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Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life (Unabridged)
 
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Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life (Unabridged) [Audio Download]

by Justine Picardie (Author), Cassandra Harwood (Narrator)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Audio Download
  • Listening Length: 9 hours and 21 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Unabridged
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
  • Audible Release Date: 30 Sep 2010
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B0045F8G4I
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Justine Picardie has spent the last decade puzzling over the truth about Coco Chanel, attempting to peel away the accretions of romance and lies. In this full-scale biography we finally discover the history of the incredible woman who created the way we look now.

Coco Chanel was an extraordinary inventor - she conjured up the little black dress, bobbed hair, trousers for women, contemporary chic, best-selling perfumes, and the most successful fashion brand of all time - but she also invented herself, fashioning the myth of her own life with the same dexterity as her couture.

While Chanel was supreme innovator and vendor of all things elegant and beautiful, what lies beneath her own glossy myth is far darker. Throwing new light on her passionate and turbulent relationships, this beautifully constructed portrait gives a fresh and penetrating look at how Coco Chanel made herself into her own most powerful creation.

Justine Picardie brings the mysterious Gabrielle Chanel out of hiding, to celebrate her great achievements. She examines Chanel's enduring afterlife, as well as her remarkable life, uncovering the consequences of what she covered up, unpicking the seams between truth and legend, yet keeping intact the real fabric of her past.

©2010 Justine Picardie; (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Classy and fabulous 1 Oct 2010
Format:Hardcover
Yes, some aspects of Chanel's life were confusing: she herself gave so many different accounts to friends and biographers, particularly about her difficult childhood. But Justine Picardie deftly unpicks the lies, weighs up the evidence and provides what must be the definitive account of the great Mademoiselle's remarkable life and career.

And in a life that stretched from 1883 to 1971 Chanel met, dressed and romanced a glittering cast of characters: French artists, poets and playboys; Russian royals and musicians; British aristocrats and politicians; German soldiers and intelligence officers; Hollywood producers and film stars. Far from labouring Chanel's association with all of these characters, Picardie steers a delicate and compelling path through the maze of Chanel's social and professional life. And in so doing, she highlights a wealth of intriguing discoveries: the truth about Chanel's controversial wartime activities; the intriguing consequences of her friendship with Churchill; her role as a chatelaine in London society; and her regular visits to the highlands of Scotland to fish for salmon - with spectacular success - in between launching the little black dress and other timeless designs.

The production values of this book are terrific: I've rarely seen paper of this quality in a mainstream book; and the photographs - many never seen before - are sensational. But this is far from being merely a beautiful picture book that will appeal to followers of style and fashionistas: it is a truly comprehensive biography written in Picardie's distinctively personal style which carries the weight of her thorough research lightly.
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35 of 39 people found the following review helpful
A fitting tribute... 24 Sep 2010
By LittleReader TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
This is the 4th bio of Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel that I have read and easily my favourite in terms of content. Readability wise, it's sometimes hard work as the typeset is small and entire pages of text can appear overwhelming. My advice - persevere because the depth of detail is staggering. There are many beautiful photos throughout (again, I would have preferred glossy photos), some of which I've not seen before, as well as snippets of letters and illustrations.

All the major aspects are explored in terms of her style, her muse's, her brand 'development' if you like - how did an abandoned little girl turn into one of the Worlds greatest style icon's? Chapters include information on her iconic statements - the linked C logo, the tweed, number 5, the riviera stripes and THAT bag - the 2.55 (I would personally kill for one!!!)- if any of these items make you salivate,this is a must buy! Essentially, she was a fascinating woman - a legend - and I loved the way JP humanised her and brought her back down to Earth by highlighting her foibles as well as her achievements and this really brought her to life for me.

Her journey is fascinating and excellently documented here - I have to salute JP!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By raining
Format:Hardcover
Disappointing
Everything I read about Coco before is in this book. Her childhood, her lovers, why include the Kennedy assassination and Liz Taylor? We all know who wore Coco's dresses. What I wanted to find out is about her Trade, her Talent. How her taste developed. Yes, she used the symbols from the orphanage, but the theories of design, gift of perspective, that discipline of the artistic sense that makes the difference between excess and success in her cloth! Don't buy this book if you want "new" stuff on Coco, there is nothing there......
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Interesting and readable, but ultimately unsatisfying
This is a meticulously researched and fluidly written book about the life of Coco Chanel but it is ultimately unsatisfying because it does not conclusively answer important... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Zeynep CB
As it says on the cover
Just what I wanted! Added bonus 'signed by the author'. No complaints only praise for service and price.
Published 2 months ago by Gordon C
Christmas gift
This book was bought as a Chrstmas gift for a friend who is interested in fashion design. Unfortunately I didn't have time to read it but her reaction was positive so hopefully I... Read more
Published 4 months ago by P. Husband
coco chanel
this book arrived on time, looks great value for money its a christmas gift and am sure it will be well recieved. thanks amazon for a great service from start to finsih.
Published 5 months ago by bailey
avid chanel fan
If you are an avid chanel fan like myself you will love this book its great!Its very informative and there are lots of pictures love it!
Published 6 months ago by JANMARJE
Excellent Biography
This is a really good book about the enigmatic Coco Chanel. Justine Picardie has done all the hard work of wading through endless primary material and produced for us a readable,... Read more
Published 7 months ago by P. O'Brien
Fantastic- I couldnt put it down!
The previous reviews on this book swung my purchase on this one as there are so many books to choose from on the subject, and it didnt disappoint! Read more
Published 7 months ago by Shop Girl
The Life Behind The Legend
I loved this book so much I have ordered it for my bookclub. The production is elegant and of excellent quality . Read more
Published 10 months ago by AnAvidReader
`Legend is the consecration of fame.'
The name Coco Chanel is synonymous with style. But what of the woman behind the name: what do we know about the woman who designed simple yet sophisticated clothes, practical but... Read more
Published 10 months ago by J. Cameron-Smith
coco
Pretty hard goin this book ,a bit like reading war and peace, having said this the book holds alot of information , dates,history, and links with many aristocrats. Read more
Published 15 months ago by eve
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