A Book (Expanded Edition)

Now featuring exclusive new material including excerpts from Desi Arnaz s unpublished second memoir and commentary by daughter Lucie Arnaz, here is the expanded edition of the New York Times bestselling memoir of Cuban American entertainment legend, TV pioneer, and I Love Lucy star Desi Arnaz. This expanded edition of A Book features additions from Desi Arnaz s uncompleted, never published second memoir, a new closing chapter picking up his life story where A Book leaves off following his divorce from Lucille Ball, a new Epilogue by Lucie Arnaz, and new photos throughout. Desi s original work and the additions come together to paint a comprehensive portrait of a man beloved and admired by family and people he worked with despite admitted personal failings, and to whom Lucy herself gave credit for the success of I Love Lucy and pioneering television production in its infancy. This full story of a life and legend now completes one of the most fascinating and revelatory Hollywood memoirs ever written. In the author s own words: Welcome to A Book, in which I try to explain how a kid from Cuba found a way to make a living in the United States. It s all here the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the unbelievably lucky breaks, and the heartbreaking failures. . . . You will learn what Lucy and I had to do to convince people we could play husband and wife in I Love Lucy. Shortly afterward Lucie and Desi Jr. were born and our world was paradise. The irony of it all is how our undreamed-of success, fame, and fortune turned it into hell. It wasn t easy to write about all of it, but as my son said, There s only one way to do it, Dad. Tell it like it was.