Product Description

The definitive story of Hollywood's most famous couple

Customer Reviews (94)

Meticulously Researched
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton are two major Hollywood stars. The fact that they fell in love with each other during one of the most publicized films in history, and while they were married to other people to boot, causes a furor among gossip magazines and fans around the world.

Extremely well written and detailed, the authors give a full picture of the lives, loves, and the celebrities of Taylor and Burton. Their romance was an early obsession with the American film fan. Their every move was documented, and that took a toll on their relationship.

These 500+ pages examine through personal diaries and letters, as well as numerous fan magazines, newspaper articles, and archival materials to paint a complete picture of a beloved couple. It can be overwhelming to read and it certainly not something one could finish in one day, but it is an excellent resource for information.

The best book ever about Elizabeth Taylor
I have loved Elizabeth Taylor since I was 9 years old when I first saw her appear on my television screen (in a short clip on a TV blooper show of all things) thirty years ago.My admiration has only increased over time.I now own every movie she starred in that are out on DVD and I've probably read every article and book ever written about her over the last three decades.This book is by far the best account of her life which has ever been published.My dream is for her to write her own story but I don't believe she ever will - I therefore agree with other reviewers who have noted that this probably the closest and most accurate account which will ever be written about the fabulous Taylor/Burton years.To those who have noted disdain at seeming excesses in their lives, I would say that no one should stand in judgment of anyone else's life - famous or not.No one but Elizabeth and Richard know what those years were actually like - they were hounded by the press like no couple has been before or since.She always handled fame better because she seemed born to be famous - it came so naturally to her - as did acting.It seemed however that Richard Burton never was comfortable in the same way she was and unfortunately his physical well-being was not nearly as strong as Elizabeth's.Though she has had countless medical maladies and operations over the years, Elizabeth has just always persevered and I am personally thankful for that fact because the world would not be the same without her.

Elizabeth Taylor is a brilliant actress, a wonderful humanitarian, and one of the most beautiful people ever born.She has lived her life with passion and courage and has been an inspiration to me and always will be.Richard Burton was an extraordinary actor who fell in love with the most beautiful and famous woman in the world - their romance is epic and fascinating.Elizabeth Taylor has said that if Richard Burton had lived, they would have been married again and I believe wholeheartedly that is true.The triumphs and tragedies that continue to make up the story of her life are both revelatory and heartbreaking.This book does a wonderful job honoring both Elizabeth and Richard without covering up their very human flaws - it is a treasure and I recommend it to anyone who even has a passing interest in great romance, adventure and lives lived to the fullest.

Great Show Biz Bio
Furious Love is a really good look at the phenomenom which was the love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.The book takes off like well written fiction from the first page, which does not begin with the usual background of who was born unto whom and how they lived and where they grew up.Those details are filled in later after he reader gets sucked into this then scandalous romance.
The only flaw in the book is that it tends to get bogged down in repitiion...lots of drinking, big money purchases, fights.Also the final years are covered quite quickly in comparison to the rest of the book.I was not necessarily a fan of the duo but the book did encourage m to watch some of their films and was enjoyable to understand not only the scandal of the time but how these two went from being Hollywood elite to merely "old" actors to now legends.
If you enjoy show biz bios this is the one you will enjoy.

Furious Love - Kashner and Schoenberger (Harper)
When Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger, authors of "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and The Marriage Of The Century"mentioned to a college-age acquaintance that they were considering writing a book on the Taylor-Burton romance, the response was "I never knew Elizabeth Taylor was married to Tim Burton!" The writers were shocked, as was Elizabeth Taylor, who responded by giving the biographers access to nearly forty never-before-published letters and notes written to her by the late actor. "I don't care what you write about me," she told them, "...just as long as you honor Richard." And, indeed, in addition to recounting the story of an explosive, larger-than-life love affair, "Furious Love" also serves as a poignant reminder of the enormous but tragically squandered gifts of the man who was once considered the greatest actor of his generation, heir to Gielgud and Olivier.

The saga begins in 1962, when the two were cast opposite one another in "Cleopatra," the lavish production that would ultimately bankrupt Twentieth Century-Fox. Though she was only 26, Elizabeth Taylor had been a movie star for a decade and was on her fourth marriage, to singer Eddie Fisher. Burton, on the other hand, was primarily known as a stage actor and looking to make his mark in film. And despite having had a string of affairs, he was still married to his wife Sybil, who he swore he would never abandon. Though initially unimpressed with each other, the co-stars soon fell almost uncontrollably in love, triggering a huge public response the authors dub "le scandale". From that point on the couple essentially developed dual identities. "Richard and Elizabeth" were dedicated to their craft, devoted to their children, and genuinely longed for a simpler life. "Liz and Dick," however, provided endless fodder for the tabloids of the day with their outrageously extravagant lifestyle, their public break-ups and reconciliations and, of course, their well-known battles with pills and alcohol.

In fact, the title "Furious Love" could describe Burton's and Taylor's relationship with booze as aptly as it does their feelings for each other. Kashner and Schoenberger chronicle the couple's astonishing levels of consumption in some detail, clearly illustrating the havoc wreaked by their years of alcohol abuse. Taylor managed to keep the ravages of her addiction at bay longer than Burton, whose health had utterly deteriorated by the time he finally succumbed to a cerebral hemorrhage at 58. Eventually, however, she would become the first celebrity to openly seek treatment at The Betty Ford Clinic.

As much as they were victims of their own destructive appetites, Burton and Taylor also came to find themselves on the wrong side of the generation gap that split Hollywood and the rest of the world in the '60's. As audiences embraced such anti-establishment films as "The Graduate" and "Easy Rider," Liz and Dick, with their jewels, yachts, and furs seemed to symbolize all the phony glitz younger stars and their fans held in contempt. Early artistic triumphs such as "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf" and "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" were eclipsed by a string of high-paying potboilers the pair needed to make in order to maintain their multiple homes and extensive entourage. Their final performances together, in a touring production of "Private Lives" were, by their own admission, little more than self-parody.

Like its subjects, "Furious Love" veers in tone from an almost scholarly seriousness to breathless gossip. These shifts, which sometimes occur from one paragraph to the next, can leave the reader feeling that one author has bumped the other aside in order to take over the narrative. Adding to this impression are occasional repetitions in the text, including one instance where a list of Burton's late-career films appears twice on the same page. All in all, though, "Furious Love" is an intimate, intriguing portrait of two star-crossed lovers whose real-life personas were as fascinating and dramatic as any of the characters they ever portrayed. In short, it's a book that would make a great movie. But nobody other than Elizabeth and Richard could ever play Liz and Dick. - David Nichols

Sneaks up and Moves you Tremendously
A fascinating, heartfelt story of the world's greatest love affair.You find yourself unable to put it down, and surprised at the reveals that occur in each page.Who knew that these great lovers kept in touch even after divorce or that Mr. Burton may have been murdered? ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (25)

something is missing
how can you write a book about ms taylor and not include photographs of this amazing beauty?p.adamski

great book
I enjoyed the book very much. It gives a nice picture of Taylor's private life! She is definitely a legend. She knew how to handle fame, she is unique!

Fun book ...
I lived thru the "Liz and Dick" years in the 60's ... so having
a well-written book with juicy details about the pair was a plus.
This is not a chronology of Liz's life --- it's mostly her loves
and movies and major life events.They don't spend alot of time
on her childhood ... just a bit. Most of the book deals with her
relationship with Richard Burton. All-in-all, this is a fun read,
worth it if you like hearing about Liz and her men. You come away
from this book seeing what a trail-blazer this lady was/is ... she
was ahead of her time, and a character to-be-sure.

