THE MAN WHO SAW A GHOST The Life and Work of Henry Fonda

Fonda, the somber and complicated American actor, is portrayed in a dark and complex, yet strangely current, biography—the first major one available. Joe Barrett narrates in a direct and unadorned manner. The content is too often pedantic and sensational; for example, the author refers to Fonda’s “crack-up,” as opposed to “emotional breakdown.” While it’s all here—Fonda’s five marriages, strained relationships with his children, WWII contributions, as well as impressive acting credentials late in life—Barrett’s raspy, straightforward narration seems to emphasize the pedestrian text, which does not offer any serious insights. Fonda’s life deserves a better treatment of his struggling anguish, which made his Tom Joad in the film THE GRAPES OF WRATH impossible to forget. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2012]