Customer Reviews

Greek Fire: The Story of Maria Callas and Aristole Onassis

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I loved this book. I am the type of person who cannot seem to finish a book unless it totally captures my interest but this book from the beginning to end poured information about both Callas and Onassis that were so interesting. Although I felt the detailed day-to-day schedule on the voyage of Christina when Callas was on it was a bit boring due to too much details but it was still facinating. Mr. Gage, just seems really committed to relating facts, which is above all most important when writing biographies. Thank you for the wonderful book, Mr. Gage. Bravo! on a wonderful job.

This was the second biography of Aristotle Onassis that I have read. So I had his life story already in my head. But Nicholas Gage's research was superior to anything I had read. The point of view from the love affair of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis - is tragic love affair. This would make a great movie - the old saying, "truth is stranger than fiction" holds true to their lives.

A gripping book, one I couldn't put down and kept me enthralled from the first page to the last! I thought the reviewers who panned this book, claiming Cage's statements to be unfounded lies, were coming from an emotional place their comments based on conjecture rather than fact. It is a fact that a birth/death certificate (the baby died the day it was born) for the child of Maria Callas and Onassis does exist and a framed photo of her day old infant was found in Callas' apartment when she died.
I disagree with those who said Maria Callas is portrayed in a scandalous light. Until recently, I've never been a great Maria Callas fan, but after reading this book, one cannot help but feeling compassion for this woman who went through so much agony for a man that was such a cad. One of the reviewers found it unbelievable that Callas said she didn't want to sing any more, then gave the world some of her most unforgettable performances. I find this entirely believable! I, for one, am among the artists in this world who lives for his art, is tormented by it, yet continue doing it to the bitter end. (Please check out my recent fully illustrated libretto of Madama Butterfly,The Fully Illustrated Libretto of Puccini's Madama Butterfly (Madam Butterfly or Madame Butterfly) (Graphic Novel) (Illustrated Opera Librettos and Graphic Novels, Volume 1) now available on Amazon). That this sensitive and vulnerable artist became a world weary recluse I also find entirely believable as I have read several other first hand commentaries written by her friends that support this assertion.
As Callas' husband and manager, Meneghini is portrayed as a cuckold and a mono lingual, dimwitted boor, clumsily stumbling around among the educated elite. Again, I find this believable. He was no doubt a great promoter for Callas, but his boorishness in dealing with other agents and managers, notably Rudolph Bing, is legendary.
In light of what the world has known Onassis to be, Cage portrays him objectively. Most surprising is the fact Onnasis idolized Winston Churchill which speaks volumes in favor of him. An amusing anecdote is that Churchill never much cared for opera, and never could figure out quite who the deuce this Maria Callas was. Even more amusing is whenever the yacht came into port, throngs of adoring admirers gathered to see Churchill......Callas thought they were there to see her!
Those who admire Jacqueline Kennedy won't like the picture Cage paints of her. After she married Onassis everything fell apart and his staff referred to her as 'Jackie the jinx'. Cage exposes Jackie as being a money hungry, scheming, dishonest woman which somehow rings true. History now seems to assert that among the crowd of Bobby Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, Onnasis, Callas, and Marilyn Monroe, Maria Callas is the only one who comes off with any sense of conscience and morality. The fact that Callas was the one the media attacked with no mercy, portraying her as a tempestuous villain makes the tragic story of the tormented Maria Callas so much more poignant.
This book is a MUST for anyone interested in Callas or Jacqueline Kennedy...and be prepared to have your 'socks blown off' as were mine.

Didn't know much about Maria Callas and Onassis before this book, but feel like I do now. Their life style and relationship was well explained. Good book!

I started reading this story fews days ago and I just couldn't put it down.A good book,good photos inserted and it's the full saga ever told about the Onassis's dynasty,though many events aren't evidently true.

When I started this book I said to myself, "How is Gage going to fill this whole book with Callas and Onassis?" Well, he did it. This factual account is so interesting that I couldn't put the book down. Gage gives us specifics and so many details that I have to believe that this is the most truthful account of this relationship that I have read. I have always been in intrigued with Callas's story but I had never read anything regarding Onassis. This book gave me a good start of Onassis and his relationships along with his story of being a ship tycoon. This is so much like a Greek tragedy. Read this well written book!

This book is absolutely sensational, impossible to put down, exciting, excellently written and researched, and impartial. Congratulations, Mr.Gage!

Like all books about Onassis, it fails to answer the tantalizing question: suppose Khrushchev instead of Kennedy had been assassinated, would Onassis have married Khrushchev's widow ?

I read this when it first came out in paperback and cannot recommend it enough. This book sizzles! Anything and everything you have ever wanted to know about Callas and Onassis. This is a book that is difficult to put down. I read this in one sitting.