Book Reviewed: Louise Brooks: A Biography by Barry Paris

Lulu, the dreamer

This book is 609 pages long! But do not be afraid, because this is a real page-turner that makes reading this biography fascinating. Louise Brooks is one of the famous actresses of the silent movie era, renowned for her rebellion against the industry. Her performances in such influential films as Pandora's Box epitomized the ideal of feminine eroticism. Brooks' portrayal of a seductive, thoughtless young woman whose raw sexuality and uninhibited nature bring ruin to herself including those who love her. Although this film was initially unappreciated, eventually it made her a star. Brooks real life reflects her role in Pandora’s Box. She was a prisoner of the world she created. She was an enigmatic character blended with sophistication, elegance, panache, intelligence, and her infidelity to numerous lovers and two husbands. She was defiant and had irresistible appetite for sex and alcohol. In her sexual affairs with powerful men and women in the entertainment industry, she crossed the boundaries of gender at a time only a few women dared to cross. She was married twice, and both her husbands were powerful men who would have given her stability and financial security to pursue her acting career, but she lacked the foresight and went ahead with her carefree lifestyle ruining her own life.

At one time, Brooks was completely broke and lost all her friends. She had drifted into selling sex for cash. One of her former lovers was William S. Paley, the founder of CBS who persuaded her to leave Hollywood, which she did and moved back to her hometown of Wichita, Kansas. It did not last, the local community despised her, and she eventually moved to Rochester, New York. Paley sent her a monthly checks for the remainder of her life out of kindness. That was the only income she had, but this did not make her humble or appreciative of others. She was easily irritable, and acted mean to people who wanted to care for her. In the last 20 years of her life, she began writing articles about her film career, and her insightful essays drew considerable acclaim in the literary world. In her younger days she read books by philosophers like Arthur Schopenhauer, George Bernard Shaw, and Friedrich Nietzsche. She had academic interest in intellectual topics like Frances Farmer, another famous Hollywood actress. Both had many other similarities, both were alcoholics, destructive and abusive to others, and descended to low paying jobs in local departmental stores. In her younger years, Brooks had distinctive bob haircut that helped her start a trend, and many women styled their hair in imitation of her. in Bob Fosse's 1972 film Cabaret, actress Liza Minnelli reinvented the character with Louise Brooks makeup and helmet-like coiffure.

This book is professionally researched and written with style and passion for the life and work of Louise Brooks. I recommend this to readers interested in the history of Hollywood and the life of Louise Brooks.