As the title states, this is a collection of Richard Burton's Diaries, annotated and presented in book form. It is not a biography, but does have autobiographical elements. The diaries have not been prettied-up, nor is the editor even certain that Burton intended to publish them. If you're expecting a smoothly written biography you will be disappointed. If you'd like a peek at Richard Burton's introspection you are in for a treat.
Credit must be given to Burton's widow Sally. She generously donated the set of diaries to Swansea University and made this book possible. She knew how much of the content referred to her husband's (in)famous marriages to Elizabeth Taylor; a lesser woman might have destroyed the diaries out of jealousy. Sally receives the editor's highest praise for her donation and her "wonderfully supportive" assistance. Many members of the Jenkins-Burton-Taylor families are also credited, and the list shows what a work of love this book is.
Chris Williams, a professor of Welsh history and former director of the Richard Burton Centre for the Study of Wales, has taken on the mammoth task of making the diaries more accessible to the general reader. He footnotes the first mention of people, places and things, providing dates of birth (and death) and a brief line or two of biography; locations, full titles, dates of publication, translations, etc. Burton was extremely well read, and the footnotes provide detailed info about the books Burton casually refers to. Williams admits uncertainty in a few spots, but his devotion to the task is unquestionable. He usually corrects Burton's spelling, but there are a few very minor blips (e.g. Burton refers to "Barbara Streisand" in April of 1969 and Williams' footnote also has "Barbara"... Burton self-corrects to "Barbra" in April of 1970, and the index uses the correct "Barbra"; also a letter from Kate is in the index as a letter from Jessica). An extensive bibliography and index (together totaling almost 40 pages) are invaluable aids for a 654 page text.
The diaries are presented in chronological order (and may not be complete: there are several large gaps). They begin in late 1939 when 14 year-old Richard Jenkins (his birth name) notes the death of the wife of one of his older brothers. The early entries are dryer reading, mainly short mentions of football (rugby), jobs, school, daily life, etc. They pick up some charm when he mentions his family, learning to play Monopoly and Yahtzee, and collecting dung for resale. The dung stories lead to a sweet recollection years later when, as a rich and famous celebrity, Burton fondly recalls the happy childhood times spent with siblings evading local farmers and acquiring the profitable manure. The early diaries run through December 1940.
The second set picks up in January of 1960. "Jenkins" is now "Burton" and Burton is now married to first wife Sybil and has 2 daughters (Kate and Jessica). The entries for 1960 are brief and end in June.
The third set picks up in January of 1965 and runs through March of 1972. The fly-on-the-wall moments of the beginnings of his romance with Elizabeth Taylor have passed unrecorded (or lost), and Burton and Taylor are now the Golden Couple. The diaries covering the first Burton-Taylor marriage are, in many ways, the highlight/heart of the book (as well as comprising the largest number of pages). Burton has love (his thoughts about Elizabeth Taylor range from love struck to realistic but are always heartfelt), fame and family. He still has dark moments (drink, temper, his daughter Jessica's condition, his brother Ivor's tragic injury, Elizabeth's many illnesses/injuries) but many highs as well. Throughout Burton remains somewhat awed by his good fortune, and the great heights reached by a poor boy from Wales. His introspection at the height of his success makes up the soul of the book, and shows Burton at his best and worst.
Side note: At one point (in a valiant effort to cut down on alcohol) he decides to use red type or ink (to write the date) to signify "good" (low alcohol) days. Dates in red font in the book might have been a nice (but expensive) touch, but footnotes are used instead.
The fourth set picks up in April of 1975 and runs through November of 1975, and is mainly marked by the second marriage to Elizabeth Taylor. "Booze" is now a frequent (and sometimes only) entry. The marriage (more her idea than his) quickly fails. Apart from a stray entry for March of 1977 the dairies pause again.
The fifth set picks up in June of 1980 and runs through October of 1980. Burton is now married to Susan Hunt and is in a revival of Camelot. His health is becoming an issue.
The sixth set picks up in February of 1983 and runs through April of 1983. Burton's marriage to Susan Hunt has ended and he is now with Sally Hay. They marry in July 1983 and he dies in 1984.
Because the book is a series of journals you may easily read it at your leisure. It is a large book, and will take time to go through, but it has its treasures. Burton's opinions of the people he meets and the places he goes (and the movies he is in) are truly entertaining (and often insightful), but the high point for me was his obvious love of books and reading. The one constant in his life is his collection of books (there is a very humorous story of how he shoplifted books in his poor days and Elizabeth Taylor's response). Burton describes with joy and pride the gifts, esp. books and book related items, that his friends and family give him. His love of books, fancy hard covers or cheap paperbacks, anchors his life. His wives come and go (and sometimes come again), but his love for his children and family also remains true. A wonderful look at the thoughts of an extremely intelligent man who lived a life worth recording.
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