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Valentino Affair: The Jazz Age Murder Scandal That Shocked New York Society and Gripped the World
In 1922, Rudolph Valentino was one of the most famous men alive. But few knew that the star had a dirty secret that he desperately wanted to bury. The lurid tale began a decade earlier when former Yale football star and notorious playboy Jack de Saulles made headlines across three continents by pursuing the beautiful young Chilean heiress Blanca Errázuriz, known as the Star of Santiago. After the birth of their son, though, the marriage soured. Jack was going after every chorus girl on Broadway, claiming that Blanca had banished him from their bed. By 1916, Blanca wanted a divorce, rare then and even more so in a wealthy, powerful Catholic family. Enter Valentino, then still known as Rodolfo Guglielmi, a professional dancer in New York City, famous for the Argentinean tango. Blanca discovered that her husband had been sleeping with Joan Sawyer, Rodolfo’s dance partner, so she set about cultivating the hungry young performer. Whether Blanca and Guglielmi became lovers remains unclear, but the ambitious Italian gave evidence on her behalf in divorce court. Furious, de Saulles had Guglielmi arrested on trumped-up vice charges, tarnishing the dancer’s reputation. But Blanca was fighting bigger battles. De Saulles’s family had been pulling strings, persuading the courts to grant him partial custody of their child. When it appeared that he wasn’t going to return the boy to his mother’s care, Blanca exploded. On a sweltering August night in 1917, she drove to Jack’s mansion and shot him dead. Several people witnessed the act, but Blanca’s family hired the best defense lawyer around, who salvaged de Saulles’s reputation and made Blanca out to be a saint. During the “most sensational trial of the decade,” millions devoured the juicy details of how a high-society marriage violently unraveled. Guglielmi, desperate to avoid further poisonous publicity, fled to California, changed his name to Rudolph Valentino, and the rest is Hollywood history.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2014
About the author
Colin Evans
80 books38 followersColin Evans is the author of 17 books dealing with forensics and true crime. His fascination with the murkier side of human nature began while he was still in school. Hours spent in library archives researching contemporary newspaper accounts about "Jack the Ripper" (no, he doesn't have any clues to the killer's identity, and he seriously doubts that anyone else does, either) got him started and it's really never stopped since then.
He was living in America when his first book was published in 1993, and since that time he's gone on to become one of the foremost writers dealing with the history and development of forensic science.
He was living in America when his first book was published in 1993, and since that time he's gone on to become one of the foremost writers dealing with the history and development of forensic science.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 14, 2016
The title of this book is slightly misleading since there is little about Rudolph Valentino or an affair. Instead we have a society murder in which the wife kills the husband in front of several witnesses. Blanca deSaulles is the beautiful, wealthy Chilean wife of New York playboy, Jack deSaulles who married her for her money. When he finds that much of it is tied up in real estate and trusts, he is, to say the least, unhappy and begins his life as "Broadway Jack", wining and dining all the beautiful young chorus girls and other assorted women. One of those women is a former dance partner of Valentino, thus the connection in the book title. Jack and Blanca have a small son who becomes the innocent victim of a nasty divorce and it is about his custody that the murder occurs.
With a famous but now forgotten attorney, Blanca is put on trial for her life and the author covers practically every word of it. That drags down the book a bit but generally it is an interesting look at the justice system and how it operated when a beautiful young woman is charged with a capital crime which carried an automatic death sentence.
With a famous but now forgotten attorney, Blanca is put on trial for her life and the author covers practically every word of it. That drags down the book a bit but generally it is an interesting look at the justice system and how it operated when a beautiful young woman is charged with a capital crime which carried an automatic death sentence.
December 8, 2022
This wasn't a bad book though it did drag/go slow in some places. One thing it does show is the difference between how females were treated by the law and how males were treated. I gave it 5 stars because of the subject even though Rudolph Valentino made little more than a cameo appearance. The book also showed how differently white rich females were treated by the law in the 1920s.
The book gave a lot of information about Blanca deSaulles and her husband Jack DeSaulles. Blanca murders Jack about 3/4 through the book but I will have to say that Jack was not a loving husband. In fact, he was a cheating con artist who only married Blanca for her money! I won't say he deserved to be killed but I can understand why Blanca would do so (her being the wronged woman).
This book is written about a true crime that took place back in the 1920s. However, some information could not be found due to the time between when the crime took place and when the book was written. I found the book to be very interesting with or without Rudolph Valentino featuring prominently.
