I just finished, Siler’s The House of Mondavi and I am surprised how poorly the Mondavi family is portrayed. I am not criticizing the author. I am taking the book as accurate and if it is indeed so, this family is one of the most unsympathetic “dynasties” about which I have read.
Goodness, everyone hates everyone, everyone undercuts everyone else, generations of leaders pit their offspring against each other. Incredible and sad.
With the exception of Robert Mondavi’s dealings with the growers and his singular contribution to fine wine appreciation in this country, I find this to be a dishonorable group. Just my ten’s cents worth…Did anyone else read this biography?
Yes, I read it and thought it was a fascinating book. I don’t think Robert or his Brother came off as bad, it just seemed to me that they didn’t get along.
It was Robert’s sons, for the most part who I thought came off looking awful, especially Michael.
Yoni - I thought how both brothers handled their sons was pretty tough as well. And it was portrayed that they both enjoyed the failures of the other whenever the circumstances presented difficulties. Again, the author may have pushed this, but from the book I thought Peter Sr. and big man Robert were very rough as well. Regards, John
If you know people like that, it’s not all that horrid. Think back to the Medici and the Renaissance. Or even earlier to Rome and Ceasar and how the Senate dealt with him. Or even earlier to the Greeks. As my father used to say, they’re perhaps too human. Their loves and their hatreds are extreme. Good film material too.
John, I think because time was condensed in the book, it may have come off a bit harsher than it did in real life. It’s just that when you are living it and time draws out, it doesn’t usually seem as hars until you’ve had time to look back (like this book.) That being said, I could be wrong as it definitely wasn’t a flattering portrayal for the most part.
Greg, well said. You put it more eloquently than I could ever try to.
I also think a film will come of this, not sure how soon, but it will happen.
Yes, I had a very similar feeling about the book. It was well written, easy to read and interesting, but on finishing it, my sense was that it had not explained how Robert Mondavi and his family were capable of building the Mondavi empire, no matter how short lived it ended up being. I ended up wondering how it was that these folks were capable of making anything at all. And that’s a fault with the narrative.
It’s an Eye-talian thing! Unless, your last name ends with a vowel, you wouldn’t understand the dynamics and the drama that goes with it
Just kidding. Somewhat. The House of Mondavi was well-researched and objective for the most part (unlike the written tripe from James Conaway for example). Still, I found it a difficult read despite knowing the outcome. Write whatever negative, judgemental things you want about Robert Mondavi, but the man was a visionary who did more to advance the wine industry in this country than anyone who comes to mind.
If you want a really messy Italian-California wine family story, get Ellen Hawkes’ “Blood & Wine” (1993) about the Gallos. The writing is inelegant, but it’s a great saga.
It’s just the usual garden-variety Italian family dynamic, right? As Bob Dylan once wrote: “…there’s no success like failure, and failure’s no success at all.” So it goes.
I liked the book. This family’s disfunctionality is really not that uncommon. Nevertheless, each of the family members seemed more intent on proving themselves right than thoughtfully solving any of the business issues at hand. Arguably, there were many opportunities to retain their empire, but they literally and figuratively just couldn’t help themselves. Though not quite Cain and Abel, it was also sad to see Michael and Tim mirror the Robert and Peter relationship.
As Bob Dylan once wrote: “…there’s no success like failure, and failure’s no success at all.” So it goes.