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Linda, my own story
Jacket in Brodart. Portrait on cover is by Diego Rivera. Sunning to spine, some stains. A number of chips to tail of spine. Open tear on rear, about 1 inch. Edgewear. Purple cloth with silver embossed title on spine. Silver device on cover. Pulling to head and tail of spine. Sunning to top edge of boards. White spots on spine edge. Frontispiece photo portrait. 20 pages of black and white photos. Previous owners name in ink on ffep. 280p.
- GenresMemoirNonfiction
280 pages, Hardcover
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 2, 2017
A very “of-the-time” memoir, similar to in its novelistic qualities without as much salaciousness as “I’ll Cry Tomorrow” or “My Face For the World to See”, Linda Christian’s “Linda: My Own Story” is a solid B+ of a midcentury celebrity autobiography. From her early, peripatetic family life to her discovery in Mexico by Errol Flynn to her marriage to Tyrone Power to her flirtation with Aly Khan and finally to her (brief) marriage to actor Edward Purdom, Christian lived lot of life in these 256 paperback pages, published before her fortieth birthday.
My only criticism is the lack of depth or detail in her description of her most famous love affair— Tyrone Power is supposed to be a man she loved for “his character, his intelligence and capability...his sensitivity and understanding”. Yet, the morose and distant figure portrayed here only has a few moments of love and levity— Errol Flynn, even in his briefer, boozy appearance at the beginning of the book, fared better at Christian’s pen than the father of her two children. Christian and Power are in capital letters LOVE suddenly after a chance meeting at a hotel in Italy, married in a small Italian church in great detail (the church itself, the dress, the flowers, the arrangements for the reception, the circus like foreign press attention are all lavishly described), grieved by two late term miscarriages, blessed with a healthy baby girl they name Romina, settle into life in California, start a production company to sever the shackles of Power’s studio contract, and then...things just kind of go sideways. There’s an “icy eyed big blonde” on the set of “Mississippi Gambler” and an ever more disinterested Power who goes on tour with a stage production and becomes less and less involved with even feigning interest in his marriage. If the reader was made to feel more attached to this relationship or understand why they’d been so drawn to each other in the first place, the chapters on Power’s distancing of himself from his wife (who, surprise, is now also pregnant with their second child) would have been more affecting. Though I felt sorry for Linda Christian, I more felt confused as to why she hung on being treated poorly and why Power seemed to drop her in this section of the book as quickly as he felt certain she was his one true love in the earlier one. Ah well. Maybe that’s just how it went in real life— I only wish there was more effort put into describing WHY as HOW they got along, if that makes sense.
Still, a compelling read and Christian comes across as both sympathetic and likable throughout her at-times-turbulent though always glamorous life. I’m interested to go back and see some of her film appearances now that I’m more familiar with her as a person rather than a name simply associated with Flynn and Power.
My only criticism is the lack of depth or detail in her description of her most famous love affair— Tyrone Power is supposed to be a man she loved for “his character, his intelligence and capability...his sensitivity and understanding”. Yet, the morose and distant figure portrayed here only has a few moments of love and levity— Errol Flynn, even in his briefer, boozy appearance at the beginning of the book, fared better at Christian’s pen than the father of her two children. Christian and Power are in capital letters LOVE suddenly after a chance meeting at a hotel in Italy, married in a small Italian church in great detail (the church itself, the dress, the flowers, the arrangements for the reception, the circus like foreign press attention are all lavishly described), grieved by two late term miscarriages, blessed with a healthy baby girl they name Romina, settle into life in California, start a production company to sever the shackles of Power’s studio contract, and then...things just kind of go sideways. There’s an “icy eyed big blonde” on the set of “Mississippi Gambler” and an ever more disinterested Power who goes on tour with a stage production and becomes less and less involved with even feigning interest in his marriage. If the reader was made to feel more attached to this relationship or understand why they’d been so drawn to each other in the first place, the chapters on Power’s distancing of himself from his wife (who, surprise, is now also pregnant with their second child) would have been more affecting. Though I felt sorry for Linda Christian, I more felt confused as to why she hung on being treated poorly and why Power seemed to drop her in this section of the book as quickly as he felt certain she was his one true love in the earlier one. Ah well. Maybe that’s just how it went in real life— I only wish there was more effort put into describing WHY as HOW they got along, if that makes sense.
