Kate Remembered (Hardcover)

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.

'Kate Remembered' is not just a biography of the most exceptional and lengthy career in the annals of Hollywood, it lets us vicariously into the star's inner most sentiments, thoughts and beliefs as revealed to the author in their long conversations during a close 20 year friendship.

It was only after Kate's death on 29th June 2003 that this book was published. F. Scott Berg had agreed with his legendary friend not to make public any of the details of their discussions until she had passed away. Indeed, to have confided in anyone at all was remarkable as Katharine Hepburn was second only to Garbo in guarding her privacy. This fact alone is testament to the trust and closeness of the friendship between the star and the biographer.

In this book we witness her thoughts on, amongst others, the actor Spencer Tracy, with whom she had an iconic but very private relationship for 27 years:
"After 34 years of living for me! me! me! (he) taught me how to love."
His effect on her was like being "hit over the head with a cast-iron skillet".

On Garbo:"You simply couldn't take your eyes off her. You wanted to know everything about her and you knew she wasn't going to give it to you. That's a movie star and that's what we all wanted to be."

An eventful evening spent in the company of a 25 year old Michael Jackson: I can't recall a more peculiar night in my life!"

For me personally what makes this book different to those that have gone before is more than just the funny, sometimes mischievously bitchy insights into her contemporaries, but the exquisitely intimate and warm images Berg conjures up of the Hepburn household in her later years and all the fascinating personalities involved therein including brothers, sisters, domestic staff and friends of the star.