Ghost of a Chance
A Memoir
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4.1 • 15 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
“The story of [Peter] Duchin’s life has an elegiac aura of glamour and tragedy that might have come directly from the imagination of F. Scott Fitzgerald.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“This book brings back marvelous memories of a very special time.”—Frank Sinatra
Called “a living compendium of a hundred years of social history” by The New York Times Book Review, Peter Duchin has lived through tremendous highs and dismal lows. Orphaned by his glamorous parents, the Newport debutante Marjorie Oelrichs and the famous bandleader Eddy Duchin, he was raised in the privileged, old-money world of Averell Harriman, the diplomat and former governor of New York. He grew up to be one of America’s preeminent bandleaders, effortlessly entertaining and charming partygoers at thousands of society galas, from the White House to Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball.
In Ghost of a Chance, he looks back on a life that another man may not have survived. And as he relates the frank, often surprising recollections of the many friends and famous figures who made up the strange family of his youth, Duchin chronicles the changing face of social life in America.
Praise for Ghost of a Chance
“A tale told with wit and charm . . . It is a sprightly, engaging, and at times hilarious look back at a life spent in music, show business, and what used to be called society.”—The Boston Globe
“A bittersweet gem of a book.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Peter Duchin’s glamorous story is about absent fathers, surrogate mothers, and dwelling on the edges of money and power in a tuxedoed world.”—Gay Talese
“A great read.”—Frank Sinatra
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Pianist, conductor and composer Duchin's mother died in 1937 when he was only a few days old and he never saw much of his father, famed bandleader Eddie Duchin. In spite of this, he had a privileged childhood, and, as he recalls it here, his life has never been less than charmed. Brought up by Averell Harriman, the former governor of New York, and his wife, Marie, on their estate, he studied music at Hotchkiss and Yale but didn't think seriously of a career until after a carefree year in France and an easy stint in the army. Once he decided to follow in his father's footsteps, however, name and connections made everything easy. Before long, his band was providing music for presidential inauguration balls, state dinners and society events around the world. In this lightweight autobiography written with freelancer Michener, Duchin tells of his life with the Harrimans, his year of bohemian living in Paris, his two marriages and his lifelong association with the rich and famous. The only bitter note is his account of the machinations of Averell Harriman's second wife, Pamela, currently the U.S. ambassador to France, who he claims destroyed his close relationship with his "second father." Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.
