Customer Reviews

Audrey Hepburn: A Secret Life

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Apparently any creep with a pen can get a "shocking" book published. (A friend of mine claims that either this guy has some Freudian complex about an attraction to Audrey, or he's trying to place himself in her aura of classic fame. Either way, creepy and bonkers) I guess Peter Ustinov's line was correct: "You cannot libel the dead."

This guy claims that Audrey not only had an illegitimate child, shuttled him off and basically abandoned him, but tried to control his entire life in a calculating and creepy way that all witnesses agree was NOT HER WAY. All accounts point to the fact that Audrey loved children and tried for years to have one, and was shattered by every miscarriage. She actually died as a result of a stressful trip to visit impoverished children.

But even if you don't believe that she was a kind person, you can believe that some Kitty Kellyish person would have dug it up and found PROOF by now. Other people would have testified something. The account of one person does not a truth make. It's simply disgusting how this man rants on and on about imaginary abuses and manipulations. He needs help, and fast.

In addition to his apparent delusions, the author also has a rotten writing style--he rambles and goes off the general path. The writing isn't tight or interesting at all.

I advise you to read Audrey : Her Real Story, which I think is the best ever bio of Audrey Hepburn. If anyone reads this review and loves Audrey and her memory, I beg you to heed the warnings of most of the reviewers.

This is a secret life Audrey Hepburn led only in the author's deluded mind. I bought the book because I was curious. After a few pages, I wished that, further than reading the back cover blurb, I had flipped through the book to glean some of the choice accusations, then I wouldn't have wasted the money. As another reviewer puts it, I too can't believe the audacity of the publisher to have endorsed such garbage.

Of course it's not outside the realm of possibility that a young, then unknown actress might have had an unwanted pregnancy... but the author is clearly quite insane when he claims to be a victim of unsuccessful attempts of assasination commissioned by his 'mother' not to mention the possibility of his being the result of possible Nazi experiments performed on Hepburn with her knowledge.

Stuart Byscynki needs professional help and he should get it quick!

This "biography" doesn't even deserve one star. It is filled with ridiculous fantasies of the author. Do not even attempt to take this book seriously, as it is complete and utter nonsense. I can't believe that anyone would have the audacity to publish this type of garbage.

This book is completely and utterly disgusting. The author is a sadly delusional man. I feel sorry that he was abused as a child but that gives him no right to drag someone else's name through the mud. Audrey Hepburn was extremely devoted to children. There is even a foundation that was established because of her "The Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund" She was obviously a caring person. It is impossible to find a harsh word said about her. In her own words "I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it." Audrey dedicated the end of her like to UNICEF. She literally died for children. She was supposed to make a trip to a place that had been ruined by famine but she had a stomach ache. They told her not to go but she did. Later they found out that stomach ache was cancer. If you see her talk about UNICEF she gets very emotional. God has never produced such a compassionate women. "In a cruel and imperfect world, she was living proof that God could still create perfection." But please disregard the fact that Audrey was so compassionate. If you read any of the other books made about her. Or the TV specials about her you will find that this authors information completely contradicts. If you wan to know what Audreys connection to James Hanson was it's that they were engaged. That was public knowledge. Any Audrey Hepburn fan worth salt knows that. All you need is common sense to realize this book is all lies. I strongly suggest you buy "Audrey: A Son Remembers" By her REAL son Sean Hepburn Ferrer. By the way I only gave this book one star because I couldn't give it a zero.

The author of this book makes many wild claims that totally contradict all known knowledge of Audrey Hepburn. The main thread of his book is his claim that he is the unrecognised illegitimate son of this fine and noble lady. Yet, Audrey was well known to have been deeply in love with her children and to put them a long way before herself. The claims made by this man just do not fit at all. If you are an admirer of Audrey and all that she stood for, you will find this book disturbing and painful.

This book is completely full of lies. DO NOT BELIEVE THE AUTHOR! Being a huge Audrey fan, and having read many books on her, I would recommend "Audrey - Her Real Story" by Alexander Walker. It is most enjoyable and accurate.

This book or piece of trash, to put it lightly, is extremelydemeaning to Audrey Hepburn. Anyone who possesses any sort ofadmiration for this very talented, very beautiful, very benevolent woman should know that the facts in this book are a great deal contradictory to all the knowledge we have of her. Audrey had many miscarriages and was completely devastated each time. She loved her children very much. In fact, she was kind and generous to everyone. I think that this Stuart Byczynski, whoever he may be, ia a liar and has entirely too much time on his hands. He probably has a severe oedipus complex and only wishes Audrey was his mother out of lust. At any rate, I do not reccomend this book. It is full of painful lies and all Audrey fans just might decide to find the sick man and put him out of his misery.

Quite simply this is the fancy of a classic internet conspiracy theorist. Littered with factual errors and inconsistencies, it is often inane and rambling, and is endlessly padded with material entirely unrelated to the subject, but justified in the mind of the author because of his own interest it. Many passages read as nothing short of quite potty; for example, people look at the author strangely so naturally he concludes they think him a CIA agent. Of course it couldn't be that he just IS strange.

In defence the book does provide some entertainment, for the claims and allegations made range from the hilariously ludicrous to the downright loopy. The writer is certainly not the first individual to desperately seek explanation and someone to blame for a life of disappointments and inadequacies, but is surely one of the few whose bizarre and convoluted tales have been indulged by a publisher aware of a lucrative market place.

The blurb on the back cover informs us that the book "was originally intended for publication while [Audrey Hepburn] was alive". Hmm. And my great aunt is Minnie Mouse. Although Audrey Hepburn herself instinctively understood and defended the right to freedom of speech, this unsettling look into one man's psyche is a warning to all public figures: Be aware - your right to sue dies with you.

The most revealing aspect of this book (and perhaps ultimately the only thing we need know about it), comes not from the author but from his publisher who states, opposite the contents page, 'NOTE: The responsibility for the accuracy of the contents including names, dates, and events, rests solely with the author." Shame on you, Brunswick Publishing.

Those fond of Audrey Hepburn thought the worst that could befall her memory was Diana Maychick. Little wonder she is still so sorely missed when authors such as these stand as testament to the extent to which qualities such as hers -the truth and integrity with which she lived her life- are today indeed in short supply.

Unfortunately the author has picked Audrey Hepburn as his mother- he should have picked Greta Garbo or somebody like her.It would have been more fitting.Audrey's life was full of sad and unhappy experiences and certainly did not lead the life like this author says she did. I am very disappointed that the world has people that write trash like this.

This guy blah, blah, blah's forever without producing any substantial evidence. He blames Audrey Hepburn for the abuse from his adoptive parents. Plus, he think she has controled every aspect of his dismal life--from his jobs to his girlfriends. He writes in circles. He never says anything. He is delusional--a conjoined twin separated after his birth? Audrey Hepburn's son? He wishes his life was interesting--his fiction isn't.