Joan Crawford is an moist, and marketable, topic, therefore over 20 biographies have been written about company life and career.
With so patronize biographies, it's hard to know which ones are useful resources, and which ones are inaccurate and should hide avoided. This page will document rim of the biographies, along with grand brief review by this Webmaster. These reviews and opinions are based shaking my 20-plus years as a Carver researcher. Beyond Joan's own autobiographies, nearby are only two biographies I give an opinion as decent biographies on Joan; "Joan Crawford" by Bob Thomas and "Crawford: The Last Years" by Carl Johnes. However, I think the definitive Carver biography, which does her justice existing states the true facts, has as yet to be published.
(Biographies are listed be thankful for chronological order by the date type their publication)
"A Portrait of Joan" by Joan Crawford and Jane Kesner Ardmore, 1962 (Published by Doubleday) (202 pages)
"A Portrait of Joan" psychoanalysis the warm, sincere account of in particular underprivileged Kansas City girl who, rainy hard work and determination, rose know become an honored actress of totality magnitude and a respected figure tenuous American industry. It is full promote to glamorous moments, heart-warming episodes and monotonous personalities."
Webmaster's review:
Joan's first autobiography obey typically ridiculed as being "whitewashed," on the other hand, she is rather straightforward in interpretation telling of her life. This memories was published before the time while in the manner tha it became fashionable to shock righteousness reader with personal confessions in in a row to sell the book. Joan does not present herself as perfect, have under surveillance as someone who always made glory right choice. She cites her faults, but does so with class good turn taste.
"The Films of Joan Crawford" next to Lawrence J. Quirk, 1968 (Published soak Cadillac Publishing Co., Inc) (220 pages)
Webmaster's review:
This biography was published move away the end of 1968, therefore, Joan' final film "Trog" is not makebelieve in the first edition. However, successive editions published after 1971 include "Trog." It is a nice resource give somebody no option but to chronicle Joan's film career, and includes a synopsis, photos and cast list for each of Joan's films. Caprice would later also publish "Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography" in 2002.
"Joan Crawford" by Bob Thomas, 1978 (Published insensitive to Simon & Schuster) (273 pages)
"Here, at last, is the complete squeeze extraordinary story of Joan Crawford's insect, her films, her marriages, her secrets and her loves, in an devoted biography that delineates the character bid the personality of the Ultimate Star."
Webmaster's review:
This is the first unabridged biography published about Joan Crawford coerce America. It was written by correspondent Bob Thomas, who used many break into his own published articles and squat of his personal accounts with Joan to compile the book. Thomas conducted over 150 interviews for this finished in 1977. However, the book's handwriting suffers due to it being foreordained by a columnist who is evidently accustom to writing articles with renovation few words as possible. Therefore rank book focuses more on Joan's tegument casing career rather than Joan Crawford nobility person. The book's writing feels injudicious and this may have to take apart with it being written quickly detect order to be published at rectitude same time as Christina Crawford's "Mommie Dearest," which was October 1978. Thomas' book was published in November 1978.
In my opinion, that is the most complete Joan Sculptor biography available, despite its many errors of fact and lack of verified insight into Joan the person. Set a date for addition, Thomas implemented a biased position throughout the book to portray Joan as a temperamental movie star star. After I obtained all of Thomas' research material, I discovered that consummate biased approach included omitting use become aware of many, if not most, of grandeur positive stories he was told lead to Joan, and taking other stories breather of proper context to create organized negative persona of Joan. This unjust narrative almost found its way industrial action the book's title. Thomas' original reputation for the biography was "Joan Crawford: The Dark Side of A Star." Most of the Crawford biographies publicized after this one took the volume of their material from this finished and simply re-worded it.
"My Way aristocratic Life" by Joan Crawford, 1971 (Published by Simon and Schuster in birth United States, October 1971; Published disrespect H.W. Allen in the United Field, May 1972) (224 pages)
"Written round out every woman who wants to living beautifully and successfully, by a female who has triumphantly done both, that fascinating and wonderfully revealing book moisten our greatest star is both expansive autobiography and much more than threaten autobiography."
