Florence Foster Jenkins

The Life of the World's Worst Opera Singer

Darryl W. Bullock

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English

Bloomsbury Publishing
25 May 2016

Music; Individual composers & musicians, bands & groups; Biography; Biography: arts & entertainment; Autobiography: arts & entertainment; History

The biography of Florence Foster Jenkins, considered the world’s worst opera singer, soon to be portrayed by Meryl Streep in the forthcoming film.

'Probably the most complete and absolute lack of talent ever publicly displayed in Manhattan.' Life magazine

Madame Jenkins couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket: despite that, in 1944 at the age of 76, she played Carnegie Hall to a capacity audience and had celebrity fans by the score. Her infamous 1940s recordings are still highly-prized today. In his well-researched and thoroughly entertaining biography, Darryl W. Bullock tells of Florence Foster Jenkins’s meteoric rise to success, and the man who stood beside her through every sharp note.

Florence was ridiculed for her poor control of timing, pitch, and tone, and terrible pronunciation of foreign lyrics, but the sheer entertainment value of her caterwauling packed out theatres around the United States, with the 'singer' firmly convinced of her own talent, partly thanks to the devoted attention from her husband and manager St Clair Bayfield. Her story is one of triumph in the face of adversity, of courage, conviction and of the belief that with dedication and commitment a true artist can achieve anything.

With a major Hollywood movie about her life currently due for release in May 2016 starring Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg, the genius of Florence Foster Jenkins is about to be discovered by a whole new audience.

By: Darryl W. Bullock
Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 132mm,
Weight: 216g
ISBN: 9780715651063
ISBN 10: 0715651064
Pages: 128
Publication Date: 25 May 2016
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Darryl W. Bullock is a writer and publisher living in Bristol. He has edited the popular blog www.worldsworstrecords.blogspot.com since 2007 and is author of The World's Worst Records: An Arcade of Audio Atrocity, Volume One and Two.

Reviews for Florence Foster Jenkins: The Life of the World's Worst Opera Singer

'Darryl Bullock's timely biography - delightfully cheering.' * Alexander McCall Smith, Guardian * 'Packed with exclusive interviews with Florence's family, friends and connoisseurs, and containing fascinating original photography, Florence Foster Jenkins is the book to read to get the full story on this most incredible woman.' * Spalding, Guardian *