The writer Michael Schumacher (not to be confused with the Formula 1 driver) known for his biographies of Francis Ford Coppola andEric Clapton, died at the age of 75. His daughter, Emily Joy SchumacherShe confirmed this week that her father had died on December 29th. She did not specify the cause of death.
She thus stated: “My father was a very generous person. He loved people, talking with them, listening to them. He loved stories. When I think of him, I always picture him deep in conversation, a coffee in his hand and his notebook close at hand.”
Cult classics
Among Michael Schumacher's works are Francis Ford Coppola: A Filmmaker's Life, Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton et Dharma Lion: Biography ofAllen Ginsberg, the influential poet of the Beat Generation. Emily Schumacher described her father as "A history enthusiast" et "A good man."
She explained that he wrote by hand, filling many notebooks before transcribing his notes on a typewriter, and that she still remembered the characteristic sound of the keys.
A great admirer of Coppola
In an interview with Weber State University, Michael Schumacher discussed his approach to the Coppola biography: “I admired his work. I wanted to write a serious biography. When he agreed to collaborate, I was able to conduct real interviews, not only with members of his family, but also with people who had worked with him and had a lot to say.”
When asked about his approach to writing a biography, he explained: “Actually, I prefer not to start with too many preconceived ideas. I let the story tell itself. We know a little about the subject because we’ve read their work, or listened to it, as in the case of Eric Clapton or Phil Ochs, or watched it, as in the case of Coppola, for a large part of his life.”
