Book Blurb:
It's 1942 and Humphrey Bogart seems to have it all. By day, he's reading lines for Casablanca with Ingrid Bergman; by night, he's drinking bourbon on the Sunset Strip with friends like Peter Lorre and Leslie Howard.
But to Bogart, life is not so glamorous. High-profile fights with his wife Mayo and a rigid studio contract committing him to a series of mediocre films have him feeling personally and professionally trapped.
That is, until one day a mysterious note arrives on set.
Heeding the strange invitation, Bogart finds himself in a series of long, secret conversations with his aunt and cousin about the swashbuckling tales of their ancestor, the pirate Jan Janszoon van Salee. These tales of the high seas ignite a fire within Bogart to carve out a path that is uniquely his own—even if it means shedding the roles and people who made him famous.
Janszoon is more than a Hollywood fantasy; it's a journey into the heart of a man wrestling with ambitions and desires, an actor who yearns to balance his on-screen personas with his off-screen reality. From his tumultuous marriage and infamous USO tour, through his affairs with Verita Patterson and Lauren Bacall, Janszoon imagines a life in which the enigmatic Humphrey Bogart seeks a legacy that transcends the ephemeral glow of stardom.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/CNCgARN
Editorial Review:
“Bogart's heart was buoyant, his spirit soaring as he steered his sleek Jaguar toward the studio, the place he considered his true north. On a whim, he found himself humming a familiar melody, one that resonated with the nostalgia of a timeless classic. It was "As Time Goes By," the iconic tune that Dooley Wilson had immortalized on the ivories in the cinematic gem Casablanca. The melody soon blossomed into song, and Bogart couldn't resist giving voice to the lyrics that spoke of love's enduring call. His robust baritone cascaded through the open top of his roadster, turning heads as he cruised the famed Sunset Strip. At each intersection, his impromptu performance crescendoed, a serenade to the city that had become an integral part of his identity. The lyrics, laden with emotion, seemed to echo off the pavement, imbuing the afternoon air with a touch of Hollywood magic.”
The movie “Casablanca” has strong sentimental associations for this reviewer, and so
“Janszoon” by Mark Kraver was a must read. Every page will make the reader yearn to return to Hollywood’s golden times, to Humphrey Bogart (those suits!), to Ingrid Bergman (those dresses!), the understated scripts, the black and white film…even Leslie Howard makes an appearance in these pages, and this reviewer is here for it. The characters are a roll call of Hollywood greats, but the focus remains on Bogart. Already a screen legend, “Janszoon” takes Bogart’s well-known cinematic achievements one step further, showing the man behind the movies and his search for personal meaning. This involves Bogart delving into tales of his family’s heritage, while he contends with significant marital disharmony, and professional dissatisfaction.
The narrative is set in the 1940s, around the time of Casablanca’s release in 1942. The author’s enthusiasm for the times, and his detailed research into Bogart’s era, is evident throughout the book. “Janszoon” also contains a list of Bogart’s Hollywood contemporaries which serves as a valuable reader aid, or a further trip down memory lane. Bogart’s complex personal life is woven into the storyline, and the author does not sugarcoat the conflict in his marriage to his wife Mayo. As well as his personal relationships, Bogart’s professional relationships are also detailed, and this gives the reader a complete sense of observing a time in Bogart’s life, rather than merely an aspect of it.
There is extensive dialogue in this novel, and the style of writing the conversations moves the story along at a brisk pace.
"Whoa, what happened?" Bogart complained, reaching up to feel the toupee that cushioned the blow. He moved quickly across the room to her side to stop her from throwing the salt shaker next.
"Who were you with this afternoon?" she shouted with vile and vinegar running from her mouth.
"What?" he asked, thinking that sneaky Dick must have followed him from the studio.
"I called, and you'd stopped working for the afternoon. Four hours ago!"
"For your information, I am still a working man. So I drove around rehearsing my lines," he improvised.”
The character arcs are understandably based on the facts and tempo of each character’s life, as the book is a fictionalised account of historical figures. However, this approach fits with the window of time that Kraver focuses on. Movie buffs everywhere will realize the appropriateness of Kraver’s choice of decade, as the contrast between Bogart’s professional stardom and his personal search for meaning is an effective narrative tool. The reader is also taken behind the scenes, to rehearsals for Casablanca (and complaints about the script!).
"I can't fight it anymore," Ingrid cried out in a voice of desperation. Bracing her elbows on the table, she glanced at her script with teary eyes. "I ran away from you once. I can't do it again." She buried her face in the shoulder next to her to wipe her eyes and nose. "I don't know what's right any longer," she confessed, feeling defeated. "You'll have to think for both of us, for all of us.”
"All right, I will,” Bogart responded with a smirk. Playing the part of bar owner Rick Blaine, mesmerized by the beauty of the woman sitting next to him, he cocked his head and said from the heart, “Here's looking at you, kid." As he spoke, he held his script in one hand and faked a toast with his imaginary glass of champagne in the other.
"I wish I didn't love you so much," Ingrid whispered, sitting up. She searched for something to look at until, focusing on his lips, she drew his face down to hers with a hand around the back of his neck.”
The ending of “Janzoon” is a happy one, well, for Humphrey Bogart at least. Is it a spoiler to say that Mayo was not Humphrey Bogart’s last wife?
“Janzoon” by Mark Kraver gives the reader a fascinating glimpse of Hollywood’s golden era in the 1940s with its focus on one of the greatest films, and greatest actors in Hollywood history. Kraver presents Humphrey Bogart both as a legendary star and also a deeply human man, with flawed, complex personal relationships, and a wide circle of equally well-known professional friends and peers. An intriguing read.
*****
"Janzoon” by Mark Kraver receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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