was clearly not a charlatan, she clearly had talents, but the use to which she put them is obscured by the dirt and nastiness regularly dumped all over Brown by other people quoted in this book. As a reader of the New Yorker for the last 15 years I can say that she did indeed change it, in many ways for the better. I still have some of my old pre-Brown copies of the magazine and while they do contain the occasional excellent articles, there are also many long, long screeds about fruitflies and tomatoes and some obscure aspect of baseball which were allowed to ramble on and on. Whatever faults she may have had, Tina Brown at least turned the magazine into something I wanted to read and actually looked forward to every week. She did make mistakes (as the book makes clear) and I agree with critics who say the Diana issue was extremely ill-judged, but the magazine now is in many ways a sorry shadow of what it once was. It saddens me to say that I look forward to Harper's and Atlantic Monthly with more anticipation than I do the New Yorker. The one area where the magazine has really collapsed is the fiction section, where whoever is in charge seems to have completely given up. Almost every week it's the same thing, exceedingly well-known names writing variations on the same themes, be it Alice Munro or William Trevor or whoever else it might be. What happened to the magazine's fine old tradition of unearthing new authors? I note that Zadie Smith is now going to be writing a story for the magazine, which is a good thing, but it would have been more impressive had the magazine published her before the success of "White Teeth". Yes, there has been the odd New Fiction issue with a few new authors, but I can think of no area where the New Yorker has collapsed so miserably as in fiction. So do read Bachrach's book if you have an interest in Tina Brown and Harry Evans but don't expect an answer to all your questions. ... Read more

Book Description

"A FRESH AND UNVARNISHED PORTRAIT OF A FASCINATING, TALENTED, AND DEEPLY FLAWED FAMILY."
—Boston Herald

Laurence Leamer was granted unheralded access to private Kennedy papers, and he interviewed family and old friends, many of whom had never been interviewed before, for this incredible portrait of the women in America’s "royal family." From Bridget Murphy, the foremother who touched shore at East Boston in 1849, to the intelligent, independent Kennedy women of today, Laurence Leamer tells their unforgettable stories.

Here are the private thoughts of Kathleen, the flirtatious debutante in prewar England . . . the truth behind Joe Kennedy’s insistence that his mildly retarded daughter, Rosemary, be lobotomized . . . the real story behind Joan and Ted’s whirlwind romance . . . Jackie’s desire for a divorce from JFK in the 1950s . . . Pat Lawford’s disastrous Hollywood marriage . . . how Caroline discovered her cousin David’s death by overdose, and more.

Tough enough to withstand the unimaginable, these Kennedy women soldier on in the name of their extraordinary family and what they believe is right.

"MASTERFUL . . . AN ENDLESSLY FASCINATING READ . . . A wealth of beautifully rendered social detail, at times reading like a realist novel by Edith Wharton . . . [A] page-turner from start to finish."
—The Dallas Morning News
... Read more

Reviews (18)

Best I've Read in a LOOOONG Time
I bought this used and have literally spent the last three days reading it. I couldn't put it down; and I attribute that to Mr. Leamer's excellent writing style and meticulous and unbiased research. I think it's amazing that almost forty years after Dallas there is still an incredible amount of drek and sensational junk journalism floating around the Kennedy family. This book seemed to be very well-researched and the highly readable prose made it a true page-turner.

I was astonished at Joe Kennedy's decision to have Rosemary lobotomized; the passages about her in later years, especailly when her mother, Rose, tried to reconnect with her, were absolutely heartbreaking. That almost hurt my heart more than the more well-known murders and untimely deaths.

I have come away with a new respect for "The Girls", Eunice in particular. What a remarkable family. And an excellent book. I recommend this very highly.

Excellent!
The virtues of THE KENNEDY WOMEN comes from its examination of the supporting players in the cast of the family. Author Laurence Leamer fills in many holes in our collective knowledge of the sisters of President Kennedy, and in our awareness the wives of his brothers. Joan Bennett Kennedy, first wife of Senator Edward Kennedy, and Ethel Skakel Kennedy, widow of Senator Robert Kennedy, finally get their share of the attention in this book.

So, too, does the late--and tragic--Kathleen Kennedy, who basically was disowned by her mother for eloping with the Marquis of Hartington, heir to the Duchy of Devonshire. His family is considered to be among England's leading Protestants, which was in sharp contrast to Rose Kennedy's devout Catholicism.

This is an important work, filling in the holes in our knowledge of these women who have mothered the current generations of the Kennedy family.

BRAV0! BRAVO! BRILLIANTLY DONE
"For the most part Rose grandchildren observed and respected and obeyed her, tiptoeing around her life as if she were an exquisite piece of porcelain. She had led such a decorous life, blocking out the untoward, the ugly, and the unacceptable, that her eyes no longer saw the darker colours of the spectrum. "Pat drank a bottle of wine in the morning," Rose was told. "That's impossible" Rose replied, Pat doesn't drink"

I was glad that I read this book because it has helped me to understand so much more about this so much talked about family. In Mr. Leaner's book we get to know about the Kennedy women's personal thoughts and the correct stories of the daughters and daughters-in-law. Mr.Leamer has given us indept portraits of these women and my favourite is Rose Kennedy the Matriarch of the family. For Rose was a woman so strong and who suffered great disloyalty by her husband which she took all gracefully all for the sake of her family and what she supposed the public expected of them. She was a stern Catholic and gain her strength through her prayer and trust in God.
Also portrayed are Joan Kennedy; Ted wife who had a problem with alcohol. Jackie Kennedy Onnassis; the President's wife who remarried after the President's death to a Greek tycoon. Pat Lawford; married to a Hollywood star and spent most of her time in Los Angeles. Eunice Shriver, who was always working for the handicapped and underprivileged and was one of the Kennedys with great patience and common sense. Ethel Kennedy, Robert Kennedy's widow and Jean Smith.
The Kennedys pushed their tragedies to the inner recesses of their minds.They refused to let others see the negative side of their lives, and carried their problems and burdens inwardly taking pains not to show their broken hearts. To some this might seem pretentious, but they honestly had their reasons. After all they were special in the eyes of America.
Whenever tragedy struck it was not unusual for them to suddenly get physical by taking walks, riding, swimming and any form of exercise. Rosemary the eldest daughter who was mentally retarded was isolated from the public eye and sent to Wisconsin where she was looked after by those of the Sacred Order. This book has helped me to understand so much more about the choices they made and the reason they made them, though tragedy seem to follow them everywhere.

