The first rule of biography, wrote Justin Kaplan: "Shoot the widow." In her new book, Meryle Secrest, acclaimed biographer ("Knowing, sympathetic and entertainingly droll"--"The New York Times"), writes about her comic triumphs and misadventures as a biographer in search of her nine celebrated subjects, about how the hunt for a "life" is like working one's way through a maze, full of fall starts, dead ends, and occasional clear passages leading to the next part of the puzzle. She writes about her first book, a life of ...
Read More
The first rule of biography, wrote Justin Kaplan: "Shoot the widow." In her new book, Meryle Secrest, acclaimed biographer ("Knowing, sympathetic and entertainingly droll"--"The New York Times"), writes about her comic triumphs and misadventures as a biographer in search of her nine celebrated subjects, about how the hunt for a "life" is like working one's way through a maze, full of fall starts, dead ends, and occasional clear passages leading to the next part of the puzzle. She writes about her first book, a life of Romaine Brooks, and how she was led to Nice and given invaluable letters by her subject's heir that were slid across the table, one at a time; how she was led to the villa of Brooks' lover, Gabriele d'Annunzio (poet, playwright, and aviator), a fantastic mausoleum left untouched since the moment of his death seventy years before; to a small English village, where she uncovered a lost Romaine Brooks painting; and finally, to 20, rue Jacob, Paris, where Romaine's lover, Natalie Barney, had fifty years before entertained Cocteau, Gide, Proust, Colette, and others. Secrest describes how her next book--a life of Berenson--prompted Francis Steegmuller, fellow biographer, to comment that he wouldn't touch the subject with a ten-foot pole. For her life of British art historian Kenneth Clark, Secrest was given permission to write the book by her subject, who surreptitiously financed it in the hopes of controlling its contents; we see how Clark's plan was foiled by a jealous mistress and a stash of love letters that helped Secrest navigate Clark's obstacle course. Among the other biographical (mis)adventures, Secrest reveals: how she tracked Salvador Dali to a hospital room, found him recovering from serious burns sustained in a mysterious fire, and learned that he was knee-deep in a scandal involving fake drawings and prints and surrounded by dangerous characters out of Murder, Inc. . . . and how she went in search of a subject's grave (Frank Lloyd Wright's) only to find that his body had been dug up to satisfy the whim of his last wife. A fascinating account of a life spent in sometimes arduous, sometimes comical, always exciting pursuit of the truth about other lives.
Read Less
Add this copy of Shoot the Widow: Adventures of a Biographer in Search to cart. $1.97, fair condition, Sold by Once Upon A Time Books rated 2.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tontitown, AR, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Knopf.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair in fair dust jacket. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket.
Add this copy of Shoot the Widow: Adventures of a Biographer in Search to cart. $5.49, good condition, Sold by St. Vinnie's Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eugene, OR, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Knopf Publishing Group.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. BOOK HAS STAINS ON PAGE EDGES BUT REMAINS IN GOOD READABLE CONDITION. hardcover This item shows wear from consistent use but remains in good readable condition. It may have marks on or in it, and may show other signs of previous use or shelf wear. May have minor creases or signs of wear on dust jacket. Packed with care, shipped promptly.
Add this copy of Shoot the Widow Adventures of a Biographer in Search of to cart. $7.00, very good condition, Sold by James Cummings Bookseller rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Signal Mountain, TN, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Knopf.
Add this copy of Shoot the Widow: Adventures of a Biographer in Search to cart. $7.29, very good condition, Sold by Bookmarc's rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from La Porte, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Alfred A. Knopf.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very Good. No Jacket as Issued. CM6-An uncorrected proof trade paperback book in near fine condition that has light discoloration and shelf wear. A charming account of a life spent in sometimes arduous, sometimes comical, always exciting pursuit of the truth about other lives. Satisfaction Guaranteed.
Add this copy of Shoot the Widow: Adventures of a Biographer in Search to cart. $10.00, like new condition, Sold by Persephone's Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gastonia, NC, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Alfred A. Knopf.
Add this copy of Shoot the Widow: Adventures of a Biographer in Search to cart. $11.70, very good condition, Sold by Book Ends rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Blacksburg, VA, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Knopf Publishing Group.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good in very good dust jacket. Book is very good in a very good dust jacket. Glued binding. Paper over boards. With dust jacket. 242 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade.
Add this copy of Shoot the Widow: Adventures of a Biographer in Search to cart. $16.16, very good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Knopf Publishing Group.
Add this copy of Shoot the Widow: Adventures of a Biographer in Se to cart. $17.99, very good condition, Sold by Russell Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Victoria, BC, CANADA, published 2007 by Knopf Publishing Group.
Add this copy of Shoot the Widow Adventures of a Biographer in Search of to cart. $20.00, like new condition, Sold by The Wild Muse rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Granville, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Knopf.
Add this copy of Shoot the Widow: Adventures of a Biographer in Search to cart. $26.25, fair condition, Sold by Second Story Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rockville, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Alfred A. Knopf.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Book. Octavo; 1st edition; G-/G-; Hardcover with DJ; DJ spine, white with black print; DJ has light edgewear, light shelfwear, 1-inch closed tear at rear top flap corner; Boards in pink paper, light wear to spine caps and corners, else clean and strong; Text black has penciled underlining and marginal notation throughout; Inscribed in ink by the author on the front flyleaf; xii, 242 pages, illustrated (b&w). 1353952. FP New Rockville Stock.
