The Mysterious Montague: A True Tale of Hollywood, Golf, and Armed Robbery

I really enjoyed reading this book about someone I had never heard of before. It was very interesting.

Starting with an armed robbery in upstate New York and ending in a Hollywood graveyard filled with stars, this story of the rise and fall of a awe-inspiring golfer ground up by America's fickle taste in celebrities can be read on a surface level as a linear biography of a sideshow performer who fell short of the American Dream as the public watched, then went away. But beneath the story lies a commentary about who we are Americans are as a people and it isn't very pretty.While a certain cultural literacy of America and show business from 1930 ti 1970 can be helpful, it is by no means essential to the enjoyment of this the book.Filled with press clips that both hail and revile the title character(s), and dropping more celebrity names than a than a Hollywood social climber, The Mysterious Montague left me saddened. Montague/Moore seems to be a nice enough (perhaps) blue collar guy who got blinded by the white spotlight of life among the rich and famous. His ultimate fall is predictable, but that doesn't lessen the Greek tragedy aspects of it.There is depth hidden in the seemingly straight-ahead sportswriting in this book. Perhaps the ultimate moral of the story is that you don't have to pursue celebrity; sometimes it will find you, and eat you for lunch.

This was a gift for my husband. He is a golfer and sailor. He loved this book.

Leigh Montville is as talented as any sportswriter working today, and this book proves once again that a great writer can make grass growing something worth reading about, not that the title character is boring. "The Mysterious Montague" is a tale about a con artist who happened to play great golf. All the characters in this true life saga are long passed away, so Montville relies on newspaper articles to provide the backbone of his research. The main character remains a mystery once the reader finishes the book, though having been finely entertained by the author in the process.Highly recommended.

This is one of those books that's very interesting and should definitely be made into a movie. Unfortunately the book is written in such a way as it is more of an "account" of an interesting person, rather than a story told in such a way that it draws you into his life and time. More in the style of a documentary. Very interesting and any golfer over the age of 40 would probably enjoy it. Since many people who mentioned are from a long away era, if you don't know who they are, or care, it will be less interesting.

This guy may have been one of the best golfers ever. If you love the game it is a must read.

A true story of a man who hid his true identity because of a crime. He left New York and headed for Hollywood; he became an outstanding golfer and became friends with the Hollywood celebrities of the 1930's. The conclusion of his life story is like a Hollywood movie except it is true.

Grantland Rice helped create the legend of Mystery Montague; Leigh Montville delivers a compelling account of the real Montague. Somebody’s going to make a movie from this book someday. Can’t wait!!

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Great book. Captures a golden era in Hollywood well and is a must read for any avid golfer.