Paradise Now

The Extraordinary Life of Karl Lagerfeld

By: William Middleton

Narrated by: Adam Verner

The definitive biography of fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld, written by journalist and author William Middleton, who knew the designer in Paris.

In February 2019, the world lost one of its most enduring cultural icons, Karl Lagerfeld, the creative director for the storied House of Chanel for thirty-five years. Larger than life, Lagerfeld was legendary not only for reinventing Chanel; and creating constant fashion excitement at Chloé, Fendi, and his eponymous brand; but also for his vivid personal style, including his signature uniform of dark sunglasses and a powdered white ponytail. And then there was his utter devotion to his cat, Choupette.

Journalist and author William Middleton spent years working in Paris for Women’s Wear Daily, W, and Harper’s Bazaar. During his time in Paris, he interviewed and socialized with Lagerfeld, coming to see a side of the designer that he kept private from the world.

In this deliciously entertaining book, Middleton takes us inside the most exclusive rooms in the fashion industry, behind the catwalk, and into a world of brilliantly talented artists, stylish socialites, and famous stars—some of the most elusive and unforgettable figures of fashion’s inner circle for the past four decades.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

good reference for info!!

For me, this could have been more quoted by Lagerfeld. However it was just you know, heresay.

Mon dieu! The narration

The poor narrator. Nice voice and easy to listen to but that’s it. Every minute a struggle with
not one name or place pronounced correctly- not even the English ones. And, when there’s multiple French names in one sentence the narrator practically has to sing the words to get them out.
Wasn’t there an editor or producer? How did the author let this happen?
Was this book recorded using AI?
Hey siri, tell me a story….
If you’ve never heard another word in French (or German, or Italian ) then it won’t bother you but this bio is likely intended for sophisticated people who will know the difference.

Great Narrative, but the Narrator: Not So Great

The story of Mr. Lagerfeld is a very interesting tale indeed.
The narrator here actually has a nice speaking tone and in fact, reads quite well.
The problem is: most of Mr. Lagerfeld's life and career took place in Paris and the narrator absolutely bungles every single French word he tries to pronounce. It's very offputting to say the least. I'm about ready to stop.

This reading is terrible!

This is a terrible reading of the book. It’s almost embarrassing to listen to. Completely overacted!

Good content, bad narration

Good, straightforward book about the life of Karl Lagerfeld. More or less what I expected, and I recommend it for that reason.

The narration is terrible though. Just…strange. Melodramatic, the French mispronunciations are painful, and he takes long, inexplicable pauses that I think intend to enhance the drama but make it borderline unlistenable.