Biography & Autobiography : Rich & Famous

Thrust into the media spotlight with her son Sean Wilsey's searing portrayal of her in his New York Times bestseller Oh the Glory of It All , the former queen of San Francisco society shares her own candid take on the fascinating events of her life. Once dubbed San Francisco's ''Golden Girl,'' Montandon socialized with the cream of San Francisco society, including Danielle Steel, Alex Haley, and the Gettys. Immortalized as a character in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City , she lived a seemingly perfect life in a penthouse above the San Francisco Bay, complete with her marriage to multimillionaire Al Wilsey and the birth of her son, Sean. From her lavish parties to her legendary Roundtable lunches, Montandon was always the talk of the town. Then, less than a decade later, Wilsey announced he was divorcing her, and Sean abandoned her as well—both for the affections of her once-close friend, Dede Traina. Left penniless and virtually suicidal, Montandon once again had to reinvent herself, this time as a humanitarian for peace. From Berlin to Beslan, she made it her life's mission to give a voice to the world's children and spread a message of hope in times of crisis. Oh the Hell of It All is a rich feast of a story: that of a poor girl turned rich turned poor again, in and out of love and betrayed by those closest to her, who has achieved peace in her life through devotion to something outside herself. more...

Price: $19.95

A spellbinding tale of money and madness, incest and matricide, Savage Grace is the saga of Brooks and Barbara Baekeland -- beautiful, rich, worldly -- and their handsome, gentle son, Tony. Alternately neglected and smothered by his parents, he was finally driven to destroy the whole family in a violent chain of events. Savage Grace unfolds against a glamorous international background (New York, London, Paris, Italy, Spain); features a nonpareil cast of characters (including Salvador Dalí, James Jones, the Astors, the Vanderbilts, and European nobility); and tells the doomed Baekelands' story through remarkably candid interviews, private letters, and diaries, not to mention confidential hospital, State Department, and prison documents. A true-crime classic, it exposes the envied lives of the rich and beautiful, and brilliantly illuminates the darkest corners of the American Dream. more...

Price: $11.99

From his schooldays in Tasmania in the 1950s, Tim Bowden wanted to become a journalist. Happily this ambition coincided with the invention of magnetic tape and the portable recorder, which triggered a life-long passion with broadcasting. Cutting his journalist teeth as a cadet reporter on the Hobart Mercury in the days of copy paper and hot metal type, Bowden went on to a distinguished career as a current affairs reporter, foreign correspondent and a producer of radio and television documentaries for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. more...

Price: $23.95

Celebrated for her indelible, Oscar-caliber performances in some of the most memorable films of the 1980s and 1990s, Debra Winger, in Undiscovered, her first book, demonstrates that her creative range extends from screen to page. Here is an intimate glimpse of an artist marvelously wide-ranging in her gifts. more...

Price: $17.99

Yes, Admiral is the second instalment of memoirs from Michael Sheard, author of Yes, Mr Bronson. In this book, Michael Sheard, famed for his roles in many popular television shows and hit movies (including The Empire Strikes Back), continues his fascinating journey through show business. He recalls his film roles, his radio and television interviews and shows, his personal appearances, and his experiences in all things Sci-Fi. more...

Price: $7.99