Product Description
"Living is like tearing through a museum. Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book and remembering— because you can’t take it all in at once."
—Audrey Hepburn

On many occasions, she was approached to pen her autobiography, the definitive book of Audrey Hepburn, yet she never agreed. A beloved icon who found success as an actress, a mother and an humanitarian, Audrey Hepburn perfected the art of gracious living.

More philosophy than biography, How to Be Lovely revisits the many interviews Audrey gave over the years, allowing us to hear her voice directly on universal topics of concern to women the world over: careers, love lives, motherhood and relationships. Enhanced by rarely seen photographs, behind-the-scenes stories, and insights from the friends who knew her well, How to Be Lovely uncovers the real Audrey, in her own words.

While she would have been the last to say so, Audrey Hepburn was an expert in the art of being a woman. How to Be Lovely imparts whatever wisdom and insight she found along the way to the millions who grew up, or will grow up, wanting to be just like her.

Published to coincide with Audrey Hepburn’s would-be seventy-fifth birthday, How to Be Lovely offers a rare glimpse into the woman behind the mystique and the definitive guide to living genuinely with glamour and grace.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

wonderful
It was a pleasant read. It is the type of book to be able to pick up, read for a minute, come back to for a moment...enjoyable.

A delightful look at a really classy lady
We just don't have movie stars like Audrey Hepburn anymore. This book is divided into ten chapters of headings that showcase her words. You can find quotes on happiness, success, health, love, family, friendship, fulfillment, style, fame and humanity. She was a very private person and reading her words you'll find you feel a bit closer to the woman that was Audrey, yet she still retains her aloofness and mystique.

Lovely book
I really enjoyed this book. I'm a huge Audrey Hepburn fan and I loved how it was an easy read and a lot of fun information. I love collecting quotes from books I read and there are tons of great ones in this book. If you are a fan of hers or buying for a fan....You can't go wrong with this.

Great Gift Book
A lovely little book for anyone who loves Audrey, not just as an actress, but for all the human goodness with which she became synonymous.

I just love this book!!
This is such a wonderful book and a staple for how to deal with everyday things that life brings on.Audrey Hepburn was not only beautiful...but very wise.There is so many great quotes in this book...definitely a must read!! ... Read more

Product Description
She dazzled millions as Gigi. Eliza Doolittle. Holly Golightly. But to her most adoring fan, Audrey Hepburn was best known for her role as "Mummy."

In this heartfelt tribute to his mother, Sean Hepburn Ferrer offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the life of one of Hollywood's brightest stars. Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit is a stunning compilation of nearly 300 photographs, many straight from the family album and never before published; archival documents, personal correspondence, and mementos; even paintings and illustrations from the actress herself.

Sean tells Audrey Hepburn's remarkable story, from her childhood in war-torn Holland to the height of her fame to her autumn years far from the camera and the crush of the paparazzi. Sean introduces us to someone whose grace, charm, and beauty were matched only by her insecurity about her appearance and talent, and who used her hard-won recognition as a means to help children less fortunate than her own. With this unique biography, Sean celebrates his mother's history and humanity--and continues her charitable work by donating proceeds from this book to the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Audrey Seen Through The Eyes Of Her Son
I have read a number of biographies, and this one stands out from all the others. The reason is that her son Sean gave a view of his mother not from the outside, but from the inside. We learn of Audrey not as the world knew her but as her family knew her. In other words, from the inside out.

Think of this book as a family photo album (it has many family pictures including Audrey from her earliest days in Holland), with many stories that only her family or close friends would have known.

You see Audrey as a person; not just a movie star. It made me wish that I had known her but gave me the next best thing; feeling that I did know her vicariously.

And the story of her having lunch at the the Screen Actor's Guild with Marlon Brando was illuminating about perception vs reality - that stars are just people too with their own insecurities.

The book is a loving tribute to his mother and having read it would have to say that Audrey would be proud of Sean - showing her as she would want to be seen.

A beautiful, heart-warming book about an extraordinary person
I am a HUGE Audrey Hepburn fan, and I didn't think anything could make me love her any more...Until I read this book.I cried after reading the first page.Her son has written a beautiful, magnificent tribute to his mother.It gives you a more personal view of Audrey and her kindness and spirit shine through on each page.The family photos are lovely.The wonderful relationship she had with her son just reiterates for me the amazing person she was.I warn you though, this book may very well make you cry!The book includes her speech to the United Nations, which was phenomenal.The grace and dignity with which she lived her life will always be an inspiration to me.There will never be anyone else like her.How wonderful of her son to share a little more of his mother with us!She was taken far too soon.

Poignant peek into Audrey Hepburn's life through her son's eyes
This is a beautiful tribute to Audrey Hepburn from her son.This book also corrects some of the incorrect statements made in other biographies about her.

"Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit: A Son Remembers" is a combination of pictures, playbills, documents, and heartwarming narrative about his mother.You will begin to understand the intimate emotions that consumed her life and work.

Her son gives us a wonderful glimpse at the total picture of "Who was Audrey Hepburn?" without the lengthy narrative familar to most biographies. In addition, the proceeds from the sale of this book go to UNICEF as a tribute to his mother's favorite charity.

great memory of great actress
I recently purchased this book about Audrey Hepburn that was written by her son.I found it enormously enjoyable, and appreciated Audrey so much more after learning more about her.

Gorgeous tribute to a stunning lady.
The photos here are lovingly chosen by her son, and the entire book is an absolute joy. ... Read more

Product Description
The most ambitious and personal account ever written about Hollywood's most gracious star-Audrey Hepburn by Barry Paris is a "moving portrayal" (The New York Times Book Review) that truly captures the woman who captured our hearts...

With the insights of family and friends who never before spoke to a Hepburn biographer-and never-before-published photographs-Paris has created an in-depth portrait of the actress, from her childhood in Nazi-occupied Europe, through her legendary career, and into her UN ambassadorship.

"Rich and definitive...fascinating." (*Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

"Illuminates the complex inner life of the highest-paid actress of her time." (San Francisco Chronicle)

"Certainly [Paris's] account seems more personal than other recent biographies of Hepburn have been. In part, this may be because Paris had better access to family and friends, but he is also a very good writer, and his mix of anecdote and observation is just right." (Booklist)Amazon.com Review
Barry Paris loves Audrey Hepburn, and who can blame him?Hisexuberant profile of the movie star traces Hepburn's life from herchildhood in the Netherlands (where she aided the Dutch resistence)through her Hollywood career (from her Oscar-winning performance inRoman Holiday to Steven Spielberg's Always). Paris, aveteran of Hollywood biography books, wants to free his readers of anyfalse impressions that might sully the late star's reputation. Theimpression that Hepburn was a snob, he persuades us, was the result ofan introverted character formed by her experiences during the war.This wartime experience both fed Hepburn's love of the spotlight andinspired a concern for the poor and powerless that compelled her tocampaign for UNICEF from 1988 until her death in 1993. Some of themost fascinating material in this delightfully readable volumeconcerns the impact the ever-elegant Audrey Hepburn had on women'sstyle and self-conception. If you don't already love her, Paris's bookwill at the least evoke admiration of her, if not enlist you in amovement for her beatification. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

A reasonably good book about Audrey Hepburn
This is a reasonably good biography. I have found some facts other books
did not have about Audrey Hepburn.

I would not call it an exciting reading, because it has just too many facts, and less insights. But again, this is a typical biography book, which is well written.

Well written and worth the read
I grew up watching Audrey Hepburn so I was a little afraid to read her biographies.I was worried that they wouldn't do her justice I suppose.This book is a wonderful biography.Not too fawning but not harsh.Audrey shines through.Well worth reading.

Riveting Bio Of a true legend
Having read most of the other books about Audrey Hepburn, a woman whom I respect and admired since my youth, I chose this particular one by Mr.Paris as the most engaging (besides the book by Sean Ferrer which I thought was essential). I could never tire of anything A.H., with that being said it was important to me that I had a sense of how she lived. This book was hard to put down and wasn't full of colorful writing like some of the other so-called biographies done on her. For me, it brought me closer to this person as if she were someone I knew personally and combined with her son's book provided me with an insight into the world that was Audrey. She was and still remains a huge inspiration for me, and this book should be read by every young 'actor' out there today. Kudos to Mr.Paris!

Audrey Hepburn was a fair lady of stage and screen who is well served by Paris
Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) was born in Brussels the daughter of a Dutch woman and an English father. She was raised in Arnhem Holland suffering through the Nazi occupation. Audrey was a thin, sensitive child who excelled at ballet.
As a young woman she migrated to London appearing in British films until she was exploded into fame with her first US film
Roman Holiday (for which she won as Oscar as Best Actress)
Hepburn appeared in such films as "Charade"; "My Fair Lady"
(her singing voice being dubbed by Marni Nixon"; "Two for the
Road"; "Breakfast at Tiffanys"; "Sabrina: "Robin and Marion" :
"Wait Until Dark" and several other films.
Her gamin pixish face and figure was a revelation in the 50s era of Monroe, Ava Gardner; Sophia Loren and other well endowed film goddesses.
Audrey had a long but troubled marriage with stolid Mel Ferrer and had other husbands and a few affairs along the way most notably with film star Albert Finney.
She worked with such noted directors as Willie Wyler, George
Cukor and Stanley Donet. She lived in Switzerland in an isolated
village where she raised children and loved animals.
There is little dirt to plow in these pages1 Audrey was an
adorable and kind person! Her work with starving children on behalf of the UN is heartwarming.
Barry Paris (previous biographer of Louise Brooks and Greta
Garbo) does a fine job in this well documented biography.
The most exciting chapter deals with life in Holland during
the horrible Nazi occupation,
This is a good biography of the film star.