Mr. Leamer has pulled out all the stops in the brilliantly written book, and I would not hesitate to read anything by him in the future. Bravo! Bravo! Heather Marshall 04/04/04

Sobering portrait of the Kennedy women
I read this book a few years ago, and I've never seen anything so sad in my life. I don't know whether to be inspired or repulsed. The Kennedys aren't cursed, they're just dysfunctional, period!

A woman who stays with her husband in spite of his being more absent than not (and who has numerous affairs with other women), because the money, power and privilege are supposedly too good to walk away from; A woman who allows a religion to tell her that she shouldn't enjoy sex with her husband but use it for procreation only (thus setting up the men in the family to cheat because their wives are only doing their 'duty'); a woman who is more concerned about keeping up appearances than about the emotional well-being of her children. YIKES! I have more sympathy for Ethel, Jackie, Joan and poor Rosemary than I do for Rose. At least, with the exception of Ethel (who, like her mother-in-law, wouldn't believe that her husband was cheating on her), Jackie and Joan didn't pretend that it was okay; they just tried to distance themselves from the whole mess.

Yes, times were different then; yes, divorces were frowned upon (with good reason). But Rose was the worst kind of enabler I've ever read about in my life. She could have taken the risk and left her husband, sparing her children the grief and leaving them with some sense of honor and respect for the feelings of others (which her husband failed to do when be cheated on her). Instead she, along with her husband, passed on to her children a tragic legacy of maintaining a good front, not showing emotions in public, turning a blind eye to the adultery that was right under her nose, etc. As a result, the Kennedy children have soent all of their lives trying to live up to what their parents expected of them, adversely affecting their families in the process.

I'm glad that with some exceptions, the latter generation of Kennedys have more normal lives than their parents. I hope they are each getting help for their problems so that history does not continue to repeat itself. Jackie would have been proud of Caroline and her late son John; she did a good job with them. The other younger Kennedy women (Maria Shriver, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend etc.) turned out fine too. Perhaps they have learned not to tolerate the foolishness their mothers put up with.

The important lesson to be learned is that family dysfunctions, when left unchecked and unresolved, can devastate that family (including the wealthy Kennedys) for generations to come.

Kenndy stories told from a different perspective
Enjoyed the taped version of THE KENNEDY WOMEN: THE SAGA
OF AN AMERICAN FAMILY by Laurence Leamer . . . this is another
Kennedy family saga, but one I was not overly familiar with in that it focused on the women . . . I was especially inspired by the first tale of immigrant Bridget Murphy . . . she met Patrick Kennedy on the boat from Ireland in 1849 . . . nine years after their marriage, she was a widow with four children who worked as a domestic servant, then bought and ran a variety store . . . other Kennedy names were more familiar, including Rose (the center of the story), Kathleen, Rosemary, Eunice, and of course Jackie . . . you'll be moved by the stories, unfortunately, many of them had tragic endings. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the English translation of the dime-novelesque biography of one of the most infamous bandits in the history of the Old West, a source of fear and legend in the state of California for decades following the Mexican American War. Ireneo Paz's Spanish-language biography was first published in Mexico City in 1904 and translated into English by Frances P. Belle in 1925. This edition includes line-drawings that appeared in the original volume. ... Read more

Book Description

Last Train to Paradise is acclaimed novelist Les Standiford’s fast-paced and gripping true account of the extraordinary construction and spectacular demise of the Key West Railroad—one of the greatest engineering feats ever undertaken, destroyed in one fell swoop by the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. Brilliant and driven entrepreneur Henry Flagler’s dream fulfilled, the Key West Railroad stood as a magnificent achievement for more than twenty-two years, heralded as “the Eighth Wonder of the World.” Standiford brings the full force and fury of 1935’s deadly “Storm of the Century” and its sweeping destruction of “the railroad that crossed an ocean” to terrifying life. Last Train to Paradise celebrates a crowning achievement of Gilded Age ambition in a sweeping tale of the powerful forces of human ingenuity colliding with the even greater forces of nature’s wrath.

“A dramatic story . . . and Les Standiford has a good deal of fun with it all.” —Washington Post Book World
“A rousing—a deeply sobering—story.” —Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed
“A fascinating and incredibly compelling account . . . I could not put it down.” —Donald Trump
“A definitive account of the engineering feat that became known as ‘Flagler’s Folly’. . . A rousing adventure."—Atlanta Journal-Constitution ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A superficial look at Flagler and the Florida East Coast RR
Last Train is a short book about a big project...one that essentially created the state of Florida as we know it today. The book focuses on the last leg of Flagler's railroad that crossed ocean and swamp to connect Key West with the mainland.

The book seems more like an expanded magazine piece rather than a thorough treatment of this fascinating man and his amazing project.

Yes, buy the book, but don't expect a Steven Ambrose-like treatment of the subject (considering my opinion of Ambrose's writing ability this is faint praise indeed).

Couldn't put it down
I loved this book. Standiford is a tremendous storyteller, as good as Sebastian Junger, or David McCullough. The rise and fall of the Key West railroad, which was built over 150 miles of water by tycoon Henry Flagler, is a story I knew little about. Great fun and I learned a tremendous amount as well. One warning--be prepared to go to work a little bleary-eyed tomorrow--you won't be able to put this down until the last hurricane has hit...

