by Alan Brinkley. Founded by Henry R. Luce, Time Inc. not only helped create a new form of magazine journalism but also changed the way we receive our news. That is the main premise behind Brinkley's magisterial biography. The surefooted Brinkley (Voices of Protest: Huey Long, Father Coughlin and the Great Depression) details the formative events of the publisher's life and skillfully explains how Luce succeeded in launching Time in 1923, targeting middle-class readers through its novel format. Soon after, Luce created Fortune and Life magazines, which made him one of the most powerful publishers in the business. Moreover, he was not hesitant to use his power, whether to advocate the cause of Chiang Kai-shek in China or support Republican presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower. Brinkley also vividly depicts Luce's tumultuous marriage to Clare Booth, but while he covers all the important events, Ralph G. Martin's Henry & Clare: An Intimate Portrait of the Luces is a more successful recounting of their marriage as well as of Clare Booth's own fascinating life. VERDICT In this era, with print media in crisis, Brinkley reminds us of its heyday. Thoroughly researched and well written, this outstanding biography is mandatory reading for all journalism students and will appeal to all readers of American history. --Library Journal
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