Customer Reviews

Vanessa: An Autobiography

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I'm not really sure what I expected when I purchased a used copy of Vanessa Redgrave's autobiography. Maybe, it was to get a glimpse of an artist's perspective on acting. That certainly was not however what I ended up taking away from this bio. Rather, a wealth of information about politics and the Redgrave family is quickly thrust upon you within the first few pages. Once you sort out who everyone is, then you must go and cross-reference the political background of the times. This is where things started to get rough. Redgrave's writing is peripatetic and disjoiunted in style making it a difficult read. Once you get beyond the first few chapters however, her passion for politics and acting overwhelms you (in a good way) and you become caught up in the formation of her performing and political conscious.

The best part of the bio are the early letters she includes --written to both her father and various cousins-- which are witty, passionate, and illustrate perfectly the young Redgrave's thirst for knowledge and understanding. A warning to the potential reader: if you are not well-versed in the history of England, or the political parties or politics of the East, I urge you to consider some background reading in conjunction with this book as it is necessary to have a handle on some aspect of her writing before you attempt to follow her political path.