A book so well researched and written that it flows like...
A book so well researched and written that it flows like a meandering river.The prose is wonderful. Very difficult to stop reading the book until the reading is completed.

May Audrey Hepburn be in the Kingdom of God as I surely want to meet her and talk with her. ... Read more

Product Description
An absolute delight for Audrey Hepburn fans, this unique book collects a treasure trove of more than 600 international magazine covers featuring Hepburn, one of the most enduring icons of both film and fashion. Spanning the course of her life and career, many of these incredible photographs of the star haven t been seen since they were first published. A substantial biographical text accompanies the gorgeous images, providing fresh context for and insights into Hepburn's life both on and off the screen and tracing the evolution of her image, style, and influence. Assembled here for the first time, these covers and select interior spreads offer a rare contemporary glimpse into her life and unfolding legacy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

If you're a serious Audrey Hepburn fan like me,you'll be impressed with this book
Being the international star that she was,Audrey Hepburn created herself as one of the world's most recognized icons, and the magazine covers she was on clearly proves this. Anyone who is a serious Audrey Hepburn fan like me will appreciate the beautiful cover pictures this great actress had once graced.

This book is a must for the Audrey collector.

Great transaction!
I bought this for my daughter...we had seen it in a local bookstore for over double your price......it arrived in very good condition and my daughter was really pleased....thank you for a wonderful way to shop!

Key for any film history library
Any library strong in film star history in general or Audrey Hepburn in particular must have the lavishly illustrated Audrey Hepburn: International Cover Girl. It packs in over 600 international magazine covers featuring her, accompanying these full-page color reproductions with a fine survey of her life and personal and film history. These covers have been gathered under one cover for the first time and are key for any film history library.

Audrey Hepubrn Book
It is a fun book that shares many things about Audrey Hepburn's life showing all of the magazines she was in.

Wonderful concept, wonderful book for lovers of Audrey Hepburn, pop culture, Hollywood or movie stars
I loved this book.It is a visual feast.It delights and educates at the same time.I have been a fan of Audrey Hepburn since I was a teen.I own all her movies.Sabrina is my favorite movie.But you don't have to be an Audrey Hepburn fan to appreciate what a great book this is.It is for the Hollywood stars fan.It is a great American pop culture book.This book exceeeded my expectations. ... Read more

Product Description

A stunning collection of more than one hundred images by celebrated photographer Bob Willoughby captures Audrey Hepburn`s legendary film career, personal life, and tireless activism in support of children and animals around the globe, accompanied by the photographer`s personal reminiscences of the much-loved star.

Customer Reviews (2)

A gift worth giving!
I got this as a gift for my sister.She hasn't stopped raving about it.This series from Life is, in my experience, nothing short of extraordinary.Photos that are hard to find elsewhere can be found in these volumes.They say that pictures speak a thousand words, but these seem to speak millions!

Life on Audrey
Some great photos. The candid ones are always the best and show her in a more realistic light. The size of teh page is smaller than I would have liked (wish it was something like (10 x 12 inches). Worth the price to add as a coffee table book. ... Read more

Product Description
Her name is synonymous with elegance, style and grace. Over the course of her extraordinary life and career, Audrey Hepburn captured hearts around the world and created a public image that stands as one of the most recognizable and beloved in recent memory. But despite her international fame and her tireless efforts on behalf of UNICEF, Audrey was also known for her intense privacy. With unprecedented access to studio archives, friends and colleagues who knew and loved Audrey, bestselling author Donald Spoto provides an intimate and moving account of this beautiful, elusive and talented woman.

Tracing her astonishing rise to stardom, from her harrowing childhood in Nazi-controlled Holland during World War II to her years as a struggling ballet dancer in London and her Tony Award–winning Broadway debut in Gigi, Spoto illuminates the origins of Audrey’s tenacious spirit and fiercely passionate nature.

She would go on to star in some of the most popular movies of the twentieth century, including Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face, The Nun’s Story, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and My Fair Lady. A friend and inspiration to renowned designer Hubert de Givenchy, Audrey emerged as a fashion icon as well as a film legend, her influence on women’s fashion virtually unparalleled to this day.

