Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh

by Alexander Walker

Book Overview

'This is the best book we have had on Vivien Leigh, the most thoroughly and shrewdly researched, the most acute in its realization that Leigh was an actress who had to find herself in her parts if she was to do well, but who invariably began to destroy herself in the process.'--The Boston Sunday Globe

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1555840809
• ISBN13: 9781555840808
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Random House Value Publishing
• Length: 342 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Battles within one's soul.

This book speaks volumes detailing with great complexities, both personal and professional, concerning the life of this beloved actress. I give no spoilers other than that this book is completely honest, including intricate details of the life of this talented and beautiful actress, starting from the beginning to its sad and tragic end.

A life in turmoil

"Vivien" is proof positive that there can be a well-written, well-researched, realistic yet understanding biography of a messed-up star. This book could have been a sordid tangle of tabloid sensationalism, but Alexander Walker carefully crafts it into a tapestry.Vivien Leigh was one of the most memorable actresses of the twentieth century, playing the headstrong Scarlett O'Hara. Yet Vivien was not as strong or indomitable as she appeared onscreen. The book starts with a poetic interlude during a peaceful time in her life, with several guests attending a dinner, then shifts back to her girlhood. Her first marriage fell as her fame rose, and she soon met the man she would fall in love with, her also-married costar Lawrence Olivier. But Vivien's life, despite her fame and idyllic life, was never a happy woman, her mental problems plaguing her to the end of her life.Very few authors are able to strike a balance between admiration and reality; they'll either idolize the object of their biography, or pour vitriol on them. Walker does neither. While he acknowledges Vivien's faults, he also seems to care about her and her struggles. Nothing could more poignantly convey Vivien's pain than when she shrieked at a nurse, "I'm not Scarlett, I'm Blanche!" (Blanche being a character she played who went mad).Vivien herself is a vivid presence from the first pages onward. Her struggles with mental illness are done with great delicacy, as is her relationship with Olivier. He himself is almost as strong a presence, even though he ultimately could not stay with her; another impressive real-life presence is Jack Merivale, the understanding younger man who remained with her until her untimely death. The scene where Merivale brings Olivier to his dead ex-wife's beside is another extremely effective anecdote.The writing style is lush for a biography. Quite uniquely, there is also a lot of focus on Vivien's movies as well as her personal life, especially her dogged pursuit of roles that she desperately wanted to play. The pictures are well-suited for this book -- they're clear, elegant, well-laid out, relevant to the different parts of Vivien's life, and balanced well between her on-screen roles and her personal life. Walker keeps these pictures of her roles grounded by mentioning what was going on in Vivien's life while she filmed the movie.Alexander Walker's biography of Vivien Leigh is a treasure for all of her fans. Without being sordid ior adoring, he creates a believable biography about a troubled, talented and passionate actress. Outstanding read.

An excellent biography!

This is without a doubt the definitive biography of the gorgeous and extremely talented Vivien Leigh. This book chronicles her life and the experiences that shaped her as a person as well as an actress. This book follows Vivien from her birth in India through her passionate romance with Laurence Olivier, the stage and screen roles that made her a star, all the way to the final and turbulent years of her life. She was indeed an intelligent and strong willed woman. Alexander walker does an excellent job of presenting the life of one of the most talented and breathtaking actresses Hollywood has ever known. This book is poignant, interesting, tasteful and highly recommended! Once you start reading it, you'll have an impossible time putting it down.

THE LIFE OF VIVIEN LEIGH

As intriguing, complex and mysteriously serene as the woman it celebrates, Alexander Walker's "Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh" is the capital biography that the beloved actress has long deserved.Known for her breathtaking work in the films "Gone With the Wind" and "A Streetcar Named Desire", Walker's story reveals a woman who was, in essence, both Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche DuBois: a charming, stubborn, headstrong woman and fragile, uncertain human being. Leigh's story is chronicled from her early childhood years in India, to the pretty young girl who passionately desired to be an actress, to the woman who left a husband and child to court Laurence Olivier, to the movie star that the world fell in love with. Leigh's success as a Hollywood actress and storybook romance with Olivier would prove temporarily satisfying for a woman who craved more than she had: more love, more adoration, to be more sure of herself... and both would become catalysts in the snapping of her delicate mental balance. Leigh's fragile state of mind bewildered the husband whom she lived for, and the costars who could never speak more fondly of her. Ultimately, Leigh seems never to have had the security that she so desperately wanted, but somehow managed to make it as long as she did.And the book reveals a lighter side of Leigh, an intellectual, witty lady who was charming and indeed beautiful to many who knew her, and could also have a very tart sense of humor when it suited her. She was an actress always expanding her range, from London melodramas to Hollywood epics to Broadway musicals. Yet through it all, Leigh retained her quiet dignity and serenity until the day she died, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of films, appearances, and memories... shared for the first time in this extraordinary, meticulously researched biography, which perfectly captures the essence of the woman who was Vivien Leigh, the woman, Vivien Leigh, the movie star, and Vivien Leigh, the human being. As enchanting and unforgettable as Leigh herself, "Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh" will be enjoyed and savored by those touched by Leigh's talent and who will always love her.

More than just Scarlett O'Hara!

To the best of my knowledge, this is the most recent biography of Vivien Leigh, famed star of Gone With The Wind. It is probably the most comprehensive, as well, and is much kinder to her memory than any of the other biographies I have read. Walker makes a point of showing that Vivien had a mental illness and was not "insane" and, probably due to the fact that it was written so recently, it examines the lasting effects of Vivien's marriage to Olivier and includes various quotes from his autobiography. This book made me appreciate Viven Leigh's talent more than her beauty and realize what a profound impact she had on the theatre and motion picture industry. Vivien Leigh was more than just Scarlett O'Hara, she was a brave, fascinating, and extremely talented (I believe the most talented actress ever) woman. Definitely worth reading!!!