Customer Reviews

A Dreadful Man - The Story of Hollywood's Most Original Cad, George Sanders

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read this book in 1979, saving what I assumed was the least interesting of my biography purchases for last. You guessed it - I couldn't put the book down and I was upset when it ended, so I promptly re-read it again. I loved the original correspondence that Mr. Aherne included in the book. Later when I read '54 Charing Cross Road', I was again reminded of 'A Dreadful Man' and became even more determined to find more books like these. Mr. Aherne quotes in this book the biography that George Sanders wrote in the 60's, which launched a personal 17 year search. I searched out of state and out of country. At Powell's Books in Oregon they said it was very hard to find. In England (1995) I spent an entire day in the Charing Cross District seaching the used book stores. They all knew of the book, but said they couldn't keep a copy on the shelves long. During that time I kept re-reading 'A Dreadful Man' every couple of years, and hoping for the best. Then several months ago I FOUND IT on the AMAZON list, listed as out-of-print, but available. Lucky me - I ordered and received my own copy. I have not been disappointed. It was even better than I had hoped for. I am sad to see for the rest of you, that AMAZON no longer has it listed under George Sanders as being available. THANK YOU AMAZON for having it this summer! "A Dreadful Man" is one book that I won't loan out to my friends. Biography and letter writing fans will enjoy it.

Benita Hume was a charming correspondent. Her letters bring her 2nd husband George Sanders to life in a way that a more objective observer probably never could. Who else would tell you that Sanders could play the guitar behind his back, or that he was an amateur electrician who routinely rewired his friends' houses? He had so many gifts, it's endlessly fascinating to me that he ended his life because he was bored.

This may not be a typical biography, but it's one of the best that I've read.

This is THE book to get about sanders. Great photos and very sensitivley written. Ahern paints a picture of a very intricate, talented and complex man, an extremely rare individual who at times was a VERY difficult person. The book includes many letters of correspondence between Ahern, Sanders and Bentia. it is also a VERY sad book (in my oppinion) to read. In his later life Sanders was falling appart at the seams and unfortunaly those closest to him did not take the opportunity to threw him a lifeline and regretted not doing so for the rest of their lives. Whether he could have been saved is questionable.... we will never know.

A different sort of bio by Brian Aherne about George Sanders. Aherne has mostly just reprinted Benita Hume's letters to him with a few of Aherne's comments. You get some biographical info about Aherne but very little about Sanders. A fun read about old Hollywood, especially the British Colony of the 40's, but not a definitive bio of Sanders.

By obtaining this book I was hoping to learn some information about George Sanders. How wrong I was. This book is about Brian Ahern's friendship and correspondance with one of Sanders's wives, Benita Hume (B-O-R-I-N-G)!!! Do not waste your time or money!

This book has a good first chapter that introduces us to George Sanders. Then it quickly degenerates into an endless round of chit-chat about Brian Aherne, Benita Hume, and others in that circle that don't really interest me. I found that I'd been reading along for some dozens of pages and the author wasn't actually talking about Sanders anymore. Obviously, it's false advertising to call this book the story of George Sanders. You really have to find a copy of Memoirs Of A Professional Cad instead, which is unfortunately out of print and seems to have become a rarity. Marilyn Monroe's autobiography My Story also mentions Sanders in one of the chapters.

I am glad I picked this one up first. I did not see this as a real bio on George Sanders. It had pages on Brian Aherne's life. I found this to be not needed. The majority of the book is letters from Benita Hume(George Sanders wife) to Brian Aherne. I wanted a meat and potatoes bio on George. I suggest not wasting your money. You will only get bits and pieces of George. I am sure Brian meant well ,but it just did not turn out well. I am now reading George Sanders autobiography. I will let you know how that goes.