Lena Horne was one of Golden Age Hollywood’s brightest stars who faced many challenges during the days of the studio system and beyond. Fans of classic Hollywood musical films have most likely encountered Horne’s mesmerizing vocal talents and strong screen presence in several films, always leaving a lasting impression with her enthusiastic and emotional song renditions.
Donald Bogle’s Lena Horne: Goddess Reclaimed delves into the personal and professional life of Horne, taking readers through her early years and initial performances on to her time in Hollywood and beyond. Bogle discusses her many success as well as the numerous obstacles she faced in her life, largely due to her race. This book showcases a wide array of black-and-white as well as color photographs capturing Horne at various points in her life.
While I have seen many of Horne’s films and appreciate her talent as explored during the Golden Age of Hollywood, I was particularly interested in Bogle’s coverage of Horne’s life behind the time of classic cinema. Here, I learned so much about what Horne valued and also reflected upon the overall trajectory of her life and career.
I highly recommend this book to fans of classic Hollywood musicals as well as those looking for an exceptional biography about Horne.
Hometowns to Hollywood 