First published 2005
Howard Hughes cultivated an image built on mystery, glamour, and isolation that captivated America for decades. The aviator, filmmaker, and business mogul deliberately shrouded himself in secrecy while living a life that seemed to embody both incredible daring and complete withdrawal from society. Barlett cuts through the myths and legends that Hughes spent years creating around himself. The author examines the man behind the carefully managed facade, exploring how Hughes balanced his public adventures with his private need for control and solitude. This investigation reveals the reality beneath the constructed legend of one of America's most enigmatic figures. Originally released as Empire: The Life, Legend, and Madness of Howard Hughes, the book dismantles the public image to expose the actual person Hughes was, rather than who he wanted the world to believe he was.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, business, american, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: unreliable-narrator
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
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