Truly Awesome - Could not put it down
This book shows how fiction can never compare to real life. I only wish there were other non-fiction books by this author.

The man who "invented" modern Florida
Ten years ago, when I visited Palm Beach, Florida, I noticed a lot of places named after someone called Flagler. At the time I had no idea who this person was, or why everything in the area seemed focused upon him, but after reading this book, I understand. It's pretty clear that, without Henry Flagler's vision, and money, Florida today might be an entirely different place. This man, almost singlehandedly, changed Florida from a hot, sleepy area into a mecca for tourists. His building of luxury hotels, the Florida East Coast Railway, and later the Key West Expansion, gave us our modern state. This story is extremely interesting, and I found it well-written. It tells something I did not know before, and that's always important to me when I read any non-fiction work. It's a tale of insight, struggle, ultimate success, and subsequent destruction by the forces of an all-powerful natural storm. Men such as Henry Flagler do not walk among us any longer, and perhaps we are all the poorer for that.

Go To Key West!
Les Standiford has put together a spell-binding tale of the last of the privately financed infrastructure projects undertaken by the larger than life 19th century businessmen. Here Henry Flagler races against his own mortality to complete a railroad from Jacksonville to Key West, with the final run south from Miami requiring herculean engineering, management, and financial resources. Flager was a partner of John D. Rockefeller in an earlier venture known as Standard Oil who decided in his 70's to pursue a second career in railroading, land development, and luxury hotels in the then desolate country of South Florida and the Keys.

Standiford weaves together Flagler, Rockefeller, their arch-rival trust-busting Teddy Roosevelt, WWI bonus armies, and big-game hunting author Ernest Hemingway. While Rockefeller also owned vacation homes in Florida, he and Flagler ultimately had a parting of the ways, with Rockefeller pointedly not attending Flagler's funeral. Flagler had been an early supporter of Roosevelt in his successful bid for the New York governorship after Roosevelt's success in the brief Spanish American war. Later Roosevelt brought antitrust action against Standard Oil and at least in Flagler's mind was behind government resistance to his plan to build a deep water harbor in Miami. Ironically, the US victory in the Spanish American War, together with confirmed plans to build the Panama Canal, were the motiviation for Flagler's railroad adventures, as Flagler projected, incorrectly as it turned out, that Miami and Key West would grow in stature as ports.

The final thread introduces Hemingway into the mix. The author was already a well-known Key Wester when the hurricane of Labor Day 1935 ravaged the Keys. Although Hemingway's home and his beloved boat Pilar were not seriously damaged, Flagler's railroad was destroyed. A group of WWI bonus army veterans were working on road construction. Many were killed, despite a daring railroad rescue attempt. By 1935, Flager was long dead and the railroad was in bankruptcy. It was never rebuilt, although some bridges are still standing, for the exclusive use of fishermen and birds. ... Read more

Book Description

As the creator of Jackie Kennedy's signature pillbox hat and the designer of choice for Liza Minelli in the 1970s, Halston (193290) was synonymous with American style: a modern, minimal yet glamorous look that encompassed everything from flowing caftans to ultrasuede dresses, to uniforms that lent panache to airline attendants and The Girl Scouts of America alike. Beginning his career in Chicago in the late 1950s, by 1972 Halston had been named 'the premier fashion designer of all America' by Newsweek magazine and was firmly established in New York; he counted such personalities as Andy Warhol and Bianca Jagger among his friends and clients. Tall, charismatic, impeccably dressed, Halston personified the lofty ambitions and non-stop nightlife of the 1970s and early 1980s.

This book, a visual anthology of Halston's life and legacy, includes previously unpublished catwalk photographs, rare archival photographs by Warhol, behind-the-scenes images of fashion shows and parties, sketches and specially commissioned photographs of Halston collections. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Fashion-ista's Favorite
WOW. A knock-out! Bluttal has cumulated a splendid chronicle of the career of America's definitive fashion star, Roy Frowick Halston.

The book gathers and presents the photographic richness that you must have to know why Halston mattered and continues to. The sequence, arrangement, and ingenious categories all articulate the Halston passion for pure color, form and line that made him legend and attracted the star-studded clientele and the trademarking of his family name as a label still very much in evidence today, a decade after his death.

Wistful nostalgia over the Studio 54 years and the innocence of New York in those years are the only drawback of paging through this tome.

BRAVO BLUTTAL! Your fat fat fashion clutch should be on every gift list - the best fashion bargain of the year!! ... Read more

Book Description

The parallels between the life of the Hon. Mrs. Frances Shand Kydd, and that of her daughter Diana, Princess Of Wales are many. She too, struggled with a controlling, dominant husband, an adulterous affair, and an acrimonious aristocratic divorce. She too has come into conflict with the British Establishment while fighting for control of her children in the shadow of the House of Windsor. He reclusive life on a remote Scottish island has not protected her from the glare of publicity as she attempts to protect both Princes William and Harry and Diana's memory from the continued scandals and rumors surrounding the Princess, epitomized by the trial and acquittal of Diana's butler, Paul Burrell, and the attempts of her former lover James Hewitt to sell her love letters. Max Riddington and Gavan Naden have written a remarkable biography, the result of painstaking research, exclusive interviews with Mrs. Shand Kydd and previously unseen photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not a yawn!
I thought this biography told me a great deal about a person I knew very little about (except basically gossipy bits from other "Diana" books). It is well-written, sympathetic to the subject, yet fair. You learn that Frances was the warm-hearted child of a reserved mother & affectionate father; just a very nice girl, who unfortunately ended up making the mistake of marrying the wrong man (Earl Spencer) and basically has had to pay for that mistake, her whole life. Some of the mistakes of her own upbringing were repeated with her children, to the greater detriment of her two younger children, but one could argue she had no choice, having lost custody of them thanks to her mother & Earl Spencer's machinations, and the mores of the time. It's good to read "her side", after hearing so much garbage about how she left Diana's father and the reasons why. Also, Paul Burrell's book portrays her SO badly (and I believe most unfairly). Frances deserves the chance to tell her version of events & in Max Riddington she's found the means to do so -- Well done, very interesting, and a must-read for those who want to hear ALL sides of the story of Diana, Princess of Wales.

