To Smile in Autumn [Hardcover]

Gordon Parks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1979

Gordon Parks was born with, he says, “a stubborn need to be somebody.” Though Parks is remembered most notably as a photographer and filmmaker, on his enthralling climb to fame between 1944 and 1978 he was successful in many pursuits, including journalism, poetry, and music. It was not always an easy journey, but by thirty-six he had overcome many obstacles to become a photographer and writer for Life magazine. To Smile in Autumn is a candid revelation of a man in the prime of his life and career. This autobiography, with a new foreword by Alexs Pate, is a testament to a person much attuned to the greater world and driven to leave his mark on it.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mr. Parks’s achievements would be exceptional no matter what his background, but when compared with the bleakness and hardship of his childhood they seem nothing less than outsized." —New York Times, 1979

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Gordon Parks was a photographer, musician, poet, novelist, journalist, activist, and film director. He was the author of several books, including The Learning Tree, and director of the 1971 film Shaft.

Alexs Pate is author of several novels, including Amistad, West of Rehoboth, and Finding Makeba.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 249 pages
• Publisher: Norton; 1st edition (December 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393012727
• ISBN-13: 978-0393012729
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,535,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Smirk in autumn, January 16, 2012

By 

Koalacpa (St Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Smile in Autumn: A Memoir (Paperback)

It's very apparent that Mr. Parks was very talented person, but his views in this book are very often one-sided, rude and naive towards humanity, social and political dynamics. On a personal life, I'm not really sure that having a love affair while his wife was pregnant and being sympathetic towards terrorist organizations make you really smile in autumn. And if it does, guess who's smile it is.