Great insight to Hollywood stars real lives
Great book because it really gives you great insight into stars lives and what it takes to make money and keep their fame going.Makes you see how spoiled a star can get and how hard it is to keep making big money to live the lifestyle you get used to - which you see isn't always that glamourous because everything you do gets in the press.Elizabeth is a true movie star but had a long career and got caught up in it all too.Money does drive you once you're famous and hard to get off the roller coaster once you get big in Hollywood.Very good book with alot of behind the scenes information.

Eh
How to Be a Movie Star by William J. Mann
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009
406 pages
Biography
3/5 stars

Summary: Not a traditional biography, How to Be a Movie Star examines Elizabeth's life in the star system taking particular interest in how she became a movie star while also touching on her infamous love affairs.

Thoughts: I just reviewed Furious Love about Elizabeth and Richard but I wanted to read this too because I've always been fascinated by her. In fact my favorite Barbie as a child was named Elizabeth Taylor (because I thought it was the most beautiful name in the world) and I desperately wanted violet eyes like her (or rather like she allegedly had; also Meg in Hercules fueled that desire).

I appreciate Mann's mission but I didn't think he did a very good job. The biographic parts were good but he didn't tie it back to how she was a movie star very well. She had "it" and that's not easily quantifiable. I also think it may have suffered in not being as interesting as "Furious Love" since I read them so close together.

There was also an awful lot about Hedda Hopper who declined as Liz rose. I understand that she was influential for a time and Mann had access to her archives but she was probably the second most mentioned person in the book and I don't see that she's important enough.

Overall: Interesting for those who didn't live through Liz's life.

Cover: Um, gorgeous? Liz is SOOOOOO beautiful. ... Read more

Product Description
Elizabeth Taylor is one of our last great movie stars. An Oscar-winning actress, she has lived her entire life in front of the spotlights, and her glamour and smouldering, sensual charisma are the stuff of legend. In Elizabeth, Alexander Walker presents the story of a life that was lived, on and off camera, with a passion rarely matched by even today's outspoken celebrities. From her privileged childhood, the influence of her strong-willed mother, and her rise to stardom in films like National Velvet, A Place in the Sun, and Cleopatra, to her husbands, her obsession with jewelry, and her amazing resilience in the face of public scandal and personal tragedy, Walker shows us the real Elizabeth--as an actress and as a person determined to live on her own terms. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

kittyjinny
Okay but I wish it was written by the subject. She has lead an interesting life in the public eye. She and I are the same age but that is all we have in common.

Excellent!
I think this is the classiest bio written about Elizabeth TaylorI really enjoy Alexander Walker as an author and biographerHe presents Elizabeth's life as true to life as possible without resorting to foul language or any degrading comments about her life. His writing style will not offend anyone.

Diamonds and divas
Elizabeth Taylor is a hard person to biograph -- she's been awash on controversy since her teens, and became infamous for her luxe lifestyle and many husbands. So it's an especial credit to Alexander Walker's "Elizabeth," which manages to be fair without fawning.

Taylor was the daughter of American Anglophiles, who moved to Hollywood during WWII. Her mother Sarah (an ex-actress) managed to get her into films, and the rest is cinema history. She seamlessly made the transition from cute child star to teen idol -- right before marrying abusive hotel heir Nicky Hilton.

He was the first of several husbands -- crooner Eddie Fisher, her late soulmate Mike Todd, Brit actor Michael Wilding, a congressman, and most famously Welsh actor Richard Burton. And her tumultuous life was full of gems, health problems, love affairs, and high drama in all she did.

Alexander Walker seems to have a liking for beautiful, legendary actresses with personal problems, so it's inevitable that he would have written about Taylor. The difficult part is balancing her positive and negatives, without either fawning or dragging her through the mud.

And Walker does an excellent job -- Taylor is not a vixen or a harpy, nor is she an angel. Instead, he studies her personality, with its tendency to replace one love with another, as well as seeking a controlling personality to make her feel secure. Whether it's adultery or financial problems, he doesn't judge so much as lay out the facts so readers can judge for themselves.

Best of all, Walker puts a wealth of detail in here. There's plenty of information about her movies, including lesser-known ones like "Cynthia," and Walker describes scenes that mirror or reflect Taylor's talent in detail. He also frames her story with info about the audiences of the times. He even includes unedited, outraged letters sent in after Taylor got involved with Fisher.

"Elizabeth: The Life of Elizabeth Taylor" is perhaps the best, fairest and most thorough biography of this living legend. Walker definitely hit the mark with this one.

Luminous Liz!
I was mesmerised by this book. Of course, one often takes biographies with a grain of salt, but I was most impressed with the way that Taylor handled her career like a man -- how she was able to go on despite the pressures of her situation. The love story between Burton and Taylor shines through, and I think I understand a little more about love, even though theirs was a tumultuous one. She is a role model for people in the performing arts who turn their attention toward great and needy causes, and I respect her immensely. Also, the photographs in this book illustrate the fact that Liz was -- and still is -- the most luminous raven-haired beauty in Hollywood. Long may she rule as the last star of Hollywood.

Elizabeth Taylor Revealed
In the book The Life of Elizabeth Taylor, Alexander Walker captures the extraordinary beauty's life in every way. Fans will absolutely love this book. It is a thorough in depth biography filled with more than 30 amazing photos of Elizabeth throughout the years.
It starts from the beginning of her life in London where her mother's strong willed attitude pushes Elizabeth forward. Alexander focuses on her success in many movies such as National Velvet, A Place in the Sun, and Cleopatra. The Oscar winning performance she gave in Butterfield 8 and the two academy awards that made her a legend are depicted.
Along with all the positive aspects of her life also came the long downfalls that have intrigued us over the years. Elizabeth's eight marriages are uncovered along with her conniving personality that broke apart other people's marriages. Her obsessions of jewelry, clothing, and sex are exposed. The truth behind her ongoing drug and alcohol abuse is revealed. Elizabeth's suicide attempt at age 29 along with the 73 total hospitalizations throughout her life is publicized. This book shows us the real Elizabeth outside of the glamour. The dramatic experiences with facing the public with the on going scandals and personal tragedies is drawn out for the readers.
This book gives a true insight in Elizabeth Taylor's life. From the high points to downfalls, her life is captured by Alexander Walker to its fullest. Elizabeth's life has been an often-tragic fairytale that people have followed throughout the past 50 years. ... Read more

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"Here, in my own words and as I remember them, are my cherished stories about a lifetime of fun and love and laughter...I've never thought of my jewelry as trophies. I'm here to take care of it and to love it, for we are only temporary custodians of beauty."

--Elizabeth Taylor

She has mesmerized movie audiences since her debut in National Velvet at the age of twelve, dazzled both men and women with her luminous beauty and iconic presence, displayed shrewd business acumen by creating a line of fragrances with unparalleled success, and her AIDS activism has been a call to arms for people around the world. She is Hollywood's greatest living star and a living legendElizabeth Taylor.

One of her greatest passions is jewelry, and over the years she has amassed one of the world's foremost collections. By the time she was in her thirties, Elizabeth Taylor already owned an outstanding set of Burmese rubies and diamonds from Cartier, a fantastic emerald and diamond suite from Bulgari, and the 33.19-carat Krupp diamond, a gift from Richard Burton. That ring was later eclipsed by a subsequent gift from Burton, when he bought a staggering 69.42-carat pear-shaped diamond. Newly named the Taylor-Burton Diamond, it catapulted Elizabeth Taylor into that rarefied pantheon of great jewelry collectors.