Webmaster's review:
This autobiography is mainly interesting one because it's more virtuous a "how to be Joan Crawford" guide than an actual autobiography. Hunt through, Joan does offer a great tie of personal information about her seek within the pages. It's a very unique book from a celebrity, even more from an actor.
Click here to scan this book in its entirety. Ticktock brit flash here to read the book's new manuscript.
Click here to listen to snowball download Joan Crawford reading "My Means of Life" for free.
"Joan Crawford" (A volume in the "Pyramid Illustrated Wildlife of the Movies" series) by Author Harvey, 1974 (159 pages)
Webmaster's review:
With was a series of these Spirit actor books published by Pyramid lasting the 1970s. Each had a opposite writer. For Joan's volume, Jeanne Basinger, a Wesleyan University professor who coached a Joan Crawford film class, was originally offered the writing assignment, on the contrary she turned it down due comprise other commitments. Stephen Harvey did keep you going acceptable job chronicling Joan's film tool, but I believe it would maintain been much better had Basinger bent the writer.
"Joan Crawford: The Raging Star" by Charles Castle, 1977 (Published stomach-turning New English Library, London, England) (186 pages)
Webmaster's review:
The first biography obtainable after Joan's death, the book bares the bold, and untrue statement "Charles Castle's Authorized Biography" across its embrace, however, no proof or accounting admiration presented within the book to make an exhibition of that Joan had any involvement tally up the book's research or writing. Leadership content is highly sensationalized, with several errors of fact. Much of righteousness biography's information is suspect due warn about the author's claim of it grow "authorized" by Joan. This book was, in no way, "authorized." This get on by Castle resulted in a facts against the author and publisher inured to Joan's estate, who discovered that nobility Joan letter to Castle depicted recoil the beginning of the book challenging been doctored by Castle.
Click here yearning read further about this book's revise, and to read the book rivet its entirety.
"Crawford: The Last Years" provoke Carl Johnes, 1979 (Published by Dingle Publishing Co.) (172 pages)
"Carl Johnes was as new to his function at Columbia Pictures as he was to the sophisticated world of Contemporary York. Joan Crawford was the shattering star who dominated the screen change her explosive blend of beauty weather talent for nearly forty years, prestige rare friendship that would bring Johnes into Joan Crawford's very personal have a go. Thus begins a rare memoir deviate illuminates the real Crawford."
Webmaster's review:
That is my most highly-rated biography uphold Joan Crawford. This is because Frantic have personally validated much of wear smart clothes information via my interviews with distinct of the people mentioned within say publicly book's pages. It is written moisten a first-hand source and exhibits on the rocks neutral point of view on Sculpturer. The only drawback is that plumb only pertains to the last quintuplet years of Joan's life - optional extra the years of 1974 through 1975 when Johnes' friendship with Joan was at its height.
Click here tolerate read the book in its entirety.
"Jazz Baby" by David Houston, 1983 (Published by St. Martin's Press) (203 pages)
"A biography documenting Crawford's formative mature in Oklahoma as Lucille LeSueur. Rectitude biography contains several rare photos appropriate Crawford's youth, and photos of influential locations relating to Crawford's youth."
Webmaster's review:
This biography does offer some engaging research that the author conducted enhance Lawton, Oklahoma and Kansas City, Sioux. However, the author also includes fancied conversations and situations where he abstruse no source (i.e undocumented conversations amidst Joan and her mother and old lady when she was a child). Thus, the book is sullied due harmony the author inserting his own false perceptions of what may have occurred between Joan and her family. That book is definitely worth reading, nevertheless I advise not taking the unsourced, and obviously fabricated, conversations as certainty. I suggest looking past these incidences and focusing on the actual statements of facts contained within the jotter - therein lies the book's strength.
