Excelsior, You Fathead!: The Art and Enigma of Jean Shepherd
by Eugene B. Bergmann
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Book Summary Information
Author: Eugene B. BergmannEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-03-28
ISBN: 1557836000
Number of pages: 496
Publisher: Applause Books
Book Reviews of Excelsior, You Fathead!: The Art and Enigma of Jean Shepherd
Book Review: Must Have, With a Caveat
Summary: 3 Stars
Excelsior, You Fathead is a must-have for any Jean Shepherd fan, simply because it's the only thing of its kind out there. There is a treasure trove of Shepherd tidbits, recollections and quotes enough to have made me re-read the book, in part or in its entirety, over 7 times.
But, I must say that Mr. Bergmann has an agenda. Clearly, he prefers the 1950s Shep - the Jazz Shepherd - over the 1960s or 70s model. Having listened extensively to both, I feel the opposite but that's just a matter of opinion. However, the author seems desperate to dig up some dirt on Shep, to make this a tell-all. But the best he can come up with is people whining about how he wasn't always very nice to people, talked a lot (duh!) and tended not to look up old friends. The only thing remotely approaching the scandalous is that Shepherd didn't seem to care about his two kids from a very early marriage - this is deplorable, of course, but hardly Joan Crawford wire hanger material.
Also, Bergmann seems to be a rather lazy author - I doubt whether he ever left New York City to write this book. There is no attempt to interview people from Jean's early past who might shed some light on his personality. The author says, over and over, how mysterious and close-mouthed Jean Shepherd must have been because he (author) just couldn't find out some things. Well, it IS hard to find out much when you're a lazy author.
It is still an enjoyable book and, as I said, a must-have, must-read. Just don't expect too much of it. And maybe someday, some author a little less biased, a little less lazy will do Jean Shepherd justice. In the meantime, this is the best we have.
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