But behind the glamorous public persona, Audrey Hepburn was both a different and a deeper person and a woman who craved love and affection. Donald Spoto offers remarkable insights into her professional and personal relationships with her two husbands, and with celebrities such as Gregory Peck, William Holden, Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper, Robert Anderson, Cary Grant, Peter O’Toole, Albert Finney and Ben Gazzara. The turbulent romances of her youth, her profound sympathy for the plight of hungry children, and the thrills and terrors of motherhood prepared Audrey for the final chapter in her life, as she devoted herself entirely to the charity efforts of an organization that had once come to her rescue at the end of the war: UNICEF.

Donald Spoto has written a poignant, funny and deeply moving biography of an unforgettable woman. At last, Enchantment reveals the private Audrey Hepburn—and invites readers to fall in love with her all over again.

“She was as funny as she was beautiful. She was a magical combination of high chic and high spirits.” —Gregory Peck

“In spite of her fragile appearance, she’s like steel.” —Cary Grant

“Audrey was known for something which has disappeared, and that is elegance, grace and manners . . . God kissed her on the cheek, and there she was.” —Billy Wilder

“There is not a woman alive who does not dream of looking like Audrey Hepburn.” —Hubert de Givenchy

“Her magnetism was so extraordinary that everyone wanted to be close to her. It was as if she placed a glass barrier between herself and the world. You couldn’t get behind it easily. It made her remarkably attractive.” —Stanley Donen

“She has authentic charm. Most people simply have nice manners.” —Alfred Lunt


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Good Read, But Not Unbias
This is an incredibly interesting read about an amazing woman. My main complaint is that a fair bit of hero-worship is written into it. It becomes a little distracting at points; any poor decision either personally or professionally becomes the fault of a husband, co-star, director, writer, etc... That aside, I definitely reccomend it.

Intelligent and respectful biography
I enjoyed listening to this intelligent and respectful biography of the elegant actress who charmed us with performances in many classic movies, including her first US film, Roman Holiday, for which she won an Oscar. We learn about her difficult life during WWII, and there is the expected "dish" about her romantic life, but it doesn't come across as a tell-all. My only complaint: the narrative moves too quickly through the important work she did with UNICEF and the illness that took her life.

Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn
Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn was a very good read, although kind of gossipy. I liked most of it, but it got boring in some places. I'm sure Donald Spoto felt he was being respectful, however i dont think it is. in my opinion, Spoto went a little to far into her personal life. I would not recomend this book to anyone, unless you looking for celebrity dirt,

Audrey Hepburn's Life in Great Detail
Enchantment (The Life of Audrey Hepburn) by: Donald Spoto was a very detailed description of Hepburn's life. The book starts off by giving the background of her parent's life and struggles, and leads into her birth; it then goes on to say how Hepburn started off as a ballet dancer, but later lost that talent because of the Great Depression. It shows that having failed at dancing is what lead Hepburn into the acting business. After going through her Hollywood career it concludes by telling about the charity work she did later in her life with the UNICEF foundation and leads into her struggle with death.

My rating for this book (on a scale form 1-10) would be a 6 or 7. In the book Spoto tends to go into to much detail, instead of getting straight to the event that was happening. With this great detail causes some suspicion as to if all of this information is entirely true. Often times I would get lost in the detail and have to skim back over to see what event he was talking about.

Although Spoto went overboard with the detail, the story line was well thought-out. It touched on just about every aspect of Hepburn's life and highlighted all of her Hollywood films. I was often times intrigued by her harsh childhood, her Hollywood career, and the charity work she did with the UNICEF foundation.

Spoto did do a nice job of highlighting how elegant and inspiring Audrey Hepburn truly was. He made an effort to paint her in a good life and make each aspect of her life interesting.

If you are the type of person who enjoys detailed biographies then you would also enjoy reading, Audrey: Her Real Story by: Alexandra Walker. This book gives a great description of Hepburn's life, but in more of her own words rather than the author's.

Perfect!
I just love this book!I'd recommend it to anyone interested in a true Queen, very classy lady and a very private woman! ... Read more

Product Description
With nearly thirty movies, countless awards, and an unwavering commitment to UNICEF, Audrey Hepburn's life served as an example of both style and purpose. From her early dance performances for the Dutch resistance during World War II to her London cabaret days and her breakthrough roles in Gigi and Roman Holiday, audiences worldwide have long been enchanted by Audrey's charm and grace.

Now, in this lavishly illustrated biography -- created with the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund -- Audrey's own words are given center stage to create a unique personal narrative. This special collection also includes approximately 200 black-and-white and color photographs selected by the Hepburn Estate, as well as reproduced mementos from Audrey's life. Thirty-four removable documents include an excerpt from her Breakfast at Tiffany's script with handwritten notes, a letter she sent to husband Mel Ferrer while preparing for The Nun's Story, and a birth certificate announcement marking the arrival of her first son.