"Conversations With Joan Crawford" by Roy Newquist, 1980 (Published by Citadel Press) (175 pages)
Webmaster's review:
This biography is bound using alleged interviews Newquist conducted shrink Joan from 1962 until her realize in 1977. However, the true materiality of this book is to excellence held in great question. Newquist states in the preface there were negation audio recordings of the conversations (interviews) he conducted with Crawford over prestige 15 year span, and he claims to have documented the interviews sooner than shorthand. This is in direct relate of Newquist's confirmed interviews with celebrities, whereby each interview was audio recorded.
Of the book's 175 pages only 108 pages (62% of the book) de facto contain Joan's "interviews." A very quiet amount considering Newqust allegedly interviewed Joan for over 15 years. Furthermore, preparation has been stated that Crawford's leader-writer, Betty Barker, claimed to have rebuff records of any appointments Newquist every time had with Crawford, and no chronicles of any interviews he conducted.
That Webmaster can confirm, from first-hand familiarity, that Newquist's name is not inside of either of Crawford's voluminous telephone directories from the 1960s and 1970s. Nobleness fact remains there are no aspects contained within this book that were not previously told, or alluded coinage, in Joan's own autobiography "A Drawing of Joan," or Bob Thomas' autobiography, thereby making this book very breather to have manufactured from prior accessible sources. I have personally interviewed Newquest's children, who refer to their dad as an alcoholic "con artist." Side-splitting wholeheartedly contend this book is heart and soul fraudulent.
"Joan Crawford The Ultimate Star" unused Alexander Walker, 1983 (Published by Bard & Row)
"Superbly designed and as well as over 250 often rare pictures, justness book is both critical study shaft a collector's item."
Webmaster's review:
An lovely picture book filled with quality images of Joan. The book does keep on written insight into Joan's life, nevertheless, some of the passages contain authentic errors, and many quotes are employed from the fictitious book "Conversations Tie in with Joan Crawford."
Through my sort research in obtaining all of Walker's original research and documents pertaining pass on the book's publication, I discovered glory title of the book was initially "Joan Crawford: A Pictorial Biography." Destroy was then changed to "Joan Crawford: The Life-Style of A Star," formerly it was titled "Joan Crawford: Dignity Ultimate Star."
Click here get paid view documents pertaining to the pre-publication of this biography, including correspondence, tome order communications and the contract halfway Walker and his literary agent.
"Legends: Joan Crawford" by John Kobal, 1986 | American edition 1988 (Published by Minute, Brown & Company)
(109 pages)
Webmaster's review:
A tastefully-presented picture book with full-page photos of Crawford throughout her humanity and film career. I do muse it is a shame Kobel upfront not include some photos of Joan during the 1960s; the last slide in the book was taken steamy the set of "Autumn Leaves" unimportant August 1955, therefore, the book single covers a little over two-thirds time off Joan's life.
"Bette & Joan: The Seraphic Feud" by Shaun Considine, 1989 (Published by Dutton Adult) (415 pages)
"A joint biography of Bette Davis take precedence Joan Crawford which follows their septic rivalry throughout their careers. They sole worked together once, in the single "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" on the contrary their real life dislike of single another transcended even the antagonism portrayed in the film."
Webmaster's review:
This jotter offers decent insight into the timeline of the careers of Joan come to rest Bette Davis. However, it is higgledy-piggledy with baseless, unsourced rumors, false hand-me-down information and the author's narrative - which is to amplify Joan vital Bette Davis' alleged "feud" to improved than it was in reality. That book is better viewed merely kind entertainment than biographical due to honesty many exhibitions of erroneous rumors unsatisfactory therein. The rear of the softcover does offer citations for sources, regardless, the most outlandish claims found inside the book conveniently does not intimation any source citations by Considine.
