Lucille

The Life of Lucille Ball

By: Kathleen Brady

Narrated by: C. M. Hébert

Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

In 20 years of show business, Lucille Ball had only modest and sporadic success. Her television program, I Love Lucy, was her last chance to fulfill the ambition that had sustained her through the frustrations of her professional life and the anguish of a failing marriage. The role of Lucy Ricardo revealed her true gifts, but it changed her life immeasurably, and the remarkable individual who was Lucille Ball became slowly obscured in the shadows of Lucy.

This definitive portrait of Lucille Ball is based on the recollections of fellow performers, including Milton Berle, Ginger Rogers, Bob Hope, and Katherine Hepburn; her closest friends and family; and Lucille herself. From her childhood, when her virtual abandonment instilled in her a relentless drive for love and attention, through her struggling years in Hollywood and her troubled relationship with Desi Arnaz, Brady vividly recounts the story of this passionate and vulnerable woman.

Love Lucy? Search our list of classic radio shows featuring Lucille Ball.

©1994 Kathleen Brady (P)1996 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"While Brady is a fan, she is also a fine biographer. Her admiration is both clear-eyed and penetrating. With insight and impressive detail, Brady goes beyond Ball's most famous creation, Lucy Ricardo, to expose the complex, determined woman." (Chicago Sun-Times)

Lucille

It was a great book. Well, all except the curse words. Thank you! I love Lucy!

Much more than I'd even hoped for!

great narration and a wonderful detailed recounting of Lucy and Ricky's lives together, and apart. Lots of Hollywood insider info and perspective on the times in which they made their magic.

I watched I love Lucy

I grew up watching I love Lucy. I watched some of here other shows too.

Great story in the life of an amazing woman.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. Goes into some details the autobiography (and other similar works) do not. My only complaint are the parts depicting interactions with mother and daughter. The narrator (and presumably the book) address both as Lucy ex. "Lucy told Lucy that Lucy shouldn't do... and Lucy responded to Lucy..." I really wish that in these parts at a bare minimum Mother would have been referred to as Lucille and daughter as Lucy. Besides that extremely confusing aspect it is an amazing story of one of the most beloved women in history. We love (and miss) you Lucy, and forever will.

I love Lucy

I was interested in her childhood, which led to understanding her work ethic and personality, it was an adventure to see her career grow, joy at her meeting Desi, sadness when they broke up and tears at the end. Any Lucy fan would enjoy this book

Luv of Lucy

I loved the story and all the details. I always wished to know her story. I thought and found her a real person and bore many struggles. She was a true star. We who luved her still miss her.

I Love Lucy...evenmore

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It gave me an insight to who Lucille Ball was and her challeges and comedic genius.

What other book might you compare Lucille to and why?

The Life and Time of Charlie Chaplin.

What about C. M. Hébert’s performance did you like?

She was okay. It took me a while to get use to her sleepy style voice. But, the more I got into the book, the more I got into the story and not her voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really. It was nice to listen while I went for a run each day. It gave me something to look forward to instead of running

Any additional comments?

You need more books on comedian biography. I just downloaded an Abbott and Costello book, and was disappointed that it wasn't a story, but instead, it was their radio show, which I'm enjoying. But, I prefer a story. There are so many great comedians, like Red Skelton, Milton Berle, Laurel and Hardy, Fanny Brice, Mabel Normand (which in the Chaplin book, it was covered a little). Thank you.

Thorough study with perfect narrator.

I really enjoyed this book. She was a real person, very strong really who was surprisingly unhappy. Not miserable, just unhappy. She got totally ripped off but what was dealt to her and one can only wonder what might have happened had her husband been a real husband.

Lucille Ball

This story of Lucy’s life is captivating. I have always lived Lucy and her many characters and, from listening to this book, learned the why, how, and when of her acting life. I also learned about her life with Desi, and her relationship with her children. It’s a great book.

Great book, held my interest!

As a big fan of I Love Lucy and the "olden days" of Hollywood, I found this book very interesting and learned a lot about Lucille Ball's life that I didn't know. Some things mentioned were repetitive and it seemed like the last couple chapters there were quite a bit negative comments about Lucille's appearance and behavior which even though may be accurate, the way it was worded was odd at a few points. Overall though, more great insight to her life and career from alternative compiled views!