Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century
Mar 2022 · Sold by Grand Central Publishing
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About this ebook
A New York Times bestseller and a Washington Post "Best Book of the Year".
The thrilling story of the passionate, turbulent marriage of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh.
In 1934, a friend brought fledgling actress Vivien Leigh to see Theatre Royal, where she would first lay eyes on Laurence Olivier in his brilliant performance as Anthony Cavendish. That night, she confided to a friend, he was the man she was going to marry. There was just one problem: she was already married—and so was he. Truly, Madly is the biography of a marriage, a love affair that still captivates millions, even decades after both actors' deaths.
Vivien and Larry were two of the first truly global celebrities—their fame fueled by the explosive growth of tabloids and television, which helped and hurt them in equal measure. They seemed to have it all and yet, in their own minds, they were doomed, blighted by her long-undiagnosed mental-illness, which transformed their relationship from the stuff of dreams into a living nightmare.
Through new research, including exclusive access to previously unpublished correspondence and interviews with their friends and family, author Stephen Galloway takes readers on a bewitching journey. He brilliantly studies their tempestuous liaison, one that took place against the backdrop of two world wars, the Golden Age of Hollywood and the upheavals of the 1960s—as they struggled with love, loss and the ultimate agony of their parting.
"Gripping." ―Wall Street Journal
"Between the tabloid intrigue and the Shakespearean end is a compelling portrait of two people trying their best." ―Vanity Fair
"A fascinating look at the dueling powers of dizzying fame and true love.” ―Town & Country
The thrilling story of the passionate, turbulent marriage of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh.
In 1934, a friend brought fledgling actress Vivien Leigh to see Theatre Royal, where she would first lay eyes on Laurence Olivier in his brilliant performance as Anthony Cavendish. That night, she confided to a friend, he was the man she was going to marry. There was just one problem: she was already married—and so was he. Truly, Madly is the biography of a marriage, a love affair that still captivates millions, even decades after both actors' deaths.
Vivien and Larry were two of the first truly global celebrities—their fame fueled by the explosive growth of tabloids and television, which helped and hurt them in equal measure. They seemed to have it all and yet, in their own minds, they were doomed, blighted by her long-undiagnosed mental-illness, which transformed their relationship from the stuff of dreams into a living nightmare.
Through new research, including exclusive access to previously unpublished correspondence and interviews with their friends and family, author Stephen Galloway takes readers on a bewitching journey. He brilliantly studies their tempestuous liaison, one that took place against the backdrop of two world wars, the Golden Age of Hollywood and the upheavals of the 1960s—as they struggled with love, loss and the ultimate agony of their parting.
"Gripping." ―Wall Street Journal
"Between the tabloid intrigue and the Shakespearean end is a compelling portrait of two people trying their best." ―Vanity Fair
"A fascinating look at the dueling powers of dizzying fame and true love.” ―Town & Country
A New York Times bestseller and a Washington Post "Best Book of the Year".
The thrilling story of the passionate, turbulent marriage of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh.
In 1934, a friend brought fledgling actress Vivien Leigh to see Theatre Royal, where she would first lay eyes on Laurence O...
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Ratings and reviews
3 reviews
Charles Ynfante
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July 19, 2024
I could not put it down !!! VIVIAN LEIGH, LAWRENCE OLIVIER AND THE ROMANCE OF THE CENTURY by Stephen Galloway. My gosh! What that couple went through in deep love and lust from the mid-1930s to the early 1960s. I was obsessed. I had to be outside --- anywhere, everywhere --- to get lost in the adventure of their LOVE. They lived through war and peace, working mainly in theater while making several movies here and there. I was immersed in their emotions for each other. I never knew this life existed between them. This book is an experience. Review by Charles Ynfante.
About the author
Stephen Galloway is the dean of Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Prior to joining Chapman in 2020, he was for many years the executive editor of The Hollywood Reporter.
Stephen Galloway is the dean of Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Prior to joining Chapman in 2020, he was for many years the executive editor of The Hollywood Reporter.
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