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Where Madness Lies: The Double Life of Vivien Leigh

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Description

Beginning in 1953, when Leigh suffers a nervous breakdown, Where Madness Lies tells the moving story of the actress as she attempts to rebuild her life, salvage her career, and save her marriage. Vivien Leigh was one of the greatest film and theatrical stars of the 1930s, ‘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 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 that 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 fifty-three. Unlike previous biographies, Where Madness Lies begins in 1953 when Leigh suffered a nervous breakdown and was institutionalized. 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 Featuring a wealth of unpublished material—including private correspondence—Lyndsy Spence reveals how this Hollywood luminary tragically fell victim to the draconian medical practices of the era. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pegasus Books


Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 7, 2025


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639368051


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 51


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #254,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #117 in Theatre Biographies #1,231 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies #1,607 in Women's Biographies


#117 in Theatre Biographies:


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Love this book
Format: Hardcover
I love Vivien Leigh...
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2026 by CK

  • Not a chronological biography
Format: Kindle
I learned much more about Vivian Leigh’s mental issues; older biographies didn’t reveal how bad it was. I found the jumping time line hard to get used to, but it was readable.
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2025 by Jeanajoan

  • Happy customer
Format: Hardcover
Fast shipping, item just as described. Highly recommend!
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2025 by Jill

  • Life of actress Vivian Leigh
Format: Hardcover
Interesting book About a great actress who could not really be helped at that time
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2025 by nicoletta lazzaro

  • Great book
Format: Audiobook
I've read only one other book on her and this is much better.
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2025 by Pamela Robarge

  • so hard to follow
Format: Kindle
This book jumps around so much that it’s impossible to follow. The author also starts rambling about something then doesn’t finish the thought so you’re not sure what the point of bringing it up is. There are also comparisons of their lives to dialogue in their different scripts which just seems silly. It seems sometimes the author just adds notes from the research in random places just to be sure it makes it into the book. I had to stop reading it (which I rarely do) because I was never sure what period of her life I was reading about. I’ll have to find another book about Vivian because I want to learn about her struggles. This one just left me frustrated and confused. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2025 by Carolyn Barnett

  • A Tragic Lady
Format: Hardcover
I'm a big Vivien fan and I've read many books about her. Spence's book presents her in a different light, not dwelling on the glamorous image, and giving us new insight. Now we see VL as a woman whose bi-polar illness manifested itself much earlier that previously admitted. And a patient whose exposure to barbaric ECT treatments only victimized her further. At the time of her death, she was adrift -- devoid of Olivier's status & protection, no longer assured of leading roles, finding no place in the showbiz world of the counterculture 1960s. Perhaps death was a blessing. But if she had lived, maybe she would've benefited from enlightened psychiatric treatment and come into a better day. RIP Vivien Leigh. P.S. I am dismayed that the author disparages John Merivale, VL's caretaker, protector, & friend. Every other book gives JM his due, praising his loyalty, devotion, discretion, and integrity. The selfless Mr. Merivale deserved better. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2026 by Miss Crabcakes

  • It was a DNF for me!
Format: Kindle
I had a very difficult time reading this book. Timeline seemed to jump around. Conversations seemed speculative at best. Lack of continuity. For me this was a DNF after reading 1/3 of it and I was sad to return it to the library because I had waited a long time to get this one. I was really looking forward to learning bout Vivien Leigh's life. Might try to find better biography for her. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2025 by Emily Ann

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