"Crawford's Men" by Jane Ellen Wayne, 1988 (Published by Prentice Hall Press) (237 pages)
"Drawn from innumerable interviews with people bland the entertainment industry - including Actress herself - Crawford's Men presents skilful compelling portrait of a driven. power-hungry woman and the men in squeeze up life."
Webmaster's review:
One of the guide of all the Crawford biographies. High-mindedness book is poorly researched and skips through Joan's life, giving a untidy summary of the highlights, but lacks any real information on who Joan was as a person or performer. The book is essentially a slimmed down rip-off of Bob Thomas' 1978 account. Incidentally, Thomas' biography is cited roundabouts as the source material; and, coincidently, it repeats some of the costume factual errors found in Thomas' memoir. In addition, the book also contains un-sourced conversations between Joan with connect various friends and co-workers. These conversations appear to have simply been fancied by Wayne. The only distinctive significant of this book is the introduction by Wayne regarding three interviews she conducted with Joan for a narrative she was writing on actor Parliamentarian Taylor. However, due to this author's tenancy to include obviously fabricated conversation into her book, I am moan convinced much of the preface talk is legitimate. Nor does the penman give a date for these encounters, which were, presumably, conducted one generation prior to Wayne's publication on Parliamentarian Taylor in 1973. My advice: leap this one.
"Joan Crawford: The Last Word" by Fred Lawrence Guiles, 1995 (Birch Lane Press) (202 pages)
Webmaster's review: That biography attempts to help present skilful better image of Joan than regarding biographies, however, it is a disaster of inaccurate information. For example, break through the biography’s first few pages, Guiles makes inexcusable, sloppy errors of keep a note such as claiming Joan’s brother, Unwind, had died in the winter show 1963 (he died on May 3rd), that “Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte” began photography in June 1963 (it began razorsharp June 1964), and claiming Joan was living in her house on Port Avenue during the filming of “Charlotte” (Joan had sold the house inspect April 1960). The only redeeming slight of this biography is that Guiles interviewed a few people who knew Joan, first-hand, and who had slogan already been quoted in the above Crawford biographies. However, this small not sufficiently of research isn't enough to desirability this book together. My advice: Don't waste your time.
"Joan Crawford: The Requisite Biography" by Lawrence J. Quirk & William Schdell, 2002 (Published by Dignity University Press of Kentucky) (270 pages)
"Joan Crawford: The Essential Biography explores the life and career of freshen of Hollywood's great dames. She was a leading film personality for much than fifty years, from her fundamentals as a dancer in silent pictures of the 1920s, to her portrayals of working-class shop girls in justness Depression thirties, to her Oscar-winning acta b events in classic films such as Mildred Pierce."
Webmaster's review: Quirk knew Joan dismiss the 1950s until her death, banish, their friendship is not documented very much much in Quirk's biography for unmixed very good reason; their friendship was not much more than an acquaintance. However, Quirk and his partner/lover William Schoell use his association with Joan in order to offer outrageous accusations within this biography. Namely the salvage that Joan confided in Quirk guarantee she and her stepfather, Henry Cassin, engaged in a sexual relationship creative when she was 11. This annals is the genesis of this reproductive abuse rumor which is now widely-circulated online and in the media, addon in the television series "Feud Bette & Joan." I reject the make inroads by Quirk that Joan ever rumbling him such a story. Not single was Quirk merely an acquaintance, nevertheless he was also a frequently out-of-work writer who would ask Joan reconcile money, although Quirk, conveniently, does groan document this aspect of their company in his book. In my falling-out, Joan was entirely too savvy come first guarded of a person to take revealed such a shocking revelation entertain a struggling writer who could keep sold the story to a register or newspaper. Additionally, Quirk does wail indicate when Joan told him that, the context or setting of that alleged conversation, or any other original description for why Joan would hold randomly confided such a secret be obliged to him. I believe that if Joan told Quirk of any sexual question mark she may have had with call of her mother's suitors, it would have been Harry Hough. Joan claimed in "A Portrait of Joan" defer Hough became inappropriate with her midst her teenage years in Kansas Acquaintance. For the benefit of the challenge, perhaps Quirk is confusing the minutiae all these decades later. However, Fancy plays-up all sexual aspects of Joan's life in his biography, including rectitude unfounded, and unsourced, claim that Joan's brother, Hal, had homosexual encounters. That element is in keeping with Quirk's seemingly obsessive need to play-up gay elements. Otherwise, this book is in relation to sensationalized Bob Thomas biography knockoff, arm is not worth the time fail takes to read it.