A dazzling celebration of an extraordinary human being, The Audrey Hepburn Treasures offers fan an intimate and revealing portrait of the woman they admire and adore. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Audrey Hepburn was extrodinary!
It was a world caught up in something of a fantasy...she had all of the attributes that go into the making of a star! Audrey was beautiful, smart, witty, and on top of all that...she could act and dance and she was never known to be afraid of a little hard work..Today these special specific descriptions of a personality are very few and far between...and,oh by the way, extremely photogenic...there must be literaly thousands of individual photos that were shot of her and it seems that one picture after another is more beautiful than the last. So put them all together and ingredients are stupendous...Thank you for asking my opinion. I am 75 years old and thrill to think that I was able to see her come from nowhere and rise to the fame that she did almost instantly....

Great seller
Book arrived quickly and was in perfect condition. I would buy from the seller again.

Love Audrey, love this book
I love Audrey Hepburn and I wanted this book so badly but it retailed for a lot more than I was willing to pay. I was skeptical when I found this copy for such a great price but when I received it in the mail it was a brand new copy! I couldn't be happier. The only thing that I wasn't happy about was that it took almost a month to receive the book.

A Life Exemplary
Reading (or more accurately, experiencing) this elegant volume of memorabilia recalls dead ideals, not just of decorous celebrity behavior, but of the quiet conviction of deeds rather than publicized pronouncements from Hollywood's movie stars.This book captures a sense of a life lived in the limelight, but never blinded by it, and conveys an archetypal and emotional journey through a minefield of tempting superficialities, all the way to self-discovery and meaning.

It's moving to see and feel how Audrey Hepburn's roles reflected her best selves at every turn -- resolutely alert, attuned, engaged, yearning, striving, feminine, human -- and be reminded of how a life can really be exemplary, after all.

A must-have for Audrey Fans
This is a wonderful collector's item for Audrey Hepburn fans. I opened the box, and, after looking through the pages, had no other words but "wow". There are 34 removable items of memorabilia. These include a partial script from Breakfast at Tiffany's, many letters to and from Ms. Hepburn herself, postcards, pictures, photo albums, tickets of movies and programs of plays she's done, and many many other items.

The book is done in a scrapbook format, and beside all of the removable items, has countless photographs with many of them having never been published or from her friends and family's private collections.

This book could have easily cost over $100, and I thank the ones who have put it together for allowing the fans to be a part of such intimate moments and items.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Audrey Hepburn: A Life in Pictures
I am thrilled that I purchased this book.The photos are phenomenal.It is a must have for anyone who is an Audrey fan or photographers looking for that perfect pose.

Each and every photo causes you to pause on the page and look at every detail.

Magnificent publication about an incredibly beautiful and complex woman.Enjoy !

Absolutely Gorgeous!!!
If you are an Audrey Hepburn fan and admirer like me,you'll really enjoy this book. The pictures alone show what a pretty lady Audrey Hepburn really was.

I highly recommend this book.

Awesome book
If you are an Audrey Hepburn fan, you need to get this book. Beautiful pictures
of her and gives her life story. Small, hardcover and easy to look through.

Oh, Audrey! Oh, the pictures!
Worth the price for the cover photo alone!

Granted, there are some gaps and gaffs but such an exquisite production deserves to be in avery AH fan's collection.

I particularly like the photos backstage etc. That is, I like the photos of her not acting. They show something of the real magic of this beautiful, charming and brave lady.

This is a book you will be happy to own - guaranteed!

I you like this, then you'll also like The Audrey Hepburn Treasures

Audrey Hepburn: A Life In Pictures - TOP STUFF!
Very happy with the condition of the book and the expeditious delivery from US to Australia! :D ... Read more

Product Description
The late screen legend Audrey Hepburn uses music from Maurice Ravel's "Mother Goose" as the framework for her reading of these favorite fairy tales. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Certainly Enchanting
Audrey Hepburn has been my idol for years. She was (and still is, in my opinion) the epitome of elegance.

I was so excited when I saw she had done this recording. I bought it for my newborn and had been anticipating its delivery every single day. Finally it came and I popped it into our player immediately.

Audrey's voice is so clear and soothing. My baby fell asleep during Sleeping Princess, the first recording, but I kept listening. Her voice is such a fairy tale. I began to drift into the stories myself...

I know we will enjoy and treasure this for years to come.

The incomparable Audrey enchants children, too!
My 6 year old granddaughter just loves this CD and listens to it over and over again.
Audrey sounds so believable that you would think she is telling her own story! No one else has this magic charisma which hold sway over all ages. She really was pure magic.

Want more
This is an excellent story CD.The one problem with it, that the stories are all on one track (so if its in the car and you listen to another CD at some point and want to go back to the stories, you have to fast forward sometimes half an hour of stories to get back where you were) is far out weighed by the uniqueness of the stories.Audrey's voice is perfect and soothing and the music is as perfect an accompaniment as it is beautiful.My kids love it.

