'Early Stages, 1921-36 (Teach Yourself)'

by John Gielgud

Sir John Gielgud is probably one of the most distinguished actors of the 20th century. He made his acting debut at the Old Vic at the age of 17 and in this book he looks at his career. Originally published in 1939, this is a revised edition of the book, first published by Hodder in 1987.

Genres: Theatre, Autobiography

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor/director/producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937. He was known for his beautiful speaking of verse and particularly for his warm and expressive voice, which his colleague Sir Alec Guinness likened to "a silver trumpet muffled in silk". Gielgud is one of the few entertainers who have won an Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award.

Reviews

[Debbie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyous memoir of his early life, written exactly as he used to speak, so all the time I was reading it, I could hear his gorgeous voice in my head, as if he was reading it aloud to me. A delight - and it's now sparked a John Gielgud related reading streak!

[Pers · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the early life of one of theatre's greats.