In this revealing book, Elizabeth Taylor offers a personal guided tour of her collection. She takes us into her confidence, sharing personal anecdotes, witty asides, and intimate reminiscences about her life, her loves, and her collection. Whether talking about the famous La Peregrina pearl, which was briefly abducted by a household pet, or chatting about a childhood gift to her mother, Elizabeth Taylor shows herself to be the most seductive of storytellers: direct, irreverent, and charming.

Complementing the stories are 125 stunning new photographs of her most remarkable pieces, specially commissioned for this book, and more than 150 rarely seen images (many from Elizabeth Taylor's personal collection) of the star wearing her jewelry over the course of almost sixty years. We see her as a young ingenue of fifteen wearing what would be the first of many charm bracelets, and again, equally dazzling, as a mature woman, wearing the famous Duchess of Windsor diamond brooch, which she purchased to benefit AIDS research.

Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry marks the first time this beautiful jewelry will be seen together as a collection. Lavishly produced and illustrated, the book has an introduction by the world-renowned authority on jewelry, François Curiel, of Christie's. It is for those who are enchanted by this most incandescent and enduring star, for those who cherish and dream of jewelry, and most importantly, for those who believe in the true meaning of love. This book is a fabulous display of unbelievable glamour, assembled over a lifetime, by one of the most extraordinary women in the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Irresistible!
They broke the mold after they made Elizabeth Taylor--and I love this book. She has so much, and yet her spirit of fun and generosity come through here as she shares these stunning photos and personal recollections. Wouldn't it be fun to have lunch with her and hear more?

After reading this I was inspired to buy a lovely blank book and write down my own memories of my (okay, much smaller than Liz's) jewelry collection. Maybe someday my children or grandchildren will enjoy these family stories as I am enjoying Elizabeth's.

Torn Binder-pages glued together-POOR CONDITION
Received book that was listed in Very Good condition--Book arrived with binding completely torn away from book-front and back pages glued together for what reason I am not sure.Wrote seller, never received reply. Would not buy from this dealer again.This was a purchase that virtually needs to be thrown away.

Elizabeth Taylor:My Love Affair withJewelry
I recently became interested in a pair of pearls and did a lot of research on them.I bought a pair of Mikimoto pearls and then bought this book.I really enjoyed learning more about pearls and other famous jewelry.

Worth Every Dollar
I paid $175.00 for this book before I discovered amazon.com and the wonderful prices.Even so it is worth every dollar I paid and it is a book to treasure.Elizabeth Taylor has a truely stunning collection of jewels and such a vast amount but she knows each piece and the story behind it.The book is filled with stunning photos and is interesting to read.I was not a great fan of Elizabeth Taylor before reading this book but since then I have read more about her.You will not be dissappointed.

Go For The Gold!
This book surpasses any written bios of Ms. Taylor.She has masterfully catalogued her acquisitions with quality photographs and a synopsis of who gave her each of the gems and when.I have never appreciated the art and beauty of jewelry until I've seen this book (I never could afford to!).
Elizabeth Taylor and her life has always intrigued me but this book is mesmerizing:Imagine, a man will tell a woman he loves her with extravagant jewelry.And, let's face it, don't we all fantasize that?
By the way, she also catalogues the Cartier-Burton Diamond of which she no longer possess. ... Read more

Product Description
For more than six decades she has been a part of our lives. Now acclaimed biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli looks past the tabloid version of Elizabeth's life and offers the first-ever fully realized portrait of this American icon. You'll meet her controlling mother who plotted her daughter's success from birth...see the qualities that catapulted Elizabeth to stardom in 1940s Hollywood...understand the psychological and emotional underpinnings behind the eight marriages...and, finally, rejoice in Elizabeth's most bravura performance of all: the new success in family, friendships, and philanthropy she achieved despite substance abuse and chronic illness. It's the story of the woman you thought you knew--and now can finally understand.

J. Randy Taraborrelli is a respected journalist, a recognizable entertainment personality, and in-demand guest on many television programs. He is the bestselling author of eight books. Taraborrelli is a reporter for the Times (London), Paris Match, and The Daily Mail (UK) and a contributor to Redbook,McCall's, and Good Housekeeping. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Wonderful transaction, perfect Amazon experience.
I have learned that Amazon is the BEST place to purchase books -- new, older, or obscure.Perfect transaction.

Putting an oversized life into human terms
There's not much new here. That's the danger in writing about someone like LaLiz. Her life has been so public for so long that her story is already well known.

What her life hasn't been is understood. The author contends that not even Taylor has understood the ramifications of her actions or what her motivations may have been.

So this book attempts to take her life and loves and triumphs and illnesses and put them against the backdrop of her childhood, how she was either running toward men like her father or away from them, how she was either building a career or trying to destroy it. This Elizabeth comes off as ambivalent about her choices, which surprised me, and made her seem even more sympathetic than before.

So Far So Good
I have not finished this book yet,actually just started it.But, it is very interesting.Elizabeth Taylor is a stunning and facinating woman.I have read previous biographys by this author and so far I have not been disappointed.Its a nice read.

Great book
It was very hard to put this book down once I atarted reading it. I have always thought that Elizabeth Taylor was a beautiful woman and this book is telling me her life story. I have recommended it to other people to read so hopefully I have brought some more business for this website.

Nine Lives of Maggie the Cat
I was hesitant to buy this biography, because for some reason it gave me the feel of one of those biographies full of lies. But I ended up loving it! It's told as a complete story of Ms. Taylor's life, full of detail.
I would recommend it to any of her fans, or anyone who wants to read a very entertaining story. ... Read more

Product Description
A biography of Elizabeth Taylor which includes coverage of her high-profile film career from the age of 12, her marriages, and her drug and alcohol addictions. The author has written biographies of Jacqueline Onassis, Barbara Hutton and Ezra Pound, and been shortlisted for two Pulitzer Prizes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Liz
I bought this book for my daughter as a gift.She loves Liz Taylor and she loved the book.I would order from this company again.The book was in excellent condition and it arrived on time.

Another Book on Liz before Damehood!
So she doesn't like to be called, Liz. Elizabeth is too long of a name to keep pronouncing repeatedly. I was interested in the author's portrayal of Dame Elizabeth Taylor. This book was written only a few years before she became Dame Elizabeth Rosamunde Taylor for her services to charity worldwide for her tireless efforts in the fight against AIDS. Speaking of which, today is AIDS day. I think the author does an admirable job in explaining Taylor's parents who had a major influence on their daughter becoming a star and an icon more importantly. She is far more complicated than we know about her. I will probably never meet the living legend. She has not worked much and continues with AmFar. Her father, Francis Taylor, became a colorful character who was probably homosexual while her mother Sara had affairs with director Michael Curtiz. Liz dotes on her four children and eight grandchildren but there is not enough of Liz to go around for everybody including her eight husbands. She loves them all just as she loves Michael Jackson. Liz could be tolerable and intolerable but she is a lovely person. She tries to much to please everybody around her. Maybe the title should have been Violet Eyes. This book is not enough to tell the story of Elizabeth Taylor but her life could be written in volumes.

Less than intimate
With her eight marriages, long-running drug problems and lingering medical ailments, Elizabeth Taylor is a perfect candidate for trashy tabloidy biographies. While C. David Heymann's "Liz: An Intimate Biography of Elizabeth Taylor" is not the worst of the bunch, his obvious disdain makes for sour reading.

For some time, Elizabeth Taylor was the image of the child star -- talented, gutsy and willing to do almost anything (even try to speed up physical growth) to get a part. But after a failed marriage to hotel heir Nicky Hilton and an increasingly sultry image, Elizabeth began to change radically. Suddenly she was the Cleopatra of the times.

She went through several marriages, to Michael Wilding, the tragic Mike Todd, a scandalous affair and marriage to Eddie Fisher (who was married), and finally spent many long years with the tempestuous Richard Burton (who was also married), whom she married twice. Her once red-hot career went into decline, as her last two forgettable marriages tanked. But Elizabeth Taylor remains a towering movie legend even today.

Since she was the J.Lo of her day -- bling, lots of husbands and opulence all around -- Taylor is a pretty juicy subject for a biographer... IF the biographer can repress his inner tabloid journalist. Heymann keeps himself restrained much of the time, focusing a lot of Elizabeth's career and the impact of the people around her.

It's death to a biography if the author has no respect, let alone liking, for his subject. And Heymann shows nothing but disdain not only for Elizabeth, but for her husbands and lovers. He emphasizes Taylor's yoyoing obesity, her sometimes immaturity, her gaudy dress/makeup/jewelry styles, and her lack of education. Her husbands are all caricatures. For example, Richard Burton is portrayed merely as a weak sot, and little mention is made of his intelligence, his eloquence, or his astounding acting ability.

Aside from the superficiality and occasional sexual anecdotes, Heymann does a pretty good job of chronicling not only Taylor's career, but that of the people around her such as her good friends Rock Hudson and Montgomery Clift, as well as her tireless crusading for AIDS victims and her forays into the world of... perfume. Whatever. Nothing new is revealed, but it's a passable look at her life.

However, the obvious dislike Heymann has for Taylor and her assorted amours makes "Liz: An Intimate Biography of Elizabeth Taylor" a pain to read.

How much could he know?
If he did such great research, which it doesn't seem like, why did he call the book "Liz"?It is well known that she does not like to be called "Liz"

Great Pictures, Fascnating reading
The pictures of beautiful child-star Liz Taylor to the Liz of the 90's are fabulous. Beautifully written book of a Hollywood legend. Absorbing and juicy. Intimate look at her glamourous and turbulent life. Her many romances with famous men, her movie career, weight swings, battles with drug and alcohol dependence, humanitarian work. Really gives you the feeling of knowing her. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (35)

What a waste
This is the worst book I have ever read! What a waste of paper and time.

Badly Written, Absolute Rubbish
The two preceding books in this series, "The Ravenscar Dynasty" and "The Heir", were not bad. This conclusion to the trilogy was a major disappointment and I will not purchase another book by this author. As other reviewers have stated, the book is very badly written with no planning or storyline.

Don't bother
I got the CD of this book from my local library and I'm certainly glad I didn't spend any money on it!This is my first BTB book and I can't say that I'll be looking for anything else by her after reading Being Elizabeth.I spent the entire book waiting for something to happen.There was no plot, no main conflict for the heroine to overcome.It was just a chronicle of Elizabeth's charmed life.

The dialogue and descriptions were extremely repetitious and in some cases hard to believe.For example, BTB stated about a dozen times that Elizabeth's childhood was tough because her father had disowned her and there wasn't enough money around.But given the unbelievable luxury her family enjoyed and the fact that she was brought up by a nanny and given such an incredible education that she could speak 5 languages by the age of nine, I have to wonder if by "not enough money" she means that she was forced to wear the same outfit twice in a lifetime.

I found it hard to root for Elizabeth as a character because she accomplished everything with no effort at all and every character in the book spent all their time talking about how wonderful she was.Despite the repeated (highly repeated) references to her tough childhood, at the age of only 25 she's apparently become not only the wealthiest person on the planet, but she's also a business genius (which is very hard to believe given her age), beautiful, and she has a whole stable of handsome male friends who all just happen to be business geniuses too and are all completely devoted to her.

Nothing ever goes wrong for Elizabeth in the story.There is a permeating story about a distant cousin who wants to steal the company, but every time this woman "The Kilt" as they call her, is brought up every one of Elizabeth's handsome helpers rush to repeat the same statements they've made a dozen times before which state that The Kilt is actually no threat to them at all.And she never is.The only time a potentially bad business deal comes Elizabeth's way, one of her very talented handsome men tips her off and she avoids it without incident.Every possible conflict in the story (and there aren't many) is neatly avoided without any real effort or stroke of genius on Elizabeth's part.Nothing ever really challenges her and yet everyone goes on telling her she's amazing.

And her hang up about being marriage phobic was tiresome and one-dimensional.I find it hard to believe that a business genius like the paragon Elizabeth would ignore the fact that she needs to produce an heir in order to keep her beloved company from going to some undeserving cousin.Especially not when she's supposedly so madly in love with her dear Robin that she can't live without him.The epilogue was a too-late attempt add some conflict into the story and didn't ring true at all.After 10 years of worshiping Elizabeth suddenly Robin can't stand to not be married?Not likely.And even this conflict comes to nothing because Robin agrees to stay with her for the rest of his life even if she never deigns to be his wife.

I didn't know when I read it that this book was meant to mimic Elizabeth I's life, but knowing it now doesn't do much to change my opinion.Not every real-life story translates to good fiction.Although I guess now I understand the baffling and confusing use of the same three names for all of Elizabeth's dead relatives.

Waste of time
It was a complete waste of time to me. I tried to read it during my daily commuting and it took me 2 months to read it from cover to cover. It was the first novel by BTB I read (and last).

What a waste of time!
If it were possible to give no stars, that's what I would give this book. I found Being Elizabeth to be full of frivolity and fluff. There was absolutely no substance to this book and nothing ever happened. The plot line was flat and could have been so much more compelling. I finished it only because I was sure SOMETHING must happen, but I was wrong. The conflict of the company being sabotaged or potentially being taken over was simply glossed over with a 'don't worry, nothing will happen' attitude. The only bit of emotional connection that occurred was at the very end and it seemed out of place and was still unrealistic.

In my opinion, the only reason this sad attempt at literature was published is because it's the author's 24th novel. Apparently, no one at the publishing house actually read the manuscript. I'm glad I found this in a bargain bin at my local drug store and only paid $5 for it. I still feel robbed,of time and money. ... Read more

Product Description
During summer games of hide and seek Harriet falls in love with Vesey and his elusive, teasing ways. When he goes to Oxford she cherishes his photograph and waits for the letter that never comes. Years pass, and Harriet stifles her imaginings; with a husband and daughter, she excels at respectability. But then Vesey reappears, and her marriage seems to melt away. Harriet is older, it is much too late, but she is still in love with him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Regrets only
In her recent biography of the underrated English mid-century novelist Elizabeth Taylor, Nicola Beauman calls A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK Taylor's best book, and I think she's right. Although she has often been compared too frequently to Elizabeth Bowen (often to Taylor's chagrin), this is certainly her most Bowenesque novel, and it was indeed the one Bowen herself most highly praised. A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK is a study in first love between Harriet and Vesey, both of whom are largely disappointments to their parents; though they flirt in late adolescence and even fall in love, they are separated by the different paths their lives take them and then Harriet marries an older man because of a fear of lack of future prospects. Fifteen years later, Vesey returns into Harriet's life even though she's married and has a daughter, and the novel examines the effect their reawakening heart has not just on the two of them but on Harriet's husband Charles and her daughter Betsy.

