Vivien: The Life of Vivien Leigh

I've read this at a leisurely pace, but it's pretty straightforwardly chronological, so easy enough to read this way. I have, of course, seen Leigh's major roles: Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, the lead in Anna Karenina, and the unfortunate woman in Waterloo Bridge. I wasn't as aware of her career on the stage, but that was at least as important in terms of the time she spent appearing there and her reputation during her lifetime. Walker repeatedly makes the point that Leigh's talent, while versatile and adaptable, was no match for the towering talent of her famous (second) husband, Laurence Olivier.

Together, the two were 'the Oliviers,' epitomizing talent, looks, glamor, and fame show more before, during, and after World War II. And there is no doubt that they loved each other passionately; each of them had to divorce a spouse before they could be married. However, their marriage could not survive her illness.

Ultimately, the book is most illuminating on the subject of Vivien's illness; I knew that she suffered from bipolar disorder, but it was a bit harrowing to read of her frequent electroshock treatments. Still, I don't know that the portrait painted by Walker would have brought home to me the devastating nature of the disease if I had not experienced it more or less firsthand (a friend and former boss suffers from it). Vivien's extravagant shopping expeditions could have been no more than generosity to others and the result of her high income, rather than the manic symptom that I know they are.

One more small point: the author mentions that the South American tour for a play Vivien was in started in Mexico City; this error made me suspect other details. I'm sure his research into her life and work was painstaking, but such minor but easily correctable errors of fact affect my opinion of the work as a whole.

The overall impression left by the book is of a woman who was beautiful (yet who resented being complimented on her beauty, as if that were all she had to offer), talented (though not as talented as her famous husband), determined (yes--it was rather remarkable that an almost-unknown British actress should nab the plum role of Scarlett O'Hara against so much competition for the role), funny (apparently she had a very bawdy sense of humor), and tortured (as anyone would be by her disease). She wasn't much of a mother to her one daughter (with first husband Leigh Holman), but her daughter seemed to accept her ambitious mother and Holman, whom she left for Olivier, remained a lifelong friend whom she continued to visit. As much as her beauty, her taste and charm seemed to endear her to others, along with a genuine desire to please--she was a popular hostess if sometimes less than restful. show less

I've read this book twice, but the second time was a few years ago. I'm a long time GWTW fan so naturally anything about Vivien Leigh interests me. I enjoyed this book clearly although I'm aware since having read it last that there are supposedly some inaccuracies in it. I haven't read any other biographies of Leigh, although I'm aware there are some to compare this one to. Regardless of any inaccuracies or how it measures up to the others, I would very much recommend this book to anyone who adores GWTW and/or Vivien Leigh.

I loved learning about my favorite actress.

GREAT CONDITION!