Michael Korda

Jack Kennedy es el héroe estadounidense; Marilyn Monroe, la diosa del amor. Se lleva hablando cincuenta años de su aventura amorosa. Ahora, por fin, la historia que tan solo alcanzábamos a imaginar cobra vida de forma vibrante e imponente: un romance tragico y apasionado escenificado entre peligrosas intrigas, politiqueos y el Hollywood mas glamuroso. Solo Michael Korda, autor de los superventas Queenie y La fortuna, podia retratar de manera tan convincente personajes tan miticos y narrar una historia compleja y real que fuera mas alla de rumores y especulaciones. En el centro de esta extraordinaria novela se encuentra Marilyn no la rubia tonta de las leyendas hollywoodienses, sino una mujer que te explota con fuerza en la cara desde las paginas, una mujer tremendamente apasionada, divertida y extravagante, que a menudo dejaba patente su amor por la vida, pero con una incapacidad fatidica para aferrarse a la felicidad siempre que la tenia al alcance de la mano. Cuando conoce al joven senador John F. Kennedy en una fiesta de Beverly Hills, ambos sienten un flechazo y aquel dia comienza una aventura que se convertira en dinamita politica en manos de una serie de politicos y criminales que conforman una galeria de los horrores. El elenco de personajes encandila, fascina, es audaz: un Jack Kennedy que se nos muestra encantador, condenado de antemano por su ambicion y capaz al mismo tiempo de la mas calida de las pasiones y de las planificaciones politicas mas frias; un Bobby Kennedy cuya reputacion de hombre cruel esconde una naturaleza sensible y tierna, y que, al final y con fatales consecuencias, sustituira a su hermano en la vida de Marilyn; un J. Edgar Hoover que conoce la aventura y pretende sacarle beneficio; un Jimmy Hoffa el lider de los sindicatos de camioneros cuyas grabaciones de los momentos eroticos mas intimos de la pareja desencadenara una sucesion de acontecimientos que desembocara en la muerte de Marilyn Monroe y en el asesinato de Jack Kennedy; y los jefes criminales Santo Trafficante, Carlos Marcello y Sam Giancana todos ellos conocedores del secreto. Sin dejarse nada en el tintero, Michael Korda ha escrito la historia que hay detras del mito que se ha convertido en tejido de la imagineria estadounidense y ha revelado, al fin, el elemento que faltaba en tres vidas legendarias, eso que siempre hemos querido saber: la verdad sobre Marilyn, Jack y Bobby.

Un Rolls Royce Silver Cloud le llevaba a los aeropuertos; la industria cinematográfica británica se rendía ante su poder; los grandes estudios de Hollywood se ponían a sus pies. Alexander Korda, uno de los mas deslumbrantes magnates del mundo, surgio de la oscuridad de la Hungria rural para convertirse en un cineasta legendario. Con el estaban sus hermanos Zoltan y Vincent, y todos vivian vidas encantadas en circulos en los que se encontraban personas como H.G. Wells, Laurence Olivier, Marlene Dietrich, Vivien Leigh y Merle Oberon, que llego a ser esposa de Alex. Pero junto a los grandes exitos de Alex habia un fuerte impulso de autodestruccion. El hijo de Vincent, Michael Korda, con este libro de recuerdos, describe las fascinantes figuras de su infancia; los dias de gloria, las grandes peliculas de los hermanos Korda y sus conmovedores y tragicos finales.

New York Times Bestseller"Lively, approachable, and captivating. Like Lee himself, everything about Clouds of Glory is on a grand scale." Boston GlobeMichael Korda, the acclaimed biographer of Ulysses S. Grant and the bestsellers Ike and Hero, offers a brilliant, balanced, single-volume biography of Robert E. Lee, the first major study in a generationKorda paints a vivid and admiring portrait of Lee as a general and a devoted family man who, though he disliked slavery and was not in favor of secession, turned down command of the Union army in 1861 because he could not "draw his sword" against his own children, his neighbors, and his beloved Virginia. He was surely Americas preeminent military leader, as calm, dignified, and commanding a presence in defeat as he was in victory. Lees reputation has only grown in the 150 years since the Civil War, and Korda covers in groundbreaking detail all of Lees battles and traces the making of a great mans undeniable reputation on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line, positioning him finally as the symbolic martyr-hero of the Southern Cause.Clouds of Glory features dozens of stunning illustrations, some never before seen, including eight pages of color images, sixteen pages of black-and-white images, and nearly fifty battle maps.

