Greek Fire: The Story of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis Hardcover – October 3, 2000

One of my favorite books (and one I have vowed to read again) if you are interested in Maria Callas and/or Aristotle Onassis. It is beautifully written by the author of Eleni (another book I recommend after this) and does read like the most tragic of tragedies (at least for Maria). It shows the immense and irrational power of love that Maria, an incredibly successful person in her own right, probably THE opera diva of all time, by no means a weak person, could pursue love so relentlessly with someone who was never going to fully reciprocate her desire for complete union. In many ways it reads like an Anclient Greek play with all the fatalism of being in the hands of the Gods and the fatal flaws that bring about downfall (and those characteristics are not uncommon among modern Greeks).It is not separate biographies of each, rather a combined biography of the two, treated as one half of a relationship. Don't look for a detailed musical analysis of Callas' music, rather a passionate story of a relationship sadly gone awry. One of the most beautiful quotes was from a mutual friend who described them in the famous analogy used by Plato of two hemispheres that spend the whole of their lives trying to find the other half to complete themselves. Callas fully understood that; tragically, Onassis didn't.Don't hesitate!

Great read .Full of information.

The book appeared brand new and was also signed by the author! I did not expect until after Christmas but it delivered early. It was a gift for my mom and she hasn't put it down since receiving it.

The respected Greek-American journalist and biographer Nicholas Gage has written an exhaustive chronicle of perhaps the most sensational episode in Maria Callas' sensational life--her stormy and ultimately tragic involvement with Aristotle Onassis, the Greek shipping magnate.The tale of Callas' life and art, of course, has been told and retold in many volumes of varying worth, but biographically Mr. Gage's carefully researched and verified effort cannot fail to impress. Due to his dual subjects, his chronology largely limits itself to the last two decades of Callas' life (she became seriously involved with Onassis in 1959), but within this time frame he has come up with some startling new revelations, including the astonishing assertion (supported by convincing evidence) that Callas gave birth to a son by Onassis in 1960. The baby died the same day it was born, and this tragic event affected the entire rest of their relationship. There is a reverent, almost mystical tone in Gage's writing about the pair, a feeling that their romance was fated to happen and should have turned out much more happily than it did. This is backed up by the opinions of numerous people close to the couple that Onassis' impulsive pursuit of and marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy was the greatest mistake of his life.Undoubtedly Onassis and Callas come vividly to life in these pages as people, warts and all. About Callas the musician Gage is less convincing. Although he speaks denigratingly about the false stories of the diva that have been uncritically perpetuated by biographers copying from each other, Gage himself does the same on occasion. For example, he repeats the standard tale of the January 1958 Rome Opera "walkout," that Callas was voiceless and struggling against hecklers from the very start of the performance. In fact, as Michael Scott has pointed out, a broadcast tape is readily available of the performance which belies both these contentions. Overall, too, Callas, even with her voice in decline, remained much more interested in singing after she met Onassis than the rather indolent portrait that emerges from these pages would indicate. Post-1960 there were several complete opera recordings, and numerous collections of arias released on disc, and these are just the commercial studio efforts.Still, Callas the artist has been well-served in much other writing, notably that of John Ardoin. Gage's book corrects many more errors than it perpetuates. It is obligatory reading for any fan and, for that matter, anyone who wishes to know more about this eternally glamorous and fascinating pair.

Thanks so much for quick shipping and excellent condition of book!

This Book accomplishes a fantatic inside look at what waas going on - REALLY GOING ON - behind the scenes - in the period hosted by so many amazing players, Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas and the worlds they lived in.. Top Global Business, Opera, Royalty, Politics (Jackie O and the Kennedys) the Top Movers and Shakers in the World... It offers a fantastic understanding of the epitome of what was great in the Greek character as well.. It is a great study of great historical figures and presented in a way that is credible, backed by so much oral histor. It is a fast read, thoroughly enjoyable, and opens windows onto an era on so many levels. Thanks to the great writing.

Gage is an excellent writer. I've read all of his books, but this was the first of his writings that I read, albeit some years back. I loaned the book to someone and never got it back, so I bought this copy for my wife so that she could enjoy it (I'm reading it again). It is such an eye-opener into the lifestyles of the rich back in the 50's and 60's, and does play out like a Greek tragedy. When it comes to biographies, Gage is up there with the best of them. His research is thorough, which allows the reader to feel the human side of Callas and Onassis.

I highly recommend this book if you like reading biographies and memoirs. I personally love Maria Callas and this book gives you a great deal of information about her. The reading is easy as it is well-written, and even though the author has been pointed out as making up a few details, I think most of the info is true as I've read other Maria Callas's biographies and facts are pretty much the same. It has lots of great photographs that help you imagine how things were. I loved the photos!