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Verdict: Portrait photographer and film historian Vieira (Sin in Soft Focus) has created a handsome book, filled with previously unpublished photographs, on one of Hollywood's first star-makers, Irving Thalberg. Recommended for academic and large public libraries. Background: Part biography, part illustrated coffee-table collection, this book spans the years of Thalberg's career, from 1920 to his death in 1936, during which time he was known as the "Boy Wonder" of Hollywood. Vieira investigates Thalberg's legacy-he is viewed both as the genius "architect of the Hollywood studio system" and as an "exploiter of writers." Using recently discovered interviews and more than 200 rarely seen photographs, Vieira captures the look of a lost period-a world in transition from silent film into the early studio era-and the man who helped shape it.-Teri Shiel, Westfield State Coll. Lib., MA Copyright 2008 Media Source Inc. Copyright 2008 Media Source Inc. ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More