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Dark Star

A Biography of Vivien Leigh

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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents Dark Star by Alan Strachan, read by Alasdair Buchan.

Winner of the Society for Theatre Research Book Prize 2020

Vivien Leigh was perhaps the most iconic actress of the twentieth century. As Scarlett O’Hara and Blanche Du Bois she took on some of the most pivotal roles in cinema history. Yet she was also a talented theatre actress with West End and Broadway plaudits to her name. In this ground-breaking new biography, Alan Strachan provides a completely new full-life portrait of Leigh, covering both her professional and personal life. Using previously unseen
sources from her archive, recently acquired by the V&A, he sheds new light on her fractious relationship with Laurence Olivier, based on their letters and diaries, as well as on the bipolar disorder which so affected her later life and work. Revealing new aspects of her early life as well as providing glimpses behind-the-scenes of the filming of Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire, this book provides the essential and comprehensive life-story of one of the twentieth century’s greatest actresses.

©2020 Alan Strachan (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV History & Criticism Women Celebrity Entertainment Biography Theatre
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big English words through out was boring in places as long-winded narrative not bad. Her life was intriguing

nice story

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Loved it.fabulously narrated.full of detail without being boring .A respectful yet balanced account unlike others.

wonderful

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I’ve long been a big fan of Vivien Leigh, this audiobook has been an absolute delight to listen to

A well research biography of Vivien

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This is the best biography I have read on Vivien Leigh, a fantastic actress and fascinating woman. You can tell that the author has gone through length to research her life and to dig into her many remaining correspondence between Olivier and herself providing a real inside of their relationship. The only thing I can criticise is that the author does not seem too keen on Olivier and often describes him as a highly selfish and dramatic person. This is exasperated by the performance and the partly mocking tone when reading Olivier’s love letters. However, overall a fantastic read!

Best biography on Vivien Leigh

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This book would be the perfect read if shorter. I lost interest two thirds of the way through...

Too long...

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