W. C. Fields by Himself: His Intended Autobiography (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Ronald J. Fields (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 510 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; First Edition edition (June 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0139444629
• ISBN-13: 978-0139444623
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #679,139 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally--a firsthand glimpse, September 19, 2001

By	Gregg Long "mrglong" (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's not hard, even with the most cursory of examinations, to see why researchers have had such a tough time catching glimpses into the Great One's true nature--Fields took pains to keep his public persona at the front of his popular perception. Ronald Fields perhaps had an unfair advantage over other researchers, having access to the family holdings and all, but nevertheless, this is as close as anyone will ever get to words from the horse's mouth (with the exception of Fields for President, of course). The sketches are a riot to read, and the extended sequences from the movies, even the ones you may not have seen, are side-splittingly funny. I particularly enjoyed the glimpse into Fields' vaudeville days--it's not a subject that seems to interest many people, perhaps because the entire idea of "vaudeville" is somewhat dated today. The book also has the most comprehensive collection of photographs and sketches I've ever seen--these in themselves come close to telling the story.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of self annecdotes, photo's, insight into W.C. Fields., September 23, 1999

By A Customer

This work was compiled by W.C.'s grandson after years that his work had been locked up in a basement room. The fact that much of it is made up of sketches, photo's, stories/annecdotes, performance materials, letters between W.C. and his family/others, makes this invaluable to theatre enthusiasts/historians and W.C. cultists. Without a doubt a must for any library.

Rocky J. Nickel 1242 S. Market Wichita KS, 67211

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars well packaged for shipping, January 6, 2009

By	Marion Johnston - See all my reviews

The book was in a condition exactly as describe. It was shipped in packaging meant to protect the product.