Naked at the Feast: The Biography of Josephine Baker

The middle-aged librarian at my local library kept a straight face but I wondered what went through her mind. You see, I'd just taken out a copy of Lynn Hanley's "Naked at the Feast" biography - the original edition with Picasso's beautiful portrait of Josephine, nude in all her glory. To onlookers, the cover resembled an erotic art collection. Some 30 years after Paris bid its final farewell to one of its brightest stars, interest in Josephine Baker's life and career remains high. La Baker's meteoric rise from the slums of St Louis in America to the 'Toast of Paris' is the stuff that legends and dreams are made of. There are several biographies on Josephine's life on the market. Lynn Hanley's book makes for interesting reading for the following factor: it was written from the prospective of an inquisitive researcher rather than an obsessed hero-worshipping fan. Hanley discovered that many of the myths and legends surround Baker were created and fuelled by the lady herself. Josephine constantly re-invented herself to stay ahead of her game. I'm not going to spoil it and reveal all here. If you're curious but unfamiliar with Josephine Baker's incredible life and career, I recommend that you read this well-researched but under-rated book first.

I think that this book sould be a best-seller because it contents a lot of profitable information about Josephine.