The Deeds of My Fathers
how my grandfather and father built New York and created the tabloid world of today
Paul David Pope
‘From Gene Pope snr attending the 1924 premiere of Rhapsody in Blue, mink-draped secretary-mistress on his arm, through his admiration of Mussolini, to the epoch-making issue of his son’s newspaper produced on September 6 1977 – “Elvis The Untold Story” – this book serves up one hunk of (Italo)Americana after another, and Pope tells the story with demotic verve.’
The Age
A true story that reads like The Godfather crossed with Citizen Kane
Intense rivalry and Borgia-like cunning made the Pope family one of America’s wealthiest and most influential. Creators of a tabloid empire that included the scandalous National Enquirer — once considered the black sheep of the American news media — the Pope patriarchs were the embodiment of the ultimate American immigrant dream.
Now, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the National Enquirer, Paul David Pope chronicles the family saga, from the arrival of his grandfather, Generoso Pope, on American shores with only pennies in his pockets to the unprecedented publishing success of his father, Gene Pope, Jr.
The Deeds of My Father is the gripping tale of two ambitious alpha males from a dysfunctional clan that would become an integral part of the American century. Drawing from more than 500 interviews, and voluminous documentary and archival sources, Pope chronicles their story, and his own, in candid and unvarnished fashion, letting all the chips — the light and the dark — fall where they may.
Reviews
‘Pope takes justifiable pride in his family’s achievements, and why shouldn’t he? There’s wealth, power, and brushes with fame aplenty here – including Mussolini and the Kennedys. Pope paints a lively and energetic picture.’
The Big Issue
‘A fabulous tale…a true fairytale of New York’
Herald Sun
» All reviews for this title‘A brilliant story, and well told.’
Courier Mail
