2342 results for "Memoir"

Women I Have Dressed

Arnold Scaasi
A fascinating read of personal experiences from the famed fashion designer that showcases the lives and contributions of iconic women -- from Jackie Kennedy to Elizabeth Taylor to Laura Bush to Princess Diana Arnold Scaasi has been dressing legends for almost five decades. His enduring tenure as one of the world's premier fashion designers and tastemakers has afforded him vast stores of insider knowledge and firsthand perspectives on an array of illustrious personalities who -- in their disparate arenas of high-wattage celebrity and influence -- have defined our contemporary notions of female power and glamour. Here, for the first time, Scaasi invites readers into his glittering A-list realm as he recounts his intimate experiences and interactions with larger-than-life female icons who made their mark in spheres as varied as politics, Hollywood, the music industry, and high society. Scaasi devotes each chapter to a specific woman or to a group of women, including "Broadway Girls," "New York Girls," and "Hollywood Girls." He shares dozens of behind-closed-doors anecdotes exploring what makes these women tick. In candid prose, he recalls what they said and how they acted, and most important, offers keen observations of who they really are underneath his creations. Using a privileged entrée into their private and public lives, Scaasi takes the measure of their impact on the world at large. Here, readers will Joan Crawford's fetish for cleanliness; the dazzling Barbra Streisand's famous Oscar night outfit and her obsession with perfection; Mamie Eisenhower's staunch refusal to wear a bra; the bountiful charms of Joan Sutherland, the opera legend; Mary Tyler Moore's and Sophia Loren's unique glamour; Rose Kennedy's prediction of a future woman president; Aretha Franklin's fear of flying; Scaasi's visits to the White House to his good friend and client Barbara Bush; his confrontations with Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe; and much more! Scaasi dresses only women he genuinely likes, so his tales are never mean-spirited. Instead they spotlight the designer's surprising interactions and often poignant perceptions of Eleanor Roosevelt, Joan Rivers, Louise Nevelson, Natalie Wood, Hillary Clinton, and many others. The book is filled with photographs from the author's personal scrapbooks and fond recollections of some of the world's most beautiful, accomplished, and powerful women. Women I Have Dressed (and Undressed!) is a trove of irresistible insider dish and a tender, humorous memoir of the most influential women of our time.
DIANE Publishing Company 2006-09 273 pages

Music comes out of silence

Schiff, András
Andras Schiff is one of the most important pianists of our time. This stimulating account of his life and work, told in two parts, takes readers on an intimate journey from Schiff's childhood in Hungary through to the present day. In conversationw with Martin Meyer, Schiff discusses a diverse range of topics from his experiences with anti-Semitism and communist rule to his musical training with maestros such as Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Rados, as well as his thoughts on playing techniques and musical interpretation. In a collection of Schiff's writings we are enthralled by a guided tour of Bach's 'Goldberg' Variations, sobered by Schiff's public defiance against nationalistic and racist attitudes - to the extent that he refused to perform in Haider's Austria or Orban's Hungary - and delighted by the playful 'Ten Commandments' for concertgoers. More than a memoir, this is a seminal compilation of the thoughts and experiences of one of the greatest musicians of our time, of his inimitable art of making music out of silence.
Weidenfeld & Nicolson 2020 339 pages

Alva's boy

Collins, Alan
"This book is a frank, confronting yet surprisingly funny memoir based on the life experiences and recollections of a Jewish childhood over a time span from 1928 to the mid-forties. In some telling, names of people, places and dates have been changed. Mercifully, those named who are or were of a repellent nature have long since gone to God. The stories present incidents from the life of one person, the first-person narrator. The memoir is purposely unsentimental. The writer has worked hard to circumvent cheap emotion. Some readers might find it confronting. The linked stories encompass a childs unsparingly honest observations as he is buffeted by events which range from indifference and naked cruelty to sparkling life-affirming exuberance."--Provided by publisher.
Hybrid Publishers 2008 180 pages

