Dirk Bogarde: The Authorised Biography [Hardcover]

John Coldstream (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

As an actor, Dirk Bogarde became a giant of the intellectual cinema, working with directors such as Joseph Losey, Lucino Visconti, and Alain Resnais. Fiercely protective of his privacy, and that of his partner of 40 years, he left England in the 1960s to live on the continent, where he carved a second career for himself as a bestselling autobiographer and successful novelist. Although Bogarde destroyed many of his papers, his family has made available his personal archive to John Coldstream, who knew him well in his last years.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Biographies only tend to be definitive until the next one comes along, but there's no danger of Coldstream's erudite, moving analysis ever being superseded.' - Christopher Fowler THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY 'This stupendous biography. Its masterful justification of his many sides make it possible for us still to learn from him in death.' - John de Falbe THE DAILY TELEGRAPH 'this extremely interesting life of a determined stage actor, reluctant film star, gay icon and wicked charmer has been beautifully documented, with fairness, enthusiasm and quite exceptional diligence.' - Michael Coveney THE GUARDIAN 'a monumental piece of work...fascinating throughout its more than 600 extremely well-written pages.' - Charles Osborne THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'I have seldom read a biopgraphy as intelligent, urbane and judicious as this... Definitive and magnificent.' - Roger Lewis SUNDAY EXPRESS 'this meticulous biography.' - Christie Hickman THE NEW STATESMAN 'Coldstream is the most generous of biographers... Coldstream's biography will tell you all you want to know... about this very interesting actor and very tricky human being.' - Craig Brown THE MAIL ON SUNDAY 'a scrupulous and sober portrait of a deeply troubled man.' - Michael Arditti THE INDEPENDENT 'his compendious and well-written biography...his research on his life is exhaustive.' - George Perry THE SUNDAY TIMES 'With this superb biography John Coldstream has pulled off a remarkable feat' - Keith Baxter THE SPECTATOR 'very readable new biography' - Gilbert Adair EVENING STANDARD 'this is a big fat biography to treasure: a subtle take on a genuinely interesting, downright elusive, easily caricatured actor-writer-artist.' - Michael Pye THE SCOTSMAN 'an absorbing look at a complex and absorbing character who, ironically, said that when he died, 'Just forget me.' - Gail Walker THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH 'gripping' - Andrew Lycett LITERARY REVIEW 'all but flawless biography.' - Hugh Leonard THE IRISH TIMES 'Coldstream has been thorough and conscientious in his research' - Frank McLynn THE HERALD 'this massively researched biography... Bogarde's double life is sensitively handled as well as the actor's late flowering into an autobiographer and novelist of great skill.' - Quentin Falk ACADEMY MAGAZINE 'This helps make the biography more fascinating, not simply as a portrait of a movie actor, his glamorous friends, work and family but as a social history... it was a rich life and once you start the journey through it you will enjoy and relish the experience.' - Brian Baxter THE VETRAN

About the Author

John Coldstream was on the staff of the Daily Telegraph for 25 years, starting on the 'Peterborough' column, then as deputy literary editor, before becoming Literary Editor in 1991. He remains 'loosely attached' to the Telegraph, but is working full-time on the Bogarde biography.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0297607308
• ISBN-13: 978-0297607304
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.7 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,064,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eagerly awaited paperback ..., August 25, 2005

By 

Barbara Siek (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dirk Bogarde: The Authorised Biography (Paperback)

I am delighted that John Coldstream's biography of Dirk Bogarde is now out in paperback, which means that more readers will have access to this compelling story of one of the finest actors of the 20th century. And, to my own pleasure, the paperback makes it easy to read in bed or carry in a pack, removing all worry about damaging my cherished hardcover version.

Without reserve, I can say that this is one of the best biographies I have read in years and certainly the finest that will ever be written on Dirk Bogarde. From the minute one picks up this book, as beautiful in paperback as in hardcover, one knows that it is not the usual star biography filled with gossip, written merely to pump up a star's image or to make a quick profit. Coldstream's engrossing look at the public and private lives of this icon of British film is impossible to put down. The first page quickly turns into 200 pages.

Coldstream has the rare perspective of friend and one who worked with Bogarde, which brings a special understanding and appreciation of the private Bogarde to this biography. Yet, unlike writers who set out to prove theories, Coldstream's balanced, extensively researched approach is the ultimate tribute to Bogarde. The reward for readers is a compelling view, written with candor, insight, and affection.

Given unlimited access by Bogarde's family to private papers, photos, and rare home movies, Coldstream unfolds a life that holds us spellbound. He illuminates the early influences on Bogarde, his military years, journey from matinee idol to serious actor, second career as a writer, and knighthood in 1992, giving us behind-the-scenes looks at some of the biggest names and players in British film and Hollywood.

