This extraordinary new biography fully captures the intimacies of Eugene Orsquo;Neillrsquo;s tumultuous life and the profound impact of his work on American drama. Robert M. Dowling innovatively recounts Orsquo;Neillrsquo;s life in four acts; thus highlighting how the stories he told for the stage interweave with his actual life stories. Each episode also uncovers how Orsquo;Neillrsquo;s work was utterly intertwined with; and galvanized by; the culture and history of his time.Much is new in this extensively researched book: connections between Orsquo;Neillrsquo;s plays and his political and philosophical worldview; insights into his Irish upbringing and lifelong torment over losing faith in God; his vital role in African American cultural history; unpublished photographs; including a unique offstage picture of him with his lover Louise Bryant; new evidence of Orsquo;Neillrsquo;s desire to become a novelist and what this reveals about his unique dramatic voice; and a startling revelation about the release of Long Dayrsquo;s Journey Into Night in defiance of his explicit instructions. This biography is also the first to discuss Orsquo;Neillrsquo;s lost play Exorcism (a single copy of which was only recently recovered); a dramatization of his own suicide attempt.Written with lively informality yet a scholarrsquo;s strict accuracy; Eugene Orsquo;Neill: A Life in Four Acts is a biography that Americarsquo;s foremost playwright richly deserves.
#3435648 in eBooks 2014-10-15 2014-10-15File Name: B00O4V5UKQ
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Must ReadBy K-ManThis is an excellent book; filled with essential advice and information that will prove valuable to any jazz musician contemplating the notion of becoming a bandleader. I would hope that every college Jazz program includes this book in their curriculum; for its the kind of information that young musicians should have at their disposal as they make decisions about career paths in music. The author writes clearly and and in depth on every possible issue that is likely; or even unlikely; to confront a budding bandleader. But this isnt a dry book of facts and figures. Its written in a lively and often humorous style that makes for an easy read. The one drawback to the book is its age. Much has changed in the world of entertainment and media; to say nothing of the explosion in social networking. These changes make obsolete some of the information in the book. Hopefully; the publisher will see fit to update the book to take into account such changes. If this is done I see no reason why this book would not continue to be of great value well into the future. Much of what Galper offers are "eternal" truths in the Jazz business. Hes to be congratulated on his effort here.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Were Just An American Band....By J. PrescottWe bought this for our USC son....1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Better for a touring jazz band (from the 90s)By Christopher A. JonesMost of this advice in here is dated and unhelpful. If I were to write this book (which I doubtedly qualified to do); I would tell you how to choose the audience members with the best places to crash; how to get revenge on your drummer; and how to explain to everyone that theyre not getting paid AGAIN. If you do end up buying this book; make sure you have a fax machine and cellular telephone so that you can utilize all the handy tips for booking your weeklong residency at a jazz club that doesnt exist because barely any one in the United States listens to or gives a s*** about jazz any more (sorry; Jazz). Youre better off reading "Get in the Van" or Moby Dick - those books have some pretty good advice for touring musicians.
