Six Men

Rating:
Summary: An all class act
Review: Many of us who appreciate the work of truly great non fiction writers were deeply saddened by the recent passing of Alistair Cooke .

Although best remembered for his long running radio commentary "A Letter from America" and his various television shows of early years , it makes for a pleasant change to go back and rediscover some of Mr Cooke's more substantial literary efforts .

A graduate in English literature from Cambridge University and a print journalist of considerable experience , Alistair managed to perfect a difficult balancing act . Throughout his long and prestigious career he steadfastly adhered to the highest professional and intellectual standards while still managing to enjoy enviable success within the mass media. In many ways , he "Raised the bar" in regard to industry standards by proving that there was , indeed , a sizeable market for quality work if it was cleverly presented in an entertaining and accessible style .

In this book , the veteran newspaper man draws upon his impressive array of observational and descriptive skills to create a striking collection of penetrating celebrity profiles . Alistair wrote with the deft , light hand of a popular scribe but also with the probing incisiveness of a psychology professor . At all times he examined the inner workings of his subjects with an almost clinical thoroughness and a commendable sense of fairness . When it came to creating word pictures , the man was an old master.

Alistair Cooke was the consumate journalist - an "all class act" and a credit to his chosen calling .

Rating:
Summary: An all class act
Review: Many of us who appreciate the work of truly great non fiction writers were deeply saddened by the recent passing of Alistair Cooke .

Although best remembered for his long running radio commentary "A Letter from America" and his various television shows of early years , it makes for a pleasant change to go back and rediscover some of Mr Cooke's more substantial literary efforts .

A graduate in English literature from Cambridge University and a print journalist of considerable experience , Alistair managed to perfect a difficult balancing act . Throughout his long and prestigious career he steadfastly adhered to the highest professional and intellectual standards while still managing to enjoy enviable success within the mass media. In many ways , he "Raised the bar" in regard to industry standards by proving that there was , indeed , a sizeable market for quality work if it was cleverly presented in an entertaining and accessible style .

In this book , the veteran newspaper man draws upon his impressive array of observational and descriptive skills to create a striking collection of penetrating celebrity profiles . Alistair wrote with the deft , light hand of a popular scribe but also with the probing incisiveness of a psychology professor . At all times he examined the inner workings of his subjects with an almost clinical thoroughness and a commendable sense of fairness . When it came to creating word pictures , the man was an old master.

Alistair Cooke was the consumate journalist - an "all class act" and a credit to his chosen calling .

Rating:
Summary: Incisive, Beautifully Written
Review: Mr. Cooke is a very bright, amusing, observant man -- who writes so extraordinarily well you'll wish to re-read passage after passage for the pleasure of the sounds. He has chosen six men of diverse background and writes about them with sympathy -- but more importantly for this reader, with an acute sense of their singularity and what made them so. Any reader would only wish the book much longer because it's a beautiful one.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting biographies by an interpreter of their lives.
Review: Six famous transatlantic figures: 3 English and 3 American men, all of whom had a legendary meaning in the seventies: Charles Chaplin, H. L. Mencken, Humphrey Bogart, Adlai Stevenson, Bertrand Russell and Edward VIII. I liked his style of writing and he really provided insightful surprises on each of these famous men. An interesting read, if not for the history alone.