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Stephen Jacobs
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Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster - The Authorised Biography Hardcover – 7 Jan. 2011

by Stephen Jacobs (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 42 ratings
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Boris Karloff - A name synonymous with horror.Drawing on detailed research, previously unpublished letters, and interviews with those who knew him this new biography dispels the often repeated myths associated with the star - many perpetuated by Karloff himself - and reveals a wealth of new information about the private and professional life of Boris Karloff.Although forever associated with his breakthrough role of 'the Monster' in Frankenstein (1931) Boris Karloff had a career that spanned almost 50 years and over 150 movies - from the era of the silent picture through to the days of the 'Swinging Sixties'. His roles in Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Black Cat, and many others - most now considered classics of the genre - ensured his reputation as 'The King of Horror'.Born William Henry Pratt in Camberwell, South London in 1887 Karloff defied family expectations and rejected a life in Government service. Instead he emigrated to Canada were he finally found work as a professional actor. After years touring Western Canada and the United States he arrived in
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  1. Print length
    568 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Tomahawk Press
  4. Publication date
    7 Jan. 2011
  5. Dimensions
    17.78 x 4.45 x 25.4 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0955767040
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0955767043
  8. See all details
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Product description

Review

"This is the DEFINITIVE biography of my father! I am absolutely delighted to authorise and recommend and praise etc etc etc this book!" --Sara Karloff

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tomahawk Press; First Edition (7 Jan. 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 568 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0955767040
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0955767043
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17.78 x 4.45 x 25.4 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 42 ratings

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Stephen Jacobs

Stephen Jacobs

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4.8 out of 5 stars
42 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the biography interesting and full of anecdotes. They appreciate the lavish illustrations and photos included. Readers describe the book as a pleasure to read for cinephiles and fans of Boris Karloff.

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BiographyVisual contentReadability
7 customers mention ‘Biography’7 positive0 negative

Customers find the biography interesting and well-researched. It includes details on the subject's life and work, as well as anecdotes. The author makes the subject come alive, and the book is brimming with facts and information.

"...More Than a Monster by Stephen Jacobs is a large tome, brimming over with facts, anecdotes and information that supersede all other biographies that..." Read more

"...much away about himself, author Stephen Jacobs has done an incredible research job and, after reading this 568 page tome, I don't think there could..." Read more

"...and also I read it quicker than I thought I would, as I found it so interesting and well written that I couldn't put it down...." Read more

"...The author makes his subject come alive and even the early years before his role as Frankenstein are meticulously researched and made interesting...." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Visual content’6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual content. They find it visually appealing with a wealth of photos. The author is described as modest, kind, and gentle.

"...There is an amazing array of photographs, many that I have not come across before...." Read more

"...To all who knew him, he was constantly described as a genuinely modest, kind, gentle British gentlemen...." Read more

"...There was such an amazing wealth of photos included also...." Read more

"Wonderfully presented, researched and illustrated book that gets to as much as is possible the core of Boris Karloff...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Readability’4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy reading the book. They find it an essential read for cinephiles and lovers of Boris Karloff. The book is illustrated, making it a real pleasure for cinephiles.

"...It is an essential read at an affordable price." Read more

"...I am so glad I made the purchase and thoroughly enjoyed reading the book which shows the hard work that has obviously gone in to such a well..." Read more

"...Lavishly illustrated this is a real pleasure for cinephiles and lovers of Boris Karloff...." Read more

"Best book on Karloff..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Matthew Banks
    5.0 out of 5 stars Boris Karloff The Definitive Biography
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 July 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Boris Karloff More Than a Monster by Stephen Jacobs is a large tome, brimming over with facts, anecdotes and information that supersede all other biographies that have gone before. There is an amazing array of photographs, many that I have not come across before. Jacobs make the actor come alive again, forty odd years after his death, with the many comments from his work colleagues stating what a gentleman & trooper he was - it may get a bit repetitive, but it highlights the man behind the Frankenstein Monster mask, showing how well regarded he was. Unlike previous biographies (Underwood & Lindsay in particular) Jacobs has meticulously researched and verified each and every fact, so as he has made his biography the definitive article so to speak. This may lead into facts that may not be wholly connected to the man, but make fascinating reading nevertheless. Unlike other biographies that have been `guided' by family, it is nice to see that Sara Karloff has been forthcoming and helpful - even admitting that Jacobs has uncovered material about her father that she didn't know! - there is no doubt that she loves her father and understands his lasting legacy - it was therefore a shame to read what a bitch her step-mother was - allowing Sara to find out about her father's death via the television, rather than a telephone call. This leads into the one big discrepancy in the book, as this relationship is not explored and you are left wondering why Evie Karloff excluded her husband's daughter from knowing about his death, arranging the funeral so no-one could go and why Boris excluded his daughter from his will. I don't think I have ever read such a widely researched and interesting biography on Karloff and I cannot recommend it enough. It is an essential read at an affordable price.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Tony Byworth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Much More than A Monster
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 November 2014
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    The title is spot on. Although forever linked with Frankenstein, Boris Karloff was "more than a monster". Really, much, much more with his roles in "terror" movies (as he preferred to call them) representing a fraction of a highly diverse and lengthy career.

    Born William Henry Pratt, he broke away from diplomatic family and London surroundings to emigrate to Canada in 1909 where he tied down a variety of manual jobs while pursuing a theatrical career that would eventually take him to Hollywood. There, after 12 years of extras and minor roles, he found international fame as the Frankenstein monster. Although other roles came his way, he never lost that horror mantle, providing more worthy appearances with his work in Val Lewton and Roger Corman productions and, towards the end of his life, in the films "Targets" and "The Sorcerers".

    He enjoyed equal recognition for his theatrical work, in particular for his much revived role as Jonathan Brewster in the original production of "Arsenic and Old Lace" (to his regret he never repeated the role on screen) and as Captain Hook in the children's favourite "Peter Pan". In addition, he kept up a heavy schedule of radio and television work, meticulously listed by the book's author, who also detailed much of Karloff's social calendar as well as providing information on the numerous people that he was associated with - among them, horror compatriot Bela Lugosi, an actor revealed as being financially hard done by the film companies. His other achievements included being a founding member of both the Screen Actors Guild and, as a lifelong cricket fan, the Hollywood Cricket Club. To all who knew him, he was constantly described as a genuinely modest, kind, gentle British gentlemen.

    As Boris Karloff was not a person to give much away about himself, author Stephen Jacobs has done an incredible research job and, after reading this 568 page tome, I don't think there could be another stone left to be unturned.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • K. Pickering
    5.0 out of 5 stars More than an Authorised Biography
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 October 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Boris Karloff More Than A Monster, was a larger book than I expected and also I read it quicker than I thought I would, as I found it so interesting and well written that I couldn't put it down. A lot of time and effort that must have gone in to the research to produce what I thought was a fantastic incite in to an actor that I have always been interested in. There was such an amazing wealth of photos included also. I am so glad I made the purchase and thoroughly enjoyed reading the book which shows the hard work that has obviously gone in to such a well produced treasured book. It's also so nice that Boris's daughter Sarah is so helpful, forthcoming, and understanding towards people's interest in her father's work and has given her recommendations for the book.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Pappa Dont Preach
    4.0 out of 5 stars At last a true tribute to an underated actor
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 March 2011
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    Wonderfully presented, researched and illustrated book that gets to as much as is possible the core of Boris Karloff. Lavishly illustrated this is a real pleasure for cinephiles and lovers of Boris Karloff. The author makes his subject come alive and even the early years before his role as Frankenstein are meticulously researched and made interesting. Although many of the comments from people about Karloff from his co-actors are repetitive in the sense that he was a gentleman, lovely and professional to work with, etc, these clearly demonstrate that Karloff was the same person throughout his career - a true professional. I don't think I have ever read such a widely researched and interesting biography and even though it was over 500 pages I devoured it within two weeks! Hopefully there is a Boris revival afoot as I see there have been many re-releases on DVD of some of his rarer films such as Bedlam, The strage Door and Lost Patrol from the Odeon Entertainment DVD company. If this book has influenced these releases then many thanks to the author.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Charlie&Molly
    5.0 out of 5 stars If only all biographers could be this thorough
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 February 2012
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    This is one of the best biographies I've come across in a long time, obviously the work of a devoted fan but with no bias that I could detect. Packed with pictures, along with the usual details of a subjects life there are plenty of details on his work and the life behind the camera that brought both the best of the thirties horror movies and beyond to the screen.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Paul Bartley
    5.0 out of 5 stars The True Actors/Actresses Compared To The Wanna Bes
    Reviewed in Canada on 31 October 2015
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    I loved reading how he went against a family tradition in search of a world, a dream he wanted to be part of. I was surprised at his connections with Canada and especially the Hamilton area where I am from and still live. It truly shows that in most cases actors/actresses are totally different of what we see. We see them in movies and how their images are portrayed for publicity and think that's the way they are and are shocked to find that the ruff, edgy actors/actresses are a pleasure to be with or to talk to when they are away from the fake world. I find it truly interesting how actors/actresses worked hard to make a movie, a role convincing to the public for peanuts and how the ones now demand and usually get enormous amount of money and a lot of their work is crap to put it mildly. I'll take the older movies over the new ones anytime.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book about an amazing man
    Reviewed in the United States on 18 March 2014
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    Stephen Jacobs has written an incredibly detailed biography that not only corrects inaccuracies in previous biographies of Karloff, but far out-distances them in its depth of research. It will be simply impossible for any future book on the the "King of Horror" to surpass it in any way. After this, it would be foolish for anyone to even attempt writing another Karloff biography. This is The book that will forever be turned to by curious fans and academic researchers alike.