Dance to the piper

De Mille, Agnes
"Born into a family of successful playwrights and producers, Agnes de Mille was determined to be an actress. Then one day she witnessed the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova, and her life was altered forever. Hypnotized by Pavlova's beauty, in that moment she dedicated herself to dance. Her memoir records with light-hearted humor and wisdom not only the difficulties she faced - the resistance of her parents, the sacrifices of her training - but also the frontier atmosphere of early Hollywood, as well as New York and London during the Depression. "This is the story of an American dancer," writes Agnes de Mille, "a spoiled egocentric wealthy girl, who learned with difficulty to become a worker, to set and meet standards, to brace a Victorian sensibility to contemporary roughhousing, and who, with happy good fortune, participated by the side of great colleagues in a renaissance of the most ancient and magical of all the arts.""--
New York Review Books 2015 340 pages

The day I fired Alan Ladd and other World War II adventures

Hotchner, A. E.
"To perform heroically in a perilous situation is one thing, but I found that, in my case, the real difficulty was in getting myself into a spot where heroism was possible. Nobody on latrine duty ever got the Medal of Honor." This delightful memoir of A. E. Hotchner’s World War II experiences explores a different side of the troubled war years. Hotchner, who grew up in St. Louis, was a rookie lawyer fresh out of Washington University Law School when the United States declared war. Like many others of his generation, he aspired to serve his country. He tried to enlist in the navy, first as a pilot and then as a deck officer, but he was rejected for faulty depth perception and flat feet, respectively. Drafted as a lowly GI into the air force branch of the army, he was accepted to bombardier school. But on the eve of his departure, he was ordered to write and perform in an air force musical comedy instead. He eventually went to Officer Candidate School and was assigned to the Anti-Submarine Command as a lieutenant adjutant, but just before his squadron’s departure for North Africa he was detached and, despite knowing nothing about moviemaking, ordered to make a film that glorified the Anti-Submarine Command’s role in combating U-boats. All through his four-year military career, despite his efforts to get into combat, fate and the military bureaucracy thwarted him. The author skillfully recounts the events of those years, describing the encounters he had with many unforgettable characters, including a footsore and sentimental Clark Gable and an inept Alan Ladd—best known as the star of Shane. Ladd, then a GI, did such a poor job reading the narration for Hotchner’s film Atlantic Mission that Hotchner had to fire him. The author also describes his encounters with other well-known people, notably Tennessee Williams, with whom he attended a playwriting class at Washington University, and a wistful, vulnerable Dorothy Parker. Although much of Hotchner’s memoir is lighthearted, it also provides a unique look at the impact of the war on everyday life in the United States. Hotchner’s fast-paced prose makes this memoir an insightful pleasure to read.
University of Missouri Press 2002 131 pages

Twice Born Memoirs of an Adopted Daughter

Betty Jean Lifton
The classic memior of Betty Jean Lifton's search for her secret past that helped open the way for so many others. Betty Jean Lifton, acclaimed author of several books on the psychology of the adtoped that have helped open the field, tells her own story of growing up adtoped in the closed adoption system. Calling Twice Born both an autobiography and a psychological journey into the past, Lifton takes the reader with her as she describes the loneliness and islolation of an adopted child cut off from the knowledge of her heritage. She explores the ambivalence and guilt that she feels toward her adoptive parents when she awakens as an adult to her need to ask: Who am I? With the mounting suspense of a detective novel, Twice Born explores not only the difficulty of searching for one's past when one's records are sealed, but also the complexity of trying to reunite with the birth mother from whom one has been separated by social taboos--and by time. More than a vivid and poinant memior, Lifton has given hs a story of mothering and mother-loss attachment and bonding, secrets and lies, and the human need for origins. Important reading for anyone touched by these issues and by the experience of adoption--which is everyone.
Macmillan 1998-04-15 288 pages

An Age of Mediocrity: Memoirs and Diaries, 1963-1972

Sulzberger, Cyrus Leo
In the footsteps of the giants we find the technicians, a competent but uninspiring lot."" Gray are the men and the tone of this diary with prefacing commentary -- the third and last in the series. It's little more than a collection of the notes Sulzberger took when interviewing contemporary history-makers for The Times. Working from a Paris beat, he was most concerned with de Gaulle and strained Franco-American relations (""the electrical current of friendship seemed to be short-circuited"" until Nixon came to power), but he traveled frequently to the Middle East and Greece (Constantine's description of the coup is almost the only inside information), circulated in the most prestigious diplomatic circles and consorted, out of personal preference, with crowned and uncrowned royalty. Here are Sulzberger's idols (de Gaulle, Djilas, Mao -- whom he never met -- and Nixon, with whom regard was mutual), bete noires (mainly Johnson: ""There is something about his face I don't trust. Maybe his eyes are a little too narrow and close together""), black political humor, gossip, famous last words (""Nixon expresses admiration for Johnson's political techniques but doesn't like the moral tenor of his administration""), pithy characterizations (Krushchev on Nixon: ""the kind of grocer who puts sand in the sugar""). Sulzberger, a somewhat aristocratic, egotistic, politically conservative Euro-centered bon vivant, has Provided footnotes on the diplomatic pageant of our times. (credit: Kirkus Reviews)
MacMillan Publishing Company 1973

