Biographies - good and bad

[Kerrie]

I think I clarify as an expert about the various Katharine biographies - I have read them all .

Worst : Darwin Porter

Best : Tracy and Hepburn - the Garson Kanin book

Anybody want to email me about it

[George]

For some reason..I like the Anne Edwards book, although I've been told there are some discrepencies. I think I've read that book like 3 times. I also agree with kerrie that Kanin's Tracy and Hepburn is one of my all time favorites.
Oh and how could I forget the Charles Highman, "Kate". That was quite good also.
peace
George

[Kerrie]

George

I think some of the reasons that people dislike Anne Edwards are these - her initial biography wasn't that bad - I think Katharine said that it was based mostly on newspaper articles but it was OK . But there were major gaps of knowledge - for example the relationship between Katharine and Luddy .

Then Katharine writes her autobiography and a lot of things become clearer and then there is the Leaming biography . I personally didn't like it but it was obvious in some sections that she had talked to the family even if her interpretation was wrong . For example her analysis of the breakdown of the marriage seems pretty accurate .

Anne Edwards then releases her biography again and makes it more salacious - makes all sorts of allegations and doesn't back them up . Then after Katharine died she came out and make even more claims. So I got the feeling that she was cashing in and she didn't even ackknowledge that she got major stuff wrong . There's nothing worse than a biography making allegations to sell a book - particularly after the person is dead and can't answer back .

I have some interviews with Anne Edwards from 1985 - she was asked about Spencer for example and she said he couldn't have a relationship with a woman that wasn't sexual . I think by that she meant that he did have women friends but that he really liked women . And then in 2003 she basically says that the relationship with Katharine was a cover up .

So she has lost all credibility with me

[Karina]

Yes, Anne Edwards first time around was actually quite good, but after that....... you're quite right Kerrie.

Garson Kanin's book was excellent, as was James Prideaux "Knowing Hepburn..." and I think the 2 complement each other in the way they give an intimate portrayal of Katharine at 2 separate stages of her life. A pity Scott Berg didn't continue in quite the same vein, although his book is interesting enough in its own right. I also quite like Christopher Anderson's "An Affair to Remember", despite the criticism it's received in some quarters.

[mariluna]

And what about Charles Higham?
I'd heard it was a good book, but I've just begin it and the birthday is incorrect. I don't know if I want to continue reading it.

[Kerrie]

I think that all biographies written before 1991 are at a disadvantage because once Katharine started writing about herself a lot of stuff became clear ie her real birthday , her marriage . For example Higham stated that Katharine's marriage lasted 6 weeks - simply not true . They were married for about 6 years and yes they lived together like any married couple

Higham interviewed a lot of people who have since died so his material is unique but he is a very poor writer

[Catherine2]

although it's more like a memoir of his friendship with Kate, i have to say Kate Remembered is my favorite biography. it ties with Me:Stories of My Life. my least favorite goes without saying. darwin porter's katharine the great. i never completely read the anne edwards and barbara leaming biogaphies mostly because i was burnt out on reading biographies. i read almost all of the books on Kate in a matter of weeks... another one of my favorites is The Making of the African Queen:Or How I Went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind. kate is such a genius at writing. i love it.

[Catherine2]

i also have to make a confession. whenever i see that the birthday is november 1909, i have to cross it out and write the correct one... in library books. defacing public property, yes. BUT it is false information! that's my reasoning.

[mariluna]

We'll have a new bad biography on November. Parish's. But nothing about Selden west biography about Spencer Tracy. I've known that it´s scheduled in 1010.

[mariluna]

Although it's almost the same for me, it's 2010 obviously, not 1010.

[Smith]

The 2010 is a mistake as well

[smith]

I doubt that is true .

[isabel]

Guest-Smith said:

The 2010 is a mistake as well

I hope so. I was begining to think I'm not alive for this publication date.

[Richard]

I've already read two books on Kate. 'Kate Remembered' by A. Scott Berg, and the other which she wrote herself as you all know 'Me: Stories of My Life'.

I have a third book about her on it's way. 'The Private World of Katharine Hepburn' by John Bryson.

[smith]

The best : Katharine's own autobiography and Tracy and Hepburn . Kanin knew them both and he has a great appreciation for Spencer - which is badly lacking in more recent biographers

The worst - avoid Darwin Porter at all costs .

One of the most impressive characteristics of Katharine was her loyalty and ability to stay friends with people even in difficult circumstances . For example some letters are currently up for auction between her and Robert McKnight - he was her college boyfriend who proposed to her - she married Luddy .

In the Porter book she jumps from relationship to relationship - anyway its too stupid to give you the details but avoid it