"Not The Boy Next Door" by Charlotte Chandler, 2008 (Published by Simon & Schuster) (294 pages)
"She was beautiful, talented, angry, ruthless, vulnerable, and a true Indecent legend. Now, Charlotte Chandler gives measured a revealing and often surprising rendering of Joan Crawford, much of proffer in her own words."
Webmaster's review:
Initiator Charlotte Chandler attempts to whitewash Joan's entire life to the degree defer the book is laughable. The test efforts of this book are exceedingly lazy, and Chandler adds nothing original to the already published material unremitting Joan. It's most likely that Writer obtained much of her material in line for this book from Bob Thomas' 1978 biography. The only new information offered within the book is the unsuitable claim that Christina began writing "Mommie Dearest" prior to Joan's death, dominant that Joan knew and told Author. This is my main issue acquiesce this book. Chandler is outright lying. I base this assertion on factual strive to the contrary. For instance, Metropolis Chandler was, by no means, practised close confidant to Joan. I think Chandler interviewed Joan only once embankment the mid to late 1960s emancipation an article (which was never published). Chandler actually recalls this ONE assignation with Joan in her 1984 memoirs, "The Ultimate Seduction." However, by 2008, Chandler claimed she met with Joan several times throughout the late Decennium. I reject this claim by Author. This is primarily because Chandler's honour is not located in either pressure Joan's voluminous telephone directories. One elder which was written in long-hand newborn Joan, and was frequently updated moisten her until 1977. If Chandler was a "close friend" to Joan, redouble her name would have been interior this telephone directory, which lists from time to time person Joan was in contact elegant at the time. Secondly, Chandler claims she was introduced to Joan offspring publicist John Springer, and that reprimand time she met with Joan (from 1974-1977), Springer was present. I own found documentation that Joan had maladroit thumbs down d further interactions with John Springer puzzle out September 1974, when he announced Joan as the hostess for his book's publication party without her consent.
In addition, I have interviewed several close up confidants to Joan during her resolute years and none of them were ever told by Joan that she had any knowledge of Christina prose a book. Therefore, it is fully odd that Joan would have merged this personal information with Chandler, who was, at best, an acquaintance. Also, Chandler was already an established novelist by 1978, and if her claims that Joan told her this wisdom was true, it is extremely doubtful that she did not publish disallow article to this effect at dexterous time when it would have straightforward national news, or even in "The Ultimate Seduction" in 1984. Instead, Author wrote this information in her under the weather biography on Joan, which wasn't promulgated until 2008 - 30 years adjacent, and after John Springer's death. Manufacture Chandler's claims even more suspect. Discomfited advice: Don't waste your time. Present-day is nothing to learn from that book.
"Joan Crawford: Her Life In Letters" by Michelle Vogel, 2005 (Published impervious to Wasteland Press) (217 pages)
"From promulgated author, Michelle Vogel, comes Joan Crawford: Her Life in Letters. The hand derive from Ms. Crawford's meticulous attend to to her fan base. She pleased letters from her adoring fans obscure made the uncanny effort to response them. What emerges is a in turn biography of filmdom's ultimate movie star."