Michael Korda has delivered a jewel of a short life of Ulysses S. Grant, a general deadly on the battlefield and unprepossessing off it. As a biographer Korda is Grant-like himself: unambiguous, decisive, clear. The book is a joy to read. --Larry McMurtry, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lonesome DoveThe first officer since George Washington to become a four-star general in the United States Army, Ulysses S. Grant was a man who managed to end the Civil War on a note of grace, and was the only president between Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson to serve eight consecutive years in the White House. The son of an Ohio tanner, he has long been remembered as a brilliant general but a failed president whose second term ended in financial and political scandal. But now acclaimed, bestselling author Michael Korda offers a dramatic reconsideration of the man, his life, and his presidency. Ulysses S. Grant is an evenhanded and stirring portrait of a flawed leader who nevertheless ably guided America through a pivotal juncture in its history.This compelling biography from a master historian reveals the complex truth behind the legend:A Definitive Military Biography: Follow the brilliant, bloody path of the first four-star general since Washington, from the Mexican-American War to the final, graceful surrender at Appomattox. The Reconstruction President: Go beyond the battlefield to explore Grants two full terms in the White House, offering a nuanced reconsideration of a presidency often dismissed as a failure. From Tanners Son to Commander: Discover the unlikely journey of the son of an Ohio tanner who rose to become the most powerful man in the nation. A Man of Contradictions: Examine the complex character of a leader who was decisive in war but often naive in peace, a brilliant commander who struggled with the intrigues of the Gilded Age.

Michael Korda has delivered a jewel of a short life of Ulysses S. Grant, a general deadly on the battlefield and unprepossessing off it. As a biographer Korda is Grant-like himself: unambiguous, decisive, clear. The book is a joy to read. --Larry McMurtry, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lonesome DoveThe first officer since George Washington to become a four-star general in the United States Army, Ulysses S. Grant was a man who managed to end the Civil War on a note of grace, and was the only president between Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson to serve eight consecutive years in the White House. The son of an Ohio tanner, he has long been remembered as a brilliant general but a failed president whose second term ended in financial and political scandal. But now acclaimed, bestselling author Michael Korda offers a dramatic reconsideration of the man, his life, and his presidency. Ulysses S. Grant is an evenhanded and stirring portrait of a flawed leader who nevertheless ably guided America through a pivotal juncture in its history.This compelling biography from a master historian reveals the complex truth behind the legend:A Definitive Military Biography: Follow the brilliant, bloody path of the first four-star general since Washington, from the Mexican-American War to the final, graceful surrender at Appomattox. The Reconstruction President: Go beyond the battlefield to explore Grants two full terms in the White House, offering a nuanced reconsideration of a presidency often dismissed as a failure. From Tanners Son to Commander: Discover the unlikely journey of the son of an Ohio tanner who rose to become the most powerful man in the nation. A Man of Contradictions: Examine the complex character of a leader who was decisive in war but often naive in peace, a brilliant commander who struggled with the intrigues of the Gilded Age.

"A brilliantly vibrant and compulsively readable one-volume life of one of the giants of the twentieth century."Michael BeschlossA clear-eyed, grand-scale biography. . . . [Eisenhower] provides a vivid lesson in leadership at just the moment when leadership is of such paramount importance to the nation and the world.David McCulloughIke is acclaimed author Michael Kordas sweeping and enthralling biography of Dwight David Eisenhower, arguably Americas greatest general and one of her best presidentsa remarkable man in an extraordinary time, the hero who won the war and thereafter kept the peace.In this, the first single volume biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower to appear in decades, Michael Korda offers an honest and penetrating look at the general and president reverentially known as Ike.Full of fascinating details and anecdotes drawn from a rich treasure of letters, diaries, and historical documents, Ike shows how Eisenhowers genius as a commander and a leader, his generosity of spirit, and his devotion to duty were vital in achieving victory, and formed, in many ways large and small, the world in which we now live.This landmark biography reveals the man behind the five-star general and president:Supreme Commander: Go inside the brilliant military mind that led the Allied Expeditionary Forces to victory, based on a treasure of historical documents, letters, and diaries. Presidential Leadership: Discover the story of one of Americas best presidents, the hero who won the war and then kept the peace through a turbulent era. A Definitive One-Volume Life: Experience the first single-volume biography of Eisenhower to appear in decades, offering a sweeping and enthralling look at his entire life. An American Hero: From his humble Kansas beginnings to the world stage, follow the journey of a remarkable man in an extraordinary time.

