Citizen Jane: The Turbulent Life of Jane Fonda [Hardcover]

Christopher P. Andersen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1990

Jane Fonda has grabbed the headlines most of her life. From 1960s sex kitten to feminist champion, from Miss Army Recruiting 1962 to outspoken anti-Vietnam protestor, from chain-smoking, pill-popping bulimic to world-famous fitness queen - veering from one cause to another throughout her 54 years, she is now a hardened businesswoman and a powerful force in Hollywood and the winner of two Oscars, for "Klute" and "Coming Home". This biography exposes Fonda's sometimes scandalous life and career in detail. Covering her films, family, politics, men and marriages, the book uncovers the confusions and contradictions behind this controversial star.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

After a promising start--detailing Fonda's childhood and adolescence and her relationship with her famous father--this biography starts to come unraveled when discussing the actress's political awakening. The second half of the book veers off into a political tract in which Andersen seems intent on bringing to the reader's attention every intemperate remark and foolish deed committed by Fonda during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Furthermore, the author exhibits a lack of understanding of cultural and social movements of the period, which undercuts his case against Fonda. While Andersen does give Fonda her due as an actress and gives a balanced assessment of her professional life, his apparent bias toward her as a public person undermines the whole book. Such a controversial and significant figure deserves a more thoughtful treatment. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club featured alternates.
- Thomas Wiener, formerly with "American Film," Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 389 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co; 1st edition (April 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805009590
• ISBN-13: 978-0805009590
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,203,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The truth is still the truth, December 16, 2007

By 

Forrest R. Lindsey (Dumfries, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Citizen Jane: The Turbulent Life of Jane Fonda (Hardcover)

This book departs from some of the mythology that persists about Ms Fonda's career and her political activities. This book treats her rise as an actress and as an icon of American film properly but also focuses an unblinking eye on her betrayal of her country during the Vietnam War. There are more than enough records of her activities during the war that clearly prove her multiple trips to Hanoi for the enemy's support and comfort, involvement with propaganda broadcasts from enemy radio stations, support for enemy activities (including her infamous serenade for an NVA antiaircraft gun crew). She went well beyond "political activism" and all the way to treason with her energetic support for the communists. History will record that she was extremely lucky not to have faced a trial and serious prison time for her treasonous activities.

I am always curious how some of the other readers take this period of her life as "just political expression" or "youthful indiscretion". How would they have approached the subject of some other prominent personality that say, visited Berlin during WW II, made radio broadcasts with Axis Sally, taunted US Prisoners of War and then returned with Nazi propaganda points for the press?

Ms. Fonda is a talented actress - but the rest of her history is just as important to know and this book lays much of it out for everyone.

8 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Political critique merited, December 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Citizen Jane: The Turbulent Life of Jane Fonda (Hardcover)

This book does an excellent job in its political critique of Jane Fonda. Her hands are seriously bloody and there's no way around it. Read Snopes.com's account of her Vietnam activities because they are NOT a matter of debate. Just a matter of shame and Fonda's attempts to cover up.
(...)

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for what it is., March 14, 2000

By 

Ike Amandju (Pittsburg, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Citizen Jane: The Turbulent Life of Jane Fonda (Hardcover)

I love a good bio, especially one that tries to tackle a complex and controversial subject like Jane Fonda (a brilliant actress). Yet, I guess what I also want is something that examines her approach to acting and the making of some of her films, that kind of thing facinates me.