Where Madness Lies

The Double Life of Vivien Leigh

Author: Lyndsy Spence

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Description

Vivien Leigh was one of the greatest film and theatrical stars of the '30s, '40s and '50s. Her Oscar-winning performances in Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire have cemented her status as an icon of classic Hollywood. From 1940 to 1960, Leigh was married to Sir Laurence Olivier, and together they were considered the royal couple of British theatre. Indeed, their romance and acting partnerships captured the imagination of the public around the world. Behind the scenes, however, Leigh's personal life was marred by manic depression which remained undiagnosed until 1953. Largely misunderstood and subjected to barbaric mistreatment at the hands of her doctors, she would also suffer the heartbreak of Olivier's infidelity. Contributing to her image as a tragic heroine, she would die at the age of 53. Unlike previous biographies, Where Madness Lies begins in 1953, when Leigh suffered a nervous breakdown and was institutionalised. The tragic story unfolds as she tries to rebuild her life, salvage her career and save her marriage. Featuring a wealth of unpublished material, including private correspondence, bestselling author Lyndsy Spence reveals how Leigh fell victim to the draconian medical practices of the day and suffered due to her circumstances. It's a timely look at just how far we've come since the early days of mental health treatment. AUTHOR: Lyndsy Spence is an author, historian and screenwriter who specializes in daring aristocratic women. She is the founder of The Mitford Society, an online community dedicated to the Mitford girls, and is the author of The Grit in the Pearl: The Scandalous Life of Margaret, Duchess of Argyll. 20 b/w illustrations

Critic Reviews

'Powerful and illuminating.'

The Spectator

'A sympathetic description of Leigh’s ‘perturbing nature’; an analysis of her numerous breakdowns, when she was in the grip of manic-depressive cycles.

The Spectator

'Daily Mail's Book of the Week: vivid and visceral'

Daily Mail

“A fiery and powerful read.”

Times Literary Supplement

About the Author

LYNDSY SPENCE is a bestselling author and screenwriter. Her books include The Mitford Girls' Guide to Life, The Grit in the Pearl: The Scandalous Life of Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, The Mistress of Mayfair: Men, Money and the Marriage of Doris Delevingne, and Cast a Diva: The Hidden Life of Maria Callas. Her book on Maria Callas is being adapted into a documentary by a double-Oscar nominated production company and she is producing a documentary on the Latin-American icon, Selena.