Herod: A Biography

Minkin, Jacob S.
Herod: A Biography is a book written by Jacob S. Minkin that explores the life and legacy of one of the most notorious figures in biblical history, Herod the Great. The book provides a detailed and comprehensive account of Herod's life, from his rise to power in Judea to his death and the aftermath of his reign. Minkin draws on a wide range of historical sources, including ancient texts, archaeological evidence, and modern scholarship, to paint a vivid portrait of this complex and often controversial figure. The book covers Herod's many accomplishments, including his impressive building projects and his efforts to modernize Judea, as well as his many personal flaws and failures. Minkin also explores the political and religious context of Herod's reign, including the tensions between the Jewish people and their Roman rulers, and the various factions and power struggles that shaped the region during this time. Overall, Herod: A Biography is a fascinating and insightful look at one of the most intriguing figures in ancient history, and a must-read for anyone interested in biblical history, ancient politics, or the complexities of human nature.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
Kessinger Publishing, LLC 2010-09-10 290 pages

Michel De Montaigne

Edith Helen Sichel
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Creative Media Partners, LLC 2022-10-27 306 pages

Howling at the moon

Yetnikoff, Walter
The ultimate showbiz insider's expose, HOWLING AT THE MOON, is the wildly entertaining and brilliantly narrated autobiography of Walter Yetnikoff, head of CBS Records during its heyday in the 1980s, and then the most powerful man in the music industry. Yetnikoff knew most of the stars and embraced all the excesses of this era: he was mentor to Streisand, father confessor to Michael Jackson, shared a mistress with Marvin Gaye and came to blows with Mick Jagger. He feuded with David Geffen and outmanoeuvred Rupert Murdoch. He was also addicted to cocaine and alcohol - until his doctor gave him just 3 months to live. Yetnikoff came from a working- class Jewish family from Brooklyn; he graduated from law school in the 1950s and proceeded to climb the corporate ladder to the very top. His high-flying ended in breakdown, but throughout his rise and fall, Yetnikoff remained a man of huge charisma and disarming charm. HOWLING AT THE MOON is written with David Ritz, the only 4-time winner of the Ralph J Gleason Music Book award, who has collaborated on the autobiographies of such stars as Ray Charles, BB King, Aretha Franklin and Etta James.
Little, Brown 2004-03-04 384 pages

I Chose Liberty: Autobiographies of Contemporary Libertarians

Block, Walter
Walter Block leaned on 82 of the world's most prominent libertarian thinkers and ask them to tell their life stories with an eye to intellectual development. The result is the most comprehensive collection of libertarian autobiographies ever published. Their stories are thrilling and fascinating. They reveal their main influences, their experiences, their choices, and their ambitions.There are some very interesting lessons here for everyone. We learn what gives rise to serious thought about liberty and what causes a person to dedicate a professional career or vocation to the cause. We also discover some interesting empirical information about the most influential libertarian writers.Among those who contributed:James C.W. Ahiakpor D.T. Armentano Charles W. Baird Norman Barry Toby Baxendale James T. Bennett Bruce L. Benson David Bergland Walter Block Burton S. Blumert Peter Boettke Sam Bostaph Hardy Bouillon Bryan Caplan Alejandro Chafuen Brooks Colburn Dan Cristian Comanescu Roy Cordato Jim Cox Tyler Cowen Dora de Ampuero Karen De Coster Thomas J. DiLorenzo Michael Edelstein Richard A. Epstein Max Falque Robert Formaini Douglas E. French Bettina Bien Greaves James Gwartney Roy Halliday Ronald Hamowy Ernest Hancock John Hasnas Randall G. Holcombe John Hospers Stephan Kinsella Robert Klassen Dan Klein Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard Robert Lawson Leonard P. Liggio Roderick T. Long Alvin Lowi, Jr. Heath MacCallum Daniel McCarthy Tibor R. Machan Eric Mack Jude Chua Soo Meng Roberta Adelaide Modugno Andrew P. Napolitano Jan Narveson David F. Nolan Gary North James Ostrowski E.C. Pasour, Jr. Ron Paul Nando Pelusi Lawrence W. Reed George Reisman Jeff Riggenbach Llewellyn Rockwell, Jr. Mary Ruwart Joseph T. Salerno James V. Schall Ken Schoolland Chris Matthew Sciabarra Larry J. Sechrest Jeremy Shearmur Joseph Sobran Robert Stewart Alexander Tabarrok Mark Thornton Jerome Tuccille Gordon Tullock e Frank van Dun Marc J. Victor Peter Walters Richard W. Wilcke Anne Wortham Steven Yates Fernando Zanella
Ludwig von Mises Institute 2018 444 pages

