Frank & Ava: In Love and War

by John Brady

The love story of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner has been told piecemeal, from one side or the other, but has never been fully explored or explained--until now.

The story begins in Hollywood's golden age when Ava, ever insecure, was emerging as a movie star. But she fell in (and out of) love too easily. Mickey Rooney married her as a conquest. Artie Shaw treated her like a dumb brunette. Neither marriage lasted a year. Then, after being courted by Howard Hughes and others, along came Sinatra, who was battling his own insecurities--MGM fired him, his record company dropped him, and no one seemed to want him, except Ava.

Their encounter led to an affair that broke all the rules of the prudish era. Frank was married with children. Their reputations could be ruined if this got out--and it did, as Frank left his family and pursued Ava across Europe while she taunted him. They married, but then came quarrels, separations, and reconciliations. Finally, there was a divorce, but even afterwards their long, hot, messy, glorious, painful romance stretched right to the finish line.

Thoroughly researched and reported, Frank & Ava is not another storybook version of a Hollywood romance but a compelling drama of love and emotional war that left two iconic celebrities wounded for life.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Film, Pop Culture, Music, Historical

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 2015

About the author

John Brady was raised in Liberty, New York, and educated at King's College (BA) and Bradley University (MA) before pursuing a career in teaching, writing, and editing. He taught magazine writing at Indiana State University for eight years, and his articles have appeared in The New York Times, New York magazine, and numerous other periodicals. The author of five books including The Craft of Interviewing, The Craft of the Screenwriter, and Frank & Ava: In Love and War, Brady served as editor-in-chief of Writer's Digest and Boston magazine, as well as founding editor of The Artist's Magazine. His work has also appeared in New York magazine, Esquire, and The Sunday New York Times.

Reviews

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tabloids feed us a daily diet of the fortunes and misfortunes of our entertainment idols, but the plethora of scandals we absorb pale in comparison to the firestorm that Frank Sinatra “The Voice of the 40s” created when he divorced his nice Italian wife Nancy to marry screen siren Ava Gardner. As revealed in Ava and Frank In Love and War, Louis B. Mayer micromanaged the lives of the MGM screen goddesses and heart throbs like Ava Gardner and Clark Gable. 2015 fans who take a trip down memory lane while reading this book might be dismayed to learn that all that glittered was not gold for the actors who played their roles in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Ava and Frank’s marriage did not last long, but their love for each other consumed them throughout their adult lives. This book is both informative and hauntingly sad. Most importantly, it revisits two people, now deceased, who captured the minds of millions of fans nearly eighty years ago. It is a good read for fans of movie history.

[Ines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ho finito questo libro con un groppo alla gola, saranno stati degli idoli mondiali, ma che vit privata travagliata, triste e destrutturata devono aver avuto.
E pensare che Ava è morta sola, senza nessuno vicino mette una tristezza infinita....

[Brooklyn Tayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say I was leaning towards a 3 star review but ended up giving this four just because those last few chapters were so sad. I was tearing up by the end of the book, it just confirmed what I knew though; Frank and Ava were each other's one love.

[Anne Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was visiting a friend in Newburyport, MA, and I looked at the house next door and remarked that it was a beautiful, historic home. My friend said, "A nonfiction writer lives there," and he referenced this book. My initial thought was: 'What more can be written about Frank and Ava that the world does not already know?' Well, somehow John Brady managed to relay new information about Frank and Ava's tempestuous, lifelong love affair that I had never heard about.
The book's greatest strength involves the insight into the fragile egos of both of these troubled, larger-than-life Hollywood icons. Just reading about their lives, separate and together, left me exhausted: the heavy drinking, the chain smoking, the drama! As a result, in an era devoid of Botox, personal exercise and nutrition coaches, and cosmetic surgery, poor Ava did not age well.
I especially appreciated the closing chapters regarding Frank's final years, and what appeared to be a marriage to Nancy Sinatra based more on transactional gain than genuine romance.
The author's neighbor told me that Brady is currently writing about Marilyn Monroe. As a Monroe fan since adolescence, I am looking forward to seeing if he can dig up some new stories about her in his next book.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically this is a Hollywood tell all with a central theme of Frank's big love was Ava, Ava's big love was Frank. They couldn't live together but just couldn't stay apart. Ho-hum----the story didn't strike me as a life long passion but rather an obsessive relationship driven primarily by lust and booze. Not my definition of love and not terribly different from the relationships that they managed to have with others both together and apart. A very lengthy gossip column that revealed much more than I wanted to know about the sharing of wives, girlfriends and one night stands among far too many of the well-known men in Hollywood at the time. None of these people, in my opinion, loved anyone but themselves--both the men and the women.

