New Book - Louise Brooks: A Life in Pictures

Just out is Louise Brooks: A Life in Pictures, by Bill LeFurgy. This new book was published by ‎ High Kicker Books on November 17th of this year -- just one month ago. More information can be found on amazon HERE.

About the book: the publisher text on amazon.com reads... "Louise Brooks: A Bold and Defiant Icon of the Jazz Age

A silent film actress known for her bold bob haircut, captivating beauty, and magnetic presence, Louise Brooks continues to enchant audiences nearly a century later.

Arriving in New York City from Kansas at fifteen, she became a Broadway showgirl with the Ziegfeld Follies. Signed to a movie contract at nineteen, she starred in over a dozen films during the height of the Jazz Age. Her unforgettable role as Lulu in Pandora’s Box redefined acting, blending innocence, sophistication, and hedonism with remarkable naturalism.

As the author of the acclaimed memoir Lulu in Hollywood, Brooks offered rare insights into Hollywood love, career struggles, and the life of a career woman during Hollywood’s golden age.

This book showcases a stunning collection of photographs capturing Brooks’ timeless beauty and natural elegance. It is perfect for fans of classic cinema, books about old Hollywood stars, or anyone intrigued by the lives of rebellious, 'difficult' women in Hollywood.

Beyond her dazzling looks, Brooks’ life story reveals a fascinating blend of intelligence, wit, and resilience. Her journey through Hollywood was marked by triumphs and challenges, including relationship struggles that deeply shaped her personal and professional life. Rediscovered by cinephiles in the 1950s after decades of obscurity, she remains a symbol of grace and uncompromising individuality."

Front and back of Louise Brooks: A Life in Pictures

About the author: "Bill LeFurgy is a professional historian and archivist who has studied the gilded glamor and seamy underbelly of urban life. He has put his years of research experience into writing gritty historical fiction about Baltimore, where he lived for over a decade. It remains his favorite city.

While working at the Library of Congress, Bill headed a national program to preserve digital cultural heritage materials. In addition, he toured the world to speak to hundreds of libraries, archives, and museums about digital cultural heritage.

Before the Library, Bill served as Manager of the Modern Records Program at the National Archives and Records Administration and as Baltimore City Archivist. He also worked as Manuscript Archivist at the Maryland Historical Society.

Bill has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University and graduate degrees from the University of Maryland. In addition to his Sarah Kennecott and Jack Harden Historical Mysteries Series, he has published many nonfiction books and articles about Baltimore history and other topics."

A short write-up: This 8.5" x 11" book is a 119 page pictorial, with many, but not all, of its more than 100 black and white and color / tinted images reproduced as full page or near full page illustrations. (Notably, the color images are authentic - as none seem to have been colorized.) Each photo is captioned; there is a three page introduction, a list of Brooks' films, and suggestions for further reading. Otherwise, there is little here that any devoted Louise Brooks fan will not have already seen. According to the introduction, most all of the images included in this indie press book were sourced from Wikipedia Commons, an open access digital media repository.  

There is a sentence in the introduction which stands out, and left me thinking: "While Brooks was undeniably beautiful, there is something else at play in her photographs (as well as in her best films)." I couldn't agree more.... Louise Brooks: A Life in Pictures should serve as a pictorial introduction to any film buff unfamiliar with the actress.

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2024. Further unauthorized use prohibited. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.