List of Plates Acknowledgements Prologue 1. A Child of the Raj 2. Hours Nearer Death 3. Young Wife and Mother 4. Enter Olivier 5. Altered States 6. Printing a Legend 7. Star-Crossed 8. Wartime Dramas 9. From Sabina to Anna 10. Down Under 11. The Kindness of Strangers 12. Two on the Nile 13. Crack-Up 14. Avonside 15. At Court 16. Ending A Legend 17. Worlds Elsewhere 18. Last Acts Epilogue Appendix Facts/“False Facts” Notes on Sources Select Bibliography Index
Major new biography of the most iconic actress of the twentieth century.
Alan Strachan is a theatre director. In London’s West End he has directed over thirty productions, and has also worked in regional theatre as well as in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin and New York often with leading actors and on plays ranging from Shakespeare, Shaw and Tennessee Williams to Alan Ayckbourn and Tom Stoppard. He is the author of Secret Dreams: A Biography of Michael Redgrave and Putting It On: The West End Theatre of Michael Codron.
What makes this account of a familiar story outstanding is that
Strachan wins the reader’s trust ... As an experienced man of the
theatre, he suggests, qualifies and adds interesting views of his
own.
*The Spectator*
[Vivien Leigh’s] life, lived to the full at every second, will
never be better told than it is in these pages.
*The Sunday Times*
A gripping new biography.
*The Daily Mail*
Strachan’s meticulously researched, elegantly written volume is an
eye-opener. Strachan’s attention to detail is striking ... a
valuable, authoritative record that supports [Leigh's] status as a
great stage and screen actress.
*The Herald*
An immensely readable biography ... [Strachan] argues convincingly
that there was far more to Leigh than her mesmerizing beauty, which
could blind critics to the power behind her performances.
*ABC News*
This is a well-written biography of a much-loved star. Strachan
achieves that rare thing of exposing his subject whilst maintaining
their integrity. Leigh, who was fiercely private, would have been
proud of this book.
*The Lady*
Alan Strachan does a fine job in reasserting [Vivien Leigh’s]
status, not merely re-examining her stage work, but also becoming
the first biographer to give due attention to the underrated films
she made.
*Country Life*
Offers an effective defence not only of Leigh’s artistry across
different media but also of Leigh herself as (in the words of one
associate) ‘a most charming, able, intelligent woman afflicted by a
manic depressive illness who with courage and marked strength of
character has taken a heavy and continuous emotional strain in her
stride’.
*Journal of British Cinema and Television*
A welcome appraisal of a remarkable artist.
*Bay Area Reporter*
'Reading this book is like meeting Vivien Leigh in her glory and
her despair. One of the most revealing showbiz biographies
ever.'
*Sir Ian McKellen*
'This is an enthralling book. It enthrals you by its meticulous
research, its lucid language and its depiction of a Legend and a
World that do not exist anymore. Alas.'
*Michael Codron*
This is a fine insightful biography that captures the vigour and
life-enhancing qualities of its subject, her acting husband, and
their high-achieving circle of friends.
*Plays International and Europe*
'A wonderful tribute to a great actress and a fascinating insight
into her troubled life and the machinations of the West End theatre
during the middle of the twentieth century. Unputdownable.'
*Dame Penelope Keith DBE, DL*
'Impeccable research into this fascinating actress make Dark Star a
page turner. The reader is as desperate to see past her ravishing
beauty to the tender, tortured woman beneath as is the author.'
*Maureen Lipman*
'Three cheers for this. Alan Strachan’s long overdue perceptive
insight into one of the most fascinating, complex, troubled and
talented actors of her time.'
*Alan Ayckbourn*
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