The book gave a lot of information about Blanca deSaulles and her husband Jack DeSaulles. Blanca murders Jack about 3/4 through the book but I will have to say that Jack was not a loving husband. In fact, he was a cheating con artist who only married Blanca for her money! I won't say he deserved to be killed but I can understand why Blanca would do so (her being the wronged woman).
This book is written about a true crime that took place back in the 1920s. However, some information could not be found due to the time between when the crime took place and when the book was written. I found the book to be very interesting with or without Rudolph Valentino featuring prominently.
June 30, 2014
Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from the publisher through Goodreads.com.
True crime is a more nuanced genre in books than one might initially think. You have the boilerplate more modern true crime, of the variety that often gets turned into basic cable films. Then you also have the more grisly, horrific-detail-driven true crime books that make you want to take a shower…with Lysol, bleach and industrial grade scrubber and then seek therapy. Of course, true crime of the rich and famous is always popular allowing the reader to indulge their more voyeuristic side.
I have to admit, even though I’ve read a few of these “sub-genres”, I never have really taken to them. I am primarily a non-fiction reader, a historian as well, so my tastes run more along straight forward histories and biographies. I also like books that discuss actual historic court cases and true crime accounts- typically that involve a unique approach or something that has an effect on the culture at the time. However, I do have a “guilty pleasure” as well, and that is reading Hollywood history. Thus the appeal of the book: The Valentino Affair: The Jazz Age Murder Scandal That Shocked New York Society and Gripped the World by Colin Evans. Here, the intersection of history, true crime and court case from long ago that gripped the nation and Hollywood history is all tied up in one neat bundle.
The Valentino Affair chronicles the marriage and divorce of an American playboy, Jack de Saulles and Chilean Heiress, Blanca Errazuriz de Saulles. Jack is a gold-digger and bon vivant, more famous for being famous and being the subject of gossip columns than anything else. His perpetual love ‘em and leave ‘em lifestyle, especially on the Broadway scene in New York, accounts for much newspaper ink in the early 1900s. On a trip to Chile he meets the wealthy Errazuriz family and courts the very young heiress to the fortune, Blanca. Despite her mother’s protestations, Blanca marries Jack, who immediately begins to burrow himself into her family’s fortune, only to discover much of it tied up in legalities and only to fall upon Blanca upon the death of her mother. Designed to prevent the money from falling into the hands of the very type of devious suitor that Jack was, his plans are frustrated which reveals his true nature in short order. Through the intervening years, Jack would treat his wife horribly and also spend as little time as possible with her, forcing her to live in separate apartments, and for a time, with his parents. All the while Jack is using what money of Blanca’s that he can get his hands on to further his financial schemes. He never gives up his playboy lifestyle, often doing a poor job of hiding from Blanca.
Blanca, for her part, gives in to many of Jack’s demands, and is at times imperious to many but weak to stand up to her husband, with whom she no longer desires to have physical relationship. It is odd as she does seem to long for Jack in the letters included in the story and they do have a son together, Jack Jr. It is he upon which the parents devote any energy into maintaining the relationship, but eventually it all falls apart. Blanca discovers that Jack is having an affair with a popular dancer, Joan, who is seen publically with Jack and even spends time with Jack and Jack Jr. on an outing. Outraged, Blanca has reached her limit and lays the groundwork for a divorce, a difficult and delicate thing in early 20th century America. Key to her legal case is the testimony and eyewitness information of Joan’s dancing partner, one Rodolfo Guglielmi, an Italian immigrant. Blanca coaxes information and assistance from Rodolfo, who is led to believe that after the divorce a relationship with Blanca will ensue. A belief, that Blanca never discourages in order to get the help, but also makes sure to not leave a hint of impropriety between the two so as not to sink her chances.
Eventually the divorce is granted, but custody issues and money issues cause increased tension and viscosity between Jack and Blanca, with Jack Jr. at the center of it all. It would bubble up into rage and end up with Blanca shooting and killing Jack late one evening. The murder is fodder for sensationalistic newspaper coverage, and the ensuing trial is one that captures the imagination of the public. Meanwhile, the mysterious figure of Rudolfo pops up now and then and his participation becomes the worry of Blanca’s legal team, and the concern of Rudolfo himself. Realizing he was used, having lost what reputation he had, Rudolfo travels to California seeking more film work, which he had begun to find in New York. Worried about the coverage in the papers, Rudolfo changes his name to Rudolph Valentio, and his career, as they say, becomes Hollywood history (and legend).
