The Cradle of the Deep

by Joan Lowell

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First published in 1929,  Cradle of the Deep  was the bestselling book that became a scandal! In 1923, Joan Lowell was an aspiring writer and rising silent film star in Hollywood. Young, beautiful, and talented, she was adored by all. Then she published her autobiography in 1929: a rip-roaring memoir of a young girl growing up on a schooner with her hearty sea captain father and a crew of salty sailors and the incredible and death-defying adventures she had traveling the world. show more Except...none of it was true! Born in 1902 in Berkeley, California as Helen Wagner to a middle-class family. Yes, her father was a Pacific Ocean merchant schooner captain. And yes, he took Joan--and her mother--on a 15-month sailing adventure when she was a girl. After knocking around odd jobs in San Francisco, young Helen moved to Los Angeles to take acting lessons and began her career. Her early notable roles were in pirate movies as either the intrepid heroine or damsel in distress. She published her "autobiography" which became a runaway best-seller in 1929. But a few months later, the truth was revealed. She had never left the shores of California! Amidst the scandal, Joan remained defiant, telling the Pittsburgh Press in 1930, "Eighty percent of it was true and the rest I colored up. I made some changes to protect people and the rest to make it better reading. That's an author's privilege." This edition features archival photos and press clippings and a short biography of Joan Lowell and her infamous book. show less

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Cecrow Another memoir that caused a stir when it turned out to be fictitious.
Cecrow 'Salt Water Taffy' is a parody of 'The Cradle of the Deep'.

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Picture of author.
10+ Works 89 Members

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Wiese, Kurt (Illustrator)

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title*
Ich spucke gegen den Wind
First words*
Nein, nein, da irren Sie, Madame: eine Wasserratte ist sie gar nicht.
Last words*
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Er wohnt nun an Land, dicht an der pazifischen Küste, aber mit seinen Gedanken lebt er dort nicht: die sind in den Tropen und bewegen sich in Träumen von günstigem Wind und von den Sternen im Kreuz des Südens, nach denen er so oft den Kurs gewechselt hatte...
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, Biography & Memoir
DDC/MDS
813.52Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in English1900-19991900-1945
LCC
PZ3 .L9514 .CLanguage and LiteratureFiction and juvenile belles lettresFiction and juvenile belles lettresFiction in English
BISAC

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78
Popularity
404,833
Reviews
1
Rating
(4.00)
Languages
English, German, Portuguese, Spanish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
10
ASINs
6