Folio Archives 254: The Best of the Marx Brothers introduced by E.L. Doctorow 2007

The Best of the Marx Brothers, Groucho, Chico, Harpo et al. Introduced by E.L. Doctorow 2007

Probably one of the more unexpected and unusual titles by the Folio Society, this 315 page book is actually quite fascinating and entertaining.

The book is divided into several very different sections:-
- A brief biography of each brother
- A history of their early childhood shows
- Extracts from scripts of their stage, radio and film shows
- Letters written to famous people by Groucho and some of their replies
- A series of essays by Harpo on various stages of his life (I particularly enjoyed this section)
- Extracts from the shows performed by Groucho
- A compendium of Grouch one-liners
- Outtakes from Groucho’s shows

Many of these sections are quite hilarious, as expected, while others are a sad insight into their impoverished childhood and adult problems.

I found I read some sections in detailed fascination, skimmed others, laughed out loud reading others and skipped others completely. There is something for everyone in this book from history to comedy and lifestyle.

Introduced by E. L. Doctorow, the book has a coloured frontispiece and 12 pages of bound-in colour and monochrome illustrations. The endpapers and slipcase (24.8x16.8cm.) are silver, and it is bound in silver cloth blocked in black and white with images.

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An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.

>1 wcarter: Fascinating and far more interesting than I expected. As ever, thanks for these profusely illustrated archive articles.

>1 wcarter: Yes--far more interesting that I expected, too. And so now I had to hop over to Abebooks and acquire a copy. Your series is the most expensive thread in terms of enablement.

>3 CarltonC:

Agreed, I won't seek it out but it is strangely fascinating.

Worth it for the photos and illustrations alone.