Still, a compelling read and Christian comes across as both sympathetic and likable throughout her at-times-turbulent though always glamorous life. I’m interested to go back and see some of her film appearances now that I’m more familiar with her as a person rather than a name simply associated with Flynn and Power.
July 1, 2017
If you thought being a celebrated, international jet-set beauty was easy, then you'd be mistaken. The hassles never end! Just as the pain of your divorce from a movie star is starting to fade, some playboy begins plying you with fabulous jewels. Sheesh!
January 30, 2025
I confess it feels odd, writing a review on an autobiography of a person few people remember today. Linda Christian was a firecracker celebrity of the 50s though, and among firecrackers; a very unique one. She was extremely intelligent, spoke multiple languages and was a favorite portrait inspiration for many well revered artists, among them Diego Rivera, who painted her at least twice, if not more. She was likeable, witty, straightforward and assertive.
Was she a great actress? There are glimpses of potential in every appearance onscreen. You simply can’t take your eyes off her, no matter the film. Supposedly her greatest role was in “Thunderstorm,” (1957) but I have not been able to get a copy of this independently financed UK film, lensed in Spain. Shortly after it was released, acclaimed filmmaker Mike Todd vowed to make her the “biggest star of the century,” but by this time, Linda had a sour taste for the industry, and when you read her account of her attempts in Hollywood, you can understand why.
Earlier, in 1946, she had been on the cusp of superstardom…but she fell madly in love with the tragic and tortured Tyrone Power, and gladly gave up her opportunities to provide him a home and family. It goes without saying that this was largely unsuccessful. She was pregnant the entire time and suffered two miscarriages, though they still were fortunate to have two daughters. There was simply no satisfying Tyrone, who was in love with the idea of loving a woman, but couldn’t commit emotionally. It is now widely accepted that his struggle stemmed from his inability to accept his own bisexuality.
At the end of this troubled marriage, I think something in Linda cracked; broke. For the rest of her life she became more known as a celebrity rather than an actress. She was no longer invested in the passion of acting. She was the darling of the jet set from that point on. She still maintained a joy of life, but she learned to protect her heart. She lived in a vibrant buoyant style, but even in her most passionate affairs, she held something back.
The book was simply a fascinating look into a different era, written by one of the most beautiful.
Was she a great actress? There are glimpses of potential in every appearance onscreen. You simply can’t take your eyes off her, no matter the film. Supposedly her greatest role was in “Thunderstorm,” (1957) but I have not been able to get a copy of this independently financed UK film, lensed in Spain. Shortly after it was released, acclaimed filmmaker Mike Todd vowed to make her the “biggest star of the century,” but by this time, Linda had a sour taste for the industry, and when you read her account of her attempts in Hollywood, you can understand why.
Earlier, in 1946, she had been on the cusp of superstardom…but she fell madly in love with the tragic and tortured Tyrone Power, and gladly gave up her opportunities to provide him a home and family. It goes without saying that this was largely unsuccessful. She was pregnant the entire time and suffered two miscarriages, though they still were fortunate to have two daughters. There was simply no satisfying Tyrone, who was in love with the idea of loving a woman, but couldn’t commit emotionally. It is now widely accepted that his struggle stemmed from his inability to accept his own bisexuality.
At the end of this troubled marriage, I think something in Linda cracked; broke. For the rest of her life she became more known as a celebrity rather than an actress. She was no longer invested in the passion of acting. She was the darling of the jet set from that point on. She still maintained a joy of life, but she learned to protect her heart. She lived in a vibrant buoyant style, but even in her most passionate affairs, she held something back.
The book was simply a fascinating look into a different era, written by one of the most beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews