From the New York Times best-selling biographer of Jimmy Stewart and Clint Eastwood comes a major, in-depth look at one of the most enduring American film icons of all time. An audience favorite and top box office draw for decades, John Wayne symbolized masculinity, power, and patriotism, and inspired millions of Americans. Yet despite his popularity and success, he was unfairly dismissed as a "B" movie actor lacking elegance, creativity, range, and...

"A revelatory biography of the enduringly popular John Wayne that draws on more than 100 interviews as well as exclusive access to the files of Wayne's film production company to answer the question why he became and remains an iconic American figure"--