[.ca] Vivien Leigh: A Biography (ISBN 0786414979)

why this biography?:
this seems to be a collection of highlights of previous biographies and not written with particular affection or interest in the actress. not an interesting book and also rather expensive for its printed quality.

Sad but insightful!:
Sad but insightful - I was saddened by parts of this detailed biography, disturbed by other parts of it, and also moved by other parts of it. I was fascinated by all of it. I ended up feeling as if I had lived it right along with Vivien - who was not only an intelligent, ambitious woman, but also a great actress and a terrible mother - a woman full of contradictions! A character greater than any she ever played! An enjoyable reading!

Not what I thought it would be:
I bought this used and i'm glad I did. I wasn't completly happy with it. The book seemed to be a quick insight of Vivien Leigh's life. Also I was aware she did alot of Shakespeare play's but I thought it focused alot on this soley. Yes, it's good to know, but I like books that focus on "the life" of a star not more on the play's. I almost couldn't keep up with all the traveling talk either. Just happy I didn't spend the actuall cost of this book.

A Perfect Biography:
I truly enjoyed this book. It is concise, clear and reports just the facts without any personal judgment. The way a biography should be written by someone who never met Vivien Leigh. It contains a very helpful bibliography and all its sources are revealed. Nice unusual photographs. I think it is a must for all Vivien's fans.

***:
Olivier did NOT fall in love with Danny Kaye. This was a rumor started when Olivier mentioned that he thought Kaye was very attractive. Despite his attraction to Kaye (which never went further than attraction; they didn't even know each other), Olivier was still attracted to women. And Olivier's attraction to Kaye did NOT involve gender confusion, but rather sexuality confusion, if anything. Not a great book.