As in Elizabeth Bowen's novels, the point of A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK is show to the unspoken springs and touchstones. Harriet's thoughts are expressed to us with far more fineness and clarity than she herself could express them (we find she is a poor scholar and unsuited for college), but this seems somehow acceptable under the novel's own terms: we sense her sensibility is finer than her ability to express it could ever be. The perversely contrary Vesey is also beautifully drawn, as is the emotional Betsy and as is Julia, Charles's bossy and narcissistic mother. The novel also suggests a kind of critique laid against late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century feminism, since both Harriet's mother and Vesey's aunt are former suffragists whose goals for a greater equity for women seem unrealized in the limited possibilities drawn for Harriet (who has to take a poorly paying job in a gown shop because of her limits as a scholar before she marries Charles) and for Miss Bell, Betsy's teacher. The novel's story is told with great imagination in constuction: its narrative achieves the feat of being highly constructed while never letting you feel this is an impediment to its telling. ... Read more

Product Description

In 1946, Elizabeth Taylor -- then fourteen and a major star at MGM -- published a book about her pet chipmunk, Nibbles. With wit, charm, and remarkable skill, she related the adventures and mishaps of her high-spirited friend. She and Nibbles were virtually inseparable during the shooting of National Velvet and other films; in fact the chipmunk almost got to appear in Courage of Lassie -- but he was so well behaved that he didn't look real, and his scene was cut! Recounted here are such stories as the happiest birthday of her life, when she was given King Charles, the horse who was called The Pi in National Velvet, because only Elizabeth could ride him.

Long out of print, this enchanting memoir is available once again with Miss Taylor's original illustrations (including previously unpublished drawings from her private collection), photos of Elizabeth Taylor and Nibbles on and off the set, and a new introduction by the legendary actress. Children will love the story of a girl and her pet; older readers will appreciate the insight into young Elizabeth Taylor's life that this book provides. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

"Believe in the magic that a friendship with animals can bring"
In this book "Nibbles and Me", thirteen-year-old Elizabeth Taylor writes about her love for Nibbles, her pet chipmunk.She describes how Nibbles came into her life, and then goes on to describe various situations that involve her tiny companion.He gets into lots of trouble, but Elizabeth and her Mummie are always there to save the day!In addition to writing this book, young Elizabeth did the illustrations as well, and there are several black-and-white photos of Elizabeth and Nibbles throughout.

Finding this book was such a great surprise for me, as I had no idea that it even existed.The back flap of the book states that it was originally published in 1946, and this re-issue was published in 2002.There is an introduction dated October 2002 by Elizabeth Taylor in which, when asked about reprinting this book, she states, "Well, I thought about it and decided that it couldn't do anybody any harm...What it has are the growing-up observations of a thirteen-year-old girl, perhaps leaving childhood behind, but never forsaking her love of animals and the countryside."Elizabeth's love for animals absolutely shines through in this charming little book.The book is recommended for children ages 9-12, but I think adult fans of Elizabeth Taylor will enjoy this story, too.I know I certainly did!!

Nibbles and Me by Elizabeth Taylor
Very enjoyalbe reading about an icon's youth.I have fond memories of the period.The beautiful movies that Elizabeth Taylor performed in as a youngster.Young children can enjoy the book today - timeless!

Good reading for all ages!
This delightful little book was published when the actress was 14, a child star who illustrated the manuscript with her own drawings. It tells the story of her pet chipmunk, Nibbles, who became the only animal allowed in the studio cafeteria. While I love animal stories - who doesn't? - this first-hand glimpse into the life of a young girl in the early 1940s intrigued me. I can recommend this new edition to all ages, not just its age 4 - 8 target audience.

--Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of "Tabitha June Is a Shoulder Cat"

A charming book written by a young actress
Who would picture Elizabeth Taylor with an animal trap, deliberately catching a collection of chipmunks? Rewind to her childhood, and it might be easier to imagine. During the filming of one of her movies, she was given one by the film's animal trainer. Already an enthusiastic pet owner, from there she was hooked. Her favorite was Nibbles, a plucky one who got in plenty of near-disasters (some of which are detailed here) but always seemed to come out unscathed.

Taylor was only 13 when she wrote and illustrated this chapter book, and it shows quite a talent for both prose and art, above the typical abilities of a young teen. It also contains several charming photographs of her with Nibbles. While it may never become a classic, it's a sweet, quick read that authentically demonstrates the love between a child and her beloved pet.

Elizabeth Taylor's Nibbles and Me
I was glad to get this book.. it came carefully wrapped and on time. I am pleased with the book and glad someone had it so that i could purchase it. I am truly an Elizabeth Taylor fan. in my library it goes with my eclectic collection of days gone by. I also have recently just purchased the original from 1942. ... Read more

Product Description
On a rainy Sunday in January, the recently widowed Mrs Palfrey arrives at the Claremont Hotel where she will spend her remaining days. Her fellow residents are magnificently eccentric and endlessly curious, living off crumbs of affection and snippets of gossip. Together, upper lips stiffened, they fight off their twin enemies: boredom and the Grim Reaper.

Then one day Mrs Palfrey strikes up an unexpected friendship with Ludo, a handsome young writer, and learns that even the old can fall in love... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Pleased with Palfrey
Delightful sketches of aging gracefully. Sentimental life review with heartwarming coping/adjustments to the present and anticipated future.

Good Film Writing Makes All the Difference
This is the anti-formulaic solution to many of the terribly written films of today.It starts out slowly, which is a good thing, taking you into Joan Plowright's quiet world which has been shaken by changes that she'd boldly decided to take upon herself.The filmmakers avoid all traps of previously overdone mistakes whereby something rude or flagrantly obnoxious must happen in order for the story to be interesting.It's realistic in a grounded and comedic way.A lovely, well-written and well-acted film that you cannot help but fall in love with.

The inequities of love
I chose this book because I had seen the movie, a lovely meditation on the possibilities of friendship. My experience of the book was shaped by my surprise at how it had a completely different tone and message. Not less valuable, but completely different! The point of the movie seemed to be to demonstrate how the exemplary Mrs. Palfrey could form healthy connections with all sorts of unlikely people, and create a new "family" for herself when her blood relatives proved unsatisfactory.The point of the book, however, seemed to be that the exemplary Mrs. Palfrey, and everyone around her, was caught in a morass of unequal and unreciprocated relationships. Taylor's depiction of the characters' emotional reactions to each other was detailed and deadly accurate to all humanity's worst moments. Doing friendly things out of charity, doing charitable things as a last desperate attempt to forge a bond of love, sitting by a hospital bed wondering if one might be allowed to leave yet... all these moments are recorded unflinchingly. No one in the book ever rises above the level of acquaintance or hopeless longing to achieve true friendship. It's a thought-provoking book, and certainly a valuable portrayal of one, all too common, experience of aging, but it is not warm or inspiring, as the movie was.

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
I had to return this book twice after reading about 30 pages because pages were missing and the remaining pages were out of order.(Both the original and the replacement were defective.)After I returned the second copy, I was given a refund.

The elegant Mrs. Palfrey
First, the book and dvd shipment was prompt and satisfaction.

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont book is an easy and fast read.I loved Mrs. Palfrey and her elegance. Ludo was charming.Mrs. Palfrey's daughter and grandson lacking in compassion for the aging senior citizen.I truely enjoyed getting to know the residents of the Clairmont.How eclectic they all were, but very compassionate for their fellow roomates. Elizabeth Taylor's penning ebb and flows with emotion.I will definitely read more of her books in the near future.Now to view the dvd.

