First published 2022
Stephen Galloway examines the passionate and destructive marriage between two of Hollywood's biggest stars, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. Drawing from newly discovered letters, family interviews, and extensive research, he traces their relationship from its beginning in 1934 when Leigh spotted Olivier performing in Theatre Royal and declared he would be her husband. Both were married to others at the time. Galloway explores how their love affair unfolded against major historical events including two world wars and Hollywood's golden era, while the rise of tabloid culture made them global celebrities. The author pays particular attention to Leigh's undiagnosed mental illness, which gradually transformed their dream romance into a destructive cycle. The book reveals how fame both elevated and tormented the couple as they navigated love, career pressures, and personal demons before their eventual separation.
Genres: biography, drama, romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, tragic-romance
Setting: Hollywood
Period: 1930s, 1940s
416 pages · Hardcover · Sphere
Content warnings: mental-illness