Fame in the 20th Century

by Clive James

As an accompaniment to an upcoming PBS television series, this volume examines the nature of fame in the twentieth century, commenting on the notoriety of such figures as Madonna, Charles Lindbergh, and Walt Disney. TV tie-in. 40,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Humor, Sociology

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 30, 1994

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

An expatriate Australian broadcast personality and author of cultural criticism, memoir, fiction, travelogue and poetry. Translator of Dante.

Reviews

[Todd Denning · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lovely book for a quick read. If in doubt, just watch the documentary!

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never saw the BBC Series on which this is based, but familiar enough with Clive James to 'hear' his nasally voice throughout. And the book is typical of James's wit - some genuine laugh out loud moments. Given that the book is now 25 years old, found one section in particular to be fairly prescient ... "Donald Trump looked as if he had been drawn by Garry Trudeau in a fit of anger ... reality didn't enter the equation at any point". There are obviously points missed in this book given it tries to encapsulate 90 years and is only 252 pages long, but I found it an enjoyable romp through a century that I experienced a fair chunk of.

[Stew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief synopsis with Clive Jame’s thoughts on famous people in the 20th Century..most of them are film stars

[Daniel Headifen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always like Jame’s style but also bothers me that sometimes, in large doses like this, it becomes too smarty pants. But mostly miffed it is written in the 1990s - so I don’t get his amusing analysis of a couple more decades past. Brought in Ekatahuna 2nd hand book store.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remembering the TV series of this from the early 90s, I finally got round to locating a copy of this accompanying book. I thoroughly enjoyed it; and was only a tiny bit disappointed that it was not noticeably more than the programme. That's my own fault, I admit.

Clive James has never stopped writing and broadcasting, though if he applied the arguments that he develops in his book to his own fame he would undoubtedly conclude that the brightest shining is behind him: it's very sad that just at the time I write he is so very ill.

This book is a funny and perceptive reflection on the fickleness of life in the spotlight, on the influence it has over the actions of people who seek it (or lose it, or avoid it altogether), and on the nature of fame itself. James asserts at the outset that history is essentially about people, and starting with newspapers and magazines, but most especially movies and television, proves his point with great wit and wisdom. A historian by training, James has the gift of seeing patterns and connections in the story of human affairs, and brings them to life.

I only wish it had a supplement to cover the last two decades.

[Ryan Wulfsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even more relevant now with the advent of " reality" TV and the seemingly limitless appetite of the public for celebrity news.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found the book thoroughly interesting, very easy to read and jam packed with facts although told in a story like way which doesn’t make it too overwhelming