Just finished the last pages of "Friends and Enemies". Incredibly sincere and honest ! Beautifully written, colorful, witty, and highly entertaining. Amiel's love and loyalty to Conrad Back is truly touching. (I read Amiel's first memoir when I was a very young woman which made this read particularly special). What an inspiring view on an unusual and interesting life!
Wow. Before she was married I had the biggest crush on this woman. Her way of thinking was - is - far above my own. I respected the heck out of her and of her columns. It was because of her that I couldn't immediately condemn Conrad Black when he and the charges against him showed up in the news. He's written extensively about his ordeal in the U.S. and to this day I tend to believe what he wrote. Mostly because of Barbara Amiel and the respect I hold for her. No way would she stay with or put up with having someone in her life who's a criminal. It just isn't in her DNA - at least from what I've seen of her through the years. She's an amazing woman and I'm grateful for having been able to read her writings.
a legend in her own mind- no, people hated you because you seem to be a bad human- what a joke - heard she terrified people with threats-never relevant- poor babs is just an old woman -these are my opinions
I suggest reading Conrad & Lady Black Dancing On The Edge by Tom Bower for a more full view of the Conrad Black & Barbara Amiel. FYI: Mr. Black began the National Post newspaper in Canada.
Very well presented and very good acuity with respect to assessments. Without much detail her evaluation of/with Richler was excellent, but thin. Still in top form at 80. I think she would do well to write a book detailing her evaluation and analysis of Can. lit. I bet she hates most of Atwood's early work, but likes most of Margret Lawrence's work. She is a lot more interesting than is Conrad, and I suspect he knows it.
She's fascinating, agree heartily. What I most appreciate and find intensely compelling about her, is the strength of her point of view. She has such conviction, such a strong voice. She does her thinking BEFORE releasing her opinions, which is increasingly rare to behold in most humans; most are intensely reliant on the fashionable ovine herd, deferring to received opinion and regurgitating all that their high priests have sanctioned and approved whilst constantly taking the peer group's temperature. People like Lady Black are magnetic and inspiring and never to be underestimated.
As awful as they are, I kinda like her because she's so pretentious, and trashy. You can always rely of her to name drop. Her memoir is like a guide to social climbing.
What a sensational memoir. I read it compulsively, many a work night looking aghast at my little bedside travel clock to see '1.47am' flashing at me (my clock has had the same hard life Lady Black's has had; it's lost the plastic covering that keeps the AA battery in and I'm continuously swiping it clumsily to the floor too). I also took it recklessly with me into many a boiling hot bubble bath-- an enormous hardcover book that would surely have broken my nose if my clasped fingers should have gone into a spasm from the great weight of it). Unputdownable. Brava Lady Black!
I love the way she writes, though i disagree with her on many things. How lovely she was as a child! At 80 you can see she was a beauty but the horribly plumped-up lips do her no favours. Still, I admire her for a host of reasons.
A newly minted public persona to sell her book, does not disguise her disingenuous rationalizations about past behavior, even when admitting faults and past mistakes. Ones opinions, especially when defending dubious alliances with war criminals such as Henry Kissinger andi corrupt leaders as Trump, go deep into the dark side of socialite behavior.
I like Black, he’s a smart man. But stupidly, he choose British citizenship over Canadian. Sometimes smart people do stupid things...I guess. I mean British over Canadian?
Skeletor's face lift and lip fill, pathetic badges of a vain, essentially empty life of cocktail condescension. A wardrobe can't save her from the complete obscurity her superficial writing warrants. More or less Katie Hopkins if she'd had more luck at social climbing
I disagree with all her political views but her writing is not superficial. She has been a columnist on several respected world-class newspapers and a regular broadcaster on the kind of station that employs only very good exponents of their craft. Your other comments reek of envy and gratuitous insult.
@@elizabethsproule5227 haven't read her book, her columns are weak sauce, imho. Katie Hopkins writes for the Telegraph, btw. You have more respect for newspapers than i
Just finished the last pages of "Friends and Enemies". Incredibly sincere and honest ! Beautifully written, colorful, witty, and highly entertaining. Amiel's love and loyalty to Conrad Back is truly touching. (I read Amiel's first memoir when I was a very young woman which made this read particularly special). What an inspiring view on an unusual and interesting life!
I'm reading this book ,it's a great read
That these two people survived this ordeal is absolutely incredible
Well done beautiful Barbara
Wow. Before she was married I had the biggest crush on this woman. Her way of thinking was - is - far above my own. I respected the heck out of her and of her columns. It was because of her that I couldn't immediately condemn Conrad Black when he and the charges against him showed up in the news. He's written extensively about his ordeal in the U.S. and to this day I tend to believe what he wrote. Mostly because of Barbara Amiel and the respect I hold for her. No way would she stay with or put up with having someone in her life who's a criminal. It just isn't in her DNA - at least from what I've seen of her through the years.
