The Real James Dean, George Stevens Jr.
The Real James Dean, George Stevens Jr.
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
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The Real James Dean
Intimate Memories from Those Who Knew Him Best

Author: George Stevens Jr., Peter L. Winkler

Narrator: Malcolm Hillgartner

Unabridged: 12 hr 17 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/16/2021


Synopsis

In the decades following his death, many of those who knew James Dean best––actors, directors, friends, lovers (both men and women), photographers, and Hollywood columnists––shared stories of their first-person experiences with him in interviews and in the articles and autobiographies they wrote. Their recollections of Dean became lost in fragile back issues of movie magazines and newspapers and in out-of-print books that are extremely hard to find. Until now.

The Real James Dean is the first book of its kind: a rich collection spanning six decades of writing in which many of the people whose lives were touched by Dean recall their indelible experiences with him in their own words. Here are the memorable personal accounts of Dean from his high school and college drama teachers; the girl he almost married; costars like Rock Hudson, Natalie Wood, Jim Backus, and Raymond Massey; directors Elia Kazan, Nicholas Ray, and George Stevens; entertainer Eartha Kitt; gossip queen Hedda Hopper; the passenger who accompanied Dean on his final, fatal road trip; and a host of his other friends and colleagues.

About George Stevens Jr.

George Stevens Jr. is a writer, director, and producer who founded the American Film Institute. He has won seventeen Emmys, two Peabody Awards, and an Honorary Academy Award.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Raquel on September 28, 2016

This anthology has a vast array of voices. It’s organized in a chronological way so it reads as though it’s a linear biography of sorts. Starting off with James Dean’s grandmother, high school drama coach, fellow college students, teachers the collection then moves on to his love interests, both mal......more

Goodreads review by Erica on June 30, 2016

I received this as an e-book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. James Dean is absolutely one of my favorite actors and favorite people. This is a collection of memories from different people such as friends, lovers, classmates, and co workers. Lots of stories, newspaper articles, and s......more

Goodreads review by Liisa on February 06, 2025

I first "discovered" James Dean when I was 12, and as is often the case with a pre-teen crush, I found him to be romantically mysterious and broody. As I entered my 50th year, I realised that I had never truly delved deeper into Dean’s life and still held a romanticised, almost naive view of the act......more

Goodreads review by Faeryglamour on August 22, 2024

I am a huge James Dean fan. This is an absolute must for any fan. I felt like I got a chance to know the real James Dean- truly beautiful and moving. So many personal memories in this book stayed with me for days in my head and heart.......more

Goodreads review by Sherrie on May 28, 2016

I read an advance review copy of this book, which will be released on August 1, 2016. This is a collection of remembrances of actor James Dean drawn from a wide variety of sources, from 1950s movie magazine articles to excerpts from biographies of former costars, lovers, friends, teachers and family......more