The Butler
By Wil Haygood
- Release Date: 2013-07-30
- Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Description
This mesmerizing companion book to the award-winning film, The Butler traces the Civil Rights Movement and explores crucial moments of twentieth century American history through the eyes of Eugene Allen—a White House butler who served eight presidents over the course of thirty-four years.
During the presidencies of Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan, Eugene Allen was a butler in the most famous of residences: the White House. An African American who came of age during the era of Jim Crow, Allen served tea and supervised buffets while also witnessing some of the most momentous decisions made during the second half of the twentieth century, including Lyndon B. Johnson’s work during the Civil Rights Movement and Ronald Reagan getting tough on apartheid. But even as Allen witnessed the Civil Rights legislation develop, his family, friends, and neighbors were still contending with Jim Crow America.
Timely, “poignant and powerful” (Kirkus Reviews) The Butler also explores Eugene Allen and his family’s background along with the history of African Americans in Hollywood and also features a foreword by the film’s director Lee Daniels.
Reviews
NOT a BOOK, but an ADVERTISEMENT!
1By MikeH50This is a glorified background on the movie, nothing else, compete waste of money and I feel duped by this company and the author for listing it as an autobiography which it is NOT.Disappointed
2By IPhonePicsI though this would be more about what inspired the movie. It was mostly about the movie. I did enjoy the beginning when it talked about Eugene Allen's story. I guess I need to go find the original article written about him.The butler
1By castmrl10I want my money back, it doesn't open in my iPad .......It's. It the movie- beware
2By DennisM99Sometimes they say to movie didn't do justice to the book. So I bought the book before seeing the movie. This is not the book the movie was made from. It's more about how the movie was made and the movies place in black movie history. Good read but not what I wantedVery Misleading Title
1By ChipSandersI wish i had read the other reviews before purchasing. I suppose this is one of the drawbacks to downloading as opposed to buying the physical book...you can't look through it. This is not the story of the Butler. It is an advertisement for the movie ...that i had to pay for! The balance of the book was a history lesson about African Americans in the cinema. While somewhat interesting, it was certainly NOT what I thought I was buying and I feel deceived & misled.The Butler
5By docne1963An excellent companion book to the movie! I thought it would be the screenplay, but I was pleasantly surprised. This book gives a rich history and background to the movie. I now want to see the movie again!!The Butler
1By Consta anceThis was a rip off. I thought it was a book about the real life of Eugene Allen. I wish I had gotten a sample. I feel exploited! I want my money back. Do not buy.I want a refund
1By Norwegia FanThis is not a book but an advertisement for the movie. To charge $11 for a book that is 200 pages of nothing is wrong. I want my money back.Not the story
1By Tinmann128This book is more about African-Americans in film rather than the story of "the butler". DisappointedThe butler
1By WilliasaWhat a waste of time and money. Nothing more than a promotion of the cast of the movie. Not even well written.