Royal Vendetta (Theo Aronson Royal History)

Aronson, Theo
1833. Spain is gripped by a Civil War that will change everything. On one side the Carlists sought to return to an absolute monarchy under Carlos de Borbón, on the other the Liberals were fighting to defend constitutional monarchy under Isabella II. Both branches of the family abounded in colourful characters - the shrewd Maria Cristina, the masculine Infanta Carlota, the effete King Francisco, the suave Duke de Montpensier, the showy Carlos VII, and the licentious Alfonso XII. The drama unfolded across the world - in the court in the Palacio Real in Madrid, Don Juan dying incognito in a house in Brighton, Isabel living out her voluptuous days in Paris, Carlos VII scheming in his palazzo on the Grand Canal, the future Alfonso XII at Sandhurst, the Infanta Eulalia in Chicago, the son of Alfonso XIII dying in a car accident in the U.S.A. Royal Vendetta is a story of wars, revolutions, exiles and restorations; a parade of kings, queens, regents and pretenders. Theo Aronson is the author of over twenty works of royal historical biography, published in eleven languages. Among the widely read are Grandmama of Europe, The King in Love, Napoleon and Josephine and a biography of Princess Margaret.
Independently published 2021 310 pages

Kings over the Water: The saga of the Stuart Pretenders (Theo Aronson Royal History)

Aronson, Theo
Of all royal lost causes, none has a stronger fascination than that of the Stuart Pretenders to the British throne. For well over a century, four successive Stuart kings laid claim to the crown. The first was James II, deposed in 1688 by his daughter, Mary, and her husband, William of Orange; then came James III the Old Pretender and his son, Bonnie Prince Charlie; finally, there was Henry IX who died in 1807, the last descendant in direct and legitimate line from James II. This book tells the story of these four men, and of their families. It is an account of their public and private lives, their personalities, their relationships with others, and the extraordinary hold which they never ceased to exercise over their adherents. It is a book about people and the twilight of one of the world's most romantic, colourful and ill-fated dynasties. Theo Aronson is the author of over twenty works of royal historical biography, published in eleven languages. Among the widely read are Grandmama of Europe, The King in Love, Napoleon and Josephine and a biography of Princess Margaret.
Independently published 2021-04-07 300 pages

The Life Of The Holy Mother Teresa Of Jesus: The Reader's Digital Edition

of Ávila, St. Teresa
Saint Teresa of Ávila, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, (March 1515 – October 1582), was born a Spanish noblewoman. A Carmelite nun, prominent Spanish mystic, religious reformer, author, and theologian of the contemplative life, she was declared a Doctor of the Church over four centuries after her death. Active during the Catholic Reformation, she reformed the Carmelite Orders of both women and men. The movement she initiated was later joined by the younger Spanish Carmelite friar and mystic, John of the Cross. It led eventually to the establishment of the Discalced Carmelites. This Reader’s Digital Edition of The Life Of The Holy Mother Teresa Of Jesus is based on a public domain text. This text has been thoroughly spellchecked and proofread to correct errors that appear in the public domain edition. The formatting has also been altered to provide a cleaner, more readable experience. It is our hope that this Reader’s Digital Edition will provide you with the best possible reading experience of this classic text. Our mission is to breathe new life into the pages of the past by removing barriers between the reader and the text.
Independently published 2020-03-05 397 pages