The Roman Polanski Story

I bought this book at a used book store because dust jacket art caught my eye and it was a first edition. It sat on my shelf for several years until I moved. While I was unpacking I procrastinated by opening it up and flipping to the photo section. Then I sat down and started reading. I read it from cover to cover. Thomas Keirnan is an engaging author and his subject matter is facinating. The chapters alternate between Polanski's biography starting with his childhood in a Nazi occupied Polish ghetto and the suspenseful development of the child rape charges against him during the 1970's. The cinematic 'parallel editing' style makes reading this book like watching a movie. Anyone who enjoyed Tess, The Pianist or any other Polanski film will love this book. Several scenes from The Pianist echo moments from Polanski's tragic childhood. While I abhor the crimes he easily admitted to, this book reveals the development of both his creative genius and his justifications for his criminal actions. The author knew Polanski and many of his famous friends. His insider's view is deliciously intimate.