An Enchanting Experience
My Godmother bought this for me when I was a child.Now, as an adult (I am now 23) I still use it for my sleepless nights. It has never lost it's charm or it's effect, and I don't know what I would do without it. Definitely a keep forever!

The Magic Story Tape
My mother brought this tape for my niece when she was small. She loved it and asked to listen everything she was a gramma's. Now I use it for when my little one can't sleep- it works like a charm. The music is wonderful and Ms. Hepburn's voice is soothing yet entertaining. I wish there where more of these! ... Read more

Product Description

Everyone, it seems, is a fan of Audrey's. She was Gigi, a princess, Holly Golightly, a nun, Maid Marian, even an angel. And we believed her in every role. But Audrey Hepburn was also one of the most admired and emulated women of the twentieth century, who encouraged women to discover and highlight their own strength. By example, she not only changed the way women dress--she forever altered the way they viewed themselves.

But Audrey Hepburn's beauty was more than skin deep. "You know the Audrey you saw onscreen? Audrey was like that in real life, only a million times better," says designer Jeffrey Banks. For the first time, this style biography reveals the details--fashion and otherwise--that contributed so greatly to Audrey's appeal. Drawing on original interviews with Hubert de Givenchy, Gregory Peck, Nancy Reagan, Doris Brynner, and Audrey Wilder, as well as reminiscences of professional friends like Steven Spielberg, Ralph Lauren, noted Hollywood photographer Bob Willoughby, Steven Meisel, and Kevyn Aucoin, Audrey Style brings the Audrey her family and friends loved to life.

With more than ninety color and black-and-white photographs, many of which have never before been published, and original designer sketches from Edith Head, Hubert de Givenchy, Vera Wang, Manolo Blahnik, Alexander McQueen, and others, Audrey Style gives measure to the grace, humor, intelligence, generosity, and inimitable fashion sense that was Audrey Hepburn.Amazon.com Review
In 1953, When Audrey Hepburn burst onto the screen in RomanHoliday, she forever changed the international ideal of elegance,grace, and beauty. Suddenly, glamour and even sexiness seemedattainable for women everywhere; Audrey was uncommonly beautiful, butshe was real--hers was a look anyone could aim for, but fewcould pull off as effortlessly or effectively. By mixing a few classicelements of "Audrey style"--the little black dress, ballet flats withslim capri pants, bold hats and sunglasses--suburban housewives becamemore Hollywood than Hoboken in an instant.

Here author PamelaClarke Keogh introduces us to the woman behind the clothes, usingwords from friends, fellow actors, and designers who dressed her topaint a picture of a truly remarkable woman. A humanitarian, artist,friend, and above all, survivor, Audrey inspired women and menalike to approach life with spirit, grace, and simplicity. The nearly100 color and black-and-white photographs, paired with originalsketches from such fashion luminaries as Givenchy, Manolo Blahnik, andVera Wang, show that Audrey was much more than a beautiful,well-dressed personality; her courage and individuality come shiningthrough in every page. --Leah Ball ... Read more

Customer Reviews (61)

Audrey
What a great book for getting insight into Audrey Hepburn life. It also gave excellent style tips on achieving her classic look. A great read!

Plenty of Audrey, but little style
Despite having a good collection of photographs, a hearty amount of biographical information, and the interesting spin of some step-by-step style tips inserted here and there, this book is one best left for idle thumbing-through. Although a heartfelt effort, the writing simply holds it back.

The author's constant reuse of adverbs and themes is irritatingly pervasive, and even the editors seemed to be asleep at the wheel--the text is littered with typos and spelling errors. Most disappointing to me, the book is nearly entirely biographic. I was hoping for an entirely fashion-centric book.

for fans of Audrey Hepburn
If you admire Audrey Hepburn, you'll enjoy this book.This is my inspiration for my sewing projects.

Pass the sick bag, Mabel
Even though I'm definitely an AH fan, I thought that the author went overboard with praise for Miss Hepburn's personal qualities. No doubt AH herself would be embarassed to read all this fawning and adulation.

This book attempts to combine into one an AH biography and an analysis of her fashion style. Unfortunately, both fall short. The only worthwhile text was the introduction by Hubert de Givenchy.

