A cracking read and terrific investigative journalism
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I disagree completely with the long winded 1 star review. the 'reviewer' is missing the point. This is a terrific read and an insight into the character of one of the most charasmatic, interesting and colourful figures of the 20th century. The author interviewed people WHO WERE THERE!!
You will find 'Ari' available somewhere but I would recommend this book as one of the definitive books on Onassis.
I salute you Mr Evans
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ONASSIS DID NOT MURDER RFK
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The most sensational claim Evans makes is that Aristotle Onassis indirectly paid for RFK's murder.His 'proof' is shockingly inadequate.
Central to Evans's thesis are entries in Sirhan's notebooks which purportedly connected Aristotle Onassis to the assassin. Evans alleges Sirhan's notebooks make reference to Alexander Onassis's girlfriend Fiona, whom his father detested, and Stavros Niarchos, his shipping rival, whom he also hated.
However, Evans's juxtaposition of names to prove Sirhan wrote about killing Onassis's enemies is misleading. Sirhan had placed the name FIONA in a list of racehorse names - Fiona, Jet-Spec, Kings Abbey and Prince Khaled. The Arabic script consists of one sentence "He should be killed" (not "They should be killed" as Evans alleges) and does not refer to either Niarkos or Fiona.
The diary entry "Niarkos" remains unexplained, as do many other entries in Sirhan's notebooks, but there is no indication it refers to anyone on a Sirhan 'Death List'. The words in Sirhan's notebooks were the result of simple stream-of-consciousness ramblings he learned from Rosicrucian literature as ways to improve his life. The notebooks are filled with names of people Sirhan knew - Bert Altfillisch, Peggy Osterkamp and Gwen Gum for example, and people he didn't know like Garner Ted Armstrong. The entries which refer to $100,000 were simply Sirhan's obsessions about wealth and appear a number of times in the notebooks.
Also central to Evans's thesis was the implication that Sirhan had spent a three month period before the assassination being trained by terrorists or undergoing hypnotic indoctrination. Evans was wrong in stating Sirhan's movements were unaccounted for, or "a blanket of white fog" as he put it. Sirhan's movements in the months prior to the assassination leave no unaccountable period when the assassin could have spent a considerable amount of time being "hypnotically indoctrinated." In the year preceding the assassination Sirhan was seen frequently in the Hi-Life bar in Pasadena by waitress Marilyn Hunt.He was also seen in Shap's Bar during this period. In July 1967 Sirhan filed a disability complaint for workmen's compensation. Between July and September 1967 Sirhan's mother and brother Munir said Sirhan went often to the Pasadena library.Library records confirm he borrowed books during the so-called 'white fog' period. Sirhan's mother said her son `..stayed at home for over a year (sic) with no job'(October 1966 to September 1967). Sirhan, by his mother's account, often drove her to work during the time he was unemployed. On 9th September 1967 Sirhan began work at John Weidner's health food store.Weidner reported no long periods of absence up to the time Sirhan left his employ in March 1968. So how did Sirhan `emerge(ed) from this `white fog' in March 1968, (and) joined the (Rosicrucians)' as Evans states? (Author's note: Sirhan actually joined the Rosicrucians in June 1966.) And, as I point out in my review of Evans' book in Crime Magazine, (http://crimemagazine.com/05/robertkennedy,0508-5.htm ), Sirhan's movements in the three month period before the assassination leave no time unaccounted for.
Dominick Dunne is wrong - this book will not change history.
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The Powerful in the 60's
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As I was born in the seventies this book was an excellent introduction to the remarkable world of the rich and famous during the sixties. The main body of the book describes the entaglement between the Onassis and Kennedy clans. Each key player is well introduced and Evans makes it easy to see the motives that drive these people. Throughout you will find yourself asking 'Does this kind of thing happen nowadays?'. As you would expect the last few chapters of the book describe the demise of Onassis. This part of the book I found very powerful as it really helps to open up Onassis' character. Overall, highly recommended.
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A great read!
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A great read that takes you to the very centre of the lives of the rich and famous. Couldn't put it down.
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Nemesis - The True Story
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Great read! I read Peters Evans' biography of Onassis (Ari)a couple of years ago and this book really adds to the story. I strongly recommend it.
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