RoyaIntrigue
Di's mom sounds like a real decent lady... but because she speaks her mind she been given a kicking by the British Royal Family. This was a fascinating book, full of great information about Diana and her family. It was also very nicely written, well argued and backed up with facts. Not like some of the other royal family books I've read. And what a fascinating life she had led, even as a young girl she was similar to Di. I never knew they were born in the same bedroom! Or that the Queen has refused to speak to Frances since Di's death!

Yawn . . .
I can't recall ever coming across another book on the late Princess of Wales' mother, but this rehashes all the familiar stories of her famous divorce & lost custody battle, and tries to explain her tenuous relationship with her children. While a sympathetic character, she has always seemed somewhat mysterious and I can't say this has cleared much up in that regard. I'm unsure why she agreed to cooperate with this effort, unless she knew it was to be written anyway and thought she'd try and get her part right. She seems a lonely and isolated figure, partly by her own design, but nonetheless seems to have not had such a nice life after her first marriage. Her second marriage seems to have been ruined by her daughter's fame. I consider myself a bit of an expert on the POW, and unfortunately this book didn't tell me much I didn't know already. ... Read more

Book Description

Unbelievable eyewitnessed Hollywood secrets in the memoirs of a telephone repairman who worked Tinsel Town for three decades.Presented in 120 short stories, oft times very funny but sometimes tragic.

You will see it all – sex, famous stars, psychos, perverts, dope dealers, sewer dwellers, dead bodies and soul dead heartless killers that will never be caught.

Sure, there were perks – wild parties, front row at the fights, call-girls, drugs, goofing with the rich and famous, being where the action is.You will see it all, Hollywood behind the facade – some funny, some tragic – all TRUE.

This phoneman has seen the full spectrum of Hollywood.An intimate, behind the scene look that people never really see or think about, or even know exist.From starlets to harlots left over from the silent screen era up to the current hot rockers.

Go with him into movie stars’ homes and hang outs.Visit producers, directors, has beens, wannabes, scam artists, street hustlers, gay bath houses, lesbian bars, insane asylums, convalescent homes, hospitals, prisons, swap houses, porno shoots, pimp dens, titty bars, biker clubs, snuff-flicks, gangs, riots.The true history of the streets.

For the Hollywood truth, you’ll need a guide – say someone who knows how to steal entire marijuana patches, drug guard dogs, rat out drug dealers and weapon nuts to the cops, line tap, skip trace, call overseas for hours for without paying.Then take to lunch for free in Beverly Hills.This phoneman is your guide! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great read
This book is captivating from the begining to the end. I did jump around a bit except for the last chapter. It was quite riveting. Not all the stories are fun and games so be ready for quite a thrill ride. I've never read such a book before. I've also never laughed out loud as many times as I did reading some of the lighter stories. The shocking stories are very well written. You feel as though you are there. I highly recommend this book. It is for adults, so, be forewarned. Pat ... Read more

Book Description

The world knows only half the story of British media magnate Robert Maxwell's well-publicized career. He was born poor but thrived on ruthless ambition, devoured his competitors and outsmarted his most formidable peers to build an international empire as a publisher, politician, and industrialist. For the first time, this well-researched book from best-selling author Gordon Thomas and terrorism expert Martin Dillon tells the other, long-secret half of Maxwell's story. We are shown how Maxwell achieved his topmost objective as a superspy for Israel's Mossad; sold PROMIS-America's state-of-the-art surveillance software stolen by Mossad-to the USSR and many other countries; recruited foremost Republican Senator John Tower to acquire for Israel top-secret, cutting-edge U.S. technology being developed at Los Alamos; cultivated his vast KGB connections and strove to involve Israel in a coup to oust Mikhail Gorbachev; and how Maxwell ultimately became Mossad's target in an elaborately prepared assassination plot. For in November 1991, as his yacht cruised offshore of the Canary Islands, the life of Robert Maxwell ended-officially, by drowning. The facts that the news media did not then report or know, what truths even the autopsies concealed, are now revealed. Eight pages of black-and-white illustrations add to this compelling work. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Errata
What Carroll and Graf Publishers desperately need is 1. a fact checker and 2. a proof reader.Shameful display of factual errors. With sloppiness of this sort, why would I ever dream of believing the basic (and unbelievable)premise.
Yvonne Adler

Excellent Research
This is the story of the downfall of Robert Maxwell, a man who had almost everything that a simple mortal could dream with, a family, a billionary business, fame, important business and political contacts but with a huge megalomaniac complex that pushed him to play several dangerous games with the espionage of Israel, the industrial espionage and the underworld factions of the East mafias but his biggest mistake was when he try to play the blackmail game which put in jeopardy the security of the state of Israel and the Mossad agent around the world forcing then to "eliminate" this personage.
Even though this is a wonderful work of investigation, I have some doubts about the sole responsability of Israel in this crime because of his several contacts within the Wall Street, the City of London moguls, the eastern mafias and the most important polititians of the world that he could put in danger with his downfall as a businessman or as a blackmailer, also it is very suspicious that many close collaborators died of sudden death or dissapeared.

The Hottest Book On The Market!
This is an E-Ticket Ride; in other words, a read with a roller-coaster effect obsorbing the reader's full attention. The revelations of Maxwell's high treason against the United Kingdom is alarming. Yet, what is more alarmimg is the complicity of the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Senator Tower's treasonous activity against the U.S. Government and his apparent blackmailing of the White House... all orchestrated by Israels' Mossad via their willing agent, Maxwell. At the literal risk of their lifes, Dillon and Thomas have metciulously recorded the breathtaking facts we seldom, if ever, see in American media. This super-page-turner is THE hottest book on the market.

