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John Wayne: The Legend and the Man: An Exclusive Look Inside Duke's Archive
The family photo abums, the classic film costumes, the telgrams and medals, from the internationally-beloved icon, The Duke! All collected here for the first time.
An undisputed American icon, John Wayne is recognized the world over for his signature drawl and confident swagger; the ultimate personification of American courage and honor. This fall, John Wayne Enterprises has chosen powerHouse Books to produce the first-ever exclusively authorized photographic record of his life, both on-screen and off.
John The Legend and the Man celebrates Duke's life and legacy through film stills and backstage photos and snapshots ranging from his cinematic masterpieces-True Grit, Rio Grande, Sands of Iwo Jima, The Quiet Man, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Fort Apache, and The Alamo-to a surprising variety of early-career, leading-man The Big Trail, Stagecoach, Flying Tigers, They Were Expendable. Also included are a wide selection of fan mail art; family albums, photos from friends and loved ones, and the many treasures gathered over the years in his immense archive (famed film costumes, publicity photos exchanged with costars, telegrams and medals), many of the photos and these personal effects being published for the first time, and all from Duke's personal archive.
Duke was more than just his on-screen persona-he was known by loved ones for his warmth, charm, charisma, passion, loyalty, and spirit. Through an in-depth expose of the memorabilia, the private moments, the inner thoughts, and familial memories, John The Legend and the Man captures both the man and the myth and furthers the legacy of this giant of American cinema.
"This wonderful collection of photographs gives us John Wayne the figurehead, John Wayne the actor, and John Wayne the human being. It's a rich experience to look through these pages and see where Wayne's three roles converged and diverged.... And in all the photos, you see another,
earlier America with different ideas of glamor, beauty, fashion, and behavior, a world that now feels as distant as the renaissance.
A movie-made hero...a superstar, one of the very first...an image of manhood...and a great American artist. This book affords us a generous look at John Wayne from every angle."
-Martin Scorsese, from the Introduction
"To the people of the world, John Wayne is the United States of America. He is what they believe it to be. He is what they hope it will be. And he is what they hope it will always be."
-Maureen O'Hara
"In my acting, I have to identify with something in the character. The big tough boy on the side of right-that's me. Simple themes. Save me from the nuances. All I do is sincerity, and I've been selling the hell out of that ever since I started."
-John Wayne (Time, June 9, 1967)
An undisputed American icon, John Wayne is recognized the world over for his signature drawl and confident swagger; the ultimate personification of American courage and honor. This fall, John Wayne Enterprises has chosen powerHouse Books to produce the first-ever exclusively authorized photographic record of his life, both on-screen and off.
John The Legend and the Man celebrates Duke's life and legacy through film stills and backstage photos and snapshots ranging from his cinematic masterpieces-True Grit, Rio Grande, Sands of Iwo Jima, The Quiet Man, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Fort Apache, and The Alamo-to a surprising variety of early-career, leading-man The Big Trail, Stagecoach, Flying Tigers, They Were Expendable. Also included are a wide selection of fan mail art; family albums, photos from friends and loved ones, and the many treasures gathered over the years in his immense archive (famed film costumes, publicity photos exchanged with costars, telegrams and medals), many of the photos and these personal effects being published for the first time, and all from Duke's personal archive.
Duke was more than just his on-screen persona-he was known by loved ones for his warmth, charm, charisma, passion, loyalty, and spirit. Through an in-depth expose of the memorabilia, the private moments, the inner thoughts, and familial memories, John The Legend and the Man captures both the man and the myth and furthers the legacy of this giant of American cinema.
"This wonderful collection of photographs gives us John Wayne the figurehead, John Wayne the actor, and John Wayne the human being. It's a rich experience to look through these pages and see where Wayne's three roles converged and diverged.... And in all the photos, you see another,
earlier America with different ideas of glamor, beauty, fashion, and behavior, a world that now feels as distant as the renaissance.