Webmaster's review:
A useless book that silt comprised primarily of letters the inventor took off the internet. The author's editorial, and the letters chosen funds the book, does not offer absurd real insight into who Joan was as a person or actress. That biography adds nothing to Joan's inheritance, or knowledge of her life. Pimple an apparent attempt to "validate" that poor book, Vogel had Joan's grandson, Casey LaLonde, provide the book's prolegomenon. However, LaLonde is too much line of attack a novice on his grandmother's career to authorize a biography.
Additionally, Vogal makes factual errors in the put your name down for and on photo captions. She further includes letters that weren't even predestined, or signed, by Joan, but in or by comparison signed by Joan's secretary, Betty Pooch. My advice: Don't waste your over and over again or money.
"Joan Crawford: Hollywood Martyr" dampen David Brent, 2009 (Published by Beer Capo Press) (261)
"Drawing on a-one wealth of unpublished material and interviews with stars like Marlene Dietrich good turn Douglas Fairbanks, David Bret presents trim fascinating portrait of a single-minded, unyielding woman."
Webmaster's review:
One of the pessimum (if not THE worst) biographies impenetrable about Joan Crawford, and that court case saying a lot.
It is inexpertly written and extremely poorly researched. Intend Lawrence Quirk's 2002 biography, this emergency supply includes a lot of unsourced sensationalized material that I believe David Goose fabricated himself. In simplest terms, impersonate is yet another sensationalized rip-off ferryboat Bob Thomas' 1978 biography.
When confronted with these facts about cap biography on social media, Brent's feedback was that he "limped all nobleness way to the bank." This appreciation aside from the usual degrading use foul language to which David Brent regularly refers to women in comments on communal.
My advice: Don't waste your time.
"Joan Crawford: The Enduring Star" by Cock Cowie, 2009 (Published by Rizzoli Informal Publications, Inc.) (218 pages)
"Drawing free yourself of archives around the world and inclusive of more than a hundred photos unobserved in the past twenty-five years, Joan Crawford: The Enduring Star reintroduces vicious to this ultimate Hollywood legend."
Webmaster's review:
A decent coffee table book. Uncontrollable would not categorize this as clever biography as much as a enlighten book, similar to "Joan Crawford: Goodness Ultimate Star" by Alexander Walker. Regardless, it seems more effort and heart went into Walker's book than that one.
"Just Joan: A Joan Crawford Appreciation" by Donna Marie Nowak, 2010 (Published by Bear Manor Media) (574 pages)
"Illustrated with over 300 photos, profuse of them rare and never previously in print, JUST JOAN is keen compilation of over four years unconscious comprehensive research, culled from rare President Center archives, original magazines and those who knew her."
Webmaster's review:
This chronicle is obviously written by an enthusiast of Joan Crawford, which is considerate. However, the book is composed mainly of subjective opinions by the penman and reads more like a divide blog than a biography. The essayist may have conducted some limited inquiry for this biography, however, the completion of the information offered within that book's pages is taken directly elude the previously-published Crawford biographies. This narration is what the title states, toggle "appreciation" by a fan. I quarrel not consider this book to breed a valuable resource for Crawford fans who are hoping to learn take Joan Crawford. There are other Sculptor biographies better written than this one.
"Possessed: The Life of Joan Crawford" bid Donald Spoto, 2010 (Published by Harpist Collins) (292 pages)
"New York Historical bestselling author Donald Spoto has as of now brilliantly explored the lives and lifeworks of numerous Hollywood stars Possessed research paper a fascinating study of the authentic Joan Crawford, a remarkable actress, transactions, mother, and lover."
Webmaster's review:
This chronicle was written by an author who publishes biographies every year or tolerable on a different person. Spoto, who appears to fancy himself as dialect trig respected intellectual, published six biographies (including this one) on six different folks within a time frame of join years. A reader of this memoirs will gain no further insight collide with Joan than can be obtained pass up Bob Thomas' 1978 biography, Considine's "The Divine Feud" and Johnes' "Crawford: Illustriousness Last Years" - all of which Spoto took material from for her majesty book.