A waste of time
This book reputes itself to tell the secret history of British media baron Mr. Maxwell.A better account and although a work of fiction a more plausible account can be found in Mr. Archers `The fourth of Estate'.Maxwell had connections with Israels Mossad and he did have many high level contacts in Israel and he was involved in dubious behavior with the Russians but this book goes one step to far and simply creates relationships that did not exist.Beyond Muckraking this book is mostly fantasy and conjectured accusations that for the Maxwell hator or for the uninformed may well seem accurate but the truth is far more likely to have nothing to do with Maxwell being murdered by the Mossad.In fact Maxwell simply failed in business and probably committed suicide.This is an interesting account but should be read with an eye of suspicion.

Spy Thriller
Through British citizen Robert Maxwell, vain, gross, brilliant and criminal, Thomas and Dillon paint a picture of corruption and decadence in the West, Eastern Europe and the Middle East today.Maxwell's loyalties are to himself and to Israel; Senator John Tower is in his pocket; and so forth. The United States, apart from furnishing the likes of Tower, furnishes the intelligence stolen by Israel and the subidies that keep that country in business stealing from its patron. Maxwell is a kind of super "sayanim," and the book to some degree is an exposé of the extent to which these volunteers-for-Israel around the world do damage to their host countries.

The Maxwell-Mossad team steals spy software PROMIS from the United States, Mossad puts an undetectable trap door in it so Mossad can track the activities of anyone using it, then Maxwell sells it around the world (including back to the U.S. -- with the trap door).When Maxwell finally goes bankrupt, the losses are passed on to "the little people," while Israel and Maxwell's protected heirs remain in the black, at least materially. Thomas/Dillon present, in thrilling mystery adventure mode, the theory that Maxwell became a loose canon to his beloved Israel, among other things hitting on Mossad for a bigger pay-off, and its agents assassinated him.

The authors, both top-notch investigative journalists, base their study on official documents and on interviews -- what they uncover is bound to shock and put on the alert anyone who loves his country, respects honesty, good will and just about any other virtue within its borders. ... Read more

Book Description

At seventeen, Kiki Feroudi Moutsatsos began a job at Olympic Airways that would change her life. She worked in the office of the most renowned man in Greece, and within a year she was Aristotle Onassis's personal secretary.For the next nine years, the last of his life, Moutsatsos was a key player in Onassis's professional and private worlds. She spent her days in his office, assisting him with important business matters, and her evenings at his sister Artemis's villa, mingling with his family and their world-famous guests. She was witness to his personal relationships with the most significant people in his life. She worked side by side with his children, Alexander and Christina, planned his travels with mistress Maria Callas, and even managed the details of his wedding to Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968. The Onassis Women is Moutsatsos's privileged insider's account of this larger-than-life figure and the grand objects of his love.Moutsatsos greatly admired Jackie, and the two women developed a close relationship, extending beyond their ties to the Onassis family. Moutsatsos visited Jackie in New York, staying in her Fifth Avenue apartment, and kept in touch with her throughout her life, even in the weeks before her death.Moutsatsos also became an intimate friend to Aristotle's daughter, Christina. Though often rebellious, Christina was always desperate for her father's love. Moutsatsos observed their volatile relationship as well as the push-pull element between Onassis and the women in his life. With the possible exception of Jackie, all these women--his mistress, his sisters, and his daughter--needed Aristotle's approval and suffered to gain it at almost any cost. It is through understanding the importance of these relationships, and their interconnectedness, that we begin to truly perceive the charmed and haunted lives of Jackie, Maria, Christina, and Aristotle Onassis. Index. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Jackie and Aristo, from the other side of the pond
It's about time we got a view of the whole Jackie/Aristo (not Ari, it turns out) thing from the other side of the Atlantic. This book is breezy and gossipy and so sycophantic I have to wonder how much of it it true. Kiki justifies and sugar-coats as much as she can (is she still getting Onassis money???? One has to wonder...), yet you can't help but see that the Onassis clan were an abusive, debauched, and addictive bunch. She rationalize EVERYTHING--physical and emotional abuse, drunkeness, profligate spending, ruthlessness, cheating...but after all, Aristio was really a very CHARISMATIC and RICH man who'd made it up from poverty. Other sources dispute many of Kiki's facts. If she gets even the most basic details wrong, what else is suspect (i.e., Jackie's governess/cook Marta Sgubin is ITALIAN, not Spanish, and her name is Marta, not Martha)? Everything. Does that make Onassis behavior any less reprehensible? It shouldn't. I have to say that this book makes me think the Onassis family did themselves in, no matter how much Kiki spins it.

Pleasant
I've read almost all the Jackie books on the market, and what I most appreciate about Moutasatsos's book is the way she acknowledges the rumors and innuendos of other authors while putting forth her perspective as exactly that -- nothing more. While her memory is generous, she also strikes me as honest; she really loved her employers, so she saw them as noble, honorably-intentioned people with understandable flaws. I would recommend this book to anyone who's tired of the unceasing merry-go-round of Onassis-related rumors who wants to hear about this family from someone near it but not of it. Also, Moutsatsos, with co-writer Phyllis Karas, tells her story in lyrical English I can only guess was translated from the native Greek... resulting in a particularly musical and poetic narrative, quite an exception for a translation.

This book got four stars from me, not five, merely because there IS a bit of fairy tale stardust sprinkled through it... Moutsatsos does come across as a bit of the Onassis groupie, her only failing.

Nothing new. Too much author's self-importance!
Although Kiki admired and grew to love her employers, I think she sugar coated many of her observations. She also made quite a few mistakes, so I wonder how much is true. The anecdotes she narrates are mostly known, she could have made up the whole thing. In all, a good account of a family who despite their wealth -or maybe on account of it- had many failures. But she does present them as human beings, with their good and bad qualities. Easy reading, but not much content.

