The Noel Coward Diaries [Hardcover]

Graham Payn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1982

Noël Coward is remembered as the most witty and elegant of theatrical personalities. He left behind over fifty plays, twenty-five films, hundreds of songs, and several books. Fortunately, he also left behind these diaries chronicling the last thirty years of his life, from 1941 to 1973. Moving through the theatrical, social, political, and historical worlds on both sides of the Atlantic, the impressive cast of characters includes Laurence Olivier, Frank Sinatra, Lauren Bacall, John and Jackie Kennedy, Harold Pinter, members of the Royal Family, and the Beatles, among a host of others. The Noël Coward Diaries is a social and theatrical chronicle as stylish and irresistible as the man himself.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Coward's diaries from 1941 to 1969 offer an intimate look at the last 30 years of the life of the popular, sophisticated British playwright and author. While some of the entries are of the "Stayed out until 4 at Mrs. B___'s party" variety, more of them give insight into Coward's well-connected life. Coward knew or met hundreds of people working in the theater, the movies, and the government, and encounters with Vivien Leigh, Marilyn Monroe, King George IV, Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother, to name just a few, are included here. Excellent footnotes provided by editors Morley and Payn (My Life with Noel Coward) give a one-sentence description of such notables as "Larry" (Laurence Olivier) and "Dickie" (Lord Louis Mountbatten). Coward wrote these diaries with an eye toward publishing and therefore seemed to take great care to write, if not kindly about everyone, then perhaps not as harshly as he could have. Still, there are enough juicy tidbits to satisfy any biography-reading seeker of stars, starlets, and royalty. A thorough index enhances star browsing. For public libraries. J. Sara Paulk, Coastal Plain Reg. Lib., Tifton, GA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Compulsive reading: a very clear portrait. What Coward has to say about other people is light-hearted, witty, often shrewd, totally without malice ....His final entertainment for everyone's pleasure is these diaries." -- Sunday Times, London

"Through the pages glitters a galaxy of names that keep the editors footnoting like mad and the stagestruck reader wallowing in stardust....A theatrical compendium of the times." -- Christian Science Monitor --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 698 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (T) (September 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316695505
• ISBN-13: 978-0316695503
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Year At Christmas....Noel Coward!!!, December 6, 2003

By 

chris meesey Food Czar (The Colony, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Noël Coward Diaries (Paperback)

Virtually every person I know has a favorite Christmas tradition, an activity that they perform every year that is theirs and theirs alone, and that sums up the Christmas spirit of peace, good will, and love. For my own tradition, every year at this time, I reread this wonderful book. Why, you may ask? Well, I'll do my best to explain. I received this book as a Christmas present from a dear friend when it was first published in 1982. It quickly became my favorite book, and I find that it both inspires and delights me with every new reread. I was an actor and theatre person for many years, just long enough to discover one truth about Sir Noel Coward: This stylish and elegant man, actor, singer, playwright par excellence, and all around bon vivant, simply knew more about life in general and the theatre in particular than any other person I've ever encountered. Whether dealing with stubborn, recalcitrant actresses who refuse to wear their hair properly (i.e. Mary Martin), or facing the loss of a livelong confidant (his personal secretary, Lorn Loraine), Coward's show of sheer courage, strength, and determination in facing the everyday stresses and strains of life, and with considerable humor and great goodwill, seems to me the essence of the Christmas (and, by extension, the human) spirit. Organized in chapters by the years the diary entries were made (1945 to 1969, with a prologue that covers the World War II years as one section), the book is a very relaxed and enjoyable read (usually, a chapter a night works well), and covers the time period of the years following his initial successes (by the time the entries begin, Coward had already written his best known works: Private Lives, Desigh for Living, Hay Fever, and Blithe Spirit) through the 1950's and the years of abuse at the hands of narrow-minded critics (who considered him too "shallow" and "commercial"), and on through the 1960's and his renaissance period (when many of those same critics found his plays fashionable once again). Through it all, the successes, tragedies and failures, the many, many encounters with the rich and famous (Coward knew virtually every famous person of his day and counted many as lifelong friends), and most of all, the wit and wisdom of one of the most fascinating persons of our time will keep the devoted reader enthralled for all 700 plus pages. I could say much more about The Noel Coward Diaries, but a hundred reviews could not contain it all, so I will close by saying please make this book a present for yourself (and/or someone you love). Trust me, it will be one of the wittiest, most delightful, and truly Merriest Christmases you have ever spent!!!

4.0 out of 5 stars Prooves the Richer You are, the sleazier you are., January 17, 2012

By 

Edward R. Kusecki "Hockey" (Manhattan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Noel Coward Diaries (Hardcover)

Just prooves the ONLY reason people with money aren't in jail is because of their "money". The false image&lies about celebrities&leaders true lives are a disgrace this nation lives upon.

5.0 out of 5 stars He created his own masterpiece, which was Himself, May 10, 2011

By 

Patricia M. Jones (Grants Pass, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Noel Coward Diaries (Hardcover)

The diaries of Noel Coward in this book begin in 1941, continuing through December, 1969. His early years in the theatre and his war diaries have been published elsewhere. In my lifetime, Noel Coward was an icon of theatrical entertainers. Now I realize why, He gave everything of his talents and his time to his professional life and never sold out his own vision of his creations, musically and otherwise. He never envisioned being "profound"; he wanted the light touch, the deft revelations even in domestic comedy. He deplored the "kitchen sink" drama boys when they appeared in England who all seemed to take over and destroy lucidity; audibility; and compassion in the theatre thereafter. Readers will thoroughly enjoy the graceful, revealing and sincere "talking" these annual diaries convey from the mind of Noel Coward. He has a very good friend in himself, one feels. That is quite a feat in itself.

It is apparent reading his diaries- with the fascinating details of the processes- that to him, creating his musicals, his poetry and novels and his plays gave a joy to him in the making. Producing, directing and dealing with the vagaries of his stars and casts was another kettle of fish. He records them all, at their best and worst; most of them had been his friends for years. Reading about his work and weekly social calendars is enough to exhaust the reader; he rarely refused an invitation, and was usually working on a piece at the same time.

He records the joy and progress that he and his close associates made through the world, literally, seeking the perfect house, actually houses, to relax in; eventually, to find the home locales that gave him tax relief from the harsh British tax climate.

It was enchanting to learn he presented the first "special" in color, in the U.S., nationally broadcast in 1955, starring Noel with Mary Martin. Both sang their popular numbers and performed some skits, for 90 minutes, a record in those days. Noel had to restage all the camera work before the performance which was live. The crew had "no idea how to film musical theatre before a camera." The national audience response was ecstatic for this "little box" show of Big Talent. All the reports said they were hungry for the witty, sophisticated & purely lovely talented singers, bright romantic songs and dances. It is sad to realize the public is still waiting for this kind of quality entertainment from television today. 690pp.