Katharine Hepburn: Kate Remembered a Personal Biography: Amazon.co.uk: A Scott Berg: Books

Amazon.co.uk Review

As a casual but authoritative survey of Hepburn's career, Berg's book offers little new information to anyone who's read previous Hepburn biographies or Me: Stories of My Life, Hepburn's bestselling 1991 memoir. But the duality of Berg's title reinforces his purpose: "More than my remembrances," writes Berg in his author's note, "this book intends to convey hers." As such, Kate Remembered offers a rare, unvarnished portrait of one of the 20th century's most influential women, achieving a personal intimacy while making the reader feel welcomed in Hepburn's private world of privilege.

Although Berg (the acclaimed biographer of legendary editor Max Perkins, producer/mogul Samuel Goldwyn and aviator Charles Lindbergh) had written all but the final paragraphs by 2001, Hepburn insisted this book remain unpublished until after her death, which came, in quiet dignity at age 96, on June 29, 2003. Given the book's prepublication secrecy, it's hardly tabloid-worthy, serving instead to correct or clarify details from Hepburn's glory days--especially her long-term affair with Spencer Tracy--while offering choice bits of Hollywood gossip, Hepburn's frequently scathing assessments of other actors and amusing encounters with such luminaries as Michael Jackson and Warren Beatty (both of whom appear as mock suitors with selfish motivations). It's a brisk read but a substantial one, richly emotional and as dignified as Hepburn herself, whose faults and foibles make her even more appealing than her beloved public persona. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk Review

Published a mere 13 days after the death of Katharine Hepburn, Kate Remembered is best appreciated as a billet-doux of devoted friendship. It's a moving study of mutual trust and admiration between Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer A Scott Berg and legendary Hollywood icon Hepburn, who'd established an instant rapport in 1983, beginning a 20-year conversation that blossomed into this enchanting "biographical memoir". As a casual but authoritative survey of Hepburn's career, Berg's book offers little new information to anyone who's read previous Hepburn biographies or Me: Stories of My Life, Hepburn's bestselling 1991 memoir. But the duality of Berg's title reinforces his purpose: "More than my remembrances", writes Berg in his author's note, "this book intends to convey hers." As such, Kate Remembered offers a rare, unvarnished portrait of one of the 20th century's most influential women, achieving a personal intimacy while making the reader feel welcomed in Hepburn's private world of privilege.

Although Berg (the acclaimed biographer of legendary editor Max Perkins, producer/mogul Samuel Goldwyn and aviator Charles Lindbergh) had written all but the final paragraphs by 2001, Hepburn insisted this book remain unpublished until after her death, which came, in quiet dignity at age 96, on June 29, 2003. Given the book's prepublication secrecy, it's hardly tabloid-worthy, serving instead to correct or clarify details from Hepburn's glory days--especially her long-term affair with Spencer Tracy--while offering choice bits of Hollywood gossip, Hepburn's frequently scathing assessments of other actors, and amusing encounters with such luminaries as Michael Jackson and Warren Beatty (both of whom appear as mock suitors with selfish motivations). It's a brisk read but a substantial one, richly emotional and as dignified as Hepburn herself, whose faults and foibles make her even more appealing than her beloved public persona. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Last Glance 19 Aug 2003

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

What a treat this book is? What a treat for those of us who so admired Katharine Hepburn and expected to hear no more from her, to be handed this gift, this final last long visit with her through the eyes of A. Scott Berg who Hepburn befriended when he first interviewed her some 20 years ago.

Berg's presence in Hepburn's life and his relationship with her - as trusted friend, companion and future biographer - is at the heart of the book, is what holds it together. Through him, we discover her home life, meet her family, drink scotch with her at 6 and share home-cooked dinners at 7. We learn to swim each morning and play board games in the evening. We are there when Michael Jackson comes around, share many quiet late night conversations with her and as many quick rejoinders during a drive around Connecticut or at her firsplace in her longtime home in Manhattan. Berg's is a quiet and companionable presence that allows us into her private sanctum. He listens to her and in doing so, he allows us to listen.

Interspersed throughout this intimate portrait of Hepburn is the story of her life - from her unusual childhood to her days on the stage and screen, her relationship with Spencer Tracy and her life after his death. Berg tries not to repeat too much of what Hepburn herself has already written about so captivatingly in her two autobiographical books, Me: Stories of My Life and The Making of The African Queen, concentrating instead on her memories of the later years of her life. He does add some detail to what we already know of earlier years and Hepburn seems keen to have these gaps filled in for us. Indeed, whilst she seems to find it useful to talk about her past, what is reassuring whilst reading the book, is the shared understanding throughout their friendship that Berg is writing down their discussions for the rest of us to share one day.

There are one or two slightly uneven things about the book. Berg's friendship and meetings with Irene Mayer Selznick - a sometime friend of Hepburn's whom he meets in connection with his biography of Samuel Goldwyn - take on a disproportionate weight in the book, as does Warren Beatty's pursual of Hepburn to take on a cameo role in his film. Selznick is an interesting character and Beatty's behaviour noteworthy in but the importance that Berg bestows upon them seems out of place.

However, these are small points. Berg has written a charming and gentle book that allows the majesty and humanity of his heroine to shine through. And it is a rare and special treat for those of us who thought we would hear from her no more. As if.

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very readable biography 21 July 2009

By Alice Wheeler

Format:Paperback

I haven't read such a readable biography before. As the author admits, it is more of a personal memoir. I felt that I was really sitting in the living room with them. Couldn't put it down.

A fascinating and extraordinary personal biography. 13 April 2008

By film fan VINE™ VOICE

I recently finished reading this fascinating book. The author, A.Scott Berg, knew the film great Katherine Hepburn for the last 20 years of her life and become a very close friend to her.

The book starts when the author first meets the great actress in 1983 and finishes in 2003. What we get inbetween is a fascinating and rewarding insight into Miss Hepburn's life on and off screen and stage. For we learn that she trod the boards in the theatre for 25 years from 1930's to the mid 1950's. There's also her working relationships with some of the mighty screen stars such as Spencer Tracy, James Stewart and Cary Grant. Then there's the directors like Joseph Mankiewicz and David Lean.

Also, as well as her extraordinary film and broadway career, she tells and reflects on her life away from the cameras and the lights with family and friends and how she spends time at her summer place away from her New York apartment. There are moments in this wonderful book when she becomes very amusing in her statements and observations.

What makes this biography one of the best biography's I've read is that the reader gets an insight into how not only the film industry changing with the times but also how the stars of today, like Warren Beatty and his wife Annette Bening in this book, ask Miss Hepburn to appear in a supporting role in their remake of 'An Affair To Remember' called 'Love Affair'. This is Katherine Hepburn's last film role in her illustreous career spanning nearly 7 decades and 4 Oscar wins.

I'm fascinated with the film industry and I found this book a thrilling and wonderfully textured read and reading what the subject's working relationships with some of the big names in the business were like, I found addictive and absorbing. The author brought out of his subject a true and honest look at an extraordinary life in front of and behind the camera. Fascinating and magnificent. What a life.