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The Rebel: An Imagined Life of James Dean
A movie star on a meteoric rise, young James Dean was already being hailed as one of America's finest actors when he died in a high-speed car accident in 1955. In one terrible instant a luminous future glowing with extraordinary promise was snuffed out forever.
But what if it wasn't?With The Rebel, acclaimed award-winning author Jack Dann pulls James Dean from the twisted wreckage and offers him a second chance to make an indelible mark on his art, his culture, and his time in an era of profound change and devastating social upheaval.
Surviving the horrific crash that leaves him permanently scarred, both physically and emotionally, the rebellious young star approaches his rebirth with trepidation, charged with an inescapable new responsibility to do "something wonderful and important." Cast back into a world of Hollywood glitz and glamour, a haunted, brooding, and complex artist climbs higher than even his most fervent admirers imagined he could, ascending to a pinnacle of success and power no actor of his or any generation has ever achieved. Yet for Jimmy Dean, the glory road will be winding and broken, littered with the detritus of exploded dreams and destroyed love, as it passes through the holiest cultural sites of postwar twentieth-century America -- the genius-and-drug-pumped world of the Beats, the protected inner sanctum of Graceland, the darkest shadows of Camelot. The lives and futures of Kerouac, Sinatra, Elvis and the Colonel, and the Kennedys will all be touched by him -- yet perhaps none so deeply as the fragile sex goddess who will always be his greatest burden and true soul mate, a dazzling and tragically lost phenomenon named Marilyn -- as he moves relentlessly toward an astonishing destiny that will reconfigure the world.
Ingeniously blending historical fact with brilliant invention, The Rebel is a hip, fast, mesmerizing ride through the fifties and sixties -- an unforgettable road trip across a nation torn by bitter racial strife and violently divided by war, with an American legend at the wheel.
But what if it wasn't?With The Rebel, acclaimed award-winning author Jack Dann pulls James Dean from the twisted wreckage and offers him a second chance to make an indelible mark on his art, his culture, and his time in an era of profound change and devastating social upheaval.
Surviving the horrific crash that leaves him permanently scarred, both physically and emotionally, the rebellious young star approaches his rebirth with trepidation, charged with an inescapable new responsibility to do "something wonderful and important." Cast back into a world of Hollywood glitz and glamour, a haunted, brooding, and complex artist climbs higher than even his most fervent admirers imagined he could, ascending to a pinnacle of success and power no actor of his or any generation has ever achieved. Yet for Jimmy Dean, the glory road will be winding and broken, littered with the detritus of exploded dreams and destroyed love, as it passes through the holiest cultural sites of postwar twentieth-century America -- the genius-and-drug-pumped world of the Beats, the protected inner sanctum of Graceland, the darkest shadows of Camelot. The lives and futures of Kerouac, Sinatra, Elvis and the Colonel, and the Kennedys will all be touched by him -- yet perhaps none so deeply as the fragile sex goddess who will always be his greatest burden and true soul mate, a dazzling and tragically lost phenomenon named Marilyn -- as he moves relentlessly toward an astonishing destiny that will reconfigure the world.
Ingeniously blending historical fact with brilliant invention, The Rebel is a hip, fast, mesmerizing ride through the fifties and sixties -- an unforgettable road trip across a nation torn by bitter racial strife and violently divided by war, with an American legend at the wheel.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2004
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140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 13, 2015
Chiar dacă e o biografie cu totul imaginară a lui James Dean, Jack Dann imaginându-și ce s-ar fi întâmplat dacă tânărul actor n-ar fi murit în accidentul de mașină, autorul ne prezintă cu lux de amănunte dedesubturile vieții unor vedete hollywoodiene despre care mulți dintre noi știam prea puțin. O carte remarcabil de bine documentată, pe care am citit-o cu mare plăcere în ciuda fontului ilizibil folosit la acea vreme de editura Millennium, în colaborare cu editura Tritonic.
