Noel Coward Diaries - Softcover

Coward, Noël; Payn, Graham; Morley, Sheridan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0333348834 ISBN 13: 9780333348833

Publisher: Macmillan, 1983

Synopsis

For over 50 years Noel Coward was the British theatre's most renowned dramatist, director and star, and one of the most colourful characters ever to stride across it's stage. His popularity continues with the frequent and long-running production of his plays. These diaries chronicle the last 30 years of his life, from his wartime concert tours, through his private depression in the 1950s, to his triumphant re-emergence in the 1960s and knighthood in 1970. With a glittering cast of characters, from the worlds of theatre, royalty, politics and high society the diaries sparkle with Noel Coward's zest and versatility.

About this title

About the Author:

Graham Payn, a lifelong friend of Coward who appeared in many of his most successful plays, now lives at Chalet Coward in Switzerland, from where he runs the Coward estate. Sheridan Morley is the drama critic of the Spectator and the International Herald Tribune and author of the first Coward biography, A Talent to Amuse.

From Library Journal:

Coward's diaries from 1941 to 1969 offer an intimate look at the last 30 years of the life of the popular, sophisticated British playwright and author. While some of the entries are of the "Stayed out until 4 at Mrs. B___'s party" variety, more of them give insight into Coward's well-connected life. Coward knew or met hundreds of people working in the theater, the movies, and the government, and encounters with Vivien Leigh, Marilyn Monroe, King George IV, Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother, to name just a few, are included here. Excellent footnotes provided by editors Morley and Payn (My Life with Noel Coward) give a one-sentence description of such notables as "Larry" (Laurence Olivier) and "Dickie" (Lord Louis Mountbatten). Coward wrote these diaries with an eye toward publishing and therefore seemed to take great care to write, if not kindly about everyone, then perhaps not as harshly as he could have. Still, there are enough juicy tidbits to satisfy any biography-reading seeker of stars, starlets, and royalty. A thorough index enhances star browsing. For public libraries. J. Sara Paulk, Coastal Plain Reg. Lib., Tifton, GA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Macmillan
• Publication date: 1983
• ISBN 10: 0333348834
• ISBN 13: 9780333348833
• Binding: Paperback