Gielgud: A Theatrical Life, 1904 - 2000 - Tapa dura

"He was a radical in his time, and remained one."--Richard Eyre "Not so much an actor, as the actor."--Kenneth Tynan "The best company of any actor I've ever met."--John Mortimer "John Gielgud did more to liberate the English theatre from the fustian attittudes of the twenties and early thirties than any other man, and paved the way for what is best in London today." Alec Guinness "The experience of working with him has been amongst my most special and my greatest joys." Peter Brook "His name and his gifts have become a legend to anyone connected with the arts anywhere in the world." Paul Scofield "His voice created incredible magic, you were completely stopped in your tracks." Judi Dench "He was a radical in his time, and remained one." Richard Eyre "He made Shakespeare vivid, passionate, and real for millions of people." Kenneth Branagh "Few public figures can be less concerned with the presentation of self, and less calculating of the effect produced." Alan Bennett "The best company of any actor I've ever met." John Mortimer "Not so much an actor, as the actor." Kenneth Tynan

Based on interviews with over 100 friends and colleagues who worked with Gielgud, this biography covers Gielgud's childhood amongst his famous Terry relations, his early struggles as a young actor, his triumphs in Shakespeare at the Old Vic and his late flowering as an Oscar-winning film star.