Here Lies the Heart

Rating:
Summary: Nice book
Review: Book is very good encounters of Mercedes with different people in different parts of world. He visit to South India to visit Raman Maharshi is especially touching and cool

Rating:
Summary: Nice book
Review: Fascinating autobiography. Mercedes traveled the world during the early part of the century. Interacted with the great artists and celebrities of her time. She even made it chic for women to wear pants when no one was doing it. She was also a talented writer, believed in animal rights before it was popular, studied Eastern religion. Extraordinary woman. If you love history, this book will teach you a lot!

Rating:
Summary: Mercedes autobiography! (Not a book on homosexuality)
Review: Fascinating autobiography. Mercedes traveled the world during the early part of the century. Interacted with the great artists and celebrities of her time. She even made it chic for women to wear pants when no one was doing it. She was also a talented writer, believed in animal rights before it was popular, studied Eastern religion. Extraordinary woman. If you love history, this book will teach you a lot!

Rating:
Summary: Plenty of "Heart"
Review: Unfortunately Mercedes De Acosta is now best known for having had affairs with both Geta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. Don't look here for hot gossip or lesbian secrets, however, because "Here Lies the Heart" is not that kind of autobiography. Rather, De Acosta charts out the fascinating life and people she was fortunate enough to meet, with energy and wit to spare.

Starting early in her life, Mercedes De Acosta had a love of the arts -- just about anything, so long as the person who made it was a passionate artist. As a little girl, she met presidents and royalty. She was part of an eccentric Spanish family living in the US, who dared to skim by controversy (backless dresses, divorce).

Mercedes herself was an unusual person, who pursued Eastern religion, fought for animal and women's rights, wore pants before it was acceptable, and threatened to divorce her new husband when he referred to her by a married name. She worked (rather disappointingly) in Hollywood and travelled all over the world. And throughout her life De Acosta met and/or befriended poets, playwrights, singers, actors -- including Isadora Duncan, George Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward, Greta Garbo, Sarah Bernhardt, Marlene Dietrich, and many others.

Mercedes De Acosta wrote one of the rarest kinds of autobiographies: She talked a lot more about other people than she did about herself. In fact, we get to know her a lot better by how she saw other people than how she described herself -- impulsive, romantic, and tending to self-examination. Her memories become a bit fantastical in places, like where she claims to remember hugging a bear when she was a baby. But it feels like kicking a puppy to complain about accuracy problems.

Though De Acosta had affairs with some of the people in "Here Lies the Heart," you wouldn't really know it just by reading. She seems to focus just on friendship, and the impressive or enlightened qualities that the people she knew had -- at times, she even seems to have crushes on them all. Part of a poet's passionate nature? Maybe. Her writing certainly has a touch of poetry in it, very detailed and full of strong images like black ships, coats thrown over beds and scarves blowing in the wind.

Mercedes De Acosta's "Here Lies The Heart" is an endearing memoir of a unique life. Full to the brim of all kinds of art, her story is one that sticks to your mind and heart.

Rating:
Summary: Plenty of "Heart"
Review: Unfortunately Mercedes De Acosta is now best known for having had affairs with both Geta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. Don't look here for hot gossip or lesbian secrets, however, because "Here Lies the Heart" is not that kind of autobiography. Rather, De Acosta charts out the fascinating life and people she was fortunate enough to meet, with energy and wit to spare.

Starting early in her life, Mercedes De Acosta had a love of the arts -- just about anything, so long as the person who made it was a passionate artist. As a little girl, she met presidents and royalty. She was part of an eccentric Spanish family living in the US, who dared to skim by controversy (backless dresses, divorce).

Mercedes herself was an unusual person, who pursued Eastern religion, fought for animal and women's rights, wore pants before it was acceptable, and threatened to divorce her new husband when he referred to her by a married name. She worked (rather disappointingly) in Hollywood and travelled all over the world. And throughout her life De Acosta met and/or befriended poets, playwrights, singers, actors -- including Isadora Duncan, George Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward, Greta Garbo, Sarah Bernhardt, Marlene Dietrich, and many others.

Mercedes De Acosta wrote one of the rarest kinds of autobiographies: She talked a lot more about other people than she did about herself. In fact, we get to know her a lot better by how she saw other people than how she described herself -- impulsive, romantic, and tending to self-examination. Her memories become a bit fantastical in places, like where she claims to remember hugging a bear when she was a baby. But it feels like kicking a puppy to complain about accuracy problems.

Though De Acosta had affairs with some of the people in "Here Lies the Heart," you wouldn't really know it just by reading. She seems to focus just on friendship, and the impressive or enlightened qualities that the people she knew had -- at times, she even seems to have crushes on them all. Part of a poet's passionate nature? Maybe. Her writing certainly has a touch of poetry in it, very detailed and full of strong images like black ships, coats thrown over beds and scarves blowing in the wind.

Mercedes De Acosta's "Here Lies The Heart" is an endearing memoir of a unique life. Full to the brim of all kinds of art, her story is one that sticks to your mind and heart.