As to the two principals of the story: Ava was pretty--some said beautiful-- an okay actress, apparently quite good in bed and very fond of it, and a drunken souse. Arrived in Hollywood a teen virgin who neither drank nor smoked, according to the author. Within two and a half years she was married and divorced twice, drank and smoked plenty and still hadn't landed a significant role in any movie. Frank was just what every newspaper article ever described. Here those stories were repeated and slightly elaborated upon--basically he was arrogant and slept around and hung out with mobsters.

I received this book from Bookbrowse in the First Impressions program to read and review. Glad I didn't spend any money on this padded supposed story of two people who couldn't live with or without each other.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a flattering portrait of either Frank or Eva. Both come off as self-centered, arrogant, temperamental and alcoholic. There are equally negative views of Artie Shaw, Lana Turner, Louis B. Mayer, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, George C. Scott and the Grace Kelly-Prince Rainier marriage.

Brady shows how crude Frank could be, mostly about women, but also about the rock and roll, or others in the music industry. He is also shown as suicidal with two fakes and one perhaps real attempt. Mob connections are hinted at. It is Ava’s beauty that made her a star and attracted men. She seems to have the emotional maturity of a teenager and attracted similarly emotionally stunted men.

Fortunately for the two, other books are more balanced than this rendering (or maybe they were this egotistical, inane and violent) and this book is easy to critique on its sources and how it holds together.

There are no footnotes. The sources for the chapters are minimal and given in narrative fashion. On p.77, “… Moretti is ‘reputedly’ the guy who jammed a gun down Tommy Dorsey’s throat”, has no source. Similarly, Chapter 8’s sources dwell on Ava’s recipes and some Hemingway related items leaving the intriguing Bogart – Bacall – Thompson material undocumented.

While this is a very readable book there is not much depth. The emphasis on sensational aspects of their relationship and the minimal documentation gives the feel that this isn't wholly accurate or complete.

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank & Ava: In Love and War by John Brady was the first audiobook I chose with my new Scribd subscription (you can listen to one audiobook a month next to reading three books).

I am not a big audiobook person and would never buy them but as I’m totally inhaling everything Ava Gardner right now and this was available I didn’t have to think too long.

The narration was done by Allan Grupper and he did a great job, even down to the accents of various people. I was pleasantly captivated.

The book itself tell us about the lives, loves and careers of both Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra all the way up to the start of their turbulent affair, their marriage in 1951, their separation two years later and the divorce in 1957. Both bigger than life itself, they were not capable to have their happily ever after together. But through the years they would always stay connected.

5 stars

[talia ♡]

my favourite bitches <3

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank and Ava, In Love and War, by John Brady is a story about two people whose love was deep, passionate, obsessive and destructive. It very nearly consumed them both in its fire. Despite divorce, it never really ended, except perhaps with their deaths, although the echoes of it live on in Frank Sinatra's songs , whose lyrics are infused with sadness and marked with scars of lost love.
They were two tremendously talented performers who, ultimately, could neither live together, nor apart. Together, they sparked fire like flint and steel; apart, they longed for each other.
The book tells a tumultuous, painful story. Gossipy and lurid? Yes, but how else to relate a story that spread across the pages of the world's tabloids? Mr. Brady tells the story with feeling and sensitivity. This reader, felt the pain and love Sinatra and Ava had for each other.
The book and their relationship was neatly summed up in the final pages:

"In the end they arrived at a deep friendship, the relationship that most couples value above all others. They came away always speaking of each other with great respect and affection... [like] two people who had been in an accident together and survived."