She's an amazing woman and I'm grateful for having been able to read her writings.
First time I've heard her speak and have to say, she comes across as an honest individual.
A rare quality these days.
Barbara I have loved you most of my life. I loved your journalism. God bless you and your husband.
a legend in her own mind- no, people hated you because you seem to be a bad human- what a joke - heard she terrified people with threats-never relevant- poor babs is just an old woman -these are my opinions
I suggest reading Conrad & Lady Black Dancing On The Edge by Tom Bower for a more full view of the Conrad Black & Barbara Amiel. FYI: Mr. Black began the National Post newspaper in Canada.
Great yarn. Conrad's a lucky guy.
All we need is love!... no.. ... all we need is nuanced perspectives.
Very well presented and very good acuity with respect to assessments. Without much detail her evaluation of/with Richler was excellent, but thin. Still in top form at 80. I think she would do well to write a book detailing her evaluation and analysis of Can. lit. I bet she hates most of Atwood's early work, but likes most of Margret Lawrence's work. She is a lot more interesting than is Conrad, and I suspect he knows it.
She's fascinating, agree heartily. What I most appreciate and find intensely compelling about her, is the strength of her point of view. She has such conviction, such a strong voice. She does her thinking BEFORE releasing her opinions, which is increasingly rare to behold in most humans; most are intensely reliant on the fashionable ovine herd, deferring to received opinion and regurgitating all that their high priests have sanctioned and approved whilst constantly taking the peer group's temperature. People like Lady Black are magnetic and inspiring and never to be underestimated.
As awful as they are, I kinda like her because she's so pretentious, and trashy. You can always rely of her to name drop. Her memoir is like a guide to social climbing.
OLD School HACK
I love her, but at the same time, I am terrified by her.
Conrad Black is a treasure.
A very interesting lady.
Freedom of speech! ❤️
What a sensational memoir. I read it compulsively, many a work night looking aghast at my little bedside travel clock to see '1.47am' flashing at me (my clock has had the same hard life Lady Black's has had; it's lost the plastic covering that keeps the AA battery in and I'm continuously swiping it clumsily to the floor too). I also took it recklessly with me into many a boiling hot bubble bath-- an enormous hardcover book that would surely have broken my nose if my clasped fingers should have gone into a spasm from the great weight of it). Unputdownable. Brava Lady Black!
Spoiler alert : Interview with a fascist capitalist.
I honestly think the Conservative movement in Canada consists of about 18 people in total -- 12 writers and 6 media barons and baronesses.
And that's why the country has turned into a woke DISASTER zone where if you aren't following the party line they're taking your bank accounts
I love the way she writes, though i disagree with her on many things. How lovely she was as a child! At 80 you can see she was a beauty but the horribly plumped-up lips do her no favours. Still, I admire her for a host of reasons.
A newly minted public persona to sell her book, does not disguise her disingenuous rationalizations about past behavior, even when admitting faults and past mistakes. Ones opinions, especially when defending dubious alliances with war criminals such as Henry Kissinger andi corrupt leaders as Trump, go deep into the dark side of socialite behavior.
Nothing wrong with Trump sweetie x
the national post is about as incredulous as its owner. Conservatism has been on life support and there are no doctors rushing in to offer any help!
What a snob.
Nice and intelligent Lady!
I like Black, he’s a smart man. But stupidly, he choose British citizenship over Canadian. Sometimes smart people do stupid things...I guess. I mean British over Canadian?
Wolf in sheep's clothing, blah blah blah.....
Such a posh accent - she must have taken lessons from Henry Higgins when she was in London so she sound like a real lady.
She was born in England you cretin.
@@elizabethsproule5227 Trust me - not everyone in England speaks like that, not by a long way.
@@rodjones117 too bad!
A very beautiful lady
Don Nichols yes we she was younger!
刚买了她的新书，太喜欢这个直白的女人了。
There was a memorable description of bestiality in the book. Scandalous! Worth reading.
Skeletor's face lift and lip fill, pathetic badges of a vain, essentially empty life of cocktail condescension. A wardrobe can't save her from the complete obscurity her superficial writing warrants. More or less Katie Hopkins if she'd had more luck at social climbing
I disagree with all her political views but her writing is not superficial. She has been a columnist on several respected world-class newspapers and a regular broadcaster on the kind of station that employs only very good exponents of their craft. Your other comments reek of envy and gratuitous insult.
@@elizabethsproule5227 this depends on one's notion of superficial, of course. What do you offer as evidence?
@@hipsabad Her columns and her book.
@@elizabethsproule5227 haven't read her book, her columns are weak sauce, imho. Katie Hopkins writes for the Telegraph, btw. You have more respect for newspapers than i