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Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh
'This is the best book we have had on Vivien Leigh, the most thoroughly and shrewdly researched, the most acute in its realization that Leigh was an actress who had to find herself in her parts if she was to do well, but who invariably began to destroy herself in the process.'--The Boston Sunday Globe
Paperback, 342 pages
Published
January 12th 1994
by Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
(first published May 28th 1987)
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I have seldom been more disappointed with a biography. I felt it should have been wonderful, considering the authority of the sources and the expertise of the author. However, it was dense and often dull in its repetitiveness. Other times, he left out key facts. For instance, Vivien suddenly has a relapse of her tuberculosis, and yet we were never told when she contracted it to begin with!
Walker continues to draw conclusions based on vague facts, painting a very two-dimensional image...more
Walker continues to draw conclusions based on vague facts, painting a very two-dimensional image...more
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If you are interested in the marriage of Vivien Leigh and Laurance Olivier, this is the book for you. I wanted a book with its main focus on Leigh's career. I thought I had read somewhere that this book was it. But I was greatly disappointed in that regard. Only 2 movies get much attention and those were her big ones, Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire. But even with these the focus is off for me. We learned for the millionth time how she got the part of Scarlett. I wanted to...more
Poor, poor Vivien. That's what kept circulating through my mind as I read this. Last night I had only 30 pages left, but it took me two hours to read them; I could not stop crying over how tragic the last few years of her life were.
The author writes most eloquently about her life and feelings, painting a vast panorama of Vivien's life and providing insight into not only how professional she was, but how brave. This biography reads like a novel, and Walker places the same emphasis on ...more
The author writes most eloquently about her life and feelings, painting a vast panorama of Vivien's life and providing insight into not only how professional she was, but how brave. This biography reads like a novel, and Walker places the same emphasis on ...more
I always loved Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind, because she is so charismatic and such a beauty; you watch no-one else while she is on screen. And the story of how a virtually unknown English actress bumped out of the running hundreds of hopefuls for Margaret Mitchell's very American story demonstrates Vivien Leigh's determination.
Her life story and love affairs were interesting reading because the intensity of her presence on the screen seems to match that of her personal life. ...more
Her life story and love affairs were interesting reading because the intensity of her presence on the screen seems to match that of her personal life. ...more
Lovingly detailed story of the life of Vivien from her early days in England, becoming a major star and winning the two greatest female roles in cinema history, and continuing through her battles against bi-polar disorder.
Walker has crafted a biography rich in detail and quotes his sources in an appendix.
A heartbreaking story but as previously stated, this is the most impressive Vivien bio that we have (and I think I have read them all).
Highly recommended for ...more
Walker has crafted a biography rich in detail and quotes his sources in an appendix.
A heartbreaking story but as previously stated, this is the most impressive Vivien bio that we have (and I think I have read them all).
Highly recommended for ...more
Regan
added it
Since a new unauthorized bio is coming out on her next month I had to read the favorable one first.
If this bio is accurate she was more than just the brilliant actress behind Scarlett O'Hara, but a very generous and caring person. What made her all the more human to me, and even more of a fan was her love of cats. Apparently she was always taking in strays. She was very much a consummate professional - always looking to improve herself as an actress. So sad she died so young at 53.
If this bio is accurate she was more than just the brilliant actress behind Scarlett O'Hara, but a very generous and caring person. What made her all the more human to me, and even more of a fan was her love of cats. Apparently she was always taking in strays. She was very much a consummate professional - always looking to improve herself as an actress. So sad she died so young at 53.
A very good and intelligent story, but I never felt the accounts in the book really matched the excerpts of " her tragic and troubled life". Certainly a good read, but it did leave a lot of questions unanswered. I was actually more interested in reading more about Katherine Hepburn from the very brief mentions in the book.
okay.. she was crazy. This was a pretty depressing story, I'm sure if Leigh was live today she'd be one of those stars in and out of rehab and hounded by the press.
It is heartening to read how her friends stood by her and tried to protect her, but were ultimately unable to help her.
It is heartening to read how her friends stood by her and tried to protect her, but were ultimately unable to help her.
There has always been that something about Vivien Leigh, and I was looking forward to reading this bio.
It started out lyrical and good, and then just turned into a monotone of bland and fairly sad. I know her life was plagued by bipolar and episodes relating to, but this bio just made it seem all the more sad and hopless.
I like downer books (ala Henry Rollins) but this one just left me feeling uninspired and annoyed.
Ah well.
Her life was terbulant and exciting and routine...more
It started out lyrical and good, and then just turned into a monotone of bland and fairly sad. I know her life was plagued by bipolar and episodes relating to, but this bio just made it seem all the more sad and hopless.
I like downer books (ala Henry Rollins) but this one just left me feeling uninspired and annoyed.
Ah well.
Her life was terbulant and exciting and routine...more
God! This biography made me so sad. Here was a woman who had seemingly had every thing: beauty, class and undeniable talent and yet mental illness robbed her of so much including a life with the man she loved. This book was painstakingly researched and hauntingly beautiful. One of the best biographies on a film actress I have ever read. This book does so much to explore the woman behind the legend and really give us, the reader a terrifying and painful look at a woman in pain.
Several others have commented on how uninspired this biography is, and I agree. It's bloodless, and focuses on Vivien's career, rather than her humanity.
Walker leaves out the funny, strange quotes and anecdotes that made Vivien so witty and unique. Perhaps because of when it was written, Olivier's rumored bisexuality was also glossed over. I wonder how life would have been for 'the Oliviers' if they were stars today. Perhaps Olivier would be out of the closest, and Vivien wouldn't h...more
Walker leaves out the funny, strange quotes and anecdotes that made Vivien so witty and unique. Perhaps because of when it was written, Olivier's rumored bisexuality was also glossed over. I wonder how life would have been for 'the Oliviers' if they were stars today. Perhaps Olivier would be out of the closest, and Vivien wouldn't h...more
very much enjoyed this book but its the only book i have read so far on vivien leigh so i have no other comparisons. I found this book easy to read. Although some things are described vagualy, its still a good book.
I read biographies to see the human side of very famous people. While the author did that for Vivien, his worship of Olivier was off putting. Liked the book, didn't care for the writing.
I've been fascinated by Vivien Leigh since my first glimpse of her as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind. Her life, with its ups and downs, was every bit as fascinating as her role in that legendary movie. I'm so glad I've learned more about her by reading this, but I would have preferred a faster paced writing style in this particular book. The detail, including dates and eye-witnesses, was very well done and the visual imaginary created a clear picture of her in my mind. The photos selected...more
A high-strung, fragile woman who lived an extraordinary life.
Interesting, but kind of flowery in the writing style.
What a sad, beautiful woman!
I was (candidly) looking for a book more comprised of sordid details, but that was my only minor complaint with this engrossing book. Walker treats Vivien with the utmost reverence, by being truthful about her flaws and almost lovingly framing her as an exciting, amiable, but tragic woman. Walker acts as a researcher, a psychologist, and even a friend in providing a comprehensive study of Vivien Leigh supported by documents, interviews, personal anecdotes from Vivien, and a true admiration for t...more
3.8
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A truly well written bio. Leigh was driven, dedicated and beautiful to the end.
Well written for a Biography. It read more like an entertaining story than like a history of Vivien Leigh's life. Though it is from one man's perspective, it allowed for a deeper understanding and appreciation of Vivien and her career.
This was a very well written and in depth biography of a woman about whom I knew very little when I began reading. Interesting depiction of bipolar disorder from a time before it was a well known mental illness.
This one is my favourite one about her, though that may change when I get the newest one in my clutches!
I love Vivian Leigh and this book did a wonderful job telling her life story.
I preferred this biography to the other one on her I have.
Incredible woman, fantastic story!
Kristine
marked it as to-read
Arwen
marked it as to-read
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