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Julie Andrews: An Intimate Biography Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 233 ratings

An “intelligent and engrossing” biography of the incomparable star of stage and screen, revealing the determination she brought to bear over every obstacle (Mail on Sunday).

In
My Fair Lady, Julie Andrews had the biggest hit on Broadway. As the title character in Mary Poppins, she won an Academy Award. And, in 1965, The Sound of Music made her the most famous woman in the world and rescued Twentieth Century Fox from bankruptcy. Three years later, the disastrous Star! almost put the studio back under, and the leading lady of both films fell as spectacularly as she had risen. Her movie career seemed to be over.

Yet Julie Andrews survived, with what Moss Hart, director of
My Fair Lady, called “that terrible British strength that makes you wonder why they lost India.” Victor/Victoria, directed by her second husband, Blake Edwards, reinvented her screen image—but its stage version in 1997 led to the devastating loss of her defining talent, her singing voice.

Against all odds, she fought back again, with roles in
The Princess Diaries, Bridgerton, and other productions. The real story of bandy-legged little Julia Wells from Walton-on-Thames is even more extraordinary; fresh details of her family background have only recently come to light.

This is the first completely new biography of Julie Andrews as artist, wife, and mother in over thirty-five years—combining the author’s interviews with the star and his wide-ranging and riveting research. It is a frank but affectionate portrait of an enduring icon of stage and screen.

“An absorbingly extensive study, with glossy photographs and lively quotes bringing the pages alive with the sound of a much-loved musical star.” —
Evening Standard

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

London-based stage/TV/film actor Stirling brings up the house lights to detail the entire life of the performer he has known since 1986. Having previously written about Andrews for the Evening Standard and other publications, he highlights recollections of her associates, in addition to his extensive archival research, plowing through some six decades of reportage and interviews in magazines, newspapers and books. Stirling grabs the reader's attention on the opening pages with a description of Andrews's 1997 Mount Sinai Hospital throat surgery, a normal operation that went tragically wrong: "Her principal trademark, the voice of mountain spring purity, was gone, as astonishingly as it had first appeared." Beginning with her childhood in London during the Blitz and youthful voice lessons, Stirling traces her career from post-WWII performances on BBC Radio and the London stage to her 1954 arrival in America with The Boy Friend. After acclaim for My Fair Lady and Camelot came the caravan of TV and movie roles that continue until the present day with voice work in the Shrek series and last year's Enchanted. The book successfully documents and details the professional and personal peaks of her life. With Andrews's memoir, Home, to be published in April, devoted fans are sure to turn to both. 8-page b&w photo insert not seen by PW. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Julie Andrews is, quite simply, a phenomenon. She has probably brought more joy to more people than any other star of her generation.” —Richard Attenborough

“A very well written, meticulously researched, gripping account of Andrews’ extraordinary life and career. . . . Stirling does a superb job of detailing his subject’s rise to major stardom. . . . Full of information that may not be known even to some of Andrews’ staunchest fans . . . very frank in assessing Andrews’ flops and disappointments as well as her hits. . . . This excellent work is probably as ‘intimate’ as any biography of Julie Andrews we can ever hope to read.” —Michael Portantiere, TheaterMania.com

“Impressively thorough . . . Stirling compiles an absorbingly extensive study, with glossy photographs and lively quotes bringing the pages alive with the sound of a much-loved musical star.” —Evening Standard (London)

“Intelligent and engrossing.” —Roger Lewis, The Mail on Sunday

“The book successfully documents and details the professional and personal peaks of her life.” —Publishers Weekly

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003ZDOPJ6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Press; Illustrated edition (March 18, 2008)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 18, 2008
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 523 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 233 ratings

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Richard Stirling
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
233 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and interesting. They describe Julie Andrews as talented, wonderful, and personable. The biography provides an interesting account of her life and art in her own words. Readers praise the writing quality as fine and well-illustrated. The content is comprehensive, with extensive research and references to articles and interviews.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

16 customers mention "Book enjoyment"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, interesting, and entertaining. They say it's a must-read for fans of Julie Andrews, as it fills in some information about her life.

"...I found it all interesting, not just the parts about her most famous films...." Read more

"...Once I started reading this fascinating life story I could not put it down. (Finished it in a day and a half!)..." Read more

"This book was a very interesting report of Julie Andrew's life events...." Read more

"...other details tied together with happening of the time made the book very enjoyable." Read more

9 customers mention "Talent"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate Julie Andrews' talent and personability. They describe her as a wonderful person with a voice from heaven. The book portrays her as a hardworking and loving wife and mother.

