My Life with Groucho: A Son's Eye View [Paperback]

Arthur Marx (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1992

Groucho Marx became world famous as the fast talking, wisecracking man with the moustache and the big cigar. That was his public image. but there was another Groucho--a warm, loving family man.

This biography of one of America's most brilliant comedians is also the account of an intimate father-son relationship. Arthur Marx tells of his own stormy life with his father and what it was like to grow up with the Marx Brothers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Marx offers an affectionate, bittersweet memoir filled with hilarious Groucho stories and insults." -- Los Angeles Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 287 pages
• Publisher: Barricade Books (April 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0942637453
• ISBN-13: 978-0942637458
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,204,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Third Time Around is the Final Charm, December 16, 2000

By 

Edward Garea "Edward Garea" (Branchville, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My Life with Groucho: A Son's Eye View (Paperback)

My Life With Groucho is a composite of Arthur's two previous books about his father, Life with Groucho and Son of Groucho. Only this time, with Groucho's death and the court fight for his estate, is there finality to the three volume saga.

Part One of the the book is a virtual reprint from Arthur's first tome, Life With Groucho, written in the mid-Fifties. As this book is now out of print, this section becomes a valuable source of information for collectors of Marxiana who were too young or not even born when this book was published.

Part Two is a summary of Son of Groucho's better parts, meaning those concerning life with Dad after Life With Groucho was published. Detailed in full is the inter-family ruckus that almost prevented the publishing of the first book, and Arthur takes us to the end of his father's life, warts and all, although tempered by the perspective of a loving son.

The last part of the book concerns itself with the ensuing fight for Groucho's estate and the pernicious influence of Erin Fleming on Groucho's life.

Highly recommended for Marx fans and anyone else seeking an insight into what it was like to grow up in a family headed by a Marx Brother.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant Groucho Biography, By His Son, April 14, 2000

By 

S. O'Brien - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Life with Groucho: A Son's Eye View (Paperback)

A really beautiful book, packed with information that even die hard fans may not know about Julius Henry Marx, better known as Groucho. Groucho was probably the most famous member of the Marx Brothers. He made films such as 'A Night at the Opera' and hosted the hit show, 'You Bet Your Life'. I have read many books on Groucho, and his brothers, but this has to be one of the best. I found it really easy to read and stayed up all night glued to it. It is a touching and humorous insight into Groucho. Arthur Marx, his son, has a superb style of writing, sometimes similar to his father's, and it had me laughing out loud many-a-time. I enjoyed it dearly and gives more details of Groucho's life then 'Groucho and Me', but is just as funny. It also has some great photographs which I had never seen before. I would suggest this book to any fan of Groucho or the Marx Brothers, it truly is a good, entertaining, interesting buy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant Groucho Biography, By His Son, April 14, 2000

By 

S. O'Brien - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Life with Groucho: A Son's Eye View (Paperback)

A really beautiful book, packed with information that even die hard fans may not know about Julius Henry Marx, better known as Groucho. Groucho was probably the most famous member of the Marx Brothers. He made films such as 'A Night at the Opera' and hosted the hit show, 'You Bet Your Life'. I have read many books on Groucho, and his brothers, but this has to be one of the best. I found it really easy to read and stayed up all night glued to it. It is a touching and humorous insight into Groucho. Arthur Marx, his son, has a superb style of writing, sometimes similar to his father's, and it had me laughing out loud many-a-time. I enjoyed it dearly and gives more details of Groucho's life then 'Groucho and Me', but is just as funny. It also has some great photographs which I had never seen before. It was a heart warming book which shows another side to the character that we have grown to love, from his relationship with his wife, his insomia and his worries about losing his money, as he did in the Wall Street Crash of 1929. I would suggest this book to any fan of Groucho or the Marx Brothers, it truly is a good, entertaining, interesting buy!