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Larry Swindell
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Charles Boyer: The Reluctant Lover Hardcover – January 1, 1983

by Larry Swindell (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
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The reminiscences of friends and colleagues play a definitive role in an account of the personal life and film career of actor Charles Boyer, who committed suicide in 1977, following the tragic death of his wife
Previous page
  1. Print length
    280 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Doubleday
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1983
  5. ISBN-10
    0385170521
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0385170529
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Doubleday; 1st edition (January 1, 1983)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385170521
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385170529
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

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Larry Swindell

Larry Swindell

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
23 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

nano s.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Man Worth Knowing
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2016
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Wonderful book, so interesting I keep returning to it. So nice to read about a man Irene Dunne, and so many others , described as a perfect gentleman. There are too few of those around now. The book describes his theatre and movie successes. Unknown to many Americans he had a sensational career in France before he ever come to the USA and was the toast of Paris after his first stage appearance when aged about 20..
He fell victim to "love at first sight" and he and his wife remained happily married for 45 years until her death.
His involvement with WW2 and Charles de Gaulle, whom he greatly admired ,makes very interesting reading.
Charles Boyer and his wife Pat seemed to have a wonderful life.They loved to travel and had homes and friends in many countries but then when Charles was 66 they had to endure the most appalling tragedy imaginable. I wont write about that here, you'll just have to read this colorful book!!!!
4 people found this helpful
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Jennifer Lynne
4.0 out of 5 stars I liked the book but it seemed to be missing something
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2018
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I liked the book but it seemed to be missing something. No sources were referenced and (as one reviewer already posted) there were some inaccuracies. I wanted to read more about Boyer, though, and this is the ONLY biography on him that I could find. Why is that? I wish there was more in the book about his personality, his interactions with others outside of work and his home life - you know, more about HIM instead of a timeline of his movie career, which compromised a good portion of the book. There was some about his private life but not much. His mother is mentioned less than a handful of times; his father maybe a couple paragraphs. His marriage is mentioned mainly in context to how it affected his work life. Only a handful or so pages on his home life and the personal information on Boyer was very general and somewhat contradictory. Not that I wanted sordid or deeply personal info, but as a historian I like to get to know the person that I am reading about, and I don't feel that I got that with this book, and I was disheartened that there were no references cited so I could look up the info myself and dig a little deeper. I knew a little about Boyer before reading this book (but not much) and I don't feel like I learned much of anything new. I'm glad I read it, though. It showed up on time and in the condition that I expected and now it has been added to my bookshelf with all of my other Old Hollywood biographies/autobiographies.
3 people found this helpful
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R. Ginocchio
5.0 out of 5 stars Great biography of a great actor
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2013
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Boyer's life story is not a "rags to riches" tale, but clearly falls into the "small town kid makes it big" category. Besides following his early life and career back and forth from France to Hollywood, you learn his remarkable reputation as a gentleman. Against his reputation as the great lover, you learn of his one love and long marriage to an obscure English actress. I was so engaged in his life story by the end of the book it was very upsetting to learn of his end of life heartache and ultimately his death as a result. A great book about a great actor and man despite whatever small mistakes may exist in timelines or accuracy.
6 people found this helpful
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MORI
5.0 out of 5 stars The Book I Want Read Every Day
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2011
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I finally had the chance to see "Love Affair" which is said to be personal favorite of both Charles and Irene. It sure is! An amazing picture. It is very rare to meet such a wonderful picture as this. I've been deeply impressed. Since I have been a great fan of Cary Grant, I had seen "An Affair to Remember" many many times since my childhood. But now I saw the real one! I was watching the copy! So I want to know about the man and episodes behind the films. It is fun to read the book, using my English-Japanese dictionary. Charles Boyer is a nice man. He did his best! God Bless Him!
8 people found this helpful
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Ann McArthur
5.0 out of 5 stars You will get to KNOW Mr. Boyer through this book...
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2013
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I became a true fan of Mr. Boyer about 18 months ago and was thrilled when I found this book on his life. As an American who cannot read french at all, I thought there was took many french words, titles and phrases but I believe this book was written for the people of the world, not just English-speaking people. You get a complete idea of who he was--through the good AND bad, even sad. I recommend this book if you want to know details about the man's life as well as his movies. Great Read!
8 people found this helpful
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Sunshine
4.0 out of 5 stars Charles Boyer was the ultimate lover in real life too
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2014
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He was an incredible actor, much brighter and well-versed than we might have known save for this excellent biography.
His love for his wife was so loyal and faithful that he kept the cancer that would kill her from her, and saw her through her
darkest of days. A day later, he took his own life.
2 people found this helpful
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Melanie Moir
5.0 out of 5 stars Content customer
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2019
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Just as described, got it for my husband, he was very pleased.
One person found this helpful
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Pattie B
2.0 out of 5 stars Slow reading
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2013
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Great actor.. very sad to see how unhappy he was once his wife died!! The book was very slow moving!
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Top reviews from other countries

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Karen Bosch
5.0 out of 5 stars Boyer: el hombre y el actor
Reviewed in Spain on January 10, 2023
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Esta biografía en inglés, revela no sólo al magnífico actor de voz hipnótica, sino también al hombre de familia que amó a su esposa norteamericana con devoción hasta el fin de sus vidas.
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Wingate
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining biography
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2016
Charles Hoyer was the second Frenchman to find stardom in Hollywood.He had rather more lasting power than the first,Maurice Chevalier.The author tells the story of his life in a fairly entertaining manner.Since there is no bibliography we do not know his sources.My only complaint with the book is that it rather grounds off his life too quickly,committing reference to the last few films.Voter made.
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