HOWARD HUGHES THE SECRET LIFE

Howard Hughes was America's most famous playboy end rogue operator, an outlaw eccentric millionaire and hellftraiser.

"I can buy any man, "he once bragged, and have any woman."
And it was almost true. 

He stormed from bedroom to boardroom, from corporate bribery to Capitol Hill; his affairs with Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Bette Davis and many others were as brief as they were stormy. He was deeply involved in Watergate and in the Cuban missile crisis. He burgled his own office records when tax authorities were after him. And, despite a mysterious illness he wheeled and cleated to the last day of his life. Charles Higharn is the prize-winning author of several bestsellers, including the newly reissued Mrs Simpson, the life of the Duchess of Windsor.

Opinions

Commenté au Canada le 2 avril 2016
« Contrary to other reviewers on Amazon, I found this biography to be very well documented, insightful and well-written. Strangely, the Amazon product description with quotes from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews are almost entirely negative & discouraging. (The fact that Higham updated his book in 2004 is ignored!) I'm glad I didn't accept the low assessments of the book but instead went on to first read Higham's biography of the Duchess of Windsor Having found that book enlightening & entertaining with analysis supported by detailed notes on his written sources and interviews, I was most interested in reading Higham's version of the Howard Hughes story. Some of the reviewers may like a biography that is like an authorized version with a positive slant and that is not Higham's approach. While not minimizing Hughes' achievements - especially in aviation - he does reveal his callous treatment of many of the people he engages with, as well as his usually successful attempts to buy political influence, and his often bizzare sexual activities. The Martin Scorsese film "The Aviator" (2004), though restricted to a relatively short period in Hughes' life, seems very much in line with the characterization that Higham presents. He even comments on plans for "The Aviator" film and on several earlier books on Hughes written by others. Higham's revelations -- about Hughes' sexual preferences, his interactions with many of Hollywood's reigning beauties, his obsessions, his tricky avoidance of taxes, his influence on Nixon and other politicians, his involvement in what he regarded as anti-communist intelligence work, the nature of his progressive illness, and his attempts to remain in control in his final years -- are very detailed and credible. »

Commenté en France le 5 juillet 2013
« N’en d'en déplaise à notre Clément Ader (premier vol 12 octobre 1890) et aux frères Wright (Orville et Wilbur Wright-premier vol le 17 décembre 1903). Un génie pour son siècle, dommage que sa fin fut tragique et si recluse. SI l'aviation est une passion pour vous, lisez absolument ce livre, les vacances incitent souvent à la lecture. »

Commenté en France le 2 mars 2018
« De plus en plus fou et méchant cet homme dérangé surtout avec les femmes il est odieux. Bizarre d’avoir fortune et talent et de faire tant de mal !!!! »

Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 23 mai 2020
«...of a truly nasty man ! »