My carefully composed review text just disappeared and so I begin again very briefly. This is not an autobiography but notes Ms. Davies made in the early summer of 1951 that have been gathered together with 150 'outrageous photos' that I find interesting, not racy. It is not a scholarly book; Ms. Davies is quite opinionated about many of the people she encounters yet very loyal to her benefactor and lover, WR Hearst. The editors have interwoven a few lines of explanatory text into the pages where necessary. The index is adequate, mostly including names. This book is of more interest to those who remember who Ms. Hutton, et.al. were.
I myself was interested in Chapter 11: Saving An Empire that deals with WR's near bankruptcy in the late 1930s. As I have long suspected, he spent money like water, and I believe the Hearst Corporation and its 90 some properties did not amount to much of a fortune in 1951 when WR died. His sons and the officers of the various enterprises (she does name many who she feels were crooks) made a good save as did Elvis' ex-wife and daughter and those managing Michael Jackson's estate today.
She is a very forthright person. I will put this book on the shelf at the old soldiers and sailors home.
I myself was interested in Chapter 11: Saving An Empire that deals with WR's near bankruptcy in the late 1930s. As I have long suspected, he spent money like water, and I believe the Hearst Corporation and its 90 some properties did not amount to much of a fortune in 1951 when WR died. His sons and the officers of the various enterprises (she does name many who she feels were crooks) made a good save as did Elvis' ex-wife and daughter and those managing Michael Jackson's estate today.
She is a very forthright person. I will put this book on the shelf at the old soldiers and sailors home.