January 23, 2017
Cum nu sunt neaparat un mare fan al istoriilor alternative, si cum destul de tarziu povestirile din volumul Constanta 1919 de Liviu Radu au reusit sa-mi deschida un pic apetitul pentru asemenea lucrari, romanul de fata a fost o surpriza placuta. Tin si acum minte o discutie despre carte, de la targul din toamna, intre cel care a publicat cartea, Horia-Nicola Ursu si Michael Haulica.
In acel moment tema principala a dialogului o constituia interesului relativ scazut al vizitatorilor pentru acest roman al carui prim plan este furat de idolul unei generatii.
Cei drept o generatie demult apusa, moartea celebrului actor, survenita in urma unui accident rutier, avand loc cu nu mai putin de 54 de ani in urma, in anul 1955. Cam aceasta era si concluzia la care au ajuns si cei doi ca este destul de greu ca o asemenea carte sa atraga atentia, atat timp cat generatiile de astazi nu cunosc de impactul pe care l-a avut asupra acelor vremuri simbolul James Dean. Drept dovada eu il confundam cu un alt actor. Rusine mie.
Cartea mi s-a parut foarte reusita mai ales la capitolul pastrarii cronologiei evenimentelor din acele timpuri. Trecand peste faptul ca James Dean nu mai moare in accidentul de masina mentionat anterior, multe din evenimentele despre care se vorbeste in roman, am reusit sa le identific pe wikipedia sau pe alte adrese web ca fiind adevarate suta la suta. Doar ca acum printre protagonisti se strecoara si personalitatea intriganta a actorului James Dean.
Am fost curios daca legatura cu Marilyn Monroe a fost adevarat sau nu, si se pare ca de fapt Jack Dann a introdus in scenariu acest mic artificiu pentru a mai complica un pic lucrurile. Iar in ceea ce-l priveste pe Elvis, din moment ce a inceput sa prinda la public incepand cu anul 1954, e posibil ca cei doi sa nu se fi intalnit vreodata. Eu nu am gasit informatii care sa-mi confirme acest lucru, insa se poate, ca la fel cum in roman James Dean este idolatrizat la propriu de catre marele cantaret, asa sa fi stat lucrurile si in realitate.
Am observat ca antipatia nascuta mai ales din spiritul de concurenta al actorului fata de o alta legenda a marelui ecran, Paul Newman apare deseori la suprafata. Iarasi nu am gasit fapte concrete, doar ca dupa moartea sa unul dintre rolurile destinate lui James Dean a fost preluat de acesta din urma. Este vorba despre rolul lui Rocky Graziano in Somebody Up There Likes Me, despre care se spune ca ar fi fost si ultimul film in care ar mai fi jucat regretatul actor. Ar fi urmat sa se dedice in totalitate regiei, considerand ca a dat totul in filmele realizate si nemultumit de faptul ca era mereu intrerupt de regizori neexperimentati, lucru ce-i afecta interpretarea.
Orientarea sa sexuala este iarasi un subiect controversat. In realitate ar fi avut si legaturi homosexuale insa in istoria alternativa, desi exista cateva trimiteri, apare ca un barbat marcat de o serie de personalitati feminine. Mama sa, care l-a parasit in 1940 in urma unui cancer ( el avea 9 ani pe atunci) se numara printre ele. Marilyn Monroe ( in plan fictiv) sau Pier Angeli ( si in realitate) sunt alte doua femei care i-au umplut viata scurta a actorului si i-au marcat decisiv traseul.
Daca in prima parte a romanului se speculeaza asupra viitorului in actorie al starului si asupra relatiilor pe care acesta le-ar fi putut dezvolta cu alte personalitati, in cea de-a doua acesta urca incet, dar sigur, si in hatisul vietii politice. Sincer, evenimentele din aceasta perioada si evolutia in aceste momente a actiunii, nu au fost la fel de interesante ca si micile amanunte si detalii despre lumea filmului si viata actorilor acelei perioade, prezenta in mai bine de trei sferturi de carte. Este adevarat ca interactioneaza si cu destinele familiei Kennedy, insa parca actiunea mai scade din intesitate si James Dean e mai stralucitor printre actori si lumea filmului, decat in lumea intrigilor subtile si a promisiunilor electorale.