"...She is one talented person with a voice from heaven as a young person...." Read more

"...Thank God for film— it keeps this extraordinary performer alive for the ages, for everyone." Read more

"An outstanding talent and while not everything she did received popular acclaim, she left many great memories for millions of people...." Read more

"Julie Andrews comes across as a wonderful person but she just may be holding back on some facts of her life...." Read more

7 customers mention "Biography"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the biography of Dame Julie Andrews interesting and well-written. They appreciate that it's told in her own words and is honest.

"The biography is as wonderful as Dame Julie Andrews herself...." Read more

"...On the whole, a good account of her life and art and her love for music." Read more

"Very detailed and honest. Enjoyed finding out about the life and profession of a well-loved entertainer." Read more

"Good, straightforward biography. Made Ms. Andrews seem down to earth and pictured her as a hardworking and very loving wife and mother...." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive1 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written and detailed, with a down-to-earth character that is illustrated nicely.

"...so devastating is a complement to her character, which is well illustrated by the author." Read more

"Enjoyed this. The writer does a nice job not only giving an overview of Julie's life, but other things happening at the same time...." Read more

"...read for anyone who wants to know her, as well as containing the finest writing, this book certainly fills in on some of the informaion and offers a..." Read more

"...It's well done with loads of details and facts that were previously unknown...." Read more

3 customers mention "Content"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's content. They find it comprehensive, with details and facts that were previously unknown. The author has done extensive research and references numerous articles and interviews.

"...Countless articles and interviews are referenced. I understand her career much better now, in context of changing cultural tastes and morals...." Read more

"Its clear that the author has done his homework and a lot of extensive research...." Read more

"...It's well done with loads of details and facts that were previously unknown...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2020
    I read other reviews before reading the book so, I expected a perfunctory and superficial account of Julie's life. I found it all interesting, not just the parts about her most famous films. The struggles of her early life, the insecurities about her appearance, the cruel animosity of critics and some actors, and her personality flaws are frankly discussed by an author who ultimately respects her. Countless articles and interviews are referenced. I understand her career much better now, in context of changing cultural tastes and morals. What more can one expect, unless you only enjoy scandalous biographies?
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2009
    While I sort of agree with the reviewer who compared this book to an 8th grade book report, I enjoyed it nevertheless. A few observations:

    1. The book borders on the hagiographic, which explains why Ms. Andrews comes across as a throughly decent woman, with no major faults to speak of, at least according to Mr. Stirling.

    2. In the lives of most famous entertainers, there is a kind of "magic period", during with they are at the peak of their fame and doing whatever it is that makes them famous in the first place. Sooner or later that magic period disappears, and while they remain famous of course, the narrative of their lives becomes far less interesting. So it is with Ms. Andrews. Her magic period was from 1956 (when she began her role as Eliza Dolittle on Broadway) through 1965 (when The Sound of Music came out), with Camelot and Mary Poppins sandwiched in between. Once that was finished however, there simply isn't much left that is so fascinating afterwards. Obviously, her performing career was far from over at age 30, and Stirling dutifully records her career after this point. But, aside from a few brief highlights (Thoroughly Modern Millie and Victor/Victoria), there really isn't much left to speak of. To put it another way, if the biography of her life ended in 1965, one would be describing about 90%-95% of the portion of her life that makes her worthy of a biography in the first place. If it started in 1966, even though she was only 30 at the time, there would be very little else to say that is biography-worthy. It is interesting that Ms. Andrews' own autobiography almost DID end at this point (1964). However, if one were to write a biography of her life starting at age 30, no one would buy it. That not her fault of course, but it does present a problem for her biographers.
    17 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2009
    Learning about Julie Andrews' life was the purpose in buying this informative book. I was also comparing information I gleened from her autobiography. I always wondered why she and Carol Burnette were such good fast friends. Now, I know and have even more respect and love for Julie's work in theater, music, and writing.

    She is one talented person with a voice from heaven as a young person. She truly made the right decisions for her career, in spite of her parents and their influences. There is much to learn about acting, singing, and dancing for a young person persuing that career, or an "oldie" like me who admired her as a young adult. Fortunately (or unfortunately) it has caused me to buy many of her movies and more CDs. Enjoy!
    14 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2022
    The biography is as wonderful as Dame Julie Andrews herself. Thank God for film— it keeps this extraordinary performer alive for the ages, for everyone.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2016
    An outstanding talent and while not everything she did received popular acclaim, she left many great memories for millions of people. So tragic that her voice was destroyed. That she has made an emotional comeback from something so devastating is a complement to her character, which is well illustrated by the author.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2008
    Julie Andrews is one of my heroes. I wanted to read a biography rather than her recently published autobiography (which I have not read so cannot make a fair comparison) because other researchers tend to include things the subject might delete when writing about his/her own life. This record of her life seems very complete, maybe too much so at times, which is why I gave it only four stars.

    One of the great tragedies of modern times was the botched surgery that took her singing voice. This situation is dealt with in the opening paragraphs of the book, stating that she had sued the surgeons and hospital and got a settlement.

    Her meteoric rise to fame is outlined as is her coming to terms with her "wholesome" image. I must admit bias, but it is good to read about the public and private life such a great star.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2016
    Excellent job, Mr. Stirling!! Thoroughly enjoyed your book! Obviously you cared about your subject. Once I started reading this fascinating life story I could not put it down. (Finished it in a day and a half!) I must say here, "Intimate Biography" is spot on! Thanks for your time and dedication for giving us such insite into Julie Andrews...a beloved person to many millions! Congratulations, Mr Stirling, on a job well done! Bonnie Fox
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2014
    This book was a very interesting report of Julie Andrew's life events. However at times I felt it lacked sensitivity and sometimes I wasn't sure whether the facts were 100% accurate. Having read Julie's autobiography before I read this book I was sensitive to facts that didn't quite line up, however I was glad to be able to read about her life after the other book had finished as the other book had finished.

    I would recommend this to anyone interested in the life of Julie Andrews
    5 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Nicolas PHILIPPE
    5.0 out of 5 stars Génial
    Reviewed in France on January 8, 2020
    Très intéressant !
  • Mrs. Chadwick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read :-) :-)
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2016
    I’ve always been a huge fan of Julie Andrews and a while back I treated myself to Julie Andrews: An Intimate Biography by Richard Stirling.

    At the time this book was released there was a lot of problems between the author and Julie Andrews manager, (Mr. S. Sauer).

    It had been announced in one of the American papers that Mr. Sauer had wrote to Richard Stirling saying that he was annoyed with him bringing this unauthorized book out as he knew that Julie was going to release her autobiography. Then her manager went on to say that he’d give him so long to take it off the market and if he didn’t he would then seek legal advice.

    I haven’t read anything before by Richard Stirling so I didn’t know what to expect, but with all authors I’ve never read I always keep an open mind till I’ve completed their book.

    Julie Andrews is one of our national treasure and my favourite artist. :-) When my Mum was expecting me she went to see “The Sound of Music” and she says that’s why I love the film soooo much, as every time it’s been on TV I’ve watched it, I have two versions of the film on DVD, (the original and 40th Anniversary collector’s edition), and I have the original soundtrack of both the film and stage version.

    Julie Andrews is the last of the great Hollywood musical stars and her career has lasted for over forty years. She’s also been a favourite of mine since childhood.

    In this book you’ll find out about Julies life :- childhood, marriages, children, her careers, (stage, film, writing and singing),becoming a Dame and the traumatic time that she went through with the operation that ruined her beautiful singing voice.

    Personally I thought the author did an excellent job with this book.

    I found this to be an excellent read and a constant page turner. I really found it hard to put the book down. :-)

    Its book I can recommend to other readers. :-)
  • Maier, "Bücherfanatikerin"
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tolle Biografie
    Reviewed in Germany on March 27, 2013
    Ich hatte eigentlich nach einer deutschsprachigen Biografie von Julie Andrews gesucht, konnte aber keine finden. Also kaufte ich sie in englischer Sprache. Diese Biografie umfasst das ganze Leben von Julie Andrews bis zum Jahr 2007 und ist sehr detailliert geschrieben. Es sind auch einige Fotos dabei.
  • R
    1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
    Reviewed in Germany on August 18, 2024
    Rather watch interviews, read Julie's autobiographies. So many boring statistics etc. Life is life, ups & downs for us all. Disappointing
  • Miss S Harris
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good quality
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2024
    Fast delivery, great condition for used

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