Donald Campbell: My Life with a Hero Book

Scovell does not (that I remember) come out and say that O'Neill-Chaplin's marriage was the logical outcome of Oona's rejection by her celebrated father, but that is clearly the thrust. In marrying a higher achieving artist (actor, director, writer, composer, producer, and money manager) she was able to reconcile, to herself, that she was not the fault of her father's rejection.

As Scovell says, to get the "full picture" you have to "examine the two dynasties that produced her". She takes you through the intellectual and artistic achievements and travails of Oona's parents and grandparents. Her mother, Agnes Boulton, was a writer who made a living at it. Agnes's parents were distinguished in the visual arts and intellectual pursuits. More has been made of the O'Neill family tree since Eugene more or less followed his father, James, into the theater. James was an actor, famous for his performances all across the nation in the "The Count of Monte Cristo". James eventually bought the theatrical troop. Alcohol and depression plagued both families.

The book describes the Agnes Boulton - Eugene O'Neill marriage as a literary relationship. These were productive years for O'Neill for whom children were an inconvenience. He had a son from a previous wife, and Agnes had a daughter from a previous "marriage(?)", both in boarding school. He was not thrilled when 2 years into the marriage, son Shane was born. 5 years later, there seems to be some (temporary) pleasure in the baby Oona.

This was not the life or family O'Neill wanted. When he met Carlotta Monterey he quickly opted out. She would serve him, not disturb him. Carlotta would excuse his bad behavior and, most importantly keep his former wife and children away.

Oona was a beautiful teen. Given her intriguing lineage and her glamorous friends from Brearley School (education provided by her father according to the divorce agreement) she was in the news. Scovell shows how this incensed her father, who seemed to be looking for reasons to hate her. Highly eligible, courted by many, at age 18 she chose to marry Charlie Chaplin - age 58. .

The marriage is portrayed with Oona assuming the protective helpmate wife role that Carlotta played for her father. A major difference was having 8 children and advising Chaplin, when asked, on business or social issues. She seems to rely on staff for parenting, with the children's access to her and their father was well regulated.

The chapters on how Chaplin was hounded by the FBI and how the family avoided the red scare were very good, particularly Oona's role in getting their assets out of the country. This follows with chapters on life in Switzerland, Chaplin's physical decline, Oona's caretaker role, Chaplin's death and Oona's 17 years alone.

This is a 1998 book. Since that time, a 2014 book Charlie Chaplin: A Brief Life, paints a different portrait of family life than the cold but pleasant life Scovell presents. In the newer book, Chaplin's cruelty (mentioned from time to time by Scovell) is more fully described.

The book is well written, telling the story clearly. The b & w photos are of uneven interest. The index did not work the few times I used it. A family tree would have been helpful. This book is well written. and recommended for those with interest in Chaplin or Oona.