A moving account of lives touched by tragedy
Kiki Mousatsos has told a moving account of of lives that seemed to be like fairytales, but sadly ended in nightmares. It is so rare to be able to read chapter after chapter graced with such love, insite and devotion to these mysterious and real people that the author so obviously carries with her to this day. The fact that she knew and loved these people like family and was given permission to write this moving story gives this book a rare quality. Grab some tissues and enjoy your read.

Compassionate view by author
I found this book provided a compassionate and insightful view about the lives of the Onassis family. Kiki, the author, was closely involved in the family's affairs and business matters, so her perception is close enough to dispell some of the gossip and rumors often associated with their tragedies. The descriptions of the Greek lifestyle and traditions are beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book while on vacation in the Greek isles portrayed by the author. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

This Could Have Been Better
I enjoy reading books about the Kennedys and Jackie Onassis, but this book, which was supposed to give a chronicle of sorts of the last 10-11 years of Jackie's life, did not do a very good job of that. It was a cut-and-paste biography from previous books and interviews. I didn't learn anything new from this book, and that's the biggest disappointment. It will be a nice addition to my extensive library, but it won't be the first one I pull off the shelf for anyone who wants a good narrative of her life and on who Jackie really was. This is an "okay to read if you're lonely" kind of book.

Truely Enchanting
I think that this book was a well writen portrail of Jackie's final days, with a moderate vocabulary it well conveys the beliefs of the author

"Farewell" not soon enough
Edward Klein needs to find a new family to write recycled books about. After peddling such ghastly books as "The Kennedy Curse" and "Just Jackie," Klein engages in literary graverobbing with the putrid "Farewell Jackie: A Portrait of Her Final Days."

His primary focus is the final illness and death of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, of non-lymphoma cancer that seemed easily treatable. By this time, Ms. Onassis had transcended her tabloid-speckled former lives and had a good job, a man she loved, and grandchildren she adored. But when her cancer spread, Onassis tried to die with the illusion of dignity she had maintained in her life.

Reading "Farewell Jackie" is a bit like watching someone break open a grave to frisk the bones of the dead. Padding the story of Jackie's illness and death are stories of her earlier life -- primarily her second marriage, and various love affairs she had (one of which has been denied by the man involved). Dirt-dishing, anyone?

Jackie Kennedy Onassis is portrayed as downright saintly in this book; Klein glosses over the hypocrises and flaws in her personality, such as being "religious" yet ignoring tenets of that religion. Even the volatile nature of her relationship with her second husband. Oddly enough, this adoration doesn't extend far enough, especially at the end. Any semblance of dignity is shredded when Klein goes into grotesque detail about Onassis's final mental and physical deterioration.

What's more, Klein's writing is deplorable. He transcribes private conversations and moments when Onassis was alone -- all obviously faked. Not to mention that Klein is in desperate need of an editor for this book's many errors. On one page, Klein informs us, "Jackie a wreck." Verbs? We don't need no stinkin' verbs.

Farewell, Jackie. Too bad Klein had to write this book and peddle it as a memorial volume for you. "Farewell Jackie," thankfully, is clearly destined to sink into the mire of obsequious, poorly-written Kennedy books.

I can't believe I sprung for this in hardcover!
I agree with the other reviewers who say there is nothing new here. Not only is this all rehash,it's not even good rehash.
Save your money, but if you must own it...buy it used...I am sure you'll have no trouble finding them.

Not much that's new
This slim volume left me very ambivalent. I enjoyed reading how JBKO met her death head on, and how she turned to her spirituality for strength and comfort. However, the parts of the story that are credible are things that I've read elsewhere -- sometimes even by Mr. Klein. And many other observations seemed intrusive -- if they are even true. (And considering how private some of these recollections are, it's impossible to know if they happened the way they are recounted here.) So while in some ways I'm not sorry I read it, I did feel as though as I trampling on Mrs. Onassis' privacy. ... Read more

Book Description

Sizzlingly talented, yet fragile...achieving, yet insecure...responsible, yet reckless--Natalie Cole has been there and done it all.Now Natalie tells her uniquely insightful, deeply personal story.Unsparingly honest and irreverent, Angel on My Shoulder will both turn your head with its revelations and make you laugh out loud from Natalie's irrepressible sense of humor. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

An Amazing Inspiration
Natalie shares with astounding truth, humbleness, and shows us all how much she has been through, and how she - with the Divine help in her life - has triumphed from the darkest days. This book is an astounding beacon of hope for anyone who has been through both the highs and lows of life, and wants to genuinely rise from within.
Natalie shares much about her childhood, her relationship with her relatives, and so much about her own life, and how many times she thought it was all over for her, only to see that she can rise again - no matter what she has been through.

On a personal note, in 1995 I had dinner with Natalie, her candor and honesty took me back so much that I wrote about her with deep respect in my own book, `Individual Power'. She is a true soul, and I have the utmost respect for her, the courage she has shown, and how she is a beacon of hope for others.

If you want to read a book about one incredible woman, who humbly and candidly shows how no matter what you go through, you CAN triumph, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a gift that will touch you because of its authenticity.

Thank you Natalie for being a beacon of Light and Hope for so many. Keep Going Girl - You are One Awesome Gem!

This Book Is an Amazing Inspiration and So Is Natalie!
Natalie shares with astounding truth, humbleness, and shows us all how much she has been through, and how she - with the Divine help in her life - has triumphed from the darkest days. This book is an astounding beacon of hope for anyone who has been through both the highs and lows of life, and wants to genuinely rise from within.
Natalie shares much about her childhood, her relationship with her relatives, and so much about her own life, and how many times she thought it was all over for her, only to see that she can rise again - no matter what she has been through.

On a personal note, in 1995 I had dinner with Natalie, her candor and honesty took me back so much that I wrote about her with deep respect in my own book, `Individual Power'. She is a true soul, and I have the utmost respect for her, the courage she has shown, and how she is a beacon of hope for others.

