Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh [Paperback]

Alexander Walker (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Leigh, the actress who embodied roles she made famousScarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desireis presented from many perspectives in this rendering by London film critic Walker. With access to unpublished materials and conversations with family members and professional colleagues, he arranges a composite of a willful, talented and, finally, self-destructive woman. At age six, Leigh was sent from her home in India to convent school in England, where she remained. Extraordinary looks and an agreeable husband who remained her friend throughout her later turbulent marriages, were ingredients in her theatrical success. It was as the wife of Sir Laurence Olivier, however, that she triumphed. The 15 years of their tempestuous union are empathetically treated by Walker, as are her final yearsshe died in 1967of struggle with manic-depression. Walker offers a measured appraisal of a haunted woman. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Leigh retains her hold over the imagination as Scarlett O'Hara, as a great screen beauty, and as a notable actor. This biography is a serious assessment, which reads well, with a novelist's sense of telling scene and strong dialogue. Through new source material, it argues a coherent view of this troubled actor, showing her fated to self-destruction from her early impulsiveness, through her physical illnesses, to her later manic-depressive episodes. The lavishness, the emotional recklessness, and the artistic competitiveness are clearly delineated. But she was a tragic figure, playing out her own doom. The book is apparently well researched, but lacks the textual documentation needed for a serious work. For popular collections. Thomas E. Luddy, English Dept., Salem State Coll., Mass .
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press (January 12, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802132596
• ISBN-13: 978-0802132598
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,433 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A life in turmoil, November 7, 2002

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh (Paperback)

"Vivien" is proof positive that there can be a well-written, well-researched, realistic yet understanding biography of a messed-up star. This book could have been a sordid tangle of tabloid sensationalism, but Alexander Walker carefully crafts it into a tapestry.

Vivien Leigh was one of the most memorable actresses of the twentieth century, playing the headstrong Scarlett O'Hara. Yet Vivien was not as strong or indomitable as she appeared onscreen. The book starts with a poetic interlude during a peaceful time in her life, with several guests attending a dinner, then shifts back to her girlhood. Her first marriage fell as her fame rose, and she soon met the man she would fall in love with, her also-married costar Lawrence Olivier. But Vivien's life, despite her fame and idyllic life, was never a happy woman, her mental problems plaguing her to the end of her life.

Very few authors are able to strike a balance between admiration and reality; they'll either idolize the object of their biography, or pour vitriol on them. Walker does neither. While he acknowledges Vivien's faults, he also seems to care about her and her struggles. Nothing could more poignantly convey Vivien's pain than when she shrieked at a nurse, "I'm not Scarlett, I'm Blanche!" (Blanche being a character she played who went mad).

Vivien herself is a vivid presence from the first pages onward. Her struggles with mental illness are done with great delicacy, as is her relationship with Olivier. He himself is almost as strong a presence, even though he ultimately could not stay with her; another impressive real-life presence is Jack Merivale, the understanding younger man who remained with her until her untimely death. The scene where Merivale brings Olivier to his dead ex-wife's beside is another extremely effective anecdote.

The writing style is lush for a biography. Quite uniquely, there is also a lot of focus on Vivien's movies as well as her personal life, especially her dogged pursuit of roles that she desperately wanted to play. The pictures are well-suited for this book -- they're clear, elegant, well-laid out, relevant to the different parts of Vivien's life, and balanced well between her on-screen roles and her personal life. Walker keeps these pictures of her roles grounded by mentioning what was going on in Vivien's life while she filmed the movie.

Alexander Walker's biography of Vivien Leigh is a treasure for all of her fans. Without being sordid ior adoring, he creates a believable biography about a troubled, talented and passionate actress. Outstanding read.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent biography!, May 28, 2001

By 

Robert Ortiz (The Southwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh (Paperback)

This is without a doubt the definitive biography of the gorgeous and extremely talented Vivien Leigh. This book chronicles her life and the experiences that shaped her as a person as well as an actress. This book follows Vivien from her birth in India through her passionate romance with Laurence Olivier, the stage and screen roles that made her a star, all the way to the final and turbulent years of her life. She was indeed an intelligent and strong willed woman. Alexander walker does an excellent job of presenting the life of one of the most talented and breathtaking actresses Hollywood has ever known. This book is poignant, interesting, tasteful and highly recommended! Once you start reading it, you'll have an impossible time putting it down.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just Scarlett O'Hara!, October 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh (Paperback)

To the best of my knowledge, this is the most recent biography of Vivien Leigh, famed star of Gone With The Wind. It is probably the most comprehensive, as well, and is much kinder to her memory than any of the other biographies I have read. Walker makes a point of showing that Vivien had a mental illness and was not "insane" and, probably due to the fact that it was written so recently, it examines the lasting effects of Vivien's marriage to Olivier and includes various quotes from his autobiography. This book made me appreciate Viven Leigh's talent more than her beauty and realize what a profound impact she had on the theatre and motion picture industry. Vivien Leigh was more than just Scarlett O'Hara, she was a brave, fascinating, and extremely talented (I believe the most talented actress ever) woman. Definitely worth reading!!!