Roman Candle: The Life of Bobby Darin (Excelsior Editions) - Softcover

Evanier, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1438434588 ISBN 13: 9781438434582

Publisher: Excelsior Editions, 2010

Synopsis

A multilayered portrait of this brash, gifted artist, whose restless voice and spirit seem as alive today as ever.

“Compelling and revealing ... Roman Candle gives us the many lives of one of the great entertainers of all time, whose flame was extinguished way too soon.” — Kevin Spacey

A performer who rivaled Sinatra, Bobby Darin rose from dire poverty to become one of the biggest stars of his generation. Dogged by chronic illness, he knew that time was not on his side, and so, in a career full of dizzying twists and turns, he did it all, moving from teen idol to Vegas song-and-dance man, from hipster to folkie and back. In Roman Candle, David Evanier offers a multilayered portrait of this brash, gifted artist, including the dark side of his celebrated marriage to America’s sweetheart, Sandra Dee, and the incredible family secret that tore him apart at the end.

“In Roman Candle, David Evanier relates the Bobby Darin story with empathy and insight. His chronicle of the triumphs and vicissitudes of Bobby’s star-crossed life is packed with illuminating details and a page-turning seductiveness. Here is the ultimate tribute to the life and times of a true American original.” — Jerry Wexler, legendary producer, Atlantic Records, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

“Informed by scores of interviews with Darin’s friends and associates and written in no-nonsense, just-the-facts prose, Evanier’s book paints a picture of a ruthlessly ambitious musician ... Sinatra may have had the bragging rights to ‘My Way,’ but Darin lived out the lyrics.” — Publishers Weekly

“This biography percolates with cool ... [Evanier has] written a book so charged with intimacy, so heartbreakingly ebullient with life, that you feel that any moment the pages are about to snap their fingers and break into song.” — Caroline Leavitt, The Boston Globe

“Darin has been the subject of several books; most notable is this new examination of the singer’s life and work by David Evanier ... Evanier’s portrait, true to its title, is one of a bright talent that soared quickly and erupted in a flash of glory.” — David Hajdu, The Atlantic Monthly

“Music fans are liable to be surprised by the Bobby Darin mania sparked by Kevin Spacey’s sunny new film biography. For the slightly darker look at Darin, hole up for the holidays with Roman Candle, the latest book about Darin’s rollercoaster life.” — Janet Maslin, “Top Ten List of Books for Gifts” (2004), The New York Times

About this title

Product Description

Roman Candle A multilayered portrait of this brash, gifted artist, whose restless voice and spirit seem as alive today as ever. Full description

Review

"In order to truly understand who Bobby Darin was you have to understand where he came from. David Evanier's new book, ROMAN CANDLE, tells the story of the young Walden Robert Cassotto--who grew up to become Bobby Darin--in a compelling and revealing way. His examination of Darin's impulses and influences give the reader a chance to go behind the persona and learn what it must have been like to grow up knowing that time was not on your side. Darin's drive and ambition was fueled by childhood illness and a determination to live as many lives as he could. As Darin himself used to say, 'It's not true you only live once--you can live a lot of times--if you know how.' ROMAN CANDLE gives us the many lives of one of the great entertainers of all time, whose flame was extinguished way too soon. It was a pleasure to read." --Kevin Spacey, actor/director, BEYOND THE SEA"This biography percolates with cool. . . . [Evanier has] written a book so charged with intimacy, so heartbreakingly ebullient with life, that you feel that any moment the pages are about to snap their fingers and break into song." --Caroline Leavitt, The Boston Globe"Darin has been the subject of several books; most notable is this new examination of the singer's life and work by David Evanier, a former senior editor of The Paris Review. . . . Evanier's portrait, true to its title, is one of a bright talent that soared quickly and erupted in a flash of glory." --David Hajdu, The Atlantic Monthly"Music fans are liable to be surprised by the Bobby Darin mania sparked by Kevin Spacey's sunny new film biography. For the slightly darker look at Darin, hole up for the holidays with ROMAN CANDLE, the latest book about Darin's rollercoaster life." --Top Ten list of Books for Gifts by Janet Maslin of the New York Times (12/19/04)

About this edition

• Publisher: Excelsior Editions
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1438434588
• ISBN 13: 9781438434582
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288