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a fascinating look at 2 stars I heard about but didn't know much about. I also got to read about other stars like Bogart and Bacall. It was like getting to have a behind the scenes look at old Hollywood. It was sad that Frank loved Ava so much but they couldn't make it work. I think it was sort of a one sided love. I never got the impression that Ava loved him as much as he loved her.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love biographies of "Old Hollywood" stars. There have been numerous biographies of both Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner but John Brady focus on the tumultuous emotional and physical relationship between Frank and Ava.

Ava born in a shack in the South with five older sisters. She really had no education but was blessed with mesmerizing beauty. Frank grew up as a blue collar boy from Hoboken who had great pipes.

Ava and Frank were Hollywood royalty and seemed to touch every other star at some point in their careers/relationships. So many great side stories were woven into this story and every one was interesting. But it also read like a roster of the affairs of two people who could not and would not control themselves.

Ava and Frank's marriage did not last long, but their love for each other consumed them throughout their adult lives. This is a detailed story of a deeply dysfunctional relationship that played out to its dying day in front of the whole world.

If you are not interested in the golden age of Hollywood movies and glamorous stars, this book is not for you. However, if you enjoy the old movie classics and bigger than life movie stars, you will thoroughly enjoy how the author captures the era and personalities of the 1940s and 1950s in Hollywood.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone looking for more comprehensive details about Frank and Ava, but I was interested in their relationship so it hit the mark for me. This book is both informative and hauntingly sad. One thing seems the same in comparing the bygone movie strs to the modern ones......they all seem to be damaged individuals who fail to appreciate the opportunities right in front of them.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from BookBrowse First Impressions.

Frank and Ava recounts the story of the "relationship" of two celebrities who come off as shallow, self-absorbed, impulsive hedonists demanding loyalty from others but unwilling to offer the same. While there are plenty of interesting books written about such people, this is not one of them. Brady's "compelling drama of live and emotional war" might better be displayed as a spreadsheet of sexual conquests than presented as a 246 page book. It is basically a listing of the affairs of two people who could not or would not control themselves. There is some interesting detail on the Hollywood studio system in the 50s and 60s. While Brady has compiled a lot of material on his two principle characters, the "story" has the depth level of People Magazine/Photoplay.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might have given this a bit higher of a number, but when I got to the George C. Scott section in particular the victim blaming was so strong. Literally refers to Ava as a "willing victim" (page 182) and seems willfully ignorant on the topic of abusive relationships. It even blames the fact that she grew up in the poor south and suggest maybe that's what "she expected."

Prior to this, it wasn't going to be the best book I've read on the topic, but that really pushed it over for me.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This begins as a guilty pleasure but ends as a look at the effects of fame and age. Ava Gardner was a force of nature, Sinatra was Sinatra, and the two of them were made for each other in the best and worse senses of the phrase. Don't give this as a gift to your maiden aunt: it's far more raunchy than the cover and St. Martin's Press would have you believe. Recommended.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank and Ava; In Love and War was a great read! It's a factual book, and I enjoyed reading about two people from Hollywood's Golden Age. The book was well written and throughly researched. Thanks to Goodreads, I won this book.

