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Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn is a fascinating biography of one of Hollywood’s greatest screen legends.
Hepburn was a star who followed no accepted show business pattern. She was a classical actress who starred in some of the funniest screen comedies ever made. She came from a patrician New England background, but was condemned by Senator McCarthy for communist leanings. And although she was once described as ‘box office poison’ she went on to make some of the most successful films in cinema history.
Her fellow actors admired her. Bogart said she was zany; Spencer Tracy fell in love with her and fans adored her — although if they asked for an autograph there was always a chance she would hit them over the head with a tennis racket. Salty, tough, imperious in real life as in her many brilliant screen performances, Hepburn took no prisoners, but was always the consummate professional.
In this engaging biography Michael Freedland traces Katharine’s life — from the time she campaigned for women’s rights outside the White House at the age of four, to her Oscar winning performance in On Golden Pond — and reveals the remarkable qualities that placed her among the acting greats. He documents her long relationship with actor Tracy, and the remarkable on-screen chemistry which became one of Hollywood’s most famous love stories. This excellent account of Hepburn’s fascinating life will appeal to her many fans, and to all who are interested in Hollywood icons.
Michael Freedland was born in 1934, in the UK. He became a highly successful journalist, broadcaster and biographer. Starting out on the Luton News at the age of seventeen, he went on to write for numerous publications, including The Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer, The Spectator and The Jewish Chronicle . His radio show, You Don’t Have to be Jewish ran on BBC radio for twenty four years. He wrote over forty biographies, mainly of Hollywood stars, including Jane Fonda, Peter O’Toole and Dean Martin and also Hollywood on Trial , an account of the communist witchhunt which took place in cold war era America. Michael Freedland was married for 52 years to Sarah Hocherman. They had three children, including Guardian columnist and thriller writer Jonathan Freedland.
Hepburn was a star who followed no accepted show business pattern. She was a classical actress who starred in some of the funniest screen comedies ever made. She came from a patrician New England background, but was condemned by Senator McCarthy for communist leanings. And although she was once described as ‘box office poison’ she went on to make some of the most successful films in cinema history.
Her fellow actors admired her. Bogart said she was zany; Spencer Tracy fell in love with her and fans adored her — although if they asked for an autograph there was always a chance she would hit them over the head with a tennis racket. Salty, tough, imperious in real life as in her many brilliant screen performances, Hepburn took no prisoners, but was always the consummate professional.
In this engaging biography Michael Freedland traces Katharine’s life — from the time she campaigned for women’s rights outside the White House at the age of four, to her Oscar winning performance in On Golden Pond — and reveals the remarkable qualities that placed her among the acting greats. He documents her long relationship with actor Tracy, and the remarkable on-screen chemistry which became one of Hollywood’s most famous love stories. This excellent account of Hepburn’s fascinating life will appeal to her many fans, and to all who are interested in Hollywood icons.
Michael Freedland was born in 1934, in the UK. He became a highly successful journalist, broadcaster and biographer. Starting out on the Luton News at the age of seventeen, he went on to write for numerous publications, including The Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer, The Spectator and The Jewish Chronicle . His radio show, You Don’t Have to be Jewish ran on BBC radio for twenty four years. He wrote over forty biographies, mainly of Hollywood stars, including Jane Fonda, Peter O’Toole and Dean Martin and also Hollywood on Trial , an account of the communist witchhunt which took place in cold war era America. Michael Freedland was married for 52 years to Sarah Hocherman. They had three children, including Guardian columnist and thriller writer Jonathan Freedland.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published April 19, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
November 5, 2012
I didn’t know much about Katharine Hepburn before I read this novel. I think I’ve seen maybe two of her films. But I got this book over a year ago at a used book sale and I figured I should sit down and read it. I’ read Freedland’s biography of Irving Berlin for a research paper and I enjoyed it, so I bought this one.
Like I mentioned, I’m not a huge Hepburn fan. Its not that I dislike her at all. I actually really enjoyed her in what I’ve seen, but I just haven’t seen enough to become a big fan. I don’t actually know if what Freedland reported to be true is true. For all I know he could be making it all up, but from what I read, I feel like I would really love Katharine (or Kate as he calls her.) She is portrayed as incredibly headstrong and very opinionated which I definitely identify with. I found her relationship with Spencer Tracy extremely interesting and I plan to read into that more. I had of course heard of the wonderful onscreen chemistry, but had not realized they were a real life couple
This biography is quite outdated. It was published in 1984, 19 years before Katharine’s death in 2003. I also found it a little bit confusing. Freedland would reference something that had happened previously, but he didn’t include. I understand that Katharine had extremely long, full life, but he also skimmed over large patches, which disappointed me. It seems to just be a summary of her life and career rather than a full fledged biography.
I wouldn’t recommend this to a Hepburn fan, but if you’re like me and you don’t know much about this wonderful actress, give it a try. Just a warning, it will leave you wanting more.
2.5/5 stars
Book review blog: http://thebookgirlblog.wordpress.com
Like I mentioned, I’m not a huge Hepburn fan. Its not that I dislike her at all. I actually really enjoyed her in what I’ve seen, but I just haven’t seen enough to become a big fan. I don’t actually know if what Freedland reported to be true is true. For all I know he could be making it all up, but from what I read, I feel like I would really love Katharine (or Kate as he calls her.) She is portrayed as incredibly headstrong and very opinionated which I definitely identify with. I found her relationship with Spencer Tracy extremely interesting and I plan to read into that more. I had of course heard of the wonderful onscreen chemistry, but had not realized they were a real life couple
This biography is quite outdated. It was published in 1984, 19 years before Katharine’s death in 2003. I also found it a little bit confusing. Freedland would reference something that had happened previously, but he didn’t include. I understand that Katharine had extremely long, full life, but he also skimmed over large patches, which disappointed me. It seems to just be a summary of her life and career rather than a full fledged biography.
I wouldn’t recommend this to a Hepburn fan, but if you’re like me and you don’t know much about this wonderful actress, give it a try. Just a warning, it will leave you wanting more.
2.5/5 stars
Book review blog: http://thebookgirlblog.wordpress.com
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review