Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • John Wayne

  • The Life and Legend
  • By: Scott Eyman
  • Narrated by: John McLain
  • Length: 25 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (63 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
John Wayne cover art

John Wayne

By: Scott Eyman
Narrated by: John McLain
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £29.99

Buy Now for £29.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Cary Grant cover art
Hank and Jim cover art
All That Heaven Allows cover art
Glenn Ford cover art
Sinatra cover art
The Lonely Life cover art
My Turn cover art
Starmaker cover art
Maureen O'Hara: The Biography (Screen Classics) cover art
Leading Lady cover art
The Quiet Man cover art
Fay Wray and Robert Riskin cover art
Jimmy Stewart cover art
American Titan cover art
The Path to Power cover art
I Am Spartacus! cover art

Summary

John Wayne was one of Hollywood's most famous and most successful actors, but he was more than that. He became a symbol of America itself. He epitomized the Western film, which for many people epitomized America. He identified with conservative political causes from the early 1930s to his death in 1979, making him a hero to one generation of Americans and a villain to another. But unlike fellow actor Ronald Reagan, Wayne had no interest in politics as a career. Like many stars, he altered his life story, claiming to have become an actor almost by accident when in fact he had studied drama and aspired to act for most of his youth. He married three times, all to Latina women, and conducted a lengthy affair with Marlene Dietrich, as unlikely a romantic partner as one could imagine for the Duke. Wayne projected dignity, integrity, and strength in all his films, even when his characters were flawed, and whatever character he played was always prepared to confront injustice in his own way. More than thirty years after his death, he remains the standard by which male stars are judged and an actor whose morally unambiguous films continue to attract sizeable audiences.

Scott Eyman interviewed Wayne, as well as many family members, and he has drawn on previously unpublished reminiscences from friends and associates of the Duke in this biography, as well as documents from his production company that shed light on Wayne's business affairs. He traces Wayne from his childhood to his stardom in Stagecoach and dozens of films after that. Eyman perceptively analyzes Wayne's relationship with John Ford, the director with whom he's most associated and who made some of Wayne's greatest films.

Wayne was self-aware. He once said, "I’ve played the kind of man I’d like to have been." It's that man and the real John Wayne who are brilliantly profiled in Scott Eyman's insightful biography of a true American legend.

©2014 Scott Eyman (P)2014 Audible Inc.

What listeners say about John Wayne

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    41
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    31
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    35
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

AMERICAN ICON

Would you consider the audio edition of John Wayne to be better than the print version?

I would imagine the audio book to be better as the narrator did a very reasonable impression of john wayne.

What other book might you compare John Wayne to, and why?

Cant really think of any other book to compare it with, as john wayne was a one off.

What does John McLain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He really did sound like John Wayne which i found made this book much more entertaining.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes I would have quite happily listened to the whole story all in one sitting as I really enjoyed it.

Any additional comments?

Was'nt too sure about buying this book as I was'nt a huge fan of his but I am glad i did! I really enjoyed listening to John Mclains narration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb story of the great American Actor John Wayn

Written with great clarity, the Life of a john Wayne will resound, down through the ages. His humanity and kindness will endure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a legend

A fascinating look at the Duke's life. A great insight to a true gentleman who was admired and respected by many.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great biography of a great man.

Very nicely written, thoroughly researched biography. Well worth a listen if you are a fan of the Duke's and interesting even if you aren't as a history of Old Hollywood and the golden age of cowboy movies.

Special note about the reader, he does a superb job. He even manages to read Wayne's words with the Duke's very particular cadences and pronunciation but without ever sounding like someone doing a John Wayne impression. Impressive stuff.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

True story

I’ve watched John Wayne from a child as my father is a big fan. I now understand why my Dad is the way he is. Loved every part of this book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The Duke , Nuff sed

I really enjoyed this biography about an Actor I've grown up with. He was a complex man , constantly trying to live up to the image he created for himself. A man of principles that very quickly became out of step with the country he loved so much. I really enjoyed the anecdotes and the insight into Dukes family life. There will never be anyone quite like John Wayne. He was definitely one of a kind. The narrator did a brilliant job of keeping the story flowing and his impression of Duke was spot on. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to know more about this iconic actor.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Looked forward to this!

Disappointed.Narrator mono tone and grates on the ear particularly on such a long listen.One for the die hard John Wayne fan.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

really great book, what a character...

excellent book. very glad purchased it
.micely narrated. Good book whether Johhn Wayne fan or not..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

John Wayne Life and Legend - loved this book

John Wayne Life and Legend - loved this book
Being a John Wayne fan I loved this book.
Book was full of surprised about his early life, his education and about his politics.
Great narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Scott Eyman is a talented detailed Biographer

Scott Eyman’s biography of John Wayne is detailed and interestingly written
The best John Wayne biography I have read
John McLain is a talented narrator
Great book great listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!