James Dean – …o autobiografie alternativa mi s-a parut a fi o radiografie reusita a anilor 50-60, cum spuneam, cu o respectare fidela a unor evenimente, introducerea lui James Dean in toiul acestor intamplari sau in situatii cu totul inedite constituind adevaratul deliciu al romanului. Plus ca este interesant de vazut si de meditat asupra orgoliilor ce au stapanit lumea americana a filmului, impactul si legaturile existente intre marile vedete si anturajul lor, ziaristii de scandal si chiar impresarii acestora.
Si din punct de vedere uman ne sunt oferite o serie de lectii. Banii si faima nu schimba intotdeauna in bine personalitatea individului, desi multi alearga dupa ele ci dimpotriva, amplifica unele excese si iesiri, cu potentiale efecte dramatice. Viata posibila a starului apare cititorului asemenea unui joc de lumini si umbre, cu o alternanta frenetica intre adevar si minciuna, intre putere si slabiciune, intre dragoste si posesivitate.
O autobiografie surprinzatoare prin calitatea si acuratetea detaliilor si, in acelasi timp, un roman de istorie alternativa din care se pot descoperi o gramada de informatii si personaje, cele din urma recunoscute ca au monopolizat vietile americanilor din acei ani tumultosi.
http://www.cititorsf.ro/2009/04/27/ja...
In acel moment tema principala a dialogului o constituia interesului relativ scazut al vizitatorilor pentru acest roman al carui prim plan este furat de idolul unei generatii.
Cei drept o generatie demult apusa, moartea celebrului actor, survenita in urma unui accident rutier, avand loc cu nu mai putin de 54 de ani in urma, in anul 1955. Cam aceasta era si concluzia la care au ajuns si cei doi ca este destul de greu ca o asemenea carte sa atraga atentia, atat timp cat generatiile de astazi nu cunosc de impactul pe care l-a avut asupra acelor vremuri simbolul James Dean. Drept dovada eu il confundam cu un alt actor. Rusine mie.
Cartea mi s-a parut foarte reusita mai ales la capitolul pastrarii cronologiei evenimentelor din acele timpuri. Trecand peste faptul ca James Dean nu mai moare in accidentul de masina mentionat anterior, multe din evenimentele despre care se vorbeste in roman, am reusit sa le identific pe wikipedia sau pe alte adrese web ca fiind adevarate suta la suta. Doar ca acum printre protagonisti se strecoara si personalitatea intriganta a actorului James Dean.
Am fost curios daca legatura cu Marilyn Monroe a fost adevarat sau nu, si se pare ca de fapt Jack Dann a introdus in scenariu acest mic artificiu pentru a mai complica un pic lucrurile. Iar in ceea ce-l priveste pe Elvis, din moment ce a inceput sa prinda la public incepand cu anul 1954, e posibil ca cei doi sa nu se fi intalnit vreodata. Eu nu am gasit informatii care sa-mi confirme acest lucru, insa se poate, ca la fel cum in roman James Dean este idolatrizat la propriu de catre marele cantaret, asa sa fi stat lucrurile si in realitate.
Am observat ca antipatia nascuta mai ales din spiritul de concurenta al actorului fata de o alta legenda a marelui ecran, Paul Newman apare deseori la suprafata. Iarasi nu am gasit fapte concrete, doar ca dupa moartea sa unul dintre rolurile destinate lui James Dean a fost preluat de acesta din urma. Este vorba despre rolul lui Rocky Graziano in Somebody Up There Likes Me, despre care se spune ca ar fi fost si ultimul film in care ar mai fi jucat regretatul actor. Ar fi urmat sa se dedice in totalitate regiei, considerand ca a dat totul in filmele realizate si nemultumit de faptul ca era mereu intrerupt de regizori neexperimentati, lucru ce-i afecta interpretarea.