Inspiring Audrey style
I think Audrey Hepburn will be eternally remembered not only as one of the kindest and most generous women that has ever volunteered for Unicef, but to us women as a timeless, most graceful role model of style. She's the perfect embodiment of the adagio that in elegance less is more. Her streamlined, understated style that yet made one of the biggest statements in fashion history continues to be an inspiration to us women of the 21st century despite the forty years that separate us from "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Clarke Keogh's book captures Audrey's spirit like no other. It is beautifully illustrated and there are contributions from Hubert de Givenchy, Ralph Lauren or Gregory Peck, among other people who generously share with us souvenirs of this angel of grace that they had the chance to meet in person. Her wardrobe and makeup are meticulously reviewed and this book will prove an invaluable tool and source of inspiration for all those women who want to bring more elegance and refinement into their lives. One of the best assets in your style bookcase and one that you will gladly pass down to generations of graceful women to come. ... Read more

Product Description
As an Oscar winning actress and humanitarian, Audrey Hepburn (19291993) left a legacy true to her spirit, elegance and charity. This exotic beauty became one of the most prominent actresses of her time, starring in films such as Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffanys, My Fair Lady, and Funny Face. This 2011 calendar features a wonderful photographic collection of this unforgettable beauty. ... Read more

Product Description

Audrey Hepburn is an icon like no other, yet the image many of us have of Audrey—dainty, immaculate—is anything but true to life. Here, for the first time, Sam Wasson presents the woman behind the little black dress that rocked the nation in 1961. The first complete account of the making of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. reveals little-known facts about the cinema classic: Truman Capote desperately wanted Marilyn Monroe for the leading role; director Blake Edwards filmed multiple endings; Hepburn herself felt very conflicted about balancing the roles of mother and movie star. With a colorful cast of characters including Truman Capote, Edith Head, Givenchy, "Moon River" composer Henry Mancini, and, of course, Hepburn herself, Wasson immerses us in the America of the late fifties before Woodstock and birth control, when a not-so-virginal girl by the name of Holly Golightly raised eyebrows across the country, changing fashion, film, and sex for good. Indeed, cultural touchstones like Sex and the City owe a debt of gratitude to Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Customer Reviews (44)

Not Really the Dawn.
I don't need to go into details of the book here as there are plenty already posted.It's an account of the making of a movie and is titled "Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman."I would have added this to that title: "Modern Woman in the Movies."My reasoning is thus: the modern woman clearly dawned in the 1920s in real life.A few years after Tiffany's there was a movie that explained it all to us: "Thoroughly Modern Millie" wherein Millie bobs her hair and lifts her Victorian skirts.

The book has a manufactured feel.There are places where the author intrudes with hyperbole designed to make the text gripping, but in fact left me wondering how he knew some of these things: how did he get into peoples' minds?

I was grateful to learn that I wasn't the only one who thought that Mickey Rooney's portrait of Mr. Yunioshi nearly destroyed the film, or that George Peppard was too full of himself to give his character a decent reading.But none of this has to do with the Modern Woman.

I don't believe the movie changed much of anything, but happened along at the right time and in the right place.Truman Capote's story is much more exciting.

Sometimes Captivating, Often Cursory Look Behind Audrey Hepburn's Iconic Role
If you're as much an Audrey obsessive as I am, chances are pretty good that you will be entertained by this slim book, even if much of the back story behind Blake Edwards' Breakfast at Tiffany's is quite familiar. Hepburn's sophisticated take on Holly Golightly was an iconic turn in her storied career, and with his second Hollywood book, author Sam Wasson gives us a rather cursory behind-the-scenes look in the preparation and making of the 1961 film classic. The major problem I had with his treatment was how it read like a series of blog postings instead of a sustained story from start to finish to legacy. The author starts on a promising note as he describes in detail Truman Capote's composition of the original novella upon which the film is based. This part is intriguing as we find out that Capote based Holly on several women, including his mother who, like Holly, was born in the South, married as a teenager, and moved to Manhattan to become a member of café society through a series of casual relationships with wealthy men.

Wasson discusses Capote's first screen choice for Holly, Marilyn Monroe, who probably would have been more credible as a country hick-turned-call girl. Hepburn originally demurred on the role, but she was convinced to accept it as a turning point from the 1950's gamine roles she played throughout her twenties. The screen icon comes across as quite insecure in Wasson's hands as she was precariously balancing movie stardom with new motherhood at the same time crafting a new image of herself as a self-created woman of the world. There are certainly plenty of pages devoted to two of the film's signature ingredients, the little black cocktail dress designed by Hepburn confidante Hubert de Givenchy and the popular Oscar-winning song Moon River by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer. Both components set new standards after the movie's release - the former as the de rigueur outfit that dominates to this day, the latter as the definitive dreamer song covered by a multitude of music artists.

