Folio Archives 136: The Moon’s a Balloon by David Niven 2009
Talk Folio Society Devotees
Join LibraryThing to post.
This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1wcarter
The Moon’s a Balloon : Reminiscences by David Niven 2009
The Moon’s a Balloon is the very entertaining autobiography of the British actor David Niven (1910-1983). Superbly written, it takes the reader on a fascinating journey through Niven’s life from infancy via the British Army, Hollywood and innumerable famous personages, to his mature years in England. Along the way an enormous amount of alcohol is consumed, and in his early life, there are uncountable amorous incidents.
There is a lot of humour and drama, mixed with sadness and courage during his war years. The “sliding door” moments of his story show just how fortunate, or unfortunate, one can be during life. Niven must be one of the few people who have had intimate conversations with Churchill, J. F. Kennedy, Frank Sinatra and Greta Gabo!
The book has three sets of four page bound in photographs as well as a frontispiece of Niven as he liked to be known, with champagne bottle and glass in hand.
The 306 page book has an introduction by Phillip French and an index of the many remarkable personages encountered by Niven in the 60 years of his life covered by this book. It is three-quarter bound in mid-blue cloth with a pictorial paper cover. The red slipcase is 25.1x17.2cm. and the endpapers are plain dark blue.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
The Moon’s a Balloon is the very entertaining autobiography of the British actor David Niven (1910-1983). Superbly written, it takes the reader on a fascinating journey through Niven’s life from infancy via the British Army, Hollywood and innumerable famous personages, to his mature years in England. Along the way an enormous amount of alcohol is consumed, and in his early life, there are uncountable amorous incidents.
There is a lot of humour and drama, mixed with sadness and courage during his war years. The “sliding door” moments of his story show just how fortunate, or unfortunate, one can be during life. Niven must be one of the few people who have had intimate conversations with Churchill, J. F. Kennedy, Frank Sinatra and Greta Gabo!
The book has three sets of four page bound in photographs as well as a frontispiece of Niven as he liked to be known, with champagne bottle and glass in hand.
The 306 page book has an introduction by Phillip French and an index of the many remarkable personages encountered by Niven in the 60 years of his life covered by this book. It is three-quarter bound in mid-blue cloth with a pictorial paper cover. The red slipcase is 25.1x17.2cm. and the endpapers are plain dark blue.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2xrayman
I read this book many years ago and bought the FS edition as soon as I saw it. I fully agree that Niven was an entertaining writer and the book has some laugh out loud moments (as well as tragedy). His life was much deeper and more diverse than it appeared superficially, and his air of sang froid seems to have been no mere act.
3plasticjock
I was about to mention this in the “what are you reading now” thread but thought this was a better platform...
What a romp. This was a total page turner, full of great anecdotes and shameless namedropping. I love this! Thanks for posting, Warwick.
The first paragraph of chapter one (see excerpt above) gives a great flavour...
What a romp. This was a total page turner, full of great anecdotes and shameless namedropping. I love this! Thanks for posting, Warwick.
The first paragraph of chapter one (see excerpt above) gives a great flavour...
