Bob Hope: A Life In Comedy [Paperback]

William Robert Faith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2003

Reporter: "What's it like to be Bob Hope?"Hope: "I wouldn't have it any other way."From Bob Hope's early career as an upstart among professionals like Jack Benny and Milton Berle in the rollicking world of traveling comedians, to his blazing success as a radio, television, and film star, this completely revised and updated version of William Faith's acclaimed biography takes a straightforward, appreciative, and very funny look at Hope's life and times on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Filled with anecdotes, photographs, and plenty of jokes, the book reveals the real Bob Hope from his boyhood in England and youth in Cleveland to his present status as a living legend-a full-blooded, authentic appraisal of the man and his humor, a comic institution who is also a brilliant businessman, manipulator of the media, and politically influential figure. And of course Hope is the man who brought laughter and cheer (and long-legged beauties) to GIs throughout the world. At a time when patriotic fervor has never been running higher it's worth recalling the singular tribute paid Hope by none other than John Steinbeck: "When the time for recognition of service to the nation in wartime comes to be considered, Bob Hope should be high on the list.... He gets laughter wherever he goes from men who need laughter." Happy 100th, Bob!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Perhaps the best book on Hope." -- John Lahr, The New Yorker

"The definitive biography of the most honored entertainer ever...A well written, researched and informative work." -- Dorchester Community News 04/02/04

About the Author

William Robert Faith worked as Bob Hope's public relations representative for fourteen years. A professor at the University of Southern California's School of Journalism, he lives in Burbank, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; Revised edition (April 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030681207X
• ISBN-13: 978-0306812071
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,905 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well researched, average writing, average book, February 15, 2010

By 

Sean Claycamp (overland park, ks) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bob Hope: A Life In Comedy (Paperback)

William Robert Faith's bio of Bob Hope was OK but I wouldn't break down the Barnes and Noble door to go get it. The author did a great job detailing the details of Hope's career, specifically his work with the USO and his work in film. Faith also did a great job in detailing Hope's early career on the road working for next to nothing in small comedy clubs.

My biggest hangup with the book is Faith didn't detail or analyze Hope's personal relations to the degree he should have. Infedility in his marriage and strain with his four adopted children are often referenced but there is no real in depth analysis of how this effected Hope. There is also no judgement passed which suggests to me that Faith may have been too close to Hope personally and didn't want to pass judgement while Hope was still alive.

The biggest shortcoming in the book was Faith's lack of commitment when it came to Hope's philandering. It was suggested that Hope wasn't unfaithful to Delores throughout the book and that Delores didn't mind but just how wide spread was it and who was it with. There was only one time where Faith suggests a specific woman that Hope may have had a relationship with. I wasn't looking for some Hollywood tell-all but I was looking for more of a definite stance on just how much Hope played around. For instance, I read a bio of John Wayne and it did detail Wayne's relationships but did so in a way that said... this is what the guy did and here is who he "messed around with" and it was wrong.

Again, not looking for Faith to muck rake but to me it was just vague when it came to Hope's personal relationships. It also talked about how several of his kids had issues with Hope and his constant travel or his celebrity. The book didn't really talk about what this was all caused by and how it effected Hope. It just mentioned "strain" with his kids.

To an extent, the book was almost a very long wikipedia article that detailed Hope's life's work and his love of the military and the USO but didn't really offer the sort of in depth analysis that you normally get from a bio.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best bio since Grant, March 21, 2008

By 

Robert Kozlowski "Bob Kozlowski" (Garden Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bob Hope: A Life In Comedy (Paperback)

This was the best bio I have read since Grant's two volume bio. The author gets into Mr. Hope, and I understand the man who brought so many laughs to us through the years. This was a book I couldn't down. Would wake up in the middle of the night and HAVE to start reading it. If you enjoyed Bob Hope you need to read this book.

Bob Kozlowski

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointed, October 17, 2007

By 

piomio (tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bob Hope: A Life In Comedy (Paperback)

I have to say when I read this I was very disappointed in it. It was such a slow read and the author had trouble holding my attention. A very very dull read. Not really anything new that we didn't already know about Bob Hope from Bob Hope all these years. I expected more from the author. Don't waste your time or money I'm sorry to say.