Thanks Amazon ... Read more

Product Description
A lavish photographic tribute to the last great Hollywood icon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Gorgeous Photographs and Balanced, Brief Biography
The strength of this book lies in the many beautiful photographs of Elizabeth Taylor from her childhood to recent times.Many of these images will be familiar, and many will not be.By putting rare images in this collection, the author has significantly enhanced its value.I wish the book had added another 100 photographs to the 100 plus, mostly color, ones here.

The biography is perfectly adequate, but it is too brief to really get into any detail that might expand your knowledge very much beyond what you know already.The best aspects were putting Ms. Taylor's career in perspective.She performed in around 65 films and television movies, a number matched by few actors of her era.She also was one of the few child stars to have an adult film career.Further, she outlived most of the stars she appeared with by many years.Despite ill health and many accidents, she has been the ultimate survivor in the most fickle business we have.

The main story line of the biography is in the transformation of her life and career roles from child, to child actress, to child star, to multiply married person and mother, to adult star, to a celebrity, to an entrepreneur, and then to a social activist for AIDS.Long before Madonna, Ms. Taylor and her advisors wereexpert at reinventing her in ways that were almost continuously popular with the public.

Today, the world is changing very rapidly and most of us will have many different jobs and careers before we die.After you finish enjoying this book, I urge you to consider what lessons you can draw from Ms. Taylor's career and life that can help you in yours.While many would be thrilled to have some of her fame, few would envy her pain.How came a good balance of life and career be yours?I suggest that you read Anna Quindlen's recent book, A Short Guide to a Happy Life, for more ideas.

Smile, be interesting, be balanced, be careful, and be interested in others! ... Read more

Product Description
This loving tribute to one of America's most beloved film actresses traces Taylor's career from precocious, pampered child star to full-fledged movie diva.It also recounts her glamorous life, her eight marriages, and her recent role as AIDS activist and fundraiser.With more than 100 full-color photographs, this superb illustrated biography provides an intimate look at a dazzling Hollywood personality. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Lovely!
I love this book.The dustjacket cover is epecially beautifulI like how it is a shorter version or summary of Elizabeth Taylor's life bringing out some of the highlightsBeautiful pictures!The author uses the word "indeed" too many times but other than that this is a first-rate book.

Wow...
Although I have read many books on Liz, and know quite a bit about this lovely woman, this book gave me a renewed feeling about her.Thank you Ms. Branin, for reminding me why I so admire Elizabeth Taylor.For anyone interested in learning about this actress, this is a great place to start.

Nice pictures, but lacking in content
This book is, indeed, what its title claims it to be: pictorial.The pictures are good, so if you want to feast your eyes on the lovely Elizabeth Taylor, buy away.But if you're craving more textual content on the fascinating life of Liz, look elsewhere.The text was pretty wooden.....which is amazing, given the excitement of Liz's life.

The best book I have ever read on Elizabeth Taylor!!
I absolutely fell in love with this book!
Larissa Branin is a wonderful biographer of a wonderful actress.

Many books I have read on Elizabeth Taylor are too judgemental, and really were just written so that the author could state what was on their minds, and not to portray the actress. Also, they either gush over Elizabeth pathetically, or viciously attack her. But Branin, simply takes us through
Elizabeths life,letting us make our own opinions.

Some books have either too many pictures or too many small, insignifigent details, but this book was perfect, and I was sad when it was over.

An honest portrait of The Queen.
A beautiful Biography!!!

Beauty from within
This book is well done, and a loving tribute to Elizabeth Taylor. The only disappointing factor was that many of the photgraphs were ones frequently seen. It would be nice to see those rare photos of Miss Taylor, and more candids! I also found the book interesting in the fact that as Elizabeth has gotten older,her inner beauty shines through even stronger. Just look at those eyes - they tell volumes! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

I loved this book!
I loved this book when I read it a number of years agoIt was my favorite of all of Elizabeth Taylor's novels. A film adaptation in English by french director, Francois Ozon ("8 Femmes")is coming out, but you must read the book first.I plan to read it again before I see the film.

Not Quite an Angel
I like this book because the protagonist is not really a very likeable person.But I certainly have a sympathy for her at the same time.She's an individualist and odd.Great!

A novel with a considerable cult following
The novel's heroine is described within as an exotic bloom from a cactus plant: the novel ANGEL itself might be described the same way. Its title heroine grows up spoiled and adored by her shopowning mother and mother's sister; indifferent to their ideas for her future (or indeed to just about anything else), Angel discovers her gift for fantastic fictions translates beautifully into the publishing world, where she becomes a bestselling author of contempibly popular potboilers. Angel accordingly re-invents herself as a glamorous author figure of the Elinor Glyn school, and we follow her through her successes, marriage, eventual popular neglect, and poverty.

ANGEL is a cult favorite among many British novelists, including Hilary Mantel, but is only really transcendent when it allows Angel to strive (at the beginning and the end of her career) against difficult odds. The scene, for example, where she tells off her aunt for planning to make her a ladies' maid is enormously funny and satisfying. But when Angel is rich and successful Taylor seems too invested in scoring points of of her heroine, as if she, too, feared what Angel might do if not kept in her place. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A better written than normal Kitty Kelley book on Elizabeth Taylor
I have to admit that this is the best book of Kitty Kelley's that I've read. Most of her books she uses a terrible form of shorthand style writing. It isn't journalism and it's not made up but the way she writes I would expect more badly written books but, in this case, she finds a good person to write about and gets the naughtiness dished up in an what strikes me as a fairly discreet way. Her writing style also appears to have had a firm editor that kept their hand on the equivalent of a tiller.

It is definitely less of an attack book than some of her others and it definitely gives Liz her shining star to place next to her two Oscars.

Recommended if you want a decently written long gossip column, so to speak, on the ever intriguing Elizabeth Taylor. I've re-read it several times when I've needed just something to pass the time (I'm a very fast reader) so I give it four stars since the writing still does leave something to be desired, but it came fairly close to getting a fifth star.

WELL WORTH THE PRICE...
After reading Kitty Kelley's Nancy & then her Jackie, I expected more than I got in the story of Liz. I her take on this overblown so-called movie star just goes to show that after the likes of Davis, Hepburn, Loy, Colbert, Hollywood lost the ability to find real talent to create a true star and fell back on just packaging. Taylor truly epitomizes the latter.

Not the best but......
after all, this book was written over 30 years ago, still the pages were yellowed, the cover was cracked and the subject matter turned out to be less than interesting. But for 99 cents who cares! ... Read more

Product Description

The definitive story of Hollywood's most famous couple

Customer Reviews (94)

Meticulously Researched
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton are two major Hollywood stars. The fact that they fell in love with each other during one of the most publicized films in history, and while they were married to other people to boot, causes a furor among gossip magazines and fans around the world.

Extremely well written and detailed, the authors give a full picture of the lives, loves, and the celebrities of Taylor and Burton. Their romance was an early obsession with the American film fan. Their every move was documented, and that took a toll on their relationship.

These 500+ pages examine through personal diaries and letters, as well as numerous fan magazines, newspaper articles, and archival materials to paint a complete picture of a beloved couple. It can be overwhelming to read and it certainly not something one could finish in one day, but it is an excellent resource for information.