[casey wiederhold · Rating 4 out of 5]

genuinely such a good read i love learning the history of relationships. he was so head over heels for her it was INSANE. they were the definition of “on again, off again” and “she has him wrapped around her finger”

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Frank and Ava are a great example of soul mates who should not end up together. Sometimes the couple's issues are too similar to be able to make it work, yet their charge is so strong that it can only end in violence or lonely devastation. I think it's interesting that Frank had been so interested in playing Norman Maine to Judy Garland's Vicki Lester (he screened the 1937 "A Star is Born" yearly at home), because he found himself in that kind of dissolute decline at least twice in his life, though he managed to bounce back. I'd say that when Ava found him he was in such a period, while her star was ascending in the late 40s. Then after they split, he found himself a wreck again, but this time became a phoenix rising from the ashes with his dramatic film career and his excellent recording contacts which enabled him to pioneer concept albums like "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" which was centered around his melancholy mood about losing Ava. In this respect, Frank took on the Vicki Lester role, continuing to ascend while Ava became a self-destructive, alcoholic mess in Spain.

I read Lee Server's biography of Ava years ago, and it is heavily quoted here, but I was happy to get an expanded perspective on Frank and sometimes get perspectives from other stars' biographies. The author puts together a good story. He draws parallels between other scandalous couples like Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini, and discusses Bogart and Bacall's relationship. I didn't know the degree to which Frank idolized Bogie, and although I had heard that Betty and Frank had a heavy affair after Bogie's death, the author describes how it was already going on while Bogie was in steep decline.

Ava and Frank started their careers in Hollywood as scared kids who needed someone to give them certainty. Frank got it through a plethora of yes men, but ultimately all Ava got was bullfighters and gypsies, and she became insecure and derisive of her acting abilities, even though she could be a very powerful actress. Frank could be a great friend to someone in dire need, and he would often send support to Ava from afar. She felt that in many ways they were never truly separated, though she eventually had to give up the fantasy of a reunion. At his Palm Springs home he kept her statue of Ava from "The Barefoot Contessa" until he married his final wife Barbara, who had it removed and many believe destroyed, as it hasn't been seen since. At his funeral they played songs from "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning", which do have a funereal air, but everyone knows that is his album about losing Ava. There is also a very touching story about Frank having to sing at the inaugural event of the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany right after Ava died, and rather than find a replacement, he went on and sang a very soulful version of "One For My Baby (And One More For the Road)" that had the audience at the edges of their seats because they knew he was singing it to and about Ava. Ava herself had always lived in a storm and had always told people that she would die in a storm, and she did, in her London home during the Burns' Day Storm, one of the most violent European windstorms on record. Frank and Ava did life and death at their fullest capacity.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading biographies about celebrities, and this being the 100th anniversary of Frank Sinatra's birth, I thought this would be a good choice. It was. What a story, I am always amazed by these people. This story really told of all the Hollywood excess. The stories of continual sexual infidelity are amazing. it is so easy to picture these people as they appeared as performers. Reading about them, you realize maybe they really weren't very nice people, or that, at least, you would not have considered them friends, or even liked them as people. Frank and Ava had everything, and yet still couldn't keep their lives in order, or survive each other. Our focus on life has changed considerably since the golden age of Hollywood, too. Reading about this sumptuous life style, we now understand the consequences. Ava Gardner was only 67 when she died, but the decades of alcohol and excessive living took it toll. Its sad to think that someone could throw away everything. Both of them always looked and sounded so happy, as all true actors do, yet behind the scenes their lives were miserable. With all their status and wealth, they were never able to rise above the degradation and misery.

[Dawn Cronk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting in that I got to learn some of the backstory of Hollywood in the 50's & 60's. That said, Frank & Ava's story is so sad. They got together, causing quite a scandal. The divorces, affairs, parties, self-indulgence, and living in excess was fun to read. I'm not sure this book gave us much more about the couple than other books, but it was an interesting era in Hollywood history, and I did enjoy that.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of "Frank & Ava: In Love and War" in a Goodreads giveaway. This book is proof that love doesn't always conquer all, or does it? Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner had a very public affair, marriage and divorce. What wasn't so public was the relationship that continued throughout the remainder of their lives. This book is an excellent history of two high profile people. Everyone thought they knew about Frank & Ava, but John Brady discovered the real story.

