The Allure of Chanel (Pushkin Press Classics)

well written,i started collect his works,like his style

good

Fascinating look at Chanel's spin on her own life. While she is brutally candid about some aspects, others are completely fabricated to throw a more positive and morally acceptable light on them. You won't get the whole truth, but between the lines is a great deal of wisdom and self-acknowledgement of both her own talent and shortcomings. A must for any die-hard Chanel fan who has read other notable biographies on this endless intriguing fashion icon.

When I received the original book I was surprised by two things. First the size - it is a small book that would fit in the palm of your hand. Second, the ONLY photo is that of the author. (No pictures of Coco Chanel, her fashion, perfume, jewelry, watches, etc.) Having said that, I found myself cocooned in a faraway time and place listening to Madame recall her life to a man who was smart enough to capture every word and save them for us to savor.A new edition of the book, illustrated by Karl Lagerfeld (longtime head of the House of Chanel) will be released on April 10, 2010.

Having read many books on Gabrielle Chanel I was a bit disapointed that this latest version didn't have much new insight into this very talented woman. Also to my dismay the binding of the book came apart by page 65.

for your bargain bin because otherwise I wouldn't have dreamed of getting what is a very fetching book. It's based upon conversations Morand had with his friend Chanel in Switzerland in 1946, when neither of the two would have been welcome in France. Though Allure is apparently narrated by Chanel, and though her own words no doubt lie behind it, Morand's fashioning of those words is the reason for much if not most of its appeal.Chanel speaks about her life, but this isn't a biography; she talks about fashion generally and her work specifically, but this isn't a book about fashion; she discusses artists and aristocrats of her acquaintance, but in no way is this a cultural history. Look elsewhere for any of those.What strikes me about this book is how vividly a personality is portrayed--Chanel is down-to-earth, outrageous, overbearing, oddly passive, wonderfully bitchy and frequently mendacious--through some very good writing. Someone as taken with this book as I was might want to look into the novel Hecate and Her Dogs, in which Morand tells a tale of decadence equally well.And anyone thinking about buying this should know that there are two editions: The larger one is illustrated by Karl Lagerfeld and has some striking photographs that the smaller lacks.3 1/2 stars.

Daughter in law loved it. Ideal for Chanel fans

Quality of book wasn’t what I expected and front all marked