Orientarea sa sexuala este iarasi un subiect controversat. In realitate ar fi avut si legaturi homosexuale insa in istoria alternativa, desi exista cateva trimiteri, apare ca un barbat marcat de o serie de personalitati feminine. Mama sa, care l-a parasit in 1940 in urma unui cancer ( el avea 9 ani pe atunci) se numara printre ele. Marilyn Monroe ( in plan fictiv) sau Pier Angeli ( si in realitate) sunt alte doua femei care i-au umplut viata scurta a actorului si i-au marcat decisiv traseul.
Daca in prima parte a romanului se speculeaza asupra viitorului in actorie al starului si asupra relatiilor pe care acesta le-ar fi putut dezvolta cu alte personalitati, in cea de-a doua acesta urca incet, dar sigur, si in hatisul vietii politice. Sincer, evenimentele din aceasta perioada si evolutia in aceste momente a actiunii, nu au fost la fel de interesante ca si micile amanunte si detalii despre lumea filmului si viata actorilor acelei perioade, prezenta in mai bine de trei sferturi de carte. Este adevarat ca interactioneaza si cu destinele familiei Kennedy, insa parca actiunea mai scade din intesitate si James Dean e mai stralucitor printre actori si lumea filmului, decat in lumea intrigilor subtile si a promisiunilor electorale.
James Dean – …o autobiografie alternativa mi s-a parut a fi o radiografie reusita a anilor 50-60, cum spuneam, cu o respectare fidela a unor evenimente, introducerea lui James Dean in toiul acestor intamplari sau in situatii cu totul inedite constituind adevaratul deliciu al romanului. Plus ca este interesant de vazut si de meditat asupra orgoliilor ce au stapanit lumea americana a filmului, impactul si legaturile existente intre marile vedete si anturajul lor, ziaristii de scandal si chiar impresarii acestora.
Si din punct de vedere uman ne sunt oferite o serie de lectii. Banii si faima nu schimba intotdeauna in bine personalitatea individului, desi multi alearga dupa ele ci dimpotriva, amplifica unele excese si iesiri, cu potentiale efecte dramatice. Viata posibila a starului apare cititorului asemenea unui joc de lumini si umbre, cu o alternanta frenetica intre adevar si minciuna, intre putere si slabiciune, intre dragoste si posesivitate.
O autobiografie surprinzatoare prin calitatea si acuratetea detaliilor si, in acelasi timp, un roman de istorie alternativa din care se pot descoperi o gramada de informatii si personaje, cele din urma recunoscute ca au monopolizat vietile americanilor din acei ani tumultosi.
http://www.cititorsf.ro/2009/04/27/ja...
June 26, 2008
This novel was written by one of my closest long-term friends, but don't assume that writers necessarily like books written by their friends. Often the opposite is the case, especially if you're feeling competitive. The Rebel, a fictional alternative history that offers rich insights into the America of the 1950s and 1960s and its tangled web of politics, celebrity, and money, begins with one assumption: What if the actor James Dean had survived the car crash that killed him in 1955? The novel goes on to answer that question with a cast that includes such iconic figures as Dean himself, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, and Bobby Kennedy, among many others. Also featured is the director Nicholas Ray, who directed Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause" and who turned up at Jack's (and my) alma mater in the early 1970s to teach film. The conclusion of The Rebel will cut at the heart of anybody who lived through the assassination of Bobby Kennedy in 1968 and still thinks of what might have been.
Also recommended is Jack's new story collection, Promised Land, which is out from the small British publisher PS Publishing and which I'm reading now. This collection includes stories about many of the people in The Rebel, and you can find out more about it here.
Also recommended is Jack's new story collection, Promised Land, which is out from the small British publisher PS Publishing and which I'm reading now. This collection includes stories about many of the people in The Rebel, and you can find out more about it here.
January 23, 2026
I guess it's James Dean's fault Bobby was killed?