[Ruthann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew how this story would end before I opened up the book, but I'm addicted to love stories between certain Hollywood couples. This book held my interest all the way through even though I really didn't learn anything new. Just give me a bio about Frank/Ava, Richard/Elizabeth and Desi/Luci and I will read the love/hate story over and over. I guess I'm a sucker for these stories. I'm just glad I don't live it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading another book about Ava Gardner, I was so fascinated by the Gardner Sinatra story that I had to read this one. I must say it was a great read and very interesting. Much like Ava herself there were contradictions between all the stories that made it even more interesting. The pace was zippy yet contained a lot of details. Would recommend this.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good for some biography details. But otherwise, I'm not sure of the point of this account. I'm certainly not sold on Frank and Ava's love story. They sounded like a couple of addicts for the other; not a healthy love at all.

[Akeating2003 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very good. I learned a few interesting things but it was waaaaaaaaaay too long and just kept repeating the same information. Easy to tell the dislike for Frank's wife Barbara. I ended up skimming through a lot of it. Would not recommend

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Some old stories along with some never heard before, culled from various sources to form a joint biography of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner. Goes into more depth on the relationship than other Sinatra biographies.

[Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leapin' lizards! Buckle up cuz this is a crazy ride. These are my favorite kind of books. Total hot mess of a relationship but I just couldn't put it down. Wonderfully written with hilarious stories of old Hollywood. Was recommended by a friend and I found it at a thrift store. Total kismet!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like opposing magnetic fields, they just couldn't stay together. Their love was too strong for this earth. A beautiful love story of mutual respect until the end and beyond.

[Gina Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read. Excellent read for lazy summer days or a long plane ride. Like reading a long "Vanity Fair" article which happens to be my favorite magazine.

[Viki Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good but I would have liked more about Frank and Ava. Frank was and always will be "The Voice" and people introducing the next "upcoming star" as the New Frank Sinatra are sadly disillusioned people. I am 62 and so was too young to have been around in his heyday but heard his songs and albums and have seen old footage on TV which brings me to the conclusion that the man was UNIQUE. Ava was a one off as well-not the best or most famous actress but as described by somebody in the book a "Cheetah" - far better than being a Cougar as Cheetahs are sleek, beautiful and the fastest cat in the world that possess quiet dignity -although obviously alcohol put paid to the quiet dignity part.

I believe that they were the love of each others' lives but sadly they did not stick together and probably they would have killed each other if they had. So nice to know that they remained friends and that Frank helped Ava when she had become a recluse in London- I remember reading about how he paid her bills in the Sunday Express years ago-some things stick with you.

My guess is -if you do end up with your Soulmate-Frank and Ava are riding a cloud together up there somewhere. God Bless them both.

[Jessica Haughton · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing that struck me about half way through was that the book felt heavily Sinatra focused. I understand we need career context and that Ava and Frank spent a lot of their relationship apart, but it sometimes felt as if Brady forgot he was writing a book on the both of them. I don't think Brady did as much research into Ava as he did on Frank. I also got the sense that Brady felt quite a bit of disdain towards Ava in the way he wrote about her... giving me the impression that he felt she was beautiful in her youth, of-course, but ultimately just a drunk, and he sometimes alluded to her free-spirited escapades in a judgemental tone. There was also no build up for the passing of Ava, and that moment felt very rushed to me. As well as Frank's response to her death - I just needed a little bit more you know?

All in all, I really did love reading this book. It was given to me as a present from a sweet friend who knows how in love I am with Ava. It’s a good one for some delicious snippets and insights - I’ve even saved a few over in my little lockdown blog here: https://www.jessicaleighhaughton.com/...

I did so adore the heated exchanges & sweet moments between the two. There were tons of gems that were worth underlining and saving to me, but the ending was just not as heartfelt as I wanted it to be…