Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by Should Be Reading.
Just grab your book and share the opening lines; then find another excerpt that “teases” the reader.
My feature today is The Redgraves, by Donald Spoto (an ARC).
Description on Amazon: The dramatic, poignant and revealing saga of the Redgraves, one of history’s greatest families of actors.
For more than a century, the Redgraves have defined theater and film while captivating the public eye. Their history is a rich tapestry of singularly talented individuals whose influence is felt to this day, yet their story has never before been told. In The Redgraves, bestselling biographer Donald Spoto draws on his close personal relationships with the family and includes both his interviews and unprecedented personal access to them. The result is a groundbreaking account of this extraordinary clan and their circle, including such luminaries as Elizabeth Taylor, Katharine Hepburn, and Sir Laurence Olivier.
The story began in 1907 with the marriage of actress Daisy Scudamore to matinee idol Roy Redgrave and the birth in 1908 of their son, Michael, who became a famous stage actor and movie star. Michael’s family and wild social circle knew that for decades he was insistently bisexual, notwithstanding his marriage to Rachel Kempson, one of England’s most glamorous and admired actresses.
Their daughter Vanessa, a great and revered performer, is the only British actress ever to win Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Cannes, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards—achievements that have been paralleled by a profound humanitarian commitment even as she tackled difficult and controversial roles.
Vanessa’s sister, Lynn Redgrave, led a triumphant and complex life in her own way, too. From her performance in the movie Georgy Girl to her prizewinning play about her father and her Oscar-nominated performance in Gods and Monsters, Lynn established herself as a very different Redgrave.
Corin Redgrave, their brother, was known for his acclaimed performances onstage and screen—and he was a tireless and outspoken political radical.
The family tradition of distinction continues with the careers of Joely Richardson and Jemma Redgrave and reached a high point in the life and career of Vanessa’s daughter, Natasha Richardson, who earned a Tony Award for her role as Sally Bowles in the revival of Cabaret. Natasha’s sudden death after a skiing lesson in 2009 shocked and saddened admirers of her work and graceful spirit.
The product of more than thirty years of research, The Redgraves recounts the epic saga of a family that has extended the possibilities for actors on stage, screen, and television in Britain, America, and around the world.
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Intro: During the cold afternoon of Friday, March 20, 1908—in a modest, poorly heated room above a newspaper shop on Horfield Road, in Bristol, England—a twenty-three-year-old actress named Daisy Scudamore Redgrave gave birth to a plump, blond-haired boy. After the newborn’s first cries, a woman who had helped during the delivery asked if Daisy had chosen a name for the baby. “Mother looked across the street and saw St. Michael’s Church,” said Michael Redgrave years later. Daisy’s notebook confirms the choice of name she had made without consulting her husband, an actor who was then in London, a hundred miles away. Recently, he had been absent much of the time.
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Teaser: That autumn of 1951, they were extremely discreet, and usually Michael invited Rachel to accompany them to a restaurant or social event to silence any wagging tongues. (p. 157)
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Sounds intriguing to me…what do you think?
Hum… I wonder why they had to be so discreet. 🙂 thanks for stopping by!
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I suspect a liaison they wouldn’t want anyone to know about….thanks for stopping by, kahcherub, and enjoy your read.
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Wow, this looks good! I love Vanessa Redgrave. Even though I don’t generally read celebrity biographies, this is one I’ll have to take a look at. Thanks for sharing.
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Yes, I pick and choose my celebrities…I prefer the ones that aren’t out there trying to be noticed all the time…lol
I have always admired the Redgraves, too, and realized I don’t know much about their back story.
Thanks for stopping by, Joy.
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OOoh interesting tease! Haven’t heard of this one! Enjoy!
Thanks for visiting my teaser!
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I am looking forward to it, Jessica…thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your reading.
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Oh those darn wagging tongues. Great teaser. Thanks for stopping by today!
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Thanks, Cathy…I am eager to dive into this one. Glad you liked it. Enjoy your read.
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It’s always interesting to get a peek into others lives!
Thanks for stopping by My Teaser!
♥ Melissa @ Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf
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I think so, too, Melissa….enjoy your read!
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I wish I enjoyed memoirs…I just can never get into them!
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We love what we love, Patty…I didn’t always enjoy them. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sounds good. I did not know of Joely Richardson’s relation to the Redgraves.
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Ah, yes….the surname throws us off, doesn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Nise, and enjoy your pick.
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I’ve never cared much for biographies, but my mother would have loved this. Enjoy! My teaser: Little Women
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I generally enjoy the celebrity ones, and then only certain celebrities. Thanks for visiting, Heather.
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I don’t read many celebrity bios, but this one certainly sounds tempting.
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It does, doesn’t it? With my obsession for the Kennedys, I almost overlooked this amazing family. Thanks for visiting, JoAnn.
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Times were so different back then, weren’t they? Celebrities were discreet about their affairs and their misbehavior. I think I’d enjoy reading about the Redgraves.
My teaser is from A COLLIE RESCUE.
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I am enjoying it, Sandra…and I agree about how everything is so different now. Thanks for stopping by.
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Hmm, sounds like they are very good friends. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by to read my teaser as well. 🙂
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You’re welcome, Melissa…and I’m glad you enjoyed the teaser.
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Usually he invites her…? And only to stop the wagging tongues? Very intriguing!
Thanks for stopping by The Coffee Pot 🙂
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Yes, I suspect there will be lots of wagging tongues….thanks for stopping by, Tracy Beth, and enjoy your read.
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Really good teaser. Why are they hiding/being discreet?
Thanks for visiting my blog!
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I suspect that the times are dictating their behavior, Amber. Thanks for visiting, and enjoy your read.
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wonder why they were discreet? thanks for stopping by my blog!
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Yes, discretion seems to be the order of the day, Cat. Thanks for visiting, and enjoy your read.
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This book sounds interesting. They’re such a talented family.
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I totally agree, Shelley. I am disappointed, however, that the book has no photos. Thanks for stopping by.
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I would continue reading, sounds like one I’d like. Thanks so much for joining in this week.
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You’re welcome, Diane, and thanks for hosting. I haven’t read anything else about this family, so I’m psyched.
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Great family. I bet it’s an interesting book. Thanks for sharing.
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Yes, I’m enjoying it, Autumn. Thanks for stopping by!
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These are fascinating people. Sounds like a good book. Here’s Mine
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I agree, Paulita, and when I saw the book in the newsletter, I realized how little I know about them. So…exciting read. Thanks for stopping by.
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I don’t know much about this family (nothing actually, aside from the name) but this does sound like a fascinating read so I think I might just have to give it a go.
Thanks for stopping by Book Cover Justice 🙂
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When I saw the title in the Vine newsletter, I realized that I don’t know nearly as much as I’d like to know about them. Thanks for stopping by, Tiffany.
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