Orson Welles was a legendary Hollywood talent who remains an iconic name to this day. A man of many talents and vast contributions to the entertainment industry, his work across a variety of mediums continues to be lauded and enjoyed by audiences all over the world. Of course, Welles was also an extremely complicated individual with such an accomplished life on a personal and professional level. His story has been explored time and again by film historians and scholars as a source of information in addition to examining his historical importance and impact upon the entertainment industry.

Frank Brady’s Citizen Welles: A Biography of Orson Welles adds to the discussion and current published scholarship surrounding Welles and is well worth reading. It is clear that Brady has done his fair share of immense research about this influential individual, consulting a wide range of individuals, institutions, archives, and more to capture the many facets of Welles. Brady tells Welles’s story in a chronological fashion, starting with his early years and influences and guiding readers through his career and later years.

Brady offers a far more scholarly examination of Welles in this tome, with the research really being at the center of this work. The many sources consulted and relationships built among the individuals and institutions that house Welles’s work serve to offer the reader a thorough and well-informed vision of Welles and his influence.

Citizen Welles is available for purchase via the University Press of Kentucky.