Although prostate cancer is a disease that strikes nearly 200,000 men every year, it is a disease that has been shrouded in silence, in part because it strikes at the very core of masculine identity. But in Man to Man, bestselling author Michael Korda breaks that silence, turning the story of his illness and recovery into a candid and instructive book that speaks not only to every man and woman whose life has been touched by prostate cancer but to everyone who lives in fear of it.With unsparing frankness, Korda describes how he survived the ordeal of prostate surgery and its painful and humiliating aftereffects. He tells us how tumors are graded, evaluates different treatments, and makes sense of prostate cancers mystifying "numbers." Practical, immensely readable, filled with information, and, above all, hopeful, Man to Man is literally a life-saver.

In his remarkable memoir, at once frank, audacious, canny, and revealing, Michael Korda, the author of Charmed Lives and Queenie, does for the world of books what Moss Hart did for the theater in Act One, and succeeds triumphantly in making publishing seem as exciting (and as full of great characters) as the stage.Another Life is not just an adventure--the engaging and often hilarious story of a young man making his career--but the insiders story of how a cottage industry metamorphosed into a big business, with sometimes alarming results for all concerned. Korda writes with grace, humor, and a shrewd eye, not only about himself and his rise from a lowly (but not humble) assistant editor reading the "slush pile" of manuscripts to a famous editor in chief of a major publishing house, but also about the celebrities and writers with whom he worked over four decades. Here are portraits--rare, intimate, always keenly observed--of such larger-than-life figures as Ronald Reagan, affable and good-natured but the most reluctant of authors, struggling with his "ghosted" presidential autobiography; Richard Nixon, seen here as a genial, if bizarrely detached, host; superagent Irving Lazar, pursuing his endless deals and dreams of "class"; retired Mafia boss Joseph Bonanno, the last of the old-time dons, laboring over his own version of his life in his desert retreat; Joan Crawford, giving Korda her rules for successful living; and countless other greats, near greats, and would-be greats. Here too are famous writers, sometimes eccentric, sometimes infuriating, sometimes lost souls, captured memorably by someone who was close to them for years: Graham Greene, in pursuit of his FBI file and a Nobel Prize; Tennessee Williams, wrestling unsuccessfully with his demons; Jacqueline Susann, facing and conquering the dreaded "second-novel syndrome" after the stunning success of Valley of the Dolls; Harold Robbins (who had to be guarded under lock and key and made to finish his novels), struggling to keep the IRS at bay from the deck of his yacht; Carlos Castaneda, at his most sorcerously charming, described--at last--in detail, as he really was, by one of the few people who knew him well; not to mention Richard Adams, Will and Ariel Durant, Susan Howatch, S. J. Perelman, Fannie Hurst, Larry McMurtry, and many, many more. Parts of this book that have appeared in The New Yorker over the years have brought Korda great acclaim--the chapter about Jacqueline Susann has been made into a major motion picture. Here at last, entertaining and provocative and always hugely readable, is the whole story--a book as engaging and full of life as Kordas highly acclaimed memoir of his family, Charmed Lives, about which Irwin Shaw wrote: "I dont know when I have enjoyed a book more."

Bestselling author Michael Kordas Horse People is the story -- sometimes hilariously funny, sometimes sad and moving, always shrewdly observed -- of a lifetime love affair with horses, and of the bonds that have linked humans with horses for more than ten thousand years. It is filled with intimate portraits of the kind of people, rich or poor, Eastern or Western, famous or humble, whose lives continue to revolve around the horse.Korda is a terrific storyteller, and his book is intensely personal and seductive, a joy for everyone who loves horses. Even those who have never ridden will be happy to saddle up and follow him through the world of horses, horse people, and the riding life.