If you want to read a book about one incredible woman, who humbly and candidly shows how no matter what you go through, you CAN triumph, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a gift that will touch you because of its authenticity.

Thank you Natalie for being a beacon of Light and Hope for so many. Keep Going Girl - You are One Awesome Gem!

Candid Book
After reading Natalie Cole's autobiography ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER, I have so much respect for the woman. In this candid book, she holds nothing back. She talks about growing up as the daughter of Nat King Cole and how that affected her life, and how she tried to find her identity and often went to drugs. She started her career and was hot stuff between 1975-1980, before the drugs took over her life. She talks a fair bit about her marriage with Marvin Yancy, and her son quite a bit. Marvin died which left her to take care of her son. This was after she cleaned up her act with the drugs which were ruining her life. She has to face adversity and get her career back on track. She had a few hits in the 80s but she didn't blow up completely until she did the tribute album in 1991 to her father, which won her a considerable amount of Grammy's. In the late 80s she also married Andre, a mistake she would later regret as he abused her. She also talks about her brother who died from AIDS, and her mother keeping their share of their father's will from Natalie and her siblings and the drama that ensued there, adding fuel to the fire of an already tumultuous relationship with her mother. Quite a few times she makes a reference to how angels saved her life, and that God was watching her. It's an inspiring book, and interesting to read and realize how much she has been through in her life. A good read.

Very Inspirational!
I thought this was a very good book that told the ups & downs of the life of Natalie Cole. Although she charts her drug use, recovery & situations in the music industry, i felt she skimmed somewhat over the family details of her personal life. Details that I think wouldve added more drama to this tale. I would've liked to hear more about what went on w/ her & her mother, whom you can just look at & tell how difficult she probably was. Ms. Cole dosent say much except for the occasional "me and my mom weren't getting along during this period" excerps & almost nothing of her twin sisters & adopted brother (which by the way, i never even knew existed!). Sister Cookie is also a blur. She mentions in 2 brief pages the story of her brother but it wouldve been interesting to hear more.

As a spiritual person, I truly appreciated her knowledge on God and the credit she gives Him for helping her through it all. He has certainly blessed her many times in her life. I too, did my time in the drug world & had so many closes brushes w/ death that I too feel as Ms. Cole does that, God was watching out for me. My recovery is over & my life is 360 degrees different that it once was. & like Ms. Cole, I too can look back & see how God had plans for me & how instrumental He is/was in my daily life.

The comeback & accolades she acheived with her album "Unforgettable" was the icing on the cake after all that she went through. I'm glad I picked this book up.

Sobering Good Novel
I'm a huge fan of Natalie's Cole's. So when I ran across her autobiography I was thrilled. This was poignant but heart-breaking novel. It is true what they say Money and fame is not the key to happiness. But I'm glad that I have a gotten know the Real Natalie through her autobiography.That she able tomake it despite adversity. Very Good Read ... Read more

Amazon.com

Popular culture's interest in celebrities who are no longer popular generally takes one of two forms. Either the formerly famous person is mercilessly mocked or they're treated with condescension and pity. In The Sixteenth Minute, authors Jeff Guinn and Douglas Perry choose a more interesting direction in profiling people whose proverbial 15 minutes have expired. The subjects, including Irene Cara of, ironically, Fame, wrestler-turned-novelist Mick Foley, and former Speaker of the House Jim Wright, are left to speak for themselves and discuss what may have brought them to celebrity, what caused them to subsequently fade, and what they intend to do next. In between the individual profiles, the authors take on one of the weirder rises to fame of the 20th century: Melvin Dummar, the aspiring entertainer from Utah listed as a beneficiary in a will purported to be from the late billionaire Howard Hughes.

Life in the 16th minute is not the same for everyone. Cara claims to be glad to be rid of the hype but is still clearly bitter about the movie and recording industries, former heavyweight boxer Gerry Cooney seems to have a much better life as a New Jersey dad than he did as an alcoholic prizefighter, former Dodgers shortstop Maury Wills has channeled his obsessive drive away from baseball and drugs and toward sobriety, and Foley, who loves being a novelist but is apparently not good at it, is continually drawn back to the ring and the fans who made him a star. But Guinn and Perry are wise to give so much room to the story of Dummar, whose constant schemes to achieve fame failed repeatedly but who by accident (or some say design) reached a level of notoriety beyond both his imagination and control. A darkly hilarious section describing Dummar's ill-fated Reno disco revue should be enough to make the reader never wish fame on anyone. --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Surfing in the wake of fame
This is a fascinating look into what happens to people who become famous and then lose the media attention and perks. I thought I knew about a lot of the former celebrities the book uses to explore life "in the aftermath of fame," but this book shows that what's widely believed about celebrities is usually only half the story. I thought for example that Susan McDougal went to prison rather than tell all she knew about President Clinton, but the truth is actually far more complicated than that. I didn't know anything about a few of the subjects, like baseball player Maury Wills and boxer Gerry Cooney, and this book offers vivid portraits that serve as excellent introduction. The story that's most fascinating is Melvin Dummar's. He's the guy who says he picked up Howard Hughes in the desert and that's why he was included in Hughes' purported will. Dummar's faith that fame alone would make his life better is sad and poignant, especially since that's what so many people think today about fame. The Sixteenth Minute is very well written, with compassion and humor, and tells a lot about how our expectations for celebrity in this media age are totally out of whack.

