- Category: Books » Biography & Autobiography » Cooking
- Format: Hardcover Learn more about the Hardcover format using Tower WIKI.
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster
- Number of Pages: 352
- ISBN: 1416579095
- WAPI (Tower ID): 112260447
- Release Date: February 10, 2009
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Average Customer Review:
(1 customer review)
- Tower.com Sales Rank: #126155 in Books (See Top 100 Books Bestsellers)
- #3711 in Biography & Autobiography (See Top 100 Biography & Autobiography Bestsellers)
- #75 in Cooking (See Top 100 Cooking Bestsellers)
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Product DescriptionMore Books by Charlotte Chandler (Author)Run a Quick Search on "She Always Knew How: Mae West, a Personal Biography" by Charlotte Chandler to Browse Related Products:Browse more products related to "She Always Knew How: Mae West, a Personal Biography"Browse more products related to "Charlotte Chandler"Review"[F]or those of us who adore West, this is a sexy...romp, oozing with the icon's inimitable style and self-aggrandizing sass." "Chandler not only got the last major interview with Mae West...but also what is almost certainly the most extensive interview West ever gave....[The book's] depth and breadth brings West to life as thoughtful, caring and reflective, a woman of resilient character, self-knowledge and shrewdness in regard to human nature and in sustaining a career over eight decades." Publisher's noteDraws on firsthand interviews to present an intimate portrait of the Hollywood icon, in an account that covers such topics as her lesser-known business prowess, her imprisonment for the controversial content in her Sex Broadway production, and her final years. 50,000 first printing. AnnotationBiographer Charlotte Chandler crafts an engaging look at the life and times of iconic film star Mae West in SHE ALWAYS KNEW HOW. Using interviews with the star’s closest confidantes, as well as interviews with West herself, Chandler paints an entertaining portrait of one of Hollywood’s most outspoken leading ladies. West was a champion of sexual equality for women at a time when women could be jailed on obscenity charges, and West herself once landed in prison for being too risqué for Broadway. Infamous for her clever quips and one-liners, West was a truly unique grande dame of old Hollywood, and Chandler does a respectable job of capturing her fiery spirit. The acclaimed biographer of Bette Davis, Ingrid Bergman, and Joan Crawford once again draws on personal interviews to examine of of Hollywood's most colorful--and frequently off-color--icons. b&w photographs. If You Enjoy "She Always Knew How: Mae West, a Personal Biography (Hardcover)", May We Also Recommend:
Customer Reviews for "She Always Knew How: Mae West, a Personal Biography (Hardcover)" by Charlotte Chandler (Author)Most Recent Customer Reviews  Diamond Lil Without The Sparkle, February 17, 2009
By R. Mark Desjardins
In the opening pages of Charlotte Chandlers new biography of Mae West, She
Always Knew How, the author inadvertently tips off readers that they may be
getting diluted goods. In regards to granting the interview request West is
quoted, "Im saturated, Im not promoting anything or selling anything, so I dont
have any reason."
When excerpts of the interview were originally published
in the February 1984 issue of MS magazine, the short article with snappy
editing made for fascinating reading. Presented in this expanded form, the
conversation seems to drag (no pun intended). That Chandler in fact conducted
this interview is not in question. She has authored many acclaimed biographies
of cinematic luminaries, but it is the exceedingly talkative nature of the
material presented here that raises the question of what West actually said,
and what Chandler interpreted as what she said, interwoven with comments made
about West by other subjects Chandler had interviewed over the years. This may
account for the large amount of elapsed time since the interview and the
publication of this biography, some thirty years later. While it is improbable
that Chandler has attempted to pull the wool over the eyes of readers, it
appears West succeeded in pulling the wool over her eyes.
The fact that
Chandler does not state a time frame for how long a duration of time she
interviewed West is troubling. Born Lyn Erhard, no personal facts about
Chandler are available, and appears to be somewhat of an enigma. Perhaps this
is why she can relate to a personage such as West who had no problem rearranging
the facts of her life to suit herself, or the listener at the time.
West
certainly warms up talking about her favorite subject - herself, and it is
wonderful to hear her voice throughout this book. However, to the informed Mae
West fan, this voice is somewhat muted and self serving rather than being
reflective. For example, when the subject of one of Wests lovers is brought up,
he is simply referred to a "D." Guido Deiro and West were in fact married and
ample proof lies deposited in Envelope 7, Miscellaneous Letters, and Legal
Documents in the collection at the Center for the Study of Free-Reed
instruments at the City University of New York, Graduate Center. Years
earlier, In 1911, West married Frank Wallace without obtaining a divorce,
therefore in fact making her a bigamist. No mention is ever made of this.
Although West scored many successes in vaudeville and on Broadway, her
suffered many setbacks as well, but these are conveniently overlooked and
glossed over. Any biographer worth their salt having done background sleuthing
would be aware of the ups and downs of Wests long and varied career. As a
result the uninitiated reader would believe that Wests career was smooth sailing
and everything was sunshine and roses. Far from being the truth, West was
toughened by the assaults of critics and the tough hide she developed ultimately
made her the successful, yet little of that struggle is revealed or acknowledged
on either part here.
Maes lover and defacto common law husband, Chester
Ribonsky, AKA Chuck Krauser AKA Paul Novak is dealt with in a very one
dimensional manner. Novak unquestionably loved and adored West but had much
more going for him as a well rounded individual with interests of his own than
what Chandler presents here. As well, Maes love/hate relationship with her
sister Beverly is somewhat glossed over. According to Dolly Dempsey the two
sisters bitter sweet relationship harkens back to their early years living in a
Brooklyn tenement when young Beverly broke her ankle and there was no money to
have it set properly. The guilt over that incident made for a lifelong bitter
sweet bond between the two sisters.
After reading some of the score of other
Mae West biographies that have been published over the years, Chandlers
examination of Wests life and career is welcome in that we do hear Mae West in
her own voice. However, one can not get over the feeling that what Chandler has
offered the reader is a very pale and hazy imitation, paste if you will, of
what Diamond Lil stood for and was about.
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