The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 marked a turning point in the history of the Soviet Union. For the first time, the West was able to see the level of dissent that existed in Communist Bloc nations, and the cruel tyranny with which opposition movements were suppressed. Although the Soviets were eventually able to stop the revolution, this was the first step towards their ultimate failure.Author Michael Korda witnessed these events firsthand. Along with several fellow Oxford undergraduates, Korda brought much-needed medical supplies to Hungary during the Revolution, and stayed to witness and participate in the uprising. He returns to those days in Journey to a Revolution, where he tells not only his own story, but also the story of a country fighting back after years of cruel mistreatment.Michael Korda is the New York Times bestselling author of Horse People, Country Matters, Ulysses S. Grant, and Cat People. He lives with his wife Margaret in Dutchess Country, New York.Fascinating, vivid, and, of course, wonderfully written. Henry Kissinger

[With Wings Like Eagles is] bold and refreshing Korda writes with great elegance and flair.Wall Street JournalFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Ike and Horse People, Michael Korda, comes With Wings Like Eagles, the harrowing story of The Battle of Britain, one of the most important battles of World War II. In the words of the Washington Post Book World, With Wings Like Eagles is a skillful, absorbing, often moving contribution to the popular understanding of one of the few episodes in history to deserve the description heroic.In the summer of 1940, the fate of the free world rested on the shoulders of fewer than 2,000 young fighter pilotsand the innovative, desperate strategy that kept them in the air.RAF vs. Luftwaffe: A gripping day-by-day account of how the Royal Air Force held off the might of the German air force against overwhelming odds. Air Warfare Strategy: The untold story of Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, the architect of Britains victory, and his revolutionary system combining radar intelligence with centralized fighter control. Spitfire and Hurricane: A deep dive into the legendary aircraft that became symbols of defiance, and the pilots who flew them into history against the formidable Bf 109. Winston Churchills Leadership: Discover the crucial role of the prime minister in steeling Britains resolve to fight on alone, chronicled through his powerful speeches and private struggles.

From Michael Korda, author of the New York Times bestselling Eisenhower biography Ike and the captivating Battle of Britain book With Wings Like Eagles, comes the critically-acclaimed definitive biography of T. E. Lawrencethe legendary British soldier, strategist, scholar, and adventurer whose exploits as Lawrence of Arabia created a legacy of mythic proportions in his own lifetime.Many know T.E. Lawrence from David Leans Oscar-winning 1962 biopicbased, itself, upon Lawrences autobiographical Seven Pillars of Wisdombut in the tradition of modern biographers like John Meacham, David McCullough, and Barbara Leaming, Michael Kordas penetrating new examination reveals new depth and character in the twentieth centurys quintessential English hero.But who was the real man behind the "Lawrence of Arabia" myth?A Definitive Military Biography: Go beyond the Hollywood myth and discover the real T. E. Lawrencethe scholar, soldier, and strategist whose life was more complex than the legend. The Birth of Guerrilla Warfare: Delve into the groundbreaking insurgency tactics Lawrence perfected against the Ottoman Empire, changing the face of modern warfare. Hero by Design: Explore Kordas fascinating thesis that Lawrence, from childhood, deliberately trained himself for a heroic destiny, seizing it when the Great War provided the opportunity. Diplomat and Nation-Builder: Witness Lawrences crucial role at the Paris Peace Conference and his efforts to create a new Middle East, a legacy that shapes the world today.

With characteristic wit, selfeffacing charm and sheer, exuberant love of a good cat story, New York Times bestselling author Michael Korda and his wife Margaret Korda recount their lives as "cat people," beginning with Margarets passion for cats (and Michaels reluctant midlife transformation into a cat person), and introducing readers to a hilarious assortment of people whose life revolvesoften to an extraordinary degreearound their cat, or cats, from Cleopatra a transatlantic traveler who found happiness in Paris to Wally, the epitome of feline dignity. Here are people who just cant say no to another cat, who "worldtravel" with their cat, who build their social life around their catsand of course the cats themselves, for the Kordas celebrate the beguiling power of cats, including many of their own, who have complemented, complicated and changed their lives together over the years. Here are charming, often hilarious and sometimes sad portraits of such cats as Margarets beloved Irving, whose favorite abode was the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, and Mumsie, who arrived unexpectedly at the door with her two kittens, and special cats like Jake and the gentle Chutney, as well as "difficult" cats like Chui and poor Mrs. Bumble, and Mr. McT., the bully who found love late in life. Here are graceful cats and cats like KitKat that never look before they jump, in short, countless cats the reader will never forget, even those with many cats of their own.