Excelsior, You Fathead!: The Art and Enigma of Jean Shepherd
by Eugene B. Bergmann
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Book Summary Information
Author: Eugene B. BergmannEdition: Hardcover
Published: 2005-03-28
ISBN: 1557836000
Number of pages: 496
Publisher: Applause Books
Book Reviews of Excelsior, You Fathead!: The Art and Enigma of Jean Shepherd
Book Review: Must Have, With a Caveat
Summary: 3 Stars
Excelsior, You Fathead is a must-have for any Jean Shepherd fan, simply because it's the only thing of its kind out there. There is a treasure trove of Shepherd tidbits, recollections and quotes enough to have made me re-read the book, in part or in its entirety, over 7 times.
But, I must say that Mr. Bergmann has an agenda. Clearly, he prefers the 1950s Shep - the Jazz Shepherd - over the 1960s or 70s model. Having listened extensively to both, I feel the opposite but that's just a matter of opinion. However, the author seems desperate to dig up some dirt on Shep, to make this a tell-all. But the best he can come up with is people whining about how he wasn't always very nice to people, talked a lot (duh!) and tended not to look up old friends. The only thing remotely approaching the scandalous is that Shepherd didn't seem to care about his two kids from a very early marriage - this is deplorable, of course, but hardly Joan Crawford wire hanger material.
Also, Bergmann seems to be a rather lazy author - I doubt whether he ever left New York City to write this book. There is no attempt to interview people from Jean's early past who might shed some light on his personality. The author says, over and over, how mysterious and close-mouthed Jean Shepherd must have been because he (author) just couldn't find out some things. Well, it IS hard to find out much when you're a lazy author.
It is still an enjoyable book and, as I said, a must-have, must-read. Just don't expect too much of it. And maybe someday, some author a little less biased, a little less lazy will do Jean Shepherd justice. In the meantime, this is the best we have.
Summary of Excelsior, You Fathead!: The Art and Enigma of Jean Shepherd
Jean Shepherd (1921-1999), master humorist, is best known for his creation A Christmas Story, the popular movie about the child who wants a BB gun for Christmas and nearly shoots his eye out. What else did Shepherd do? He is considered by many to be the Mark Twain and James Thurber of his day. For many thousands of fans, for decades, "Shep" talked on the radio late at night, keeping them up way past their bedtimes. He entertained without a script, improvising like a jazz musician, on any and every subject you can imagine. He invented and remains the master of talk radio. Shepherd perpetrated one of the great literary hoaxes of all time, promoting a nonexistent book and author, and then brought the book into existence. He wrote 23 short stories for Playboy, four times winning their humor of the year award, and also interviewed The Beatles for the magazine. He authored several popular books of humor and satire, created several television series and acted in several plays. He is the model for the character played by Jason Robards in the play and movie A Thousand Clowns, as well as the inspiration for the Shel Silverstein song made famous by Johnny Cash, "A Boy Named Sue." Readers will learn the significance of innumerable Shepherd words and phrases, such as "Excelsior, you fathead," and observe his constant confrontations with the America he loved. They will get to know and understand this multitalented genius by peeking behind the wall he built for himself - a wall to hide a different and less agreeable persona. Through interviews with his friends, co-workers and creative associates, such as musician David Amram, cartoonist and playwright Jules Feiffer, publisher and broadcaster Paul Krassner, and author Norman Mailer, the book explains a complex and unique genius of our time. "Shepherd pretty much invented talk radio ... What I got of him was a wonder at the world one man could create. I am as awed now by his achievement as I was then." - Richard Corliss, Time magazine onlineGeneral Books
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