Audrey : Her Real Story

Innocent, elegant, ethereal in her beauty, Audrey Hepburn stood alone among the actresses of her time. From her first moment of fame in Roman Holiday, through the triumphs of Breakfast at Tiffany's and My Fair Lady, her screen presence was unique. Gregory Peck called her "a magical combination of high chic and high spirits." But Hepburn's story is also one of lifelong struggle--to escape the burden of family history, and to conquer the demons of her own life. In this newly expanded edition of his definitive biography, Alexander Walker reveals new details about her parents' Fascist sympathies, about Audrey's own wartime experiences, and about the tragic story of her attempts to make peace with her father before the end of his life. And he offers a moving portrait of a woman whose search for happiness was compromised all her life by insecurity, eating disorders, and an inability to find lasting love. From her troubled childhood through her heartfelt battle against world hunger on behalf of UNICEF, Alexander Walker has painted a candid and affectionate portrait of one of the world's most beloved actresses: This is Audrey's real story.

Alexander Walker, Britain's preeminent film critic, has written for the London Evening Standard since 1960 and has twice been named Critic of the Year in the annual British press awards. Among his many biographies is the acclaimed Fatal Charm: The Life of Rex Harrison.

"Informed, candid...what the lady deserved." --New York Daily News

"Walker has all the facts...A meticulous account." --Entertainment Weekly

"Walker is a much better write than most Audrey biographers, and he distills the subtle image/reality of the Audrey Hepburn complex." --Cups

"No book on her life better expresses the nature of her grace and attraction than this one." --Kirkus Reviews

"A loving biography of a legend...splendid and wonderful to read." --Sullivan County Democrat