An engaging read, the book is slow to start, but once the reader becomes more involved in the marriage, the pace picks up and continues to careen through the rest of the story. If one is expecting to find Valentio at the center of this book (which is named after him) might be disappointed to find his participation is more tangential and the affair and legal case is given as reason for his name change and motivation to move to California. The subtitle is more accurate, as the book is really about the murder scandal itself. But by tying Hollywood history to early 20th century true crime, the author is able to weave an allure of Hollywood mystery with the story and make it more interesting. Even so, the story of the scandal is interesting on its own, and Valentio’s part in the case is key to the divorce proceedings, but one the murder happens, Blanca’s trial takes center stage, as it should. Excellent, quick paced and full of early 20th century atmosphere, The Valentino Affair will entertain the Historic true crime aficionado and the Hollywood History buff alike, though the Hollywood History buff may find it somewhat less alluring than expected.
True crime is a more nuanced genre in books than one might initially think. You have the boilerplate more modern true crime, of the variety that often gets turned into basic cable films. Then you also have the more grisly, horrific-detail-driven true crime books that make you want to take a shower…with Lysol, bleach and industrial grade scrubber and then seek therapy. Of course, true crime of the rich and famous is always popular allowing the reader to indulge their more voyeuristic side.
I have to admit, even though I’ve read a few of these “sub-genres”, I never have really taken to them. I am primarily a non-fiction reader, a historian as well, so my tastes run more along straight forward histories and biographies. I also like books that discuss actual historic court cases and true crime accounts- typically that involve a unique approach or something that has an effect on the culture at the time. However, I do have a “guilty pleasure” as well, and that is reading Hollywood history. Thus the appeal of the book: The Valentino Affair: The Jazz Age Murder Scandal That Shocked New York Society and Gripped the World by Colin Evans. Here, the intersection of history, true crime and court case from long ago that gripped the nation and Hollywood history is all tied up in one neat bundle.
The Valentino Affair chronicles the marriage and divorce of an American playboy, Jack de Saulles and Chilean Heiress, Blanca Errazuriz de Saulles. Jack is a gold-digger and bon vivant, more famous for being famous and being the subject of gossip columns than anything else. His perpetual love ‘em and leave ‘em lifestyle, especially on the Broadway scene in New York, accounts for much newspaper ink in the early 1900s. On a trip to Chile he meets the wealthy Errazuriz family and courts the very young heiress to the fortune, Blanca. Despite her mother’s protestations, Blanca marries Jack, who immediately begins to burrow himself into her family’s fortune, only to discover much of it tied up in legalities and only to fall upon Blanca upon the death of her mother. Designed to prevent the money from falling into the hands of the very type of devious suitor that Jack was, his plans are frustrated which reveals his true nature in short order. Through the intervening years, Jack would treat his wife horribly and also spend as little time as possible with her, forcing her to live in separate apartments, and for a time, with his parents. All the while Jack is using what money of Blanca’s that he can get his hands on to further his financial schemes. He never gives up his playboy lifestyle, often doing a poor job of hiding from Blanca.
Blanca, for her part, gives in to many of Jack’s demands, and is at times imperious to many but weak to stand up to her husband, with whom she no longer desires to have physical relationship. It is odd as she does seem to long for Jack in the letters included in the story and they do have a son together, Jack Jr. It is he upon which the parents devote any energy into maintaining the relationship, but eventually it all falls apart. Blanca discovers that Jack is having an affair with a popular dancer, Joan, who is seen publically with Jack and even spends time with Jack and Jack Jr. on an outing. Outraged, Blanca has reached her limit and lays the groundwork for a divorce, a difficult and delicate thing in early 20th century America. Key to her legal case is the testimony and eyewitness information of Joan’s dancing partner, one Rodolfo Guglielmi, an Italian immigrant. Blanca coaxes information and assistance from Rodolfo, who is led to believe that after the divorce a relationship with Blanca will ensue. A belief, that Blanca never discourages in order to get the help, but also makes sure to not leave a hint of impropriety between the two so as not to sink her chances.
Eventually the divorce is granted, but custody issues and money issues cause increased tension and viscosity between Jack and Blanca, with Jack Jr. at the center of it all. It would bubble up into rage and end up with Blanca shooting and killing Jack late one evening. The murder is fodder for sensationalistic newspaper coverage, and the ensuing trial is one that captures the imagination of the public. Meanwhile, the mysterious figure of Rudolfo pops up now and then and his participation becomes the worry of Blanca’s legal team, and the concern of Rudolfo himself. Realizing he was used, having lost what reputation he had, Rudolfo travels to California seeking more film work, which he had begun to find in New York. Worried about the coverage in the papers, Rudolfo changes his name to Rudolph Valentio, and his career, as they say, becomes Hollywood history (and legend).