A movie-made hero...a superstar, one of the very first...an image of manhood...and a great American artist. This book affords us a generous look at John Wayne from every angle."
-Martin Scorsese, from the Introduction
"To the people of the world, John Wayne is the United States of America. He is what they believe it to be. He is what they hope it will be. And he is what they hope it will always be."
-Maureen O'Hara
"In my acting, I have to identify with something in the character. The big tough boy on the side of right-that's me. Simple themes. Save me from the nuances. All I do is sincerity, and I've been selling the hell out of that ever since I started."
-John Wayne (Time, June 9, 1967)
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 23, 2025
Got this for my mom, who’s a huge Duke fan. I brought it home & got so caught up in the family photos that I finished the whole thing this evening. The essays are short, but insightful to who John Wayne was as a person. Reading this brought back memories of growing up watching the Duke’s westerns & classic war movies with my mom & my grandfather.
December 27, 2019
John Wayne: The Legend and the Man: An Exclusive Look Inside Duke's Archive
Glorious collection of photographs accompanied by reflections from friends
Glorious collection of photographs accompanied by reflections from friends
January 4, 2013
As recently as 2010 John Wayne was listed as America's third favourite actor behind only Johnny Depp and Denzel Washington.
I find that little fact amazing. Not because John Wayne wasn't a good actor, not because he didn't leave a huge body of work but because he's been gone for 34 years. THIRTY FOUR YEARS!
This gorgeous coffee table book put out by his estate is awesome. So many pictures, many never before seen family pictures. It includes a forward by Martin Scorsese, an essay by Patricia Bosworth, an interview with Ron Howard and remembrances by both Maureen O'Hara (whom he called the greatest friend and the best guy he ever knew LOL) and Ronald Reagan.
John Wayne, like the characters he played, wasn't perfect but he was the best man he could be. A man of principles and strong beliefs and strength. This book isn't for those who want an in depth biography, it's more like flipping through your well-loved grandpa's photo album. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 28, 2014
"John Wayne, the Legend and the Man" supplies an appealing look at the larger-than-life iconic movie star who came to symbolize the American character in the minds of many people. This hefty 2012 release chronicles Wayne's life and career in roughly chronological order. It offers up hundreds of black and white and color photographs, movie posters and remembrances from co-stars and friends that present a rare, behind-the-scenes and altogether charming portrait of Wayne, his family and friends, etc. All in all, this book is a well-done and affectionate tribute to a cinematic legend.
Mike O. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.
April 1, 2017
I have been a John Wayne fan since I was 13 years old. I'm 32, now, and still love watching his movies and learning more about him. This is a great book for any Wayne fan or movie buff. It's really interesting to see him away from the movie screen and out in real life. There are some great pictures of him with his kids and pictures of him as a kid; some are really touching, some will make you laugh, and some will just surprise you.
There are excerpts from letters and magazine articles and quotes from John Wayne himself and from people who knew him (such as Maureen O'Hara). I do feel like some of the descriptions could have been a little more in depth at times but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm proud to have it in my collection.
There are excerpts from letters and magazine articles and quotes from John Wayne himself and from people who knew him (such as Maureen O'Hara). I do feel like some of the descriptions could have been a little more in depth at times but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm proud to have it in my collection.
February 23, 2013
Interesting, authorized 10-15 pound coffee table book of great photos, movie stills, and memorabilia connected with John Wayne. 4 wives, a posse of kids, and the ever present cigarette and drink...so drop dead handsome in the early pictures and so very good looking later on. The book doubles as a filmography. You're going to love it if you love the Duke.
January 30, 2013
Was mostly a picture book, but was full of lots of photos I had not seen before. Was fun to look through.
February 23, 2013
A wonderful pictorial about the Duke, his films and his life off stage.
July 30, 2013
Beautifully done. Beautiful photos of John Wayne the actor and John Wayne the family man. A must for all John Wayne fans.
August 1, 2017
So much can be said about this legend by using just pictures and their captions. This is a must - read for fans of the Duke.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews