Wife of the Life of the Party
Lita writes frankly, and from the perspective of many years, about their unlikely relationship...she also writes interestingly, and not scurrilously, about the social life of Hollywood in the 1920s...this memoir provides a vivid account of a relationship that was doomed from the start. (Classic Images)The 40 photographs include wonderful candids fromThe KidandThe Gold Rush. (Past Times)Lita Grey writes as she was in person, straight, shrewd, funny and charming--even if you miss those dark eyes that were still as stunning in her eighties. She remembers and analyses the Chaplin marriage without rancour, almost objectively. Charlie may emerge very far from saintly, but he is not demonised. Looking back at what went wrong she concludes, with marvellous acuity, 'he did it to protect what he created.' Jeffrey Vance deserves great gratitude for encouraging her to record it all and for providing the necessary context. (David Robinson)