Honestly, I am not sure what I was expecting with this one. it's called the imagined life of James Dean, and shows a fictional world had Dean survived the automobile accident on September 30th, 1955. But this reads like fan fiction. Perhaps the book itself isn't terribly written but one could almost get away with calling this Fifty Shades of Grey....but with James Dean. lots, and lots of detailed intimate scenes haha. The characters themselves are not very likeable, like ever. They all seem so mean, and rude, and consistently making terrible decisions. How one could fumble a fictional book with the cast of characters like James Dean, Elvis, Pier Angeli, Marilyn Monroe, Bobby Kennedy is beyond me. If one thing stood out...we finally got James as the legendary outlaw Billy the Kid. Other then that, there are some choices in here that...that are definitely choices...but not in the good way. Pier's real life son...in this book is the secret love child of Dean...and I think in a more almost mean Spirited twist the author kills off Pier in the very real way she died in real life....but earlier. At points, I think the book just made me feel depressed. Maybe some of you will enjoy it, but this is just not the book for me.
Also why does Dean always end up in Politics...(cough) The Monument Mythos (cough)
Overall - 3.5 / 10.0
Honestly, I am not sure what I was expecting with this one. it's called the imagined life of James Dean, and shows a fictional world had Dean survived the automobile accident on September 30th, 1955. But this reads like fan fiction. Perhaps the book itself isn't terribly written but one could almost get away with calling this Fifty Shades of Grey....but with James Dean. lots, and lots of detailed intimate scenes haha. The characters themselves are not very likeable, like ever. They all seem so mean, and rude, and consistently making terrible decisions. How one could fumble a fictional book with the cast of characters like James Dean, Elvis, Pier Angeli, Marilyn Monroe, Bobby Kennedy is beyond me. If one thing stood out...we finally got James as the legendary outlaw Billy the Kid. Other then that, there are some choices in here that...that are definitely choices...but not in the good way. Pier's real life son...in this book is the secret love child of Dean...and I think in a more almost mean Spirited twist the author kills off Pier in the very real way she died in real life....but earlier. At points, I think the book just made me feel depressed. Maybe some of you will enjoy it, but this is just not the book for me.
Also why does Dean always end up in Politics...(cough) The Monument Mythos (cough)
Overall - 3.5 / 10.0
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 12, 2024Horrific crush glasses
what the future can have
crazy heart
rebirth emotionly and phiscaly
what maght have been
what life can tuch other
golden road was wilding and broken
just one phenmon
sun of my old life
my past
my horizon feuture
king the fun search glory photo
soul mate
imazing heart
fragil feeling
tragidy to lost my suger phenomen
dizzy to think about it over many stars
over shut life
to my soul mate
i love ya even the far of time
even many story to tell
colect our fig in pasket
hold our smile in gd memory
our bliding tears tell
i love ya soul mate
what the future can have
crazy heart
rebirth emotionly and phiscaly
what maght have been
what life can tuch other
golden road was wilding and broken
just one phenmon
sun of my old life
my past
my horizon feuture
king the fun search glory photo
soul mate
imazing heart
fragil feeling
tragidy to lost my suger phenomen
dizzy to think about it over many stars
over shut life
to my soul mate
i love ya even the far of time
even many story to tell
colect our fig in pasket
hold our smile in gd memory
our bliding tears tell
i love ya soul mate
May 7, 2012
I have always been a fan of 'what-if' scenarios. In this novel we follow James Dean post the fatal car accident, except he survived it and continues his career. It was very interesting to see an icon as a fictional character living out a foray in to politics working closely with the Kennedys. The entertainment value enough is enough to read.
October 8, 2012
AMAZING. I judged this book by its cover when I bought it and I am so glad I did. I love James Dean. And this story is so unique, so beautifully tragic when you think about the potential that we could have seen from James. Do yourselves a favor! It's truly amazing, and I think it would make an amazing film.
September 25, 2012
An alternative history novel that looks at what might have been had James Dean survived his 1955 car crash. Insightful, descriptive, and mesmerizing...a look at how each person's life has a profound effect on others. Couldn't put it down...
February 20, 2010
An interesting alternate history, taking as its turning point James Dean's fatal car crash, and supposing that he survived. Page turning, but the very number of famous characters can be distracting
February 10, 2012
An interesting "What If?" proposing a life if James Dean had survived and continued to influence a generation. A very compelling and interesting adventure.
April 23, 2016
Excellent Alt History Sci-Fi
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews