Empire
The Life, Legend, and Madness of Howard Hughes
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Empire
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Narrated by:
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Christopher Hurt
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Written by:
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Donald L. Barlett
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James B. Steele
About this listen
Hughes had always been different. Certainly his riches set him apart, but he was also tough. Orphaned and a millionaire at 18, Hughes repudiated his relatives, seized control of the Hughes Tool Company, the linchpin of his fortune, and went on to become a flamboyant movie producer, holder of many world aviation records, principal owner of Trans World Airlines, a critically important defense contractor, Hollywood's most pursued and elusive bachelor, and partner of the United States government.
This is an epic biography of an epic figure who bestrode the world like a colossus yet could not master himself.
©1979 Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele (P)1994 Blackstone Audio, Inc.What the critics say
"A remarkable job of investigative reporting....cracks Hughes's public persona as it disentangles the psychodrama of his private doings...." ( Publishers Weekly)
"[The] most responsible and authoritative biography of Hughes to date." ( Newsweek)
What listeners say about Empire
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Langer MD
- 2022-10-31
Badly Needs A Re-Master
Movie Mogul. World Record-setting Amateur Pilot. Billionaire Playboy. Military Hardware Industrialist. Las Vegas Casino Magnate. Airline Owner.
Drug Addict. Unhinged Eccentric. Mentally Ill Paranoid Recluse.
Every aspect of the life of Howard Robard Hughes Jr. ("HRH" to his wife, believe it or not) has something to offer for readers/listeners. I guarantee you will be fascinated.
Pulitzer Prize-winning Investigative reporters Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele provide an exhaustively-researched and insightful look at one of the most interesting people in American history in this book. 'Empire' is well-written; packed with mindblowing conversations, transcripts, and encounters; organized into a crystal-clear chronological narrative; and admirably objective (Barlett and Steele don't shy away from controversy but don't fixate on it, either).
Narrator Christopher Hurt contributes to my impression of an exemplary Biography - with spot-on diction, cadence, and timbre... coupled with a commendable interested tone (Hurt clearly enjoys the book). His intermittent attempts at impressions are injudicious (exhibiting subpar British accents and Texas twangs, for example), but the performance is otherwise absolutely praiseworthy.
Unfortunately, Blackstone Audio Inc fail to back up the quality writing and narration. Spliced-in segments that had to be re-recorded do not match the rest of the audiobook.. Sound Editors apparently didn't even try (the occasional sentence sounds like it was recorded on a Sony Walkman and overdubbed on the rest of the piece by a teenager making a Mix Tape).
Altogether, this recording would rate far higher than the 7 stars out of 10 that I give it - were it not for the lazy attention to production values. The absolutely captivating subject & brilliant execution are abandoned to a "patchwork" effort. If you can get the book as a 'Plus' selection, it's absolutely worth your time - but save the Credit for something more professional if they ask for it.
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