The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed

by Sara Gay Forden

Book Overview

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE from director Ridley Scott, starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver The sensational true story of murder, madness, glamour, and greed that shook the Gucci dynasty, now fully updated with a new afterword On March 27, 1995, Maurizio Gucci, heir to the fabulous fashion dynasty, was slain by an unknown gunman as he approached his Milan office. In 1998, his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani Martinelli--nicknamed "The Black Widow" by...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688163130
• ISBN13: 9780688163136
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

All the charm of an encyclopedia

I was not as smitten as other reviewers. This exhausting list of chronological facts includes thousands of names (people, streets, buildings, even model numbers) ... endless Italian quotes with no translation (how smug) ... excruciating minutia that will leave you knowing more about the Gucci company than you know about your own employer. Every time I forged ahead, I fell asleep. To be fair, though, this wasn't the subject matter for me. I consider mass-produced luxury labels, such as Gucci purses, schizophrenic: "Look at me -- I have money. Don't look at me -- I have no personality. Must. Blend. In." The movie is so juicy and engaging, I wound up ordering the book. I expected too much from a treatise that reads mostly like an annual report. Think Sgt. Joe Friday: "Just the facts, ma'am."

Interesting Book

Nice work! The author really paints a picture and makes you feel like you are there watching this family drama unfold. i have seen the movie and I can without a doubt the book is WAY better than the movie.

A Passion for Fashion...

The House of Gucci reads like a soap opera in book form. Dramatic elements involving the fashion industry, business, and a dysfunctional family are deftly interwoven into a book that is impossible to put down. This novel is a perfect example of how power and greed can lead to the downward spiral of an outwardly- perfect family. Forden writes in a way that would keep any of a number of people riveted, including the fashionistas, the business- savvy,and those who are simply fond of the Italian culture. I have not hesitated in recommending this book to friends and family.

A Must-Have for Fashionistas

This book provides an insightful look into the history and development of the House of Gucci. I have learned everything about how the business started, the Gucci family turmoil, and the recent comeback and dominance of Gucci. This is a great read.

Rodolfo's teaching

I'm from Taiwan so I read Chinese translation. My opinion just focus on Rodolfo's teaching his son, Maurizio, just gave him small cash to avoid spending unlimited. However, he didn't thought they were a rich, famous family, whatever they eat or wear, they used the best. Not like poor family children, he didn't feel what's wrong to spend money in luxury way.I think why Maurizio couldn't control using because of this, he couldn't ask money in the face of his father but his friend and Louis, they could lend him. As long as he take the authority, his weakness show on cash flow immediately. If he had a brother like Roy Disney, maybe the result is different.I think it's a problem for some family, which parents was born from poor but their children live wealthy life to teach them how to cherish or the meaning to use proper money.

Excellent Book!

This was a great book! It was so hard to put it down. Before reading the book, I had no idea of all the problems that existed within the Gucci family. I highly recommend this book, even if you're not a Gucci customer.

INTELLIGENT AND AMUSING

I thought that I had read more than I ever wanted to know about the Gucci family until I read this book by Sara Forden. It is fun to read but at the same time highly intelligent and perceptive.