    Something perhaps unexpected and surprising, but ultimately so admirable about this book, is that Jacobs has assembled it in the scholarly tradition more often associated with more "serious" subjects, such as political leaders. In this age of sensationalized biographies full of questionable memoirs and dubious source material, this substantially sized book maintains a solid determination to be what biographies were once required to be: Accurate, thorough, and without being vehicles for the authors' personal opinions.

    Because Jacob's ego is so in check as he works his way through the chronology of events in the life of one of Hollywood's most enduring legends, it's almost startling when Jacobs includes one of his rarely shared subjective opinions, like when he describes "The Bride of Frankenstein" as, "...arguably, the greatest horror movie of them all..." In that particular case, Jacobs is passing on a universally held consensus, so wasn't indulging in personal speculation. His book completely avoids unsubstantiated theories which biographies commonly couch in phrases like "...he must have felt...it's easily imagined...it's quite possible that..."

    Sara Karloff, Boris Karloff's only child, was understandably skeptical that yet another biography of her illustrious father was necessary when she was first approached by Jacobs with the idea of his book. She had already endorsed a previous work as "authorized," and was aware of the numerous other books which outlined her father's life. But when she realized how far beyond any previous work Jacob's was, she enthusiastically embraced and authorized it as the definitive biography. She was just as surprised as anyone over the wealth of unfamiliar material Jacobs unearthed during the intensive ten year period it took him to write the book.

    Fans of Karloff, who are legion, will be unable to not be mesmerized by the way such a clear, purely presented image of what the man was like emerges through this painstakingly complete chronicle. Anyone researching the actor for articles and dissertations will be unable to find a more reliable source. Anyone who's ever seen a Karloff film will gain an even deeper appreciation and understanding of the man whose presence in those films is what elevates them into perennial favorites.

    This hefty tome is nothing short of a miracle, and an incredible gift to all of us who were touched by the unique William Henry Pratt AKA Boris Karloff - and I think that includes the vast majority of people not only in America and England, but all over the globe where Karloff's legacy lives on.

    Randy Bowser
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  • Rainer Hempen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Boris Karloff: More than a Monster
    Reviewed in Germany on 28 April 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Eine umfangreiche Biographie über einen Horror-Star, der heute leider nur noch Filmkennern geläufig ist, obwohl er eine so lange Karriere hatte und, wie einige andere Horror-Film-Stars auch, wie Vincent Price und Christopher Lee, in vielen, meist eher mittelmässigen bis schlechten Filmen aufgetreten ist.
    Da drängen sich Vergleiche auf. Auch Price hat eine lange Liste von Horrorfilmen aufzuweisen, die meist mit bescheidenem Budget gedreht wurden. Ebenso Christopher Lee.
    Man könnte sagen, es handelt sich um den Großvater des Horrors, den Vater und den Sohn: Karloff, Price und Lee.
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  • Maudie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best Karloff biography!
    Reviewed in the United States on 12 September 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this as a birthday present for my husband- a huge Karloff fan. He has a few books about the actor, and this is the best. I read that a bio on Karloff is scheduled to come out next month and it is based on this book. The book seems to be scarce, and I paid quite a bit for a used library copy, but it was worth it. Hubby is happy, I'm happy.
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  • Miranda Goodfellow
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not To Scary - Very Interesting Man
    Reviewed in Canada on 24 October 2017
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    Very informative, Boris Karloff was a good man.
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