The Life of Noël Coward

by Cole Lesley

biography

Genres: Biography, LGBT, Nonfiction, Drama

608 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[George Ilsley]

A little coy here and there, a little reticent, a little too reverential. Not a full-blown hagiography but also far from a juicy tell-all.

First Saki mention is on page 34.

[Ted Peterson]

I loved this biography, written by one of Noel's boys. It's like the blueprint to an ideal existence, or to use Noel's words, a design for living. I still abide by Noel's advice given at the beginning, when he used all his money to travel first class on the Queen Mary ... One should travel first class or third, never second.

[Surreysmum]

[These notes were made in 1985:]. This is a lot of fun to read, and it gives the impression that nothing is being held back of any importance. In fact, it is only when I compared a couple of details with recountings of the same events in Olivier's (in many ways, far more guarded) autobiography, that I realized Lesley is quite capable of skimming lightly over the facts. In fact, now that I come to think of it, we are left to assume a great deal about what exactly the relationship was between "the Master" (as they called him), the actor Graham Payn, and Cole Lesley himself. Since he mentions the possibility of jealousy and the lack of it between himself and Graham, we may assume it was more than just friendship in the way of business (Lesley was Coward's secretary/valet for about 40 years). The book is compiled from both Coward's and Lesley's journals (the Coward diaries have been published separately), and from other sources like Mrs. Coward's collection of clippings about her son. Hence, there is a slight flattening effect - the long, dreary years when Coward had flop after flop really are long and dreary. But there's always enough - some account of a personal happiness, an amusing letter, or even just a Coward witticism - to keep us reading. NC himself emerges (through the eyes of the devoted Lesley, let us remember) as fundamentally good and kind, even to the point of philanthropy, highly nervous and unthinkingly demanding on everyone around him, but extremely magnetic, and able to sustain warm, long-term relationships with people of both sexes.

[Steve Higgins]

I do love biographies and this memoir of Noel Coward's life was a very entertaining read. One of the reviewers quoted on the back cover says reading this is like 'a holiday in a rented Rolls!' One aspect of the earlier part of the book interesting to a Mancunian like me is Coward's visits to Manchester where he stayed at the Midland hotel when he was in his late teens. Even then he was a self assured young man about town and on the verge of fame. He charmed many of the rich and famous of the time and was always in demand as a country manor guest for weekends at home or abroad. Noel was a man who liked to travel, especially after a long spell of hard work, and he liked, at times, to travel alone. Indeed, the author quotes from a poem by Noel which reads in part; ' When the dream is ended and passion has flown, I travel alone.' Noel always took with him on holiday a portable typewriter, lined foolscap writing pads, and his 'bursting' book bag. This apparently contained the latest good novels, two or three classics and always Roget's Thesaurus and Clement Wood's Rhyming Dictionary. Not a bad choice and quite interesting for me as this was a holiday read. Early on in the book, the author mentions Coward's homosexuality and says there s nothing further to speak of in the matter, therefore declining to mention Noel's love affairs. Even Graham Payn, Noel's male partner is only mentioned in passing as a friend who joined the household. This curious reticence leaves a rather incomplete portrait with something missing at it's heart. Noel even comes across as a sort of neuter, without loves or affairs. Clearly the details are unimportant but that aspect of his character is a missing part of this biography. However, an otherwise excellent read.

[David]

Memoir by Coward's secretary/companion of 35+ years is well-written and a very nice companion to Coward's two autobiographies, his diaries, and his letters. This was published before his diaries and quotes from them, but not so much that having read the diaries previously (as I did) detracts from this book.

Written in 1975-76, just after Coward's death.

[Thomas Schulte]

Awash in detail and distanced honor by the point of view of the author-amanuensis, this detailed work seems like a wondrous life preserved behind museum glass

[John]

Tedious, dull, long. Ironically the sycophantic ramblings have quite turned me off Coward. Still regard him as am enjoyable playwright, but quite appalled by the man.