Cole Lesley

Awash in detail and distanced honor by the point of view of the author-amanuensis, this detailed work seems like a wondrous life preserved behind museum glass

Although I enjoyed reading this book, I was also disappointed in that Cole avoided the issue of Coward's homosexuality. We get a fleeting cursory acknowledgement and that's it. While in some ways that is sensible and consistent with Coward's own approach, it seems that one of the duties of a biographer is to discuss aspects that the subject himself may have skirted.

Other than that, the book reads well; it's full of inside information and backstage glimpses of a very smart, sophisticated set. show more Coward managed to be acquainted with the highest ranks of entertainment as well as old aristocracy - royalty itself. It's worth reading but we must hope for a "real" biography from other sources. show less

This is a chatty, anecdotal account of Noel Coward's life told by former lovers. However, as Coward himself did, they remained so discrete and reticent to delve into the really juicy bits that they omitted everything of the least sexual nature. Coward, who was obviously gay, was just never openly gay and these authors have respected that policy, to the readers' loss. Otherwise it is a perfectly adequate book and has many good pictures.