Book misses the mark on a subject with great potential
I've long been intrigued with the concept of fame and - more to the point - life in its aftermath. The Beatles were in their early 30's when their spectacularly productive ten-year run ended. And while none of the Fab Four ever stopped being recognized celebrities as post-Beatles, it's also obvious that none of their solo work matched the brilliance of the music they wrote as twenty year olds.What's it like to the live the rest of your life in the shadow of your youth? What's it like when your greatest achievemnts -- the best workof your life --occurred in your 20's, and the next 60 years of life are marked by mediocrity, if that? Paul McCartney is in his 60's now.That's 40 years of being famous and answerinng for something he did as a kid.The Beatles are a little unusual, as they are uber-stars.But what about those who truly came and went?Whether a musician, an athlete, or an actor: Is it better to taste celebrity/fame once -- even if only briefly -- and then to lose it?Or is it better to never have tasted it at all? I was so looking forward to this book and the promise that it could mine the depths of post-fame loss, depression, identity confusion, etc.(Ever watch Vh1's Bands Reunited? I love seeing these former rock stars pumping gas or waiting tables;you can sense their sorrow and confusion.What do you do one you are no longer a rock star? go back to college? go to work for IBM? ) Unfortunately, this book spends much of the time focusing on the famed life and accomplishments of the seven-featured celebrities (who are minor celebrities at best) rather than "life after fame." Certainly no great revelations or candid insights here.It's mostly mini-bios of these people's lives, with far less attention paid to life in the "sixteenth minute." Who cares about what they did. What are they doing NOW! Plus, what a strange selection of people to profile? My guess is that the authors sought out former "celebrities" who were still alive so they could interview them (both authors are reporters). Unfortunately, these living post-celebrities are still invested in nurturing their legacy and places in history, a sort of twilight celebrity. This means they're not going to reveal much beyond how humble and modest their lives are now. Might have been better to do a more historical book on stars/public figures who really struggled in their later years, like Orson Wells, Richard Nixon, etc.If one's identity and self-worth is based solely on one's standing in the public eye, what does a person do when that fame abrubtly ends?? What's it like to be so recognized and so loved one day, then so unnoticed and forgettable the next? So many people struggle to become famous, most in vain. But what about the folks who tasted it andlost it?I so long for a real study on this fascinating topic. Unfortunately, this book just isn't it. ... Read more

Book Description

Barnabas and Company tells the tale of the (mostly) marvelous actors and actresses who came together in a tiny studio in Manhattan to make magic—both on screen and off. Dark Shadows innovatively broke all the daytime rules and blazed a trail other soaps are still following. Featuring sympathetic vampires and werewolves, decades before Buffy the Vampire Killer made slaying cool, the show captured the nation’s attention. In the actors’ own words read about how it happened, and relive your own special memories of those Dark Shadows in the afternoon. Plus, a special trivia section includes information on the actors’ other roles—on TV, stage and in movies.

... Read more

Reviews (14)

Keeping my favorite show alive
I would like to thank Mr. Hamrick for his new book "Barnabas and Company." It's books like this one, and the Dark Shadows Almanac, and the Dark Shadows Companion that help to keep Dark Shadows alive in our hearts after nearly 40 years. This book belongs in the library of every DS fan.

Very interesting reading!
Being a DS fan since it's original run, I was delighted to read this book. It has lots of interesting facts and trivia that I believe fans will enjoy. Even though I've been a member of many DS internet mailing lists and message boards, there were things here I hadn't known of previously.

I believe this book will serve to increase an already substantial amount of interest in one of the most unique television shows ever produced, Dark Shadows!

An excellent addition
There are numerous DS books on the market,almost always told from the point of view of a select few who appeared on the show and relate tales heavy on sunshine and roses. While these voices are important, they only provide one dimension. Mr. Hamrick, who has appeared at many of the conventions, is first and foremost a curious fan and thus approaches his writing with that mindset,adding a much needed balance to the scales without the usual rehash. If you can find Hamrick's comprehensive, yet rare 'Collectors Guide', grab this essential title also.

Great job, Mr. Hamrick!
Craig has done a superb job. I knew Louis Edmonds very well in his later years, but never knew much about Dark Shadows. Until this book!
Thanks very much.

Kudos from a new DS fan
As someone who only recently "discovered" Dark Shadows in re-runs and who has become a newly devoted fan(atic), I found Mr. Hamrick's book an absolutely wonderful source of information regarding the actors and trivia surrounding the show. It was an essential resource to allow me to access information that even long time fans of the show might not know. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Here's A Unique Topic.
Master writer and researcher Jill Jonnes is back, this time teamed with the venerable John C. Ball. Fame At Last is the culmination of an unlikely look at a five-year history of New York Times obituaries. The New York Times obits are a veritable who's who of the recently deceased; only those who've been pioneers in their chosen field earn a coveted spot in these pages. This odd subject matter makes for fascinating reading.

Jonnes and Ball developed a database for the ten thousand or so obits in their study, classifying them by occupation, education, income level, obit length, and more. When massaged, their database reveals interesting patterns about these chosen few and highlights the value of higher education, particularly at renowned ivy league schools. Chapters are broken down by field of expertise--artists, politicians, writers, inventors, criminals, musicians, educators, etc. There's something for everyone.

For each chapter, Jonnes has culled a sampling of the most compelling obits, and devotes a page or two to anecdotal musing on each. In its essence, Fame At Last is a collection of short biographies on some of the world's most creative, intelligent, productive, or infamous personalities, some of whom we're familiar with, some we're not. Surprisingly fun and illustrative. Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

Comments Re:Book Titled Fame At Last
I am very impressed with the time spent to research the subject matter.The authors obviously had the perserverance and energy to devote a significant number of hours to the data collection and analysis phases.

Since I like history, I particularly liked the interesting items about indiviiduals that I have read or heard of in other media.There are some lessons to be learned from the lives of the people included in the book.

Also, the statistics bring out some interesting points regarding education, field of endeavor (Occupational Groups)and differences between the sexes and races.For example, the list of names in Table 1-4, "The Overall Apex of Fame:The Longest Obituarties," remind one of the people that have gone before us and have made a difference.

The authors are to be congratulated for providing a great read of a subject that some people shun.(Personally, I get up each morning, check the local obits and if my name is not included I go to work) ... 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