Your Newsletters are Interesting But…Part II
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece
People have asked if the research I share in my newsletters really ends up in my book. So I’ve been documenting the research — by newsletter — and detailing where it resides in To Catch a Spy!
In Part II of this series, I pick up with my May 2024 newsletter. Here we go…
BTW, you can buy To Catch a Spy at several online bookstores, including Amazon.
Newsletter Item & Chapter in To Catch a Spy
May 2024
The Real John Robie. In the May 2024 newsletter, I wrote about the real cat burglar, Dante Spada. He was reported to be a fantastic athlete; he swam, ran, and climbed trees to stay in tip-top burglar shape.
As a reminder of the events, the author of To Catch a Thief, David Dodge, was renting a place at the Riviera with his family, whom he took on an overnight trip. That same night, the villa next to the Dodge’s place was robbed, and the two most famous Elsa’s -- Schiaparelli, the fashion designer, and Maxwell, the gossip columnist -- were staying there as guests. When Dodge returned, the authorities detained him. They soon realized he couldn’t be a cat burglar, but the incident inspired him to write To Catch a Thief.
Soon thereafter, the police captured Dante Spada, who supposedly looked a lot like French actor Jean Marais. Must have been a tough life for Dante, looking like that guy and being so athletic.
Jean Marais (looks like Patrick Swayze if you ask me)
Anyway, check out Chapter 6 for some inspirational tree climbing, and Chapter 11, where we meet Luca Spada, one of John’s best friends.
Convertibles. In that same newsletter, I also wrote about Francie’s convertible from To Catch a Thief, the one she was driving when she took John Robie on a picnic (one of my all-time favorite cinema scenes). The car was a Sunbeam Alpine MK - 1, and I LOVED it.
To me, convertibles always spoke to luxury and a carefree attitude — the folks in the convertible, the raw air and sun, etc. I feel that way today when I see people driving one.
There’s also a dash of danger in those cars. After all, you’re very much exposed. But that just added to the intrigue…
Remember this scene?
I mentioned in that newsletter that I was going to put Francie in a convertible, but a different one. So, see Chapters 2, 44, and 80 for Francie in her Delahaye 235 Chapron.
Calypso Music. Finally, in that same newsletter, I wrote about Calypso music. I covered where it started in the Caribbean and its famous chantwell style, where the lead singer does a call & response with the orchestra.
I also wrote about my first exposure to Calypso; it was 1962’s film, Dr. No, the first of the many incredible James Bond movies. Harry Belafonte’s The Banana Boat Song from that film is still one of my favorites.
I said I would find a home for Calypso music in my book, To Catch a Spy, and Chapter 11 is where you can find mentions of it.
A little risque but…
June, 2024
French Table Wine. I knew a wonderful, generous man named Pete DeCenzo, who was the first ‘gentleman farmer’ I ever knew. The man was wildly successful in business, and also had a magnificent estate on a farm in central NJ.
Anyway, John Robie lived at the legendary Villa Bijoux, and I imagined he might be a gentleman farmer, although in his case, I had him with a modest vineyard. In the June, 2024 newsletter, I wrote about what goes into making a quality French wine, and also wrote about French table wines, which don’t meet the special criteria but can be excellent and often uncomplicated.
Chapter 6 in To Catch a Spy is where you can find out about John’s vineyard and French wines.
Come on a My House. In the June ‘24 newsletter, I wrote about Rosemary Clooney and her very popular song, Come on a My House, which is loaded with double entrendres, and is one of the more empowering songs I’ve listened to.
She also starred in White Christmas with Bing Crosby, who said she was ‘the best in the business’ when it came to singing. I even shared a little connection between that film and To Catch a Thief.
Rosemary Clooney
And finally, she was present in 1968 when RFK was assassinated. Several folks remember Rosie Grier, the ex-NFL star, who helped restrain the assassin, but Rosemary was there, too.
The song is mentioned in Chapter 7 of To Catch a Spy.
Hotel Belle Rives. The Hotel Belle Rives arguably has more history surrounding it than any hotel in the Riviera, and I wrote about it in that same newsletter.
Before it was a fantastic hotel, it was a villa -- Villa Saint-Louis. And the most famous residents of that villa were F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda. They entertained several literary celebrities there, including Ernest Hemingway, Dorothy Parker, and Robert Benchley (who’s grandson went on to write Jaws).
Also, Fitz wrote what he considered to be his masterpiece while staying there -- Tender is the Night. That book mirrored his personal life, and the challenges he and his wife encountered during that time.
Hotel Belle Rives
There will be more to come!!