An engaging read, the book is slow to start, but once the reader becomes more involved in the marriage, the pace picks up and continues to careen through the rest of the story. If one is expecting to find Valentio at the center of this book (which is named after him) might be disappointed to find his participation is more tangential and the affair and legal case is given as reason for his name change and motivation to move to California. The subtitle is more accurate, as the book is really about the murder scandal itself. But by tying Hollywood history to early 20th century true crime, the author is able to weave an allure of Hollywood mystery with the story and make it more interesting. Even so, the story of the scandal is interesting on its own, and Valentio’s part in the case is key to the divorce proceedings, but one the murder happens, Blanca’s trial takes center stage, as it should. Excellent, quick paced and full of early 20th century atmosphere, The Valentino Affair will entertain the Historic true crime aficionado and the Hollywood History buff alike, though the Hollywood History buff may find it somewhat less alluring than expected.
January 6, 2024
Wow, this book just blew me away but in the best of ways. This is a mostly unknown story and one I had certainly never been aware of. The way the author lays it out and builds up suspense would make one think it to be fiction. Sadly, it is not. It involves, incredibly enough, an infamous movie star heart throb of the 1920's. Valentino was linked to many scandals but this particular account must have been air-brushed.
Looking back on the phenomenon that was Rudolph Valentino the average person would consider his talent to be a series of over-acting gigs as well as some mannerisms and facial expressions so absurd as to be laughable. However there is no accounting for taste and women, in droves, swooned over the man. This book spares us no end of the character flaws and immoralities of Valentino while linking him to a wretched conman and womanizer and the subsequent homicide.
Looking back on the phenomenon that was Rudolph Valentino the average person would consider his talent to be a series of over-acting gigs as well as some mannerisms and facial expressions so absurd as to be laughable. However there is no accounting for taste and women, in droves, swooned over the man. This book spares us no end of the character flaws and immoralities of Valentino while linking him to a wretched conman and womanizer and the subsequent homicide.
September 13, 2024
Colin Evans's "Valentino Affair: The Jazz Age Murder Scandal That Rocked New York Society and Gripped the World" is somewhat vaguely named and delved into. The man whose death as a silent movie sex symbol years after his involvement as a cabaret dancer-immigrant from Italy in New York City drew thousands of mourners never was really drawn by Colin Evans in this true crime blast from the distant past. Maybe all he could dig up.
December 2, 2023
The first 100 or so pages was some of the best that I've read so far in 2023, but then the trial happened, and it was some of the most boring stuff I've ever read. Also, this is before the Jazz Age and Valentino could have been edited out of the entire book and it wouldn't have missed a step.
Read
May 26, 2014This was a Goodreads giveaway advance reading copy. An interesting book on a period in American history when rich white woman could murder their husbands and get away with it. Although not remembered today, the murder trial of Blanca de Saulles in the death of her husband Jack was lurid newspaper fodder that’s captured the attention of millions. The author’s extensive research gives a good accounting of the nature of the times and the lives of upper class women. The in-depth coverage of the trial may lose the interest of casual readers, but would fascinate anyone interested in legal history. Although, the book has Valentino in the title, he is only a very minor player. It’s not Valentino’s affair, it’s the de Saulles' affair.
While the author wraps up the lives of the main players at the end of the book, a few points are left hanging. Jack Jr., the child at the center of the de Saulles divorce case apparently had an eventual falling out with his mother and disappears. It would have been nice to know what happened to him and how the verdict affected his life. Also, the details of the divorce case were sealed, not to be opened until 2017. The author hints they may have contributed to the shooting. We’ll have to wait and see.
While the author wraps up the lives of the main players at the end of the book, a few points are left hanging. Jack Jr., the child at the center of the de Saulles divorce case apparently had an eventual falling out with his mother and disappears. It would have been nice to know what happened to him and how the verdict affected his life. Also, the details of the divorce case were sealed, not to be opened until 2017. The author hints they may have contributed to the shooting. We’ll have to wait and see.
April 1, 2015
It is hard to believe this is a true story
and not a fictional novel.
The story sure is the stuff of fiction
sometimes just unbelievable that it is true.
In fact, I would have blasted the author
saying the story was not believable if it was fiction.
I guess I have to reconsider that parameter in the future.
The book is written in two parts.
The first part is the telling of the story.
Wow, what a story it is.
It was hard to put the book down.
If you like crime novels,
you'll enjoy this true story.
The second part of the book follows the trial.
It was not as engaging as the first part
but still interesting.
I am not sure how the book deserves the title it has,
Valentino plays a role in the story,
but is certainly not the topic of the book.
It is almost like the author started writing a book about Valentino
and found a better story to chase
but included unrelated aspects of Valentino's life
just to fit the title.
