It's important to know that this is a memoir rather than an autobiography, and that it's formed from a series of conversations that Baker had with a French journalist: as such, it's chatty, it's uneven. and it's a fairly on the surface account of an amazing woman and her amazing life.

Born at the start of the twentieth century Baker is phenomenal: she's a dancer, a performer, and a movie star; she works for the French Resistance during WW2, and she's part of the Civil Rights movement. She is outspoken about racism and her forceful approach to standing up against injustices.

Nevertheless, I never felt that I really got to grips with Baker: for example, she talks about how she made the decision, as a sixteen year old to just leave her family and go on the stage; she describes how she simply haunted a producer till he agreed to let her join his show; from there, someone comes along and pays her a massive salary just to get her to join their company. There just seems so much that is unspoken about how that all happened in an America which she has described as openly racist.

So this definitely gives a feel for Baker's voice and an outline of what was an incredible life - I just wanted more of everything: more details, more thoughtful contemplation, more body to everything that we're told here. Added to a fuller biography this would make a fantastic companion piece but as a standalone, I felt it just skims the surface of a fascinating life.

What a great read about the extraordinary life of Josephine Baker. Very interesting and informative read about her incredible life and all of her accomplishments