Book Review: The Real Bogie & Bacall

The Real Bogie and Bacall by Catherine Curzon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While I loved Lauren Bacall’s 1978 autobiography, written from her own point of view, to my surprise I found this account of my favorite love story of all time to be much more satisfying.

As a historian with a specialized interest in old Hollywood, author Catherine Curzon has the research chops to surround and permeate the story of Bogie and his Baby with needed context. Their story is enriched by knowing what was going on during the eras they lived in, as well as learning more about their relationships with friends, family, lovers, and the unique business that is the entertainment industry. Even the cities of New York and Hollywood are influential—and influenced—by this famous couple and are well-lit backdrops for Bogie and Bacall as they struggled with life choices while living in these entertainment-centric cities.

This larger scope brings so much more context to events and decisions that shaped Bogart and Bacall throughout their lives, forming them into two people instantly recognizable by anyone in America, and quite a few more globally.

Anyone who is intrigued as much as I am by this classic power couple, or by the early days of Hollywood, classic noir films, impossible relationships, or the cultural standards of decades past will find history coming to life in the pages of this excellent book.

My thanks to Catherine Curzon, Pen & Sword, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital advance review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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