- Hardcover: 698 pages
- Publisher: Little Brown & Co (T); 1st American Edition, 3rd Printing edition (Sep 1982)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0316695505
- ISBN-13: 978-0316695503
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 16 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,042,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
For over half a century Noel Coward was British Theatre's most renowned dramatist, director and star, and one of the most colourful characters who ever strode across its stage. Published to coincide with the centenary of Coward's birth, these diaries chronicle the last 30 years of his life, from his war-time concert tours, through his private and professional depression in the 1950s to his triumphant re-emergence in the 1960s and knighthood in 1970. Moving through the theatrical, social, political and historical world on both sides of the Atlantic, the impressive cast of characters ranges from Churchill and Mountbatten through Olivier and Vivien Leigh to Marilyn Monroe, Harold Pinter and the Beatles. This is a marvellously funny, touching and revealing account of the three decades in the life of the greatest theatrical entertainer of the century.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Publisher
“Compulsive reading…his final entertainment for everyone’s pleasure are these diaries” Sunday Times
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
These diaries are some of the best I've read. Well written, full of pithy observations on people, places and plays, Coward led a very full life, travelling, writing and performing.
Sometimes, he uses a diary entry as personal therapy, where he sums up his current situation in life and what he must do to move things forward.
Coward was a control freak. So often, he would get the production process for a play or musical up and running, go off on holiday, come back for the last days of rehearsal prior to opening, declare the whole thing a ghastly mess and take over. On one occasion he sacked no less an actor than Michael Redgrave and took over the part himself, concluding that no one else could possibly do it.
He is reticent not only about his own private life, but also those of his friends and acquaintances, so if you're expecting any salacious gossip, you will be disappointed. Coward came from a generation where one did not discuss that 'kind of thing'.
Despite his theatrical successes in the 1950s, he consistently got bad reviews which he put down to the critics being jealous of his success. This may be part of the reason, but I do wonder if homophobia had something to do with it.
A hugely enjoyable read.
Sometimes, he uses a diary entry as personal therapy, where he sums up his current situation in life and what he must do to move things forward.
Coward was a control freak. So often, he would get the production process for a play or musical up and running, go off on holiday, come back for the last days of rehearsal prior to opening, declare the whole thing a ghastly mess and take over. On one occasion he sacked no less an actor than Michael Redgrave and took over the part himself, concluding that no one else could possibly do it.
He is reticent not only about his own private life, but also those of his friends and acquaintances, so if you're expecting any salacious gossip, you will be disappointed. Coward came from a generation where one did not discuss that 'kind of thing'.
Despite his theatrical successes in the 1950s, he consistently got bad reviews which he put down to the critics being jealous of his success. This may be part of the reason, but I do wonder if homophobia had something to do with it.
A hugely enjoyable read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you enjoy diaries as I do, then this book is one for your bookshelf. Highly entertaining; a bit gossipy but sadly nothing too salacious! It was a different world then and this book transports you back in time. A must-buy.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the proof that we do not need more celeb autobiographies from Jordan and her ilk. Found a second hand copy of this collection and it only goes to show that a life has to be lived fully before it is published.
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