The best book ever about Elizabeth Taylor
I have loved Elizabeth Taylor since I was 9 years old when I first saw her appear on my television screen (in a short clip on a TV blooper show of all things) thirty years ago.My admiration has only increased over time.I now own every movie she starred in that are out on DVD and I've probably read every article and book ever written about her over the last three decades.This book is by far the best account of her life which has ever been published.My dream is for her to write her own story but I don't believe she ever will - I therefore agree with other reviewers who have noted that this probably the closest and most accurate account which will ever be written about the fabulous Taylor/Burton years.To those who have noted disdain at seeming excesses in their lives, I would say that no one should stand in judgment of anyone else's life - famous or not.No one but Elizabeth and Richard know what those years were actually like - they were hounded by the press like no couple has been before or since.She always handled fame better because she seemed born to be famous - it came so naturally to her - as did acting.It seemed however that Richard Burton never was comfortable in the same way she was and unfortunately his physical well-being was not nearly as strong as Elizabeth's.Though she has had countless medical maladies and operations over the years, Elizabeth has just always persevered and I am personally thankful for that fact because the world would not be the same without her.

Elizabeth Taylor is a brilliant actress, a wonderful humanitarian, and one of the most beautiful people ever born.She has lived her life with passion and courage and has been an inspiration to me and always will be.Richard Burton was an extraordinary actor who fell in love with the most beautiful and famous woman in the world - their romance is epic and fascinating.Elizabeth Taylor has said that if Richard Burton had lived, they would have been married again and I believe wholeheartedly that is true.The triumphs and tragedies that continue to make up the story of her life are both revelatory and heartbreaking.This book does a wonderful job honoring both Elizabeth and Richard without covering up their very human flaws - it is a treasure and I recommend it to anyone who even has a passing interest in great romance, adventure and lives lived to the fullest.

Great Show Biz Bio
Furious Love is a really good look at the phenomenom which was the love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.The book takes off like well written fiction from the first page, which does not begin with the usual background of who was born unto whom and how they lived and where they grew up.Those details are filled in later after he reader gets sucked into this then scandalous romance.
The only flaw in the book is that it tends to get bogged down in repitiion...lots of drinking, big money purchases, fights.Also the final years are covered quite quickly in comparison to the rest of the book.I was not necessarily a fan of the duo but the book did encourage m to watch some of their films and was enjoyable to understand not only the scandal of the time but how these two went from being Hollywood elite to merely "old" actors to now legends.
If you enjoy show biz bios this is the one you will enjoy.

Furious Love - Kashner and Schoenberger (Harper)
When Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger, authors of "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and The Marriage Of The Century"mentioned to a college-age acquaintance that they were considering writing a book on the Taylor-Burton romance, the response was "I never knew Elizabeth Taylor was married to Tim Burton!" The writers were shocked, as was Elizabeth Taylor, who responded by giving the biographers access to nearly forty never-before-published letters and notes written to her by the late actor. "I don't care what you write about me," she told them, "...just as long as you honor Richard." And, indeed, in addition to recounting the story of an explosive, larger-than-life love affair, "Furious Love" also serves as a poignant reminder of the enormous but tragically squandered gifts of the man who was once considered the greatest actor of his generation, heir to Gielgud and Olivier.

The saga begins in 1962, when the two were cast opposite one another in "Cleopatra," the lavish production that would ultimately bankrupt Twentieth Century-Fox. Though she was only 26, Elizabeth Taylor had been a movie star for a decade and was on her fourth marriage, to singer Eddie Fisher. Burton, on the other hand, was primarily known as a stage actor and looking to make his mark in film. And despite having had a string of affairs, he was still married to his wife Sybil, who he swore he would never abandon. Though initially unimpressed with each other, the co-stars soon fell almost uncontrollably in love, triggering a huge public response the authors dub "le scandale". From that point on the couple essentially developed dual identities. "Richard and Elizabeth" were dedicated to their craft, devoted to their children, and genuinely longed for a simpler life. "Liz and Dick," however, provided endless fodder for the tabloids of the day with their outrageously extravagant lifestyle, their public break-ups and reconciliations and, of course, their well-known battles with pills and alcohol.

In fact, the title "Furious Love" could describe Burton's and Taylor's relationship with booze as aptly as it does their feelings for each other. Kashner and Schoenberger chronicle the couple's astonishing levels of consumption in some detail, clearly illustrating the havoc wreaked by their years of alcohol abuse. Taylor managed to keep the ravages of her addiction at bay longer than Burton, whose health had utterly deteriorated by the time he finally succumbed to a cerebral hemorrhage at 58. Eventually, however, she would become the first celebrity to openly seek treatment at The Betty Ford Clinic.

As much as they were victims of their own destructive appetites, Burton and Taylor also came to find themselves on the wrong side of the generation gap that split Hollywood and the rest of the world in the '60's. As audiences embraced such anti-establishment films as "The Graduate" and "Easy Rider," Liz and Dick, with their jewels, yachts, and furs seemed to symbolize all the phony glitz younger stars and their fans held in contempt. Early artistic triumphs such as "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf" and "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" were eclipsed by a string of high-paying potboilers the pair needed to make in order to maintain their multiple homes and extensive entourage. Their final performances together, in a touring production of "Private Lives" were, by their own admission, little more than self-parody.

Like its subjects, "Furious Love" veers in tone from an almost scholarly seriousness to breathless gossip. These shifts, which sometimes occur from one paragraph to the next, can leave the reader feeling that one author has bumped the other aside in order to take over the narrative. Adding to this impression are occasional repetitions in the text, including one instance where a list of Burton's late-career films appears twice on the same page. All in all, though, "Furious Love" is an intimate, intriguing portrait of two star-crossed lovers whose real-life personas were as fascinating and dramatic as any of the characters they ever portrayed. In short, it's a book that would make a great movie. But nobody other than Elizabeth and Richard could ever play Liz and Dick. - David Nichols

Sneaks up and Moves you Tremendously
A fascinating, heartfelt story of the world's greatest love affair.You find yourself unable to put it down, and surprised at the reveals that occur in each page.Who knew that these great lovers kept in touch even after divorce or that Mr. Burton may have been murdered? ... Read more

Product Description
Elizabeth Taylor: The Queen and I is a remarkable collection of Gianni Bozzacchi's photographs of Elizabeth Taylor, most of them previously unpublished, capturing her as a film star, a woman, and a personal friend.

It was 1965 when Bozzacchi, an impetuous twenty-two-year-old, was given the chance of a lifetime. The streetwise kid from Rome was sent to Africa as special photographer on the set of The Comedians, a movie starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Alec Guiness, and Peter Ustinov. As the film wrapped, Taylor offered Bozzacchi a job as her personal photographer.

Elizabeth Taylor was the world's most famous woman at the time and undoubtedly its most glamorous. Her marriage to Richard Burton claimed international attention, and together they were the quintessential jet-set couple. Bozzacchi was to work with Taylor and Burton for the next eleven years. They opened the door to their world for him, and his own talent, drive, and artistic style earned him extraordinary success. Publications wanted his services, as did the movie and fashion industries, celebrities, political figures, and the merely famous. Bozzacchi was awarded the honor of International Photographer of the Year three times and became a celebrity himself, the subject of magazine layouts and television interviews. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Breathtakingly beautiful
This is a MUST have for any fan of the Great Elizabeth Taylor. There is not much to say, you HAVE to have this book.
the images are so beautiful and many of them very rare.
enjoy!

Beautiful!!!
I love the cover of the book.The pictures I didn't like were the ones with Elizabeth in the bathtubAnd the pictures of the Author and his marriageThis is a book about Elizabeth not BozzacchiOverall, though I love this book. Elizabeth Taylor's beauty is dazzling right into her forties!!! That's amazing!This is one of my favorite Elizabeth Taylor books (and I have several).

