The Secret Life of
Walter Winchell
Lyle Stuart

Long out-of-print and bringing a high price in the rare book market, The Secret Life of Walter Winchell will be the first in a series of classic journalism books which Barricade Books will bring back into print.

Walter Winchell was the forefather of today¹s gossip columnists. It was his excited discovery that led to the creation and publication of this book. He was the first to find that the public curiosity about the authentically great and famous is exceeded by a vast itch to know all about the truly insignificant. In his frenzy to make the most of this discovery, Mr. Winchell forced the doors of the secret lives of

every defenseless man or woman who had the misfortune to come within his deadly range.

It was inevitable that, if ever Mr. Winchell were to come to judgement in a book, that book would be a cruel one. The Secret Life of Walter Winchell is a complete account of the inner life of Mr. Winchell, and it is, therefore, a very cruel book.

The author of this book was attacked and beaten by three hired thugs. Its primary source of information and its publisher each spent five years in jail for their participation. It resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court¹s Roth obscenity decision.

It was a daring book for its time, for Stuart, a working journalist, defied the most powerful newspaperman in history. No editor, reporter or columnist before or since has ever wielded the power or influence of Walter Winchell. More than 2,000 newspapers carried his daily gossip column and his Sunday night 15-minute radio program was frequently the most listened to radio show in America.

The Secret Life of Walter Winchell affected many lives, not the least of which was his. The book was the beginning of his tailspin to oblivion. This edition includes a new introduction by the author which provides historical context and explains the cultural significance of his work.

Biography
May
$12.00
Paperback
256 Pages
5 1/2 x 8 1/2
ISBN: 1-56980-251-3
Rights: World