Cradle of the Deep : The Grand Adventures of Joan Lowell that were Not Quite True

First published in 1929, Cradle of the Deep was the bestselling book that became ascandal!

In 1923, Joan Lowell was an aspiring writerand rising silent film star in Hollywood. Young, beautiful, and talented, shewas adored by all. Then she published her autobiography in 1929: arip-roaringmemoir of a young girl growing up on a schooner with her hearty sea captainfather and a crew of salty sailors and the incredible and death-defyingadventures she had traveling the world.

Exceptnone of it was true!

Born in 1902 in Berkeley, California as HelenWagner to a middle-class family. Yes, her father was a Pacific Ocean merchantschooner captain. And yes, he took Joanand her motheron a 15-month sailingadventure when she was a girl. After knocking around odd jobs in San Francisco,young Helen moved to Los Angeles to take acting lessons and began her career.Her early notable roles were in pirate movies as either the intrepid heroine ordamsel in distress.

She published her autobiography which becamea runaway best-seller in 1929. But a few months later, the truth was revealed.She had never left the shores of California! Amidst the scandal, Joan remaineddefiant, telling the Pittsburgh Press in 1930,Eighty percent of it was true and the rest I coloredup. I made some changes to protect people and the rest to make it betterreading. That's an author's privilege.

This edition features archival photos and press clippings and a short biography of Joan Lowell and her infamous book.