A decadent treasure from the Taylor-Burton years!
Gianni Bozzacchi's "Elizabeth Taylor: The Queen and I" is really is a treasure trove of photos from the Taylor-Burton years! It's one of three books that I consider my Dame Elizabeth "Bible's" - the other two being My Love Affair with Jewelry, and Bob Willoughby's Liz an Intimate Collection. In a way, Bozzacchi's book sort of starts up where Willoughby's ends. I was sort of disappointed when I bought the Bozzacchi book two years ago. It had fewer pages than I had anticipated, and at the time I was never really a fan of the late Burton years. I hadn't really seen any of her films from that period. But I found myself grabbing for that book first on my shelf, and I really adore it. I have also discovered the films from that time, like X Y and Zee, Secret Ceremony, Ash Wednesday, etc. and I love them! It was a completely different kind of glamour from the 1950s, but the clothes were stunning. And of course all that Taylor-Burton excess of diamonds, furs, and yachts were at their peak. It's a time that will never be repeated, for better or worse. I reccommend this book to any Dame Elizabeth Taylor fan!

Could be better
Being that the author knew Elizabeth Taylor so well, the photos could have been on a more upscale tone.Some very mediocre photos when we all have seen gorgeous photos of a gorgeous lady.Somewhat disappointed.

Queen Elizabeth Taylor Radiates
I just recieved my copy of Elizabeth Taylor: The Queen and I" I think the book is completely engaing from cover to cover.Gianni's personal memories to the time when the pictures were taken, makes you feel as if your just that bit closer to Elizaebeth.Elizabeth is trully displayed as a human being, human or star, this woman radiates confidence, luxury, and beauty.My favorite picture in the book would have to be the one where she is running in the Dorchester Hotel, skirt all the way up, hair racing towards every directions, very free and bohemian feeling.I love this woman, not because she was for a large time Hollywood's calling card, or the worlds most beautiful woman.But because there is a purity in her eyes, and her soul can literally touch you through simple pictures.Anyone in doubt whether to get it or not, take my word, the book is worth any price, youll have alot of fun looking through it. ... Read more

Product Description
From the VIRAGO MODERN CLASSICS series, a collection of short stories from this author, first published in 1972. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

short stories from modern English novelist
Elizabeth Taylor (1912-1975) was an English novelist whose work was popular but of uneven quality. I think that her absolutely best novel is _Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont_, a touching portrait of an elderly woman in shrinking circumstances.

Taylor had a wry and sometimes morbid and menacing sense of humor. The title story from this collection is about an English couple who take in two little underprivileged black boys for a few weeks in the summer. They wreak havoc on the house, but when they leave, the house has become empty and listless.

Taylor's stories are created out of ordinary situations turned haunting. "Crepes Flambees" is set in an exotic locale and touches upon the integration of two cultures. The character Habib lives a life of pretense in order to gain acceptance from his two English acquaintances. His real self/life/home remains hidden, its existence uncertain.

Like many of the stories here, the ending is modern and inconclusive. Some readers may enjoy the indecisive endings. Without dramatic action, these stories tend to be more subtle capture of moments in time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

We need more books like this
Elizabeth Taylor, an actress and sex symbol who is one of the most sought-after celebrities by the media, has published several books during her lifetime. Elizabeth Takes Off: On Weight Gain, Weight Loss, Self-image & Self-esteem is one of them. I first picked up this book because of the words "self-image & self-esteem" in the title, rather than the "weight gain, weight loss" portion. Well, it turns out the book would be an excellent source for those who want to lose weight, but that was not what I was interested in.

Nevertheless, the book itself is highly commendable. Even if you're not planning to go on a diet - like me - the first half of the book is still worth a read. Miss Taylor writes briefly and frankly about events that occurred in her life which affected her self image and consequently, self esteem. She writes how being a senator's wife caused her to divulge into a period of extreme inactivity and boredom which unintentionally turned her to overeating. She also mentions the dire effects of binging, nibbling, or "grapple-snapping". Unlike those strictly diet-focused books, Elizabeth Takes Off offers insightful explanations and reasons for weight gain while also presenting a dietary method which to me looks superb.

If the first half analyzes the impact of events in Miss Taylor's life, the latter half offers diet menus, recipes and exercises that could help keep your body in shape. The Taylor-made recipes mainly consist of nutritious food, notably fruits and vegetables that have low calories. Her daily menus seem reasonable, diverse and easily followable because it is not a starving course, but a replacement for your typical diet. The exercise portion contains several beneficial stretches which, again, are also simple and effective.

Overall, I found this book to be a smooth, easy read. I also found myself nodding to many of the things that Miss Taylor says in this excellent book - which needs to be more in circulation today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

ELIZABETH THE GREAT!
I MUST SAY THAT THIS MARVELOUS BOOK WRAPS UP ALL OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S CAREER COVERING MOST OF HER BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCES ON FILM & THEN SOME.I ONLY WISH THEY WOULD MAKE A VERY LOVELY COLORIZED VERSION OF IT,TO SHOW THE LIZ IN ALL HER BEAUTY.CHILD STAR ON UP TO SUPERSTARDOM,FROM NATIONAL VELVET TO CLEOPATRA TO CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF,GIANT,RAINTREE COUNTY,ELEPHANT WALK,A PLACE IN THE SUN,CONPIRATOR,IVANHO,BUTTERFIELD 8,SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER,REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE,THE VIP'S,ASH WEDNESDAY,THE MIRROR CRACKED.LONG LIVE THE LIZ!,AND TO MARK THE RARE OF ALL HER MOVIES THE BLUEBIRD WITH THE LEGENDARY LATE,GREAT AVA GARDNER!JOEY HOFFMAN DOVER PA.

ELIZABETH THE GREAT!
I MUST SAY THAT THIS MARVELOUS BOOK WRAPS UP ALL OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S CAREER COVERING MOST OF HER BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCES ON FILM & THEN SOME.I ONLY WISH THEY WOULD MAKE A VERY LOVELY COLORIZED VERSION OF IT,TO SHOW THE LIZ IN ALL HER BEAUTY.CHILD STAR ON UP TO SUPERSTARDOM,FROM NATIONAL VELVET TO CLEOPATRA TO CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF,GIANT,RAINTREE COUNTY,ELEPHANT WALK,A PLACE IN THE SUN,CONPIRATOR,IVANHO,BUTTERFIELD 8,SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER,REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE,THE VIP'S,ASH WEDNESDAY,THE MIRROR CRACKED.LONG LIVE THE LIZ!,AND TO MARK THE RARE OF ALL HER MOVIES THE BLUEBIRD WITH THE LEGENDARY LATE,GREAT AVA GARDNER!JOEY HOFFMAN DOVER PA.

ELIZABETH THE GREAT!
I MUST SAY THAT THIS MARVELOUS BOOK WRAPS UP ALL OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S CAREER COVERING MOST OF HER BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCES ON FILM & THEN SOME.I ONLY WISH THEY WOULD MAKE A VERY LOVELY COLORIZED VERSION OF IT,TO SHOW THE LIZ IN ALL HER BEAUTY.CHILD STAR ON UP TO SUPERSTARDOM,FROM NATIONAL VELVET TO CLEOPATRA TO CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF,GIANT,RAINTREE COUNTY,ELEPHANT WALK,A PLACE IN THE SUN,CONPIRATOR,IVANHO,BUTTERFIELD 8,SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER,REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE,THE VIP'S,ASH WEDNESDAY,THE MIRROR CRACKED.LONG LIVE THE LIZ!,AND TO MARK THE RARE OF ALL HER MOVIES THE BLUEBIRD WITH THE LEGENDARY LATE,GREAT AVA GARDNER!JOEY HOFFMAN DOVER PA. ... Read more