Customer Reviews

A Rose for Mrs. Miniver: The Life of Greer Garson

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All too often, celebrity biographies are depressing catalogs of scandal and hedonistic, self-destructive behavior. Not this biography. When you finish it, you are sad, but it's because Greer Garson is no longer with us and you will never have the opportunity to meet her.
This fascinating biography is full of vignettes that reveal the character and personality of this woman who overcame chronic illness and many other obstacles to become one of Hollywood's most respected actresses. Examples of her warmth, sincerity, and decentness abound. As her beloved husband of more than thirty years to whom she is devoted lies near death in a Dallas hospital, she stands by his bedside with an old friend and recites from memory her favorite Psalm. Asked to read the Bible at a church service on Easter she realizes she has forgotten her glasses. She composes herself and ad libs for the congregation a beautiful and memorable message of her own.
She contributes millions to fund libraries, build theaters, establish scholarships, and support medical facilities. At the College of Santa Fe to which she has donated millions, she can be found on occasion pulling weeds and tending favorite rose bushes. She was so admired and respected in Texas where she had a home that she was formally asked to run for the U.S. Congress.
One hopes that Mr. Troyan or some other writer will gather Greer Garson's letters and publish them and that the A&E Network will finally remember her in an installment of "Biography." In the meantime, Garson fans should buy this book. It will inspire you and enrich your life and your appreciation of this beloved actress will only deepen. A richly detailed, superbly written biography of a truly lovely human being!

It's a tragedy that the work of this great actress seems to have been forgotten,the best example being that none of Miss Garson's
good films have found their way on to DVD. All of her films premiered to packed houses at NY's Radio City and quite a few broke box office records, including Mrs Miniver,Blossoms In the Dust,Madame Curie,Random Harvest,and Goodbye Mr Chips. I learnt many things about Greer Garson that I hadn't known, for example,she was born in London in 1904,not Ireland in 1908 as her publicist would have us believe. She made a name for herself on the London stage, before going to Hollywood, and despite an amicable relationship with Louis B Mayer, was freqently fustrated by his refusal to allow her to perform a range of roles,instead putting her in period dramas - hence her nickname of the Actress with the Bustle. She married three times (not two as is most commonly written) the first time disastrously to a British officer stationed in India, the second to Mrs Miniver co star Richard Ney (a union that didn't survive WW11) and finally when in her forties, to Col Buddy Fogelson, a marriage that lasted until his death many years later. A Rose for Mrs Miniver is a credit to author Michael Troyan, well written and well researched. Thanks to him we come to know this warm vivacious woman who lived her life with flare and class, - and who wasn't afraid to take risks - pretty well. I particularly enjoyed the recounting of Greer's refusal to be [pulled] in by Joan Crawford's jealousy and rudeness, and of her close life long friendship with regular co star Walter Pidgeon.
A wonderful book, thoroughly recommended.

Michael Troyan's writing style provides so much insight and information about this wonderful person, one cannot help but feel that Greer Garson had become a personal friend long before the end of the book. His extensive research has resulted in a genuine treasure for Greer's old fans and the new ones generated from reading this well-done biography. He is to be congratulated on an easy-to-read format with amazing attention not only to the details of Greer's life, but also to the history of Hollywood's Glamour Years and the behind-the-scenes activities that resulted in so many of our favorite movies. This book celebrates someone who wouldn't quit or loose sight of her goals, while "following her star". One cannot help but be inspired to excellence after reading Michael's tribute to Greer Garson. Highly recommended for readers of ALL ages.

This is an utterly enjoyable book, both for the fans of Greer Garson and for fans of classic Hollywood in general. Michael Troyan weaves her story together with all the simplicity, grace, and humor that his subject deserves. The best feature, to me, is the wealth of personal commment included that Miss Garson had on her own life, as the reader sees her wit, personality, and loveliness of being begin to take form. It is the best star biography that I have read.

An excellent read if you're into details. For me, the details got a little overwhelming, but I so much wanted to learn more about this actress that I admire greatly. Sadly, as the author himself stated, it was difficult to write a biography because Greer Garson was a very private person and did not give many interviews or express many personal opinions in public. However, he richly details her movies, her public service, and others' opinions of her (and a good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold). I have always enjoyed watching her many films and am tracking down as many of them as I can on DVD so this made for a fine addition to my collection of her work. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading and loves any of her many films.

