Bette Davis (Life&Times) (Paperback)

~ Laura Moser (Author) "Mother Goddam, Battle-Axe Bette, Hurricane Bette, the Fourth Warner Brother, the First Lady of the Screen, the Yankee Dame, the Duse of the Depression, the..." (more)
Key Phrases: Bette Davis, Jack Warner, Baby Jane (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Bette Davis (1908-1989) was the great actress of the Golden Age of Cinema. Known for her bullish temper and incomparable candor, she began life as the favorite daughter of a lonely, unfulfilled single mother. Convinced that she lacked beauty, Davis devoted everything to her acting. In classic films such as Jezebel, All About Eve, Dark Victory and Now, Voyager, she distorted herself into grotesque, shocking characters -- always, she insisted, for the good of the role. Off-stage she never achieved the same success, becoming a serial divorcee. By the end of her life, her repertoire had narrowed into excruciating self-imitation. This book unearths the complex, self-destructive woman beneath the steely public persona.

From the Publisher

The Life & Times series tells the stories of those who have shaped our present and our past, from Beethoven to Curie, Dietrich to Wilde. Offering expert, eminently readable texts by distinguished authors, these beautifully designed books feature chronologies, full indices, and striking color photos and illustrations. Together, they form a superb modern library of biography.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Haus Publishing (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904341489
• ISBN-13: 978-1904341482
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #856,384 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST BETTE BOOK EVER, March 12, 2006

By	sharon hill (Charleston, WV USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is no need to buy any other book about Bette Davis but this one! It has it all---in her words as well as excerpts from others. Having read other books about this celebrated actress, this book won hands down as a must read. Trust me, you will be awed by this. It's simply a book that you cannot put down till you finish it.

13 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bette Davis (Life and Times), March 19, 2006

By	Dennis H. Parsons "Ghost Hunter" (Columbia, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one of the most comprehensive bios I have ever read. Very honest and ... like being in the room with Bette Davis. I was absolutely enchanted by it.

27 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating!, October 5, 2004

By	M. Prendergast (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I loved this intriguing biography of Bette Davis. Moser's elegant prose makes it a pleasure to read. She writes with great detail and really gets into Bette's psychology. Even as a true Bette fan, I gained a lot of insight by reading this book! What a complicated woman...