Camera Girl

The Coming of Age of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy

By: Carl Sferrazza Anthony

Narrated by: Imani Jade Powers

One of The New Yorker’s Best Books of 2023
“One of the most detailed, nuanced portraits of Jackie to date.” —The Washington Post

An illuminating and “wholly refreshing” (David Maraniss, New York Times bestselling author) biography of the young Jackie Bouvier Kennedy that covers her formative adventures abroad in Paris; her life as a writer and photographer in Washington, DC; and her romance with a dashing, charismatic Massachusetts congressman who shared her intellectual passion.

Camera Girl “shines with wit and intelligence” (Library Journal, starred review) as it brings to life Jackie’s years as a young, single woman trying to figure out who she wanted to become. Chafing at the expectations of her family and the societal limitations placed on women in that era, Jackie pursued her dream career as a writer. Set primarily during the years of 1949 to 1953, when Jackie was in her early twenties, the book recounts in heretofore unrevealed detail the story of her late college years and her early adulthood as a working woman.

Before she met John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier was the Washington Times-Herald’s “Inquiring Camera Girl,” posing compelling questions to members of the public on the streets of DC and snapping their photos with her unwieldy Graflex camera. She then fashioned the results into a daily column, of which six hundred were published.

Carl Sferrazza Anthony, a historian and leading expert on First Ladies, draws on these columns and previously unseen archives of Jackie’s writings from this time, along with insights gleaned from interviews he conducted with her friends, colleagues, and family members. Camera Girl offers a fresh perspective on the woman later known as Jacqueline Kennedy and Jackie O, introducing us to the headstrong, self-assured young woman who went on to be one of the world’s most famous people. “For anyone of any age, the Jackie in Camera Girl offers an example of intentional living” (Hillary Rodham Clinton).

Critic reviews

"Powers takes listeners through Bouvier’s less-than-idyllic childhood with a sympathetic narration style that captures the complex experiences and emotions of a young woman at odds with her time. Her narration skillfully mimics Bouvier’s speaking style when sharing pieces written directly by her, capturing listeners’ emotions without making the performance sound over the top."

Deserving story of one if our most prominent First Ladies

Enjoyable listen and interesting description of the life of young Jackie. The description of the courtship reveals a lot about both personalities. I note that if it wasn’t for Jackie, Grand Central Terminal in NYC probably would have been torn down. She definitely used the influence she had for the good.

Amazing read to understand the icon Jackie Bouvier Kennedy

I could not stop listening!! It’s an intimate peak into the coming of age of Jackie Kennedy, well told and in impeccable detail, which really helps you understand the First Lady on a deeper level. It’s clear from listening that since Jackie was very young she was destined for greatness!

Interesting, well written, and performed book

I’ve always been fascinated by the Kennedys in high school when Kennedy was president I like many young girls was smitten with Jacqueline Kennedy. I found this book interesting, stimulating, very well performed. I did not want it to end

Fascinating

Enjoyed this listen enormously. Her public image while First Lady (when I was beginning high school) was misleading in too many respects to list. While the narrative ends with her marriage to JFK, it is well-paced and the events of her youth are sufficiently diverse and unusual to be of genuine interest even today. The story is well researched and told. In my view, JFK married her for her intellect and character, not her beauty. He is quoted as saying he never met a woman like her and this book explains why. An excellent listen, highly recommended.

Very good book

You get a lot of good information that is new and not a rehash of everything we know about her. But the audio does not include the photos, and they are important.

Unknown stories

Unknown stories about Jackie were interesting. I have read many biographies but we’re repetitious. This held my interest.

Who was Jackie?

I can only say that I am so grateful that I read this book. The narration was very good, which can make or break a book. I was fascinated to learn about this incredible woman, who she was in her own right. I couldn’t get enough! I recommend this book to anyone who has ever heard of Jackie. Her life before becoming the First Lady was so interesting, and now I am craving another book that would pick up where this one ended.
I truly doubt that anyone who would read this wouldn’t cherish this woman. And be as curious about her even more so!

In Depth Recounting of Jackie's Intelligence

Carl Sferrazza Anthony distinguishes himself by accounting just how unusual Jackie was. She excelled in so many areas: writing, research, journalism, screen writing for the emergence of television, illustration and drawing, acute perceptions of people and places, world history, United States history, her world travel as a student and so much more. I was in college when she became First Lady. I remember how soft- spoken she was and so beautiful. Now, this detailed background illuminates how her beauty was much more than skin deep. Her 84 page precise on Vietnam, its history and the French involvement and its failure, including her translation of ten books from French into English for JFK, was nothing short of outstanding for a 23 year old. it appears she was actually brighter than JFK himself.

A wonderful history of a time gone by. The performance, unfortunately, is flat with many mispronunciations, i.e.: report for rapport. Such errors interrupt the flow of the text. Still, the story is very much worth the credit.

Really much needed book on an extraordinary woman

This is well narrated and very well researched biography of the First Lady’s beginnings. The author has a touch and sympathy as light as a women’s and that is rare. Fascinating details but one whopper of a mistake. The Washington DC baseball team, referenced several times in the narrative was the the Senators not the Nationals. The musical “Damn Yankees” was written about the Washington Senators for heavens sake! The Washington Nats came decades later. This is the result of a lazy millennial copy editor! Otherwise flawless.

Disappointing voice quoting Jackie

Good story but performing Jackie’s “voice” — meh. We who heard her voice know the difference.