Finishing the book, I felt
I would like to know more about the aftermath of the trial
and what happened to the de Saules son.
Oh, legal files are released in 2017
so there will be more details coming out soon.
and not a fictional novel.
The story sure is the stuff of fiction
sometimes just unbelievable that it is true.
In fact, I would have blasted the author
saying the story was not believable if it was fiction.
I guess I have to reconsider that parameter in the future.
The book is written in two parts.
The first part is the telling of the story.
Wow, what a story it is.
It was hard to put the book down.
If you like crime novels,
you'll enjoy this true story.
The second part of the book follows the trial.
It was not as engaging as the first part
but still interesting.
I am not sure how the book deserves the title it has,
Valentino plays a role in the story,
but is certainly not the topic of the book.
It is almost like the author started writing a book about Valentino
and found a better story to chase
but included unrelated aspects of Valentino's life
just to fit the title.
Finishing the book, I felt
I would like to know more about the aftermath of the trial
and what happened to the de Saules son.
Oh, legal files are released in 2017
so there will be more details coming out soon.
April 21, 2015
This is an ARC obtained through Goodreads First Read giveaway.
If not for the twisted relationship between Jack de Saulles, American playboy, and his wealthy, much younger, Chilean wife Blanca Errazuriz de Saulles, there might never have been a Rudolph Valentino.
Although Valentino was a small part of the book, it is true that he was an essential part of the de Saulles divorce case. I highly recommend this book to lovers of true crime novels. The writing is remarkably clear, the author bringing to life the various characters who were involved in this pre-World War I murder case. 4.5 out of 5
If not for the twisted relationship between Jack de Saulles, American playboy, and his wealthy, much younger, Chilean wife Blanca Errazuriz de Saulles, there might never have been a Rudolph Valentino.
Although Valentino was a small part of the book, it is true that he was an essential part of the de Saulles divorce case. I highly recommend this book to lovers of true crime novels. The writing is remarkably clear, the author bringing to life the various characters who were involved in this pre-World War I murder case. 4.5 out of 5
August 3, 2014
I enjoyed the book but the title is misleading it had little to do with Rudolph Valentino. The author did a commendable job of telling the story of two despicable people. Neither Jack or Blanca were very likable, I would not say he deserved what he got but it comes close. The lawyers were the most interesting characters in the drama that played out. If there were "Law and Order" back in the beginning of the 20th century this would have been one of their hot stories!!!! Good for TV and tabloids.
July 14, 2014
Author makes excellent use of news reports to craft this history of the Jack de Saulles shooting and the subsequent trial of his wife, Blanca, for murder. The trial narrative is objective, careful, and well-crafted; given that most of the official documents were lost it's probably the best narrative we're likely to get on the De Saulles case. The sourcing for the idea that Blanca de Saulles was the love of Rudolph Valentino's life is iffy.
May 25, 2014
It took me a while to get into the book. Once it got to the juicy parts I was hooked. I love the time period so getting a different view of what it was like was great. This is a book of the history buffs and those true crime novel lovers. I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.
September 19, 2014
3.5 stars
A well-written piece covering an early 20th century murder that more broadly paints how wealthy Americans operated in society and within the justice system. An interesting, credible and well-written book.
A well-written piece covering an early 20th century murder that more broadly paints how wealthy Americans operated in society and within the justice system. An interesting, credible and well-written book.
May 2, 2015
i love reading about older crimes and this one fit the bill. I know I saw some complaints that the title was deceiving and while it does seem the "Valentino Affair" was brief, if existent at all, it did play a role and the author did better than most in telling more than one story at a time
April 14, 2023
Calling this story "The Valentino Affair" is questionable. Out of all the people involved in this case, Valentino played by far the smallest and least significant role. I'd have enjoyed the story more if it weren't trying so hard to be something it wasn't.
August 7, 2016
I wouldn't recommend - about 1/2 way through I struggled to finish. This book as little to nothing to do with Valentino, by the way!
Read
January 19, 2015Good book not much in it about Rudolph Valentino but good if you are interested in true crime & that time period in history.
Did Not Finish
December 2, 2014This book was awful. To use the word "shocked" in a description of it should only refer to how boring it is.
December 17, 2015
Great insight into Valentino's life and scandals. He actually comes across as a decent, intelligent man: words you don't often hear attached to the name of the Sheik...the Latin Lover.
March 29, 2016
I can't imagine prosecuting these kinds of cases 100 years ago. So interesting.
July 19, 2015
Valentino is incidental in this book, so if that is your interest, pass this one up.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews