*Includes pictures.
*Includes quotes about Vivien's life and career, including her own quotes.
*Includes a bibliography for further reading.
"I'm not a film star, I am an actress. Being a film star is such a false life, lived for fake values and for publicity." - Vivien Leigh
A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history's most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors' British Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of Britain's most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.
The 1930s were the height of the classical Hollywood era, and it is no accident that 1939 has historically been designated as the pinnacle of Hollywood film history. The era was known for its lavish studio productions, with MGM, RKO, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and 20th Century Fox all operating at the height of their powers. Every major studio possessed a long roster of contract players, with films released at such a rapid pace that it made for an especially competitive environment within the industry. Even while America remained in the throes of the Great Depression, the film industry continued to flourish, and movies easily supplanted the theater as the main attraction for American entertainment.
Of course, what made 1939 the watershed year was the release of several critically acclaimed movies, including The Wizard of Oz and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. But the most famous of the bunch, and perhaps the most famous movie of all, is Gone With the Wind, and one of the most remarkable aspects of the film is that the quintessential Southern belle was played by Vivien Leigh, a British actress still relatively unknown in Hollywood. Vivien was an accomplished stage actress and had already appeared in foreign films during the 1930s, but she was a complete dark horse to get the iconic role she's still associated with, and it only came about because of her persistence in getting cast for the role. 30 years after Gone With the Wind was released, one film critic credited Selznick's "inspired casting" of Vivien Leigh as Scarlett with the film's success. Another 30 years later, the same critic wrote that Leigh "still lives in our minds and memories as a dynamic force rather than as a static presence."
While Gone With the Wind made Leigh a big name practically overnight, she continued to buck the usual trend by doing Broadway and even appearing on stage in London during the 1940s, instead of focusing on movies. A lot of this was no doubt due to her famous marriage to Laurence Olivier, himself an accomplished stage and film actor. At the same time, Vivien became notorious for being difficult to work with and unusually temperamental, a byproduct of bipolar disorder that frequently affected her mood and occasionally left her incoherently hysterical.
Nevertheless, Vivien was able to recapture the magic in 1951's A Streetcar Named Desire, which cast her in the role of Southern belle yet again. Phyllis Harnoll praised Leigh's Blanche DuBois by saying that, in the London stage production of the play, she showed, "proof of greater powers as an actress than she had hitherto shown." In fact, it was actually during her time as DuBois that she reached the pinnacle of her stage career. Likewise, her role in the movie was described as one "of the greatest performances ever put on film" and "one of those rare performances that can truly be said to evoke both fear and pity."
Unfortunately, her life and career faced constant upheaval by both her mental and physical maladies, including tuberculosis, which led to a premature death in 1967. British Legends: The Life and Legacy of Vivien Leigh examines the life and career of one of Hollywood's most famous actresses.

Boris Godunov ruled Russia in the late 16th and early 17th century. He is the subject of the well-known opera, which closely follows N. M. Karamzin's account, in his classic 12-volume opus, History of the Russian State. The Reign of Boris Godunov is excerpted from this work; this is the first time any of this material has been available in English. A translation of the entire History is planned for publication in 2015. The intended audience is the intelligent layman.

In this book I have systematized little-known facts of biography of last Russian Emperor Nicholas II, related, in particular, the predictions and prophecies, which he has received during his life, and has built these facts in one time line - in result the surprising picture has opened. The surprising picture has allowed completely on new (completely on new is not exaggeration ) to look at a history of his reign, his character, a life and destiny. Nicholas II tried to overcome a Fate many times: in 1899 (the Hague peace conference); then (most decisively) in March, 1905 (an attempt to abdicate and to head the Russian Orthodox Church); and then again and again but he could not. His attempts to overcome a Fate are the main essence and content of this book.

Francois-Ferdinand-Philippe-Louis-Marie d'Orleans, Prince de Joinville (14 August 1818 - 16 June 1900) was the third son of Louis Philippe, duc d'Orleans, afterwards king of the French and his wife Marie Amalie of Bourbon-Sicilies. He was notable as an admiral of the French Navy. He was born at the Chateau de Neuilly, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. Educated for the Navy, he became lieutenant in 1836. His first conspicuous service was at the Bombardment of San Juan de Ulua, in November 1838, commanding the Creole, when he headed a landing party and took the Mexican general Mariano Arista prisoner with his own hand at Veracruz. He was promoted to captain, and in 1840 was entrusted with the charge of bringing the remains of Napoleon from Saint Helena to France.

For fans of "Downton Abbey," this "New York Times" bestseller is the enthralling true story of family secrets and aristocratic intrigue in the days before WWI
After the Ninth Duke of Rutland, one of the wealthiest men in Britain, died alone in a cramped room in the servants' quarters of Belvoir Castle on April 21, 1940, his son and heir ordered the room, which contained the Rutland family archives, sealed. Sixty years later, Catherine Bailey became the first historian given access. What she discovered was a mystery: The Duke had painstakingly erased three periods of his life from all family records--but why? As Bailey uncovers the answers, she also provides an intimate portrait of the very top of British society in the turbulent days leading up to World War I.

Elizabeth the Queen begins as the young Elizabeth ascends the throne in the wake of her sister Mary's disastrous reign - both a woman and a queen, Elizabeth's story is an extraordinary phenomenon in a patriarchal age. From Elizabeth's intriguing, long-standing affair with Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to her dealings - sometimes comical, sometimes poignant - with her many suitors, her rivalry with Mary, Queen of Scots, and her bizarre relationship with the Earl of Essex, thirty years her junior, here, in rich, vivid and colourful detail, Alison Weir helps us comes as close as we shall ever get to knowing what Elizabeth I was like as a person. 'Excellent...intricate and absorbing...An elegant, shrewd and wonderfully vivacious book.' The Times

This extensive book review - written by an expert on the murder of Princess Diana - exposes Alan Power as a fraudster. Over 200 separate errors are shown, but with Power's propensity for repetition there are actually well over 500. The most disturbing factor is the nature of the errors - the 180 page review reveals that Power has deliberately duped his readers. There are many instances of Power fraudulently altering sworn witness evidence to fit with his pre-determined false scenario of what occurred. Alan Power Exposed shows that Power's book is a minefield of deceptive writing, manipulation of evidence, misinformation and misrepresentation of the facts. In the end it becomes impossible for the reader of The Princess Diana Conspiracy to discern what is fact and what is fiction or fantasy. At one point Power writes: "Rest assured, my perception is not given to exaggeration or fancy but is based on the facts" - but unfortunately the truth is quite the opposite. Power's claims of carrying out a ten year investigation and scrutinising the inquest evidence are shown to be false. Questions are raised over the book's authorship - there is evidence indicating the probability that there was more than one writer. The review also addresses the incredible "coincidence" in the timing of Power's publication - it was published within days of the Scotland Yard announcement that it was scoping new information on the crash, an allegation by Soldier N that the SAS were involved. Alan Power Exposed includes an analysis dealing with the reasons why there are so many critical errors in The Princess Diana Conspiracy - it is not an accident. The review raises the very real possibility that Power's book may in the future be used by the Establishment to deal a strategic blow against the entire Princess Diana conspiracy movement. This is an incisive review written by John Morgan, who has authored nine investigative books on the assassination of Princess Diana. He is viewed by many as the world's leading expert on the circumstances around the 1997 crash in Paris' Alma Tunnel. This is a must read for anyone who has read - or intends to read - Alan Power's book, The Princess Diana Conspiracy: The Evidence of Murder.

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Dr. Paul Dawson, in PRINCESS DIANA DIAGNOSED: PSYCHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS of HER SECRET LIFE, presents an exciting analysis of the enigmatic, inscrutable fairy-tale princess - diagnosing her by an in-depth assessment of her secret life. Diana's family, early life, royal celebrity, lovers, relationships, marriage and mental illness is examined. Here, revealed are Diana's mental disorders that include her bulimia (overeating then self-induced vomiting), self-mutilation (cutting herself out of guilt or depression), the fact that she was a pathological liar, had a twisted and confused identity disorder, and plunged into a series of tawdry and secretive love-sex affairs. A must read for any fan of the world's most famous royal princess. Dr. Paul Dawson earned a Ph.D. in psychology at The New School for Social Research, Graduate Faculty, New York City. Dr. Dawson has been chief psychologist of a state prison system, clinical psychologist in mental hospitals, clinics and in private practice. Dr. Dawson's other books include: MASKS OF PREDATORS; SEX CRIMES; SEX, LOVE & SMART DATING; BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER; ANGELINA JOLIE PSYCHOANALYZED; MARILYN MONROE DIAGNOSED, ROCK STARS DIAGNOSED, BPD RECOVERY BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER RECOVERY; SPYING WITH THE ENEMY; DEMON OF LUISON; DEMON OF XIBALBA; DEMON OF HADES; NARCOTERRORIST PSYCHOPATHS; PSYCHOLOGY OF MEN WHO ABUSE WOMEN; JOHNNY DEPP DIAGNOSED; MASKS OF AN AMERICAN PSYCHO; MASKS OF SEX PREDATORS.

One of the revelations of William Shawcross's official biography of the Queen Mother was her private correspondence. Indeed the Sunday Times described her letters as 'wonderful ... brimful of liveliness and irreverence, steeliness and sweetness.' Queen Elizabeth was a prolific correspondent from her earliest childhood and her letters offer readers a vivid insight into the person behind the public face. They reveal - in her own words - the little girl writing to her family; the young woman who, eventually, accepted Prince Albert's proposal; the Duchess of York, embracing the public role demanded of her, on royal tours both at home and abroad. They reveal, too, her shock when she and her husband realized that he would become King, the dreadful toll exacted by the Second World War, culminating in the King's tragically early death, and her determination to find a role for herself during her long widowhood. Full of wit, acute observation and a deeply held sense of duty, Queen Elizabeth's letters offer a chronicle not only of her long life, but of the twentieth century.

Josephine grows up on the island of Martinique longing for a glorious life in Paris. A West Indian seer has told her she is destined to be "more than a queen." An arranged marriage to a French nobleman brings her to the city of lights. But instead of the grand life, she experiences the French Revolution. Her husband is executed, she is imprisoned and all of her dreams of diamonds turn to dirt. But then she meets the greatest love of her life, Napoleon Bonaparte. Their ups and downs, joys and sorrows, set against the background of the Napoleonic Wars ensure that this dramatic novel is one of the most turbulent romances of the time.

The author of CATHERINE AND HER MEN wishes to inform readers that this work is NOT a play and it is NOT a drama. These forms use many speaking characters, plots complications and resolutions. This work is a MONOLOGUE. This form has one vivid personality who is the only narrator of a story of historical and personal interest. This work also includes indented directions for the stage crew and for each of her twelve men. Catherine the Great tells truthfully about the events in her life and her many accomplishments. She also tells about her one great failure as the Empress of Russia. She tells about the remarkable men who enriched her life and how she, in turn, enriched them--all this in an orderly and lively cascade of events.

This accessible, immensely readable biography of Mary, Queen of Scots by Jacob Abbott is part of the 'Makers of History' series, and is the best single-volume introduction to the life and times of the controversial Scottish queen.

This accessible, immensely readable biography of Maria Antoinette by John Abbott is part of the 'Makers of History' series, and is the best single-volume introduction to the life and times of the tragic queen, who was guillotined at the height of the French Revolution in 1793.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II marks 60 years asCanada's monarch in 2012. This fully up-to-date souvenir captures the excitement, the majesty, and the pageantry of the spectacular events that have allowed her subjects to celebrate and share their admiration for their Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year.

This special edition recalls the many key moments of Jubilee year, including The Queen and Prince Philip's nationwide tour of the United Kingdom, the overseas tours by other members of the Royal Family, and the spectacular flotilla on the Thames.

The book also looks at every aspect of the life of a beloved monarch: from childhood through to marriage and motherhood, and from her accession and working life to the country pursuits she enjoys in her rare "off-duty" moments."

This book is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS series. The creators of this series are united by passion for literature and driven by the intention of making all public domain books available in printed format again - worldwide. At tredition we believe that a great book never goes out of style. Several mostly non-profit literature projects provide content to tredition. To support their good work, tredition donates a portion of the proceeds from each sold copy. As a reader of a TREDITION CLASSICS book, you support our mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion.

This book is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS series. The creators of this series are united by passion for literature and driven by the intention of making all public domain books available in printed format again - worldwide. At tredition we believe that a great book never goes out of style. Several mostly non-profit literature projects provide content to tredition. To support their good work, tredition donates a portion of the proceeds from each sold copy. As a reader of a TREDITION CLASSICS book, you support our mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion.

This book is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS series. The creators of this series are united by passion for literature and driven by the intention of making all public domain books available in printed format again - worldwide. At tredition we believe that a great book never goes out of style. Several mostly non-profit literature projects provide content to tredition. To support their good work, tredition donates a portion of the proceeds from each sold copy. As a reader of a TREDITION CLASSICS book, you support our mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion.

This book is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS series. The creators of this series are united by passion for literature and driven by the intention of making all public domain books available in printed format again - worldwide. At tredition we believe that a great book never goes out of style. Several mostly non-profit literature projects provide content to tredition. To support their good work, tredition donates a portion of the proceeds from each sold copy. As a reader of a TREDITION CLASSICS book, you support our mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion.

This book is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS series. The creators of this series are united by passion for literature and driven by the intention of making all public domain books available in printed format again - worldwide. At tredition we believe that a great book never goes out of style. Several mostly non-profit literature projects provide content to tredition. To support their good work, tredition donates a portion of the proceeds from each sold copy. As a reader of a TREDITION CLASSICS book, you support our mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion.

This book is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS series. The creators of this series are united by passion for literature and driven by the intention of making all public domain books available in printed format again - worldwide. At tredition we believe that a great book never goes out of style. Several mostly non-profit literature projects provide content to tredition. To support their good work, tredition donates a portion of the proceeds from each sold copy. As a reader of a TREDITION CLASSICS book, you support our mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion.