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OLIVIER**, LAURENCE: : Confessions of an Actor. [Author & JOHN GIELGUD,SIGNED copy.]**

LONDON.WEIDENFELD & NICOLSON,1982.

ISBN 0297781065.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,author SIGNED,1st edn. NFINE/NFINE. No owner inscrptn,but author/subject's handwritten,neat black ink signature - without dedication,and uniquely - plus John Gielgud's handwritten blue,biro ink signature - again without dedication,below it,and both signatures to the title-page.No price-clip to dw/dj,but to top,right-hand corner of same,is a bookseller's black ink,name+shop address (Guildford,Surrey) stamp.Clean,matt,silvered upper wrap with red gilt+white lettering; subject colour portrait photographic illustrated rear wrap; with negligible shelf-wear and creasing to edges and corners,and light,miniscule chipping to the two top corners and to head of spine/backstrip.A common fault,due to the nature of quality of paper used and lack of lamination to it,but this copy is the least affected that I've handled to date.Top edge lightly,partially aged but generally clean and bright,fore-edges brighter and cleaner; contents bright,tight and near pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners.Publisher's bright,clean, unblemished,original plain burgundy cloth boards with bright,crisp,blockedped gilt letters to spine/backstrip and monochrome photographic subject's roles portraits,illustrated endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,twice SIGNED,1st edn, ix-xiipp+3-305pp [paginated] includes illus list/table,Pts 1-3 comprising 15 chapters including an Envoi; 48pp of contemporary b/w photographs in 6 blocks of 8pp apiece,between pp50/1,pp82/3,pp114/5,pp146/7,pp210/11 and pp242/3 respectively,Appendices(2),a select Chronology,an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,a dedication and a Contents list/table. Want more GIELGUD-related titles? For similar and other available titles use keywords q52_JOHN GIELGUD - or please search my BIOGRAPHY, GENERAL and SIGNED catalogues. In his long-awaited autobiography,Laurence Olivier describes his eventful and private life as only he can. The most admired and daring performer of his age,he is naturally remembered for the great classic roles in seasons at the Old Vic,but it was with the films 'Rebecca' and 'Wuthering Heights' that he became an international star of the first rank - a position he has constantly reaffirmed in contemporary roles such as Archie Rice in Osborne's 'The Entertainer' and as Lord Marchmain in 'Brideshead Revisited'.In farce, melodrama and comedy too,his mercurial brilliance has been recognizable behind an astonishing variety of disguises. Most of his close relationships have grown from his work.He first met his life-long friends Ralph Richardson and Noel Coward at rehearsal more than fifty years ago.He recalls,too,all the great stars of stage and screen he has known, including the Lunts, Edith Evans, John Gielgud (who has SIGNED the title-page),Charlie Chaplin, Garbo, Danny Kaye, John Mills, Marilyn Monroe and Alfred Hitchcock.His relationships on stage and off with each of his three wives - Jill Esmond,Vivien Leigh and Joan Plowright - are vividly and poignantly described,and form a central part of his recollections. Laurence Olivier's story is of a life that has combined the height of artistic endeavour with the rivalry and glamour of showbusiness in a way that is unique.No classical actor has been such a dazzling star.No star has been such a magnificent actor. British actor Sir Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor for Wuthering Heights (1939), Henry V (1946), Richard III (1956), The Entertainer (1960), Sleuth (1972) and The Boys from Brazil (1978), for Best Supporting Actor for Marathon Man (1976) and for Best Director for Hamlet,for which he won the 1948 Best Actor Oscar. One of the theatre's greatest legends,Sir John Gielgud (1904-2000) spent almost 80 of the 96 years of his life appearing in countless plays that saw him portray every major Shakespearean role.He worked up to a month before his death, performing in over 50 films and numerous television productions when he was not busy with his stage work.He won British Academy Awards for Best Actor in 1954 for the role of Cassius in Julius Caesar and Best Supporting Actor in 1975 for portraying Mr. Beddoes in Murder on the Orient Express.He was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 1965 for his role of King Louis VII in Becket and won in 1982 for portraying Hobson,Arthur's valet,in Arthur. See also the previous alpha-numerical book ID (rja30138) for a related title - biography of JOHN GIELGUD. A truly unique opportunity to purchase a RARE double-signed autobiography,by two of Britain's - sadly deceased - leading actors.See also, rja366710 for a SIGNED copy of his wife,Joan Plowright's autobiography. Please contact seller,because of the weight and value of this item,for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,stock(s') shipping quotes are adjusted for any refunds AFTER receipt of order and BEFORE the despatch of the order,especially if the item is offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: US Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn.
Author & JOHN GIELGUD,SIGNED

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