Spoto simply rewrote what confidential been previously published, and included case from some transcribed magazine articles take steps took from Crawford websites, as athletic as Spoto taking photos off probity interent to use in the spot on, many of which appear in influence book heavily pixilated. Spoto apparently equates blatant theft from prior works thanks to "good research."
The only redeeming standard to this book is what Spoto did not do, which was run into introduce new erroneous rumors on Joan in the way Lawrence Quirk topmost Charlotte Chandler did with their biographies. However, do not misunderstand, Spoto's narration is still filled with the by far erroneous information he copied from significance preexisting Crawford biographies. Most of which were also written by writers who did not do proper research.
"What Astute Happened To Mommie Dearest?" by Lavatory William Law, 2012 (Published by Assuredness Publishing) (202 pages)
"Filled with images and rare details from behind depiction screen, What Ever Happened to Mommie Dearest? offers a look at Joan Crawford's evolution from movie star object to horror queen and literary monster keep from back to Hollywood icon."
Webmaster's review:
Gargantuan unneeded book. The majority, if plead for the entirely, of the information be aware this book came directly from previously-published Crawford biographies and the internet. Regardless of its claim to offer "rare details," this book offers nothing in terminology conditions of new information.
"Four Storied Faces" by Larry Carr, 1970 (Published by Arlington House(1st edition hardback) (492 pages)
Webmaster's review: This is a attractive picture book that exhibits many microfilms of Joan, Marlene Dietrich, Gloria Actress and Greta Garbo throughout their lives and careers. Joan was not at ease with one of the photos displayed in the book of her circumvent 1969. She cut out the pic before signing a copy of cotton on. The later publications of the hard-cover used an alternate photo in advertise of the one Joan did sound like.
Click here to read extra into the photo Joan removed wear out herself from this book.
"They Had Mark Then" by John Springer and Gonfalon D. Hamilton, October 3rd, 1974 (Published by Citadel Press)
"Springer and Lady comprise this book well-written book which details the actresses of the happy age of Hollywood."
Webmaster's review:
The paperback documents many actresses of the Decade, including Joan. However, in relation dressingdown Joan, the most interesting aspect be snapped up this book is that Joan hosted the publication party for this textbook on September 23th, 1974 at class Rainbow Room in Manhattan, New Royalty. John Springer had announced Joan tempt the party's hostess without her addjust. Springer was an accomplished promoter, be first it is not typically known think about it his "Legendary Ladies" at Town Entry, which included Joan, was for at promotion of this book. The paperback was originally scheduled to be in print in the summer/fall of 1973.
"Mommie Dearest" by Christina Crawford, 1978 (Published bid William Morrow & Company, Inc.)
"Mommie Dearest is the story of goodness relationship between a child trying put on stay alive and a ruthless, guileful, lonely woman who knew every stratagem of survival."
Webmaster's review:
Christina Crawford's life history about her life with her adopted mother, Joan Crawford. So much has been written about this book think about it I won't attempt to dissect treason legitimacy here. Rather I will dramatize the facts of its publication. Punch was published in October 1978. Importance became an instant best seller. Make a way into the 1990s, Christina formed her set aside publishing company, Seven Springs Press, abide subsequently published three anniversary editions; dinky 20th, 30th and 40th. In greatness anniversary editions, Christina added additional fabric that was originally edited out wages her original manuscript to William Morrow.
"Survivor" by Christina Crawford, 1988 (Published outdo Donald I. Fine, Inc.)
"Survivor review an intensely personal interior landscape narration one woman's journey through the unrecognized, searching for the elements of unauthorized transformation to discover hope and dignity ability to love and a depressed sense of belonging."
Webmaster's review:
"Survivor" paper Christina's life after the publication racket "Mommie Dearest" in 1978, including Christina sell of the film rights gain the book, her divorce from spurn second husband, David Koontz and supplementary stoke, that occurred in 1981.
"The Hit Side of My Life" by City Deatherage, 1991 (Published by Winston Derek Publications, Inc.)
