Being a fan of HBO’s Succession, I think I have a thing for rich people acting like dolts. Not even four years of the Trump regime could change that.
I had checked out this book months ago but didn’t have time to read it. Plus the reviews were not very positive. However, as it got closer to movie time, I really wanted to know the story as it seemed fascinating. So I grabbed it again.
This is a “true crime” book in a very nominal sense of the word. Sara Gay Forden does indeed cover the circumstances and aftermath of the murder of Maurizio Gucci. But you can tell her real interest lies in the machinations and intrigues on how Gucci went from being a Florentine boutique shop to a fashion giant. She documents the internal politics and family strife well. A lot of the legalese and corporatespeak but the characters are so interesting, I couldn’t help but see what would happen next.
I get the bad reviews: the structure is kind of weird. Forden is more interested in tackling subjects than sticking to a strict chronology. But she still presents a full picture of the Gucci Empire and what was at stake for the up-and-down company. For someone who knows next-to-nothing about the fashion world, I still found this readable.
I do wish she had spent more time on Maurizio and Patrizia’s relationship as that is supposed to be the catalyst of the story. Nevertheless, this is a good read if you want to know about what made Gucci Gucci, with a crime story tacked on as well.