Edith Piaf : find me a new way to die : the untold story / David Bret.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bret, David, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Piaf, Edith, 1915-1963.

Piaf, Edith.

Women singers--France--Biography.

Women singers.

Singers--France--Biography.

Singers.

France.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

ix, 229 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, portraits ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Oberon Books, 2015.

Summary:

Edith Piaf was one of 20th century France's brightest stars, an international sensation, and since her death in 1963 has become a legendary figure. Her life story is so compelling that it has become difficult to separate the truth from the hearsay, thanks to a wealth of stories, plays, films and biographies about her life, designed to lionize: that she was born on the pavement of Rue de Belleville 72 on a pile of coats; raised in a brothel; a hero of the French resistance; losing the love of her life in a plane crash, and her untimely death from liver cancer. Shrouded by these fantastical stories, the 'real' Edith Piaf is often indistinguishable from the legend. Having written two biographies of Edith Piaf over the past twenty-five years, David Bret has become intimate with many of those who knew the legendary singer. Much of the information he collated previously did not appear in his earlier Piaf volumes, as some interviewees did not wish what they said to be published until after their death. November 2015 will see Edith Piaf's centenary, and ahead of this, David has written a new biography which centres around these very important interviews - with Piaf's friends, lovers, colleagues and songwriters. For the first time, David Bret is in a position to reveal the material that was too controversial to publish whilst the interviewees were alive. This new book will mean a significant revision to the Piaf myth.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: 1. Louis Dupont

Piaf's first lover and the father of her only child

2. Fernand Lumbroso

Piaf's first manager, in 1936

3. Sylvie Galthier

The `frangine' of Marie Dubas, who knew Piaf when she was Edith Gassion

4. Michel Emer

One of her most important composers and a close friend

5. Damia

France's greatest singer, pre-Piaf

6. Manouche

The famous mannequin and gangster's moll who lived with Piaf in Madame Billy's bordello

7. Serge Reggiani

Piaf's friend and co-star in one her films, and one of the great singers of his generation

8. Charles Aznavour

Piaf's close friend and composer

9. Marlene Dietrich

10. Irene Bevan

Gracie Fields' stepdaughter, and secretary to Josephine Baker who was at the time involved with Piaf's first husband

11. Dorothy Squires

One of Bret's closest friends who was befriended by Piaf

12. Peggy Lee

The legendary American singer

13. Catherine Jan

Piaf's clairvoyant.

Note continued: 14. Charles Dumont

The famous composer of `No Regrets'

15. Barbara

France's greatest singer post-Piaf, and one of Bret's closest friends

16. Roger Normand

Piaf's friend and Bret's godfather

17. Simone Margantin

Piaf's last nurse who was with her when she died

18. Claude Sounac

One of the founders of `Les Amis de Piaf' and a friend, if not lover, of her second husband

19. Elisabeth Welch

The famous American singer who appeared with Piaf at the Olympia

20. Simone Berteaut (Momone)

The woman who claimed to be Piaf's half-sister and who wrote a million-selling book

21. Jacqueline Danno

Piaf and Theo Sarapo's friend, and Bret's godmother

22. Madame Leclerc

The self appointed guardian of Piaf's grave.

Notes:

Includes discography and index.

ISBN:

9781783199297

1783199296

OCLC:

933300230