Harpo Speaks! by Harpo Marx, Rowland Barber Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Harpo Speaks!
Book Review: "...and in conclusion"
Summary: 5 Stars
That line use to crack Harpo up! This book is like sitting down and hearing your best friend tell you the story of his life, and WHAT a life! Harpo lived through the toughest of times full of bigotry, proverty and a world torn by war, yet the love of his family and friends provided him a safe haven that few people ever experience. Harpo's outlook on life, his gentle nature and true love of people served him well. This book takes you to Harpo's world and seats you at the Algonquin Round Table for a 10 year lunch with some of the most famous people of the 20's and 30's. It's a trip back in time and an insider's veiw of the world of vaudeville and life on the road. All of this history is told with warmth and humor that makes you want to read it over and over. I found this book in the 1970's and I've read it many times. I have two copies, one a well worn paperback and the other a treasured first edition with a perfect book jacket! I've spent many hours in Harpo's company and with each time the telling just gets better. In these pages you'll find a man who was a success at his craft, his family and with his friendships. I think his greatest acomplisment was the family he and Susan created with four adopted children late in life and "The Story" about how each child came into the family is too wonderful to be missed. The greatest gift he had was himself and he gave it generously to everyone he met. And though this book he shares himself with you.Book Review: ..... And one duck egg!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book should be standard issue to every human being who wants to know what a well-lived life consists of! What an extraordinary person graces us with the story of his life and a look at the lives of his famous family members! Told with such engaging warmth, Harpo's story continually challanges us to wake up and realize that, like the author, it isn't so much whether you're sleeping in a palace or a harp case...eating caviar or turnip soup...that determines what your life is worth and how fulfilled you are. Nearly indescribable in its charm, this is a books to be read again and again.Book Review: 2/3rds of this is fabulous. The ending lags.
Summary: 4 Stars
Harpo's autobiography starts out strong and the early part describing his childhood in New York and his family's beginnings in show business is hugely enjoyable for anyone interested in Vaudeville or the early movie business. How the Marx Bothers developed their individual stage personas through trial and error on stage is fascinating. Harpo's initiation into the world of the Algonquin round table and his friendship with the writer and critic Aleck Woolcott is also incredibly interesting as he describes the circle of people they associate with in great detail.
If the book ended there about 2/3rds of the way through it would have been a great book. The final third deals with his courtship in middle age of his wife Susan and their family life in Beverly Hills and Palm Springs. Personally I found this part of his story a bit tedious and even felt the writing style deteriorated from the earlier chapters. I would still recommend this to fans of the Marx Brothers as a book that provides great insight into the origins of their comedy.
Book Review: A "Historical" memoir, by Harpo Marx.
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm just about finished with the used copy I ordered from Amazon. I am so glad I decided to read it (after reading about it in the Groucho Marx Book titled "Hello, I must be going", which I didn't really care for).
Harpo provides great insight into what life was like in the early 20th century. YES -- he speaks a great deal about Alex Woollcott in this book, but I think it's because Alex was so influential in Harpos life; he was the primary means by which Harpo was able to meet so many great luminaries of that time. It's been a great read (and I think it would make a great film, too)!
Book Review: A Gentleman and a Gentle Man
Summary: 5 Stars
I read Harpo's biography long ago, and recently renewed acquaintance with it after seeing a cable biography of the brothers.What makes this book so wonderful is 1. a sense that Rowland Barber accurately captured Harpo's "voice" and 2. Harpo's own story, told with gentle humor and no self-pity whatsoever.
And what a story! That someone who was literally expelled from school in second grade (through the window by bullies) could have met so many fascinating people and lived such a wonderful life is amazing. But the nice thing is that you can cheer for him all the way; I'm only sorry I never had a chance to meet Harpo. By all accounts, he was a lovely person with no malice in him at all. I can't remember who this should be attributed to, but it was said of him at his funeral that "he believed the best of everybody until he was proven wrong, and even then, he gave them the benefit of the doubt". That's the man this book reflects.