Orson Welles cover art

Orson Welles

A Biography

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Orson Welles

By: Barbara Leaming
Narrated by: Grace Conlin
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About this listen

 Genius, artist, monstre sacré, Orson Welles had one of the most brilliant and tempestuous careers in show business. Here he confides his most intimate feelings and recollections of his extraordinary life. With remarkable detail and intimacy, Barbara Leaming reveals the private Welles: from child prodigy and young lion in Dublin and New York, to the succès de scandale of his The War of the Worlds broadcast; from his auspicious directing debut with the legendary Citizen Kane in his 20s, to the sabotage of his further directing career by the Hollywood studios; from his affairs, carousing, and stormy marriage to Rita Hayworth, to his association with Roosevelt and aspirations to the presidency. It is a picture with an all-star cast, including Olivier, Monroe, Dietrich, Garbo, Warren Beatty, Charlie Chaplin, Princess Margaret, and Prince Aly Khan.©1985 Barbara Leaming (P)1996 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Entertainment & Celebrities

Critic reviews

"[A] beautifully researched, valuable study of one of America's most influential and mysterious artists....[What] makes this book remarkable is Welles's own contribution. His comments, opinions, interviews cut in and out of the narrative with an almost cinematic force." (Patricia Bosworth)
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Both informative and interesting. Although long it never felt that way. I must say after finishing, Orson did seem to waste his immense talent.

Very Interesting

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I love the films of Orson Welles, Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil, The Transformers Movie to name but three and I 'liked' the idea of Orson Welles as a single minded, unique voice, creator, actor, writer and director, but having listened to all 22 hours of this 'leave no stone unturned' biography I've come to the conclusion that he was an absolute arse.

Barbara Leaming has done a sterling job in writing her book, spending much time with Boreson himself and her passion for his work is obvious, nor can I condemn Grace Conlin for her narration. In both cases it's not their fault that I came away with a revised sense of the 'great man'. I was left with the sense that Welles wasn't a nice man, he was a driven uber egotist who pursued his obsessive goals with no apparent consideration for family or friends. Told he was a genius from an early age it's clear that it gave him carte blanche to barrell through life screaming ME! ME! ME! LOOK AT ME! FEED ME! LOVE ME! TELL ME I'M GREAT! And despite much denial in this book, it's clear he was indeed a man who got bored and hated to finish off projects, or films. That said, it's sad how many of his projects failed because he couldn't get backing and it's also safe to say he peaked at the age of 26 with Kane.

In all honesty I got bored listening to his life and had to skip through several chapters. It did make me want to check out some of his films I've not seen but I was left feeling sorry for those he left in his considerable wake.

Interesting and detailed but somewhat exhausting.

Boreson Welles

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