I thoroughly enjoyed Michael Troyan's biography of Greer Garson. Like many who came along late in her career, I knew little about the star who was apparently a legend in her day. Troyan provides a vivid picture of the actress and the woman. Troyan's thoroughness in researching his subject is obvious from the many anecdotes provided by those who knew and worked with Garson, as well as the behind-the-scenes information on many of her films. When I met Troyan at one of his promotional appearances, he indicated that the rich detail comes, in part, from Garson's own unpublished and unfinished autobiography. Troyan's enthusiasm for his subject is obvious. The book is well-written and a relatively easy read. To provide a fair assessment, I should mention the book would benefit from a timeline, since it is at times difficult to keep track of what happened when. Also, Troyan commits the quite forgivable mistake of the first-time author. He provides perhaps too much detail in places. Don't let that keep you from reading a very informative and enjoyable book.

Michael Troyan has done a wonderful job of putting together an informative and enjoyable biography on a fascinating subject. In fact, I found the book so delightful as to find it to be one of the best biographies I've ever read.

While there is no doubt that the charming personality of Greer Garson herself that radiates throughout the book has helped in the formation of my favorable opinion, I give much-deserved kudos to Mr. Troyan for being able to present his subject to the audience in such a friendly manner. By that I mean that throughout the pages, I could feel the presence of Greer Garson, and after having finished the book, felt as if I had just finished reading a letter from a long-time friend.

The first half of the book, which deals with Greer's childhood, life in Britain as a stage actress, and the later move to Hollywood, is generally a smooth and easy read. The toll of the grinding studio system and the competition involved for the popular actresses of the time are keenly felt and one can get a very good idea of the kind of position the actress was in at the time. Eventually though, talent perseveres and success follows. Detailed and interesting accounts of each of Greer's films are available and are a joy to read.

The latter half of the book is a particularly refreshing read because of the relatively vast amount of information about Greer's later life outside of Hollywood. Personally, I had not previously been aware of her various activities and hobbies and learned a great deal more about Greer Garson than when I first started out. A sign of a good biography is new information, and this one certainly has its fair share.

Now, all other traits aside, the most notable accomplishment of this work is that it does not read as a stiff, dull and fact-driven thesis paper, which is a pitfall that so many biographies of this kind can fall into. Rather, it is an intimate yet respectfully distant portrait of a lovely human being who was also a remarkable artist in her own right.

Troyan's biography of Greer Garson is an inspired, thoughtful, exhaustive study of one of Hollywood's brightest stars of the 1940's. Beautifully written and researched.

*Attention biographers! Why are there no full bios of Maureen O'Hara or Irene Dunne??? (as far as I know)

Modern actors and actresses don't seem to have the charisma, style and elegance of yesteryear's stars. Maybe that's because most of today's actors are really nothing but pitiful celebrities striving to be what once was, when Hollywood was golden.

I long for yesterday when it comes to film stars: Betty Davis, Myrna Loy, Katherine Hepburn Ginger Rogers, and so many more. Oh, yes, and that includes Greer Garson. The beautiful and talented woman we thought was born in Ireland in 1908, was really born in London in 1904.

Author Michael Troyan delves into Greer Garson's life, as much as anyone could, given that she was an extremely private woman. He carries you through her intense desire to succeed as an actress, her `discovery' and career struggles to resist being typecast, all the way through her marriages, and to her death on April 5, 1996 at Dallas Presbyterian Hospital with Van Cliburn at her bedside.

I'd always thought of Ms. Garson as a brilliant actress who could get any part she wanted. I had no idea of her struggles with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. One of my favorite films is the record-breaking "Mrs. Miniver." I get chills thinking about her Academy Award-winning performance.

And while it felt a bit like voyeurism looking in on her life, I'm glad I visited it through Troyan's eyes. It was a satisfying trip. And the author did a marvelous job showing us a small part of the woman who was Greer Garson.

For a compelling look at one of the best actresses to ever grace the stage, big or small screen, read A Rose for Mrs. Miniver: The Life of Greer Garson.

Armchair Interviews says: This is a wonderful slice of our American film history.

I loved this book! Being a fan of the glamour of old-time Hollywood, it was so exciting to be able to read all these wonderful anecdotes and stories about what it was like making movies at MGM during its golden era. Greer Garson was a wonderful actress and lady who deserved to have her story told and I'm glad someone did her justice. Michael Troyan writes with much respect and admiration about Garson and digs up the most interesting details, directly from those who worked with her, knew her, and loved her. I would have liked to find out just a little more about her personal life, such as why she never had children and why she quit the film business, but all in all the book is great. Mr. Troyan, we anxiously await your next book.