We are privy to Bogarde's thoughts on the Rank and Hollywood Studio systems, on acting, the rigors of filming, and his unaccredited revisions of inadequate scripts. We hear his usual candid, often affectionate comments on the famous people who graced his beautiful homes on any given weekend: Ingrid Bergman, Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, Charlotte Rampling; directors Cukor, Losey, and Visconti, to name a few. Bogarde knew them all. Equally fascinating are their thoughts on him, the private man and actor, in the countless interviews Coldstream conducted across the globe and the extensive papers and firsthand sources he examined in the course of his research.

But Coldstream gives us more than the glitter of Bogarde's career in film. There is Bogarde at his beloved farm in Provence, the stray pets he sheltered, his natural talent for writing and the evolution of his 15 best sellers and later years writing for the Daily Telegraph, to the dark days when illness overcame his partner Forwood and then stalked Bogarde. Coldstream does not shy away from addressing questions readers have had about the elusive Bogarde, no easy image to capture. A continuing question has been whether his 40-year relationship with agent and companion Tony Forward was a homosexual one, something Bogarde denied to his death in 1999. To Coldstream's great credit, he does not speculate but lays out what he finds and leaves it to the reader to make up his mind on this and other aspects that continue to swirl around this fascinating man.

The paperback version has retained the elegance of the hardcover edition and its extensive chapter-by-chapter sources, appendices, and comprehensive index, including the wonderful endpaper drawing of Bogarde by Richard Cole, all of which reveal the taste and intelligence behind this effort. There are some 130 photos many never published, including Bogarde's own drawings. An added perk is a new cover photo of a younger, ever handsome Bogarde in his late 30s at the top of his game as reigning matinee idol, a throne he eagerly abdicated for more complex roles. A perfect choice, the photo reveals Bogarde's discerning intellect and inner discontent, which drove him to make such daring, independent career choices.

Coldstream has truly captured the spirit of Bogarde, the actor, writer and man, as well as the caustic wit yet kind and loyal friend. Few books leave one with the satisfaction of having spent time and money well. This is one of them.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read ... spellbinding view of Bogarde, July 30, 2005

By 

Barbara Siek (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dirk Bogarde: The Authorised Biography (Hardcover)

This is one of the best biographies I've read in years and certainly the finest written on Dirk Bogarde. From the minute you pick up this beautiful book, you know that it is not the usual star biography filled with gossip, written merely to pump up a star's image or to make a quick profit. Coldstream's engrossing look at the public and private lives of this icon of British film is impossible to put down. The first page quickly turns into 200 pages.

Coldstream has the rare perspective of friend and one who worked with Bogarde, which brings a special understanding and appreciation of the private Bogarde to this biography. Yet, unlike writers who set out to prove theories, Coldstream's balanced, extensively researched approach is the ultimate tribute to Bogarde. The reward for readers is a compelling view, written with candor, insight, and affection.

Given unlimited access by Bogarde's family to private papers, photos, and rare home movies, Coldstream unfolds a life that holds us spellbound. He illuminates the early influences on Bogarde, his military years, acting days, career as a writer, and knighthood in 1992, giving us behind-the-scenes looks at some of the biggest names and players in British film and Hollywood.

We are privy to Bogarde's thoughts on the Rank and Hollywood Studio systems, on acting, the rigours of filming, and his unaccredited revisions of awful scripts. We hear his candid comments on the famous people who graced his beautiful homes on any given weekend: Ingrid Bergman, Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, Charlotte Rampling; directors Cukor, Losey, and Visconti, to name a few. Bogarde knew them all. Equally fascinating are their unvarnished thoughts on him, good and bad.

But Coldstream gives us more than glitter. There is Bogarde at his beloved farm in Provence, the stray pets he sheltered, his natural talent for writing and the evolution of his 15 best sellers, to the dark days when illness overcame Forwood and then stalked Bogarde. Coldstream does not shy away from addressing questions readers have had about the elusive Bogarde, no easy image to capture. A continuing question has been whether his 40-year relationship with agent and companion Tony Forward was a homosexual one, something Bogarde denied to his death in 1999. To Coldstream's great credit, he does not speculate but lays out what he finds and leaves it to the reader to make up his mind on this and other aspects that continue to swirl around this fascinating man.

This is also an elegantly done book of rich colours, fine paper, extensive appendices and index, which reveal the taste and intelligence behind this effort. There are some 130 photos many never published, including Bogarde's illustrations for his books, with a stunning front cover photo of the handsome Bogarde and one taken by Charlotte Rampling on the back cover.

Coldstream has truly captured the spirit of Bogarde, the actor, writer and man, as well as the caustic wit yet kind and loyal friend. Few books leave one with the satisfaction of having spent time and money well. This is one of them. And when it ends, we wish for more.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exploring the man behind the mask, May 26, 2011

By 

F. Murphy (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dirk Bogarde: The Authorised Biography (Paperback)

John Coldstream's biography of Bogarde is sumptuously written and rich in detail. It gently and fairly lifts the mask from this gifted but obsessively private actor so that we see him--freckles and all--in a carefully balanced portrait. I found myself wishing that the book were a hundred pages shorter, but I read every page and relished the good writing almost as much as the story itself. As movie biographies go, this one is many cuts above the usual.