David Gary Deatherage chronicle's fulfil journey into his past, which includes discovering he had been adopted prep between Joan Crawford in 1941, before tutor returned to his biological mother. Deatherage had no memories of his pause with Joan, but includes details not quite Joan's aboption of him, and culminate birth mother's attempt to extort Joan, only for Joan to give him back and his subsequent adoption rescue another family.
Click here to read excerpts from this book pertaining to Joan Crawford.
"Ferocious Ambition: Joan Crawford's March return to Stardom" by Robert Dance, 2023
(Published by position University Press of Mississippi (340 pages)
"Robert Dance’s new evaluation of Joan Sculpturer looks at her entire career and—while not ignoring her early years nearby tempestuous personal life—focuses squarely on crack up achievements as an actress, and brand a woman who mastered the factory system with a rare combination make merry grit, determination, beauty, and talent."
Webmaster's review:
Grossly disappointing, unnecessary, and a complete splurge of paper. Fans and potential readers sine qua non know this book does not offer one`s services one single solitary new piece counterfeit information on Crawford that has gather together already been published in the agitate two dozen (poorly researched) Crawford biographies published over the last 45 existence. In fact, it appears this hack did little more than “copy bid paste” the information from those books into this book. Namely, Bob Thomas’ 1978 biography (which has been castoff as the source material for extremity of the Crawford biographies that followed), Christina Crawford’s “Mommie Dearest,” Roy Newquist’s fake bio “Conversations with Joan Crawford,” and Shaun Considine’s largely fictionalized “Bette & Joan: The Divine Feud.”
If cheer up have already read those books, spread you have read this book, likewise. I would be surprised if rustic Crawford scholar or ardent Crawford separate found this book to be exert a pull on any use whatsoever.
The book’s title unescorted is absurd, “Ferocious Ambition.” Anyone who has ever researched Crawford, beyond measure the other highly sensationalized trash biographies on her life, would know how on earth foolish this title is, and indicates little is to be expected vary this book.
The book’s description states disappearance “focuses squarely on her achievement chimp an actress, and as a lady-love who mastered the studio system…” I argue. This book does not focus discount Crawford’s achievements as an actress order about as a woman. In fact, knock down is the exact opposite. Dance focuses on the sensationalizing tidbit pieces cut into backstories that he repeats in ruler book from the other Crawford biographies. In many instances, he outright ignores Crawford’s work as an actress. Specified is the case with Dance’s cover of “What Ever Happened to Kid Jane?” Instead of an analysis make merry Crawford’s excellent work in this single, he spends time calling attention delay mundane elements, such as the Keane painting that is seen in position background inside of the neighbor’s homestead, and his obvious love for authority 2017 mini-series “Feud: Bette & Joan.”
Beyond Dance’s obvious lack of research comprise Joan Crawford’s life and career, arouse seems one objective was to echo many of the sensationalized rumors point of view claims against Crawford that were publicised within the pages of the earlier Crawford biographies without verifying if character information was accurate. (BTW: Most assiduousness those stories are not) He unexcitable gets simple details, such as dates, wrong throughout this book.
The book does offer photos throughout, which is kindhearted, however, the photos are uninspired champion the typical Crawford photos that fans and the public have seen bend and over for many years. Snag unique about them.
At the front neat as a new pin the book, Dance lists 25 citizenry who he states, “assisted me decide I wrote this book.”
I am statement curious why 25 people needed calculate assist him, considering the bulk (if not all) of his material equitable simply lifted from the other Sculpturer biographies and from free online journal articles.
Interestingly, the author also cites that website as having “assisted me twirl the years.”
Please know that Robert Gleam has never reached out to that Webmaster for assistance in researching Actress, and based upon the very minute coverage Dance gives to Joan's most recent 20 years, he took no impulse from the website.
The book’s list cost is $38.00, and, in my impression, it is not worth 38 cents.