Inventing Elsa Maxwell

How an Irrepressible Nobody Conquered High Society, Hollywood, the Press, and the World

Biography & Memoir, Literary
Cover of the book Inventing Elsa Maxwell by Sam Staggs, St. Martin's Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Sam Staggs ISBN: 9781250017758
Publisher: St. Martin's Press Publication: October 16, 2012
Imprint: St. Martin's Press Language: English
Author: Sam Staggs
ISBN: 9781250017758
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication: October 16, 2012
Imprint: St. Martin's Press
Language: English

Inventing Elsa Maxwell, the first biography of this extraordinary woman, tells the witty story of a life lived out loud.

With Inventing Elsa Maxwell, Sam Staggs has crafted a landmark biography. Elsa Maxwell (1881-1963) invented herself–not once, but repeatedly. Built like a bulldog, she ascended from the San Francisco middle class to the heights of society in New York, London, Paris, Venice, and Monte Carlo. Shunning boredom and predictability, Elsa established herself as party-giver extraordinaire in Europe with come-as-you-are parties, treasure hunts (e.g., retrieve a slipper from the foot of a singer at the Casino de Paris), and murder parties that drew the ire of the British parliament. She set New York a-twitter with her soirees at the Waldorf, her costume parties, and her headline-grabbing guest lists of the rich and royal, movie stars, society high and low, and those on the make all mixed together in let-'er-rip gaiety. All the while, Elsa dashed off newspaper columns, made films in Hollywood, wrote bestselling books, and turned up on TV talk shows. She hobnobbed with friends like Noel Coward and Cole Porter. Late in life, she fell in love with Maria Callas, who spurned her and broke Elsa's heart. Her feud with the Duchess of Windsor made headlines for three years in the 1950s.

One of the twentieth century's most colorful characters is brought back to life in this biography by the author of All About All About Eve.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Inventing Elsa Maxwell, the first biography of this extraordinary woman, tells the witty story of a life lived out loud.

With Inventing Elsa Maxwell, Sam Staggs has crafted a landmark biography. Elsa Maxwell (1881-1963) invented herself–not once, but repeatedly. Built like a bulldog, she ascended from the San Francisco middle class to the heights of society in New York, London, Paris, Venice, and Monte Carlo. Shunning boredom and predictability, Elsa established herself as party-giver extraordinaire in Europe with come-as-you-are parties, treasure hunts (e.g., retrieve a slipper from the foot of a singer at the Casino de Paris), and murder parties that drew the ire of the British parliament. She set New York a-twitter with her soirees at the Waldorf, her costume parties, and her headline-grabbing guest lists of the rich and royal, movie stars, society high and low, and those on the make all mixed together in let-'er-rip gaiety. All the while, Elsa dashed off newspaper columns, made films in Hollywood, wrote bestselling books, and turned up on TV talk shows. She hobnobbed with friends like Noel Coward and Cole Porter. Late in life, she fell in love with Maria Callas, who spurned her and broke Elsa's heart. Her feud with the Duchess of Windsor made headlines for three years in the 1950s.

One of the twentieth century's most colorful characters is brought back to life in this biography by the author of All About All About Eve.

More books from St. Martin's Press

Cover of the book Let Me Whisper in Your Ear by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book Only the Lucky by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book In Praise of Hatred by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book Abducted by a Prince by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book Death of a Hired Man by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book Servants' Hall by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book The Eagle's Prey by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book Lawless In Leather by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book Tigers of the Snow by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book Amnesia by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book The Kennedy Curse by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book Beatrice and Benedick by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book Friday Night Chicas by Sam Staggs
Cover of the book Travels in the Greater Yellowstone by Sam Staggs
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy