Six MenDrawing on a lifetime of journalistic encounters with the great and the famous, Alistair Cooke profiles the six extraordinary men who impressed him the most Over the course of his sixty-year career as a broadcaster, television host, and newspaper reporter, Alistair Cooke met many remarkable people of the twentieth century. This entertaining and insightful collection shares his unique, often startling personal vision of six key figures from the worlds of literature, entertainment, and politics. They are: Charlie Chaplin, whom Cooke befriended in Hollywood and who courted controversy in his politics and romances; the charming-yet-naive Edward VIII, whose love affair changed the course of World War II; Humphrey Bogart, the first antihero hero onscreen and a sensitive gentleman at home; H. L. Mencken, brilliant, inspirational, and deeply flawed; Adlai Stevenson, whom Cooke labeled the failed saint; and Bertrand Russell, who had the courage and the audacity to try to make the world a better place. The subjects of Six Men are united by the deep complexities of their characters. In balancing informed details of their lives with an objectivity set against the ever-changing landscape of their times, Six Men is a master course in the art of concise biography. |
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abdication actor Adlai Stevenson Alfred Reeves ALISTAIR COOKE American appeared asked audience Banos Bertrand Russell Bogart Britain British Broadcasting called campaign character Charlie Chaplin Communist convention Cuban Democratic early Edward VIII England English eyes face father film Frances Donaldson Franklin Roosevelt gave George grin H. L. Mencken hands heard Hollywood hope human Humphrey Bogart invited Joseph McCarthy journalist Kefauver Kennedy King King’s knew Labour lady later London looked marriage memory Mencken morganatic marriage morning movie never night nomination Nunnally Johnson once Parliament party Paul Patterson Pegler political politicians President Prince reader recall reporter Republican Roosevelt royal rumour Russell seemed seen Senator Simpson social speech star stood studio Sunpapers talk theatre thing thought told took train Truman United Nations Wallace Westbrook Pegler wife wrote York young