Josephine Baker: The Hungry Heart

The Hungry Heart is potentially a very interesting telling of the fascinating life of Josephine Baker but I am finding it hard going. Don't feel it is very well written.

The book was for my sister - and she has enjoyed it very much and still refers to the story from time to time.

Great book described accurately - cant put it down!

The author of this vastly entertaining but mocking book claims to be Josephine Baker's 'adopted son'. He isn't. He only got to know La Baker when he was in his 20s and Josephine called everyone 'my child'. After Josephine died he changed his name to Baker, and now owns a restaurant in New York called 'Chez Josephine'. He has made a lot of money from her name. The Hungry Heart is a negative account of Josephine's life. Jean Claude seems to have trawled the world for unpleasant accounts of Josephine and her wild sex-life, her rages and unreasonable behaviour. The wonderful, heroic work she did for the civil rights movement and universal brotherhood are mocked. Her incredible generosity is undermined. As Jean Claude only got to know her in her dotage, he harps on about her pitiful physical appearance and calls her a 'madwoman'. He fell out with Josephine after she accused him of prattling to the press so he never witnessed her last concerts in Paris. She refused to speak to him and called him a traitor. I wonder what she would say if she could read this malicious account of her life. I'm giving this book three stars because it's is hugely readable and mouthwateringly shocking, but I feel that this is a revengeful attempt to smear Josephine's name. But Josephine will have the last laugh because she's loved my millions who admire the work she's done not just as an entertainer but as a human being who fought so bravely against injustice.