Customer Reviews

Vivien Leigh: A Bouquet

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Alan Dent was a friend of Vivien's, and was close (and professional) enough to give unfavorable reviews on occasion and still remain as such. This book is a tribute to the woman he knew. It is not to be mistaken for a biography, although it presents the whole span of Vivien Leigh's life. The book's structure is unique, and is really like a present, or a well-constructed presentation -- the kind one sees at Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremonies.

For the purpose of the review I have divided the book into two parts.

PART 1 is Vivien as presented through her letters and various written/spoken accounts from her friends. Dent sent a questionnaire to those who knew Vivien, requesting that they respond and thus contribute to his project. The result is a wholesome work with participation from colleagues such as George Cukor, Lauren Bacall, David Niven and Olivia de Havilland, as well as the many and diverse persons within Vivien's social circle, some of whom knew her intimately, and others who were acquaintances. Part 1 is a rare, incomparable section devoted entirely to the memory of Vivien Leigh.

PART 2 is Vivien the actress. There are two chapters devoted to her craft, entitled "The Screen Actress" and "The Stage Actress." Through a reviewer's eye, Dent goes through each of Leigh's performances on screen as well as on stage. Vivien loved her craft and cherished her professional experiences. It was the one thing she could always count on, although the end results were not always positive. In this portion of the book, Dent is not critical... the tone is more of a recollecting one, remembering the times he shared with his friend.

Lastly, I will say that this is a very good item to have, especially if you're a fan. As I've said before, this is a presentation of and for Vivien. There are no judgments and no attempts at explaining the actress. There is a wide array of emotions, because Vivien had her well-known ups and downs. But in the end, it is pretty much an open book and you can take what you will, no more.