The author, however, gives short shrift to the film's other contributing factors like Hepburn's male co-stars. He adequately covers the casting controversy over Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi, Holly's nosy Japanese neighbor, a part that was supposed to be played by a real Japanese actor. However, leading man George Peppard is barely mentioned and only in derogatory terms since his frustrating Method techniques evidently took their toll on his fellow cast members like Patricia Neal. There is also a useless section about a 1960's feminist who moves to New York and works her way up the ladder in book publishing. The apparent point of introducing this tangent was to draw parallels with Holly's sense of liberation, but the irony is that the character is really a ne'er-do-well who is desperately trying to find ways not to work. The author seems intent to position Hepburn's quietly subversive Holly as the "new woman" in charge of her life when in fact, she succumbs to Peppard's charms to live happily ever after with her no-name cat. Wasson is apparently asserting through Hepburn's performance that you can have your cake and eat it, too.

Fifty years ago today
Sam Wasson's delightful new book, "Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M." takes us back to a time in our history when innocence clashed with a budding maturity and there was no better seminal film than "Breakfast at Tiffany's" to expose us to the end of the 1950s and signal in a more modern era. While the subtitle of Wasson's book may be misleading to some, I found this breezy read fascinating. The lead-up to the film, mostly told here through Audrey Hepburn's early life and career, is crowned with a rare and intricate look at how a film is made, the sequence of shooting the scenes and the personalities beyond camera length.

It helps to have recently viewed "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (me, for the first time) in order to savor the stories behind its creation. Hepburn is certainly the star of the book as well as the movie, and curiously, Wasson presents the other actors in not much more than cameo appearances. The real human interest stories lie with director Blake Edwards, screenwriter George Axelrod, composer Henry Mancini, costume designers Hubert de Givenchy and Edith Head, and author Truman Capote, whose disdain of Hepburn in the title role of Holly Golightly was legendary.

Author Wasson is at his best in describing how, when and where some of the scenes were shot, but he's especially terrific explaining the party scene from the film and how it evolved. It's a wonderful addition to the book and makes me want to see the film a second time.

The first scenes in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" were filmed fifty years ago today...October 2, 1960. It was a product of a time of change in American culture and reflected the start of a decade that would end up as far from decorous as it had started. Sam Wasson has written an entertaining account in his "Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M." and I highly recommend it for those readers who are interested in the make-up of the film and how society, ever so slowly, had begun to change.

Not what I expected
I ordered this book hoping for a somewhat scholarly discussion of feminism and how women's changing roles were portrayed in the movies.What I got was a rather amateurish if entertaining behind the scenes look at making the movie.Heavy on "dish" but light on scholarship, the author uses phrases like "a Broadway hangout with a honey of a bar"in complete earnestness, or tries to be cool with lines like "handshakes, backslaps, and across-the-room waves were passed around like a hooker at an all-night orgy.". Besides being offensive, it makes it impossible to take this book seriously.Not to mention the section headings like "What Johhny Mercer does in bed" (which turns out to be writing song lyrics) and "Does Edith Head give good costume?". I'm sure that would kill a room full of 7th graders, but adults find it puerile.So if you're looking for a light, fun read about a period of Hollywood history, this book may be for you.If you want a serious discussion of women's issues, don't be misled by the title like I was.

Huge Disappointment
Seems to me that the author spent more time on trying to be cutesy and "kookie" himself instead of writing the book clearly.Also, it seemed that the point he tried to make about the impact of the movie on society was overkill.No one incident in the 1960's brought about the sexual revolution.

While the subject matter was quite interesting, I found the author's writing to be terribly convoluted.He constantly introduced topics that were unrelated and people that were unrelated to the story.

If you would like to read it----check it out from the library, it is NOT a keeper. ... Read more

Product Description
Audrey Hepburn Wall Calendar: Audrey Hepburn rose to movie fame with classics such as Roman Holiday, Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Sabrina. Her beauty, grace, and humanitarian efforts made her beloved by millions the world over. Enjoy thirteen candid and studio shots of this graceful queen of the big screen with this lovely 2011 deluxe wall calendar. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Disappointed
When I purchased this item I neglected to note that this calendar was already a year old.For someone just looking for pictures it might be ok but as a calendar it was useless.

Great pictures!
This calander has a great combination of posed pictures and candid shots of Audrey Hepburn.I love this calander it is great quality.

Lovely
Beautifully detailed pictures. Very clear.The black and white "photos" are lovely.The calendar months itself is also clear and precise. My daughter is a Andrey Hepburn fan so this calendar was much appreciated.

Audrey Hepburn 2008 Deluxe Wall Calendar
Audrey Hepburn 2008 Deluxe Wall Calendar - masterfully done in blacks and whites of an icon of beauty.If you or someone you love is a fan of Audrey Hepburn, a must have. ... Read more

Product Description
Innocent, elegant, ethereal in her beauty, Audrey Hepburn stood alone among the actresses of her time.From her first moment of fame in Roman Holiday, through the triumphs of Breakfast at Tiffany's and My Fair Lady, her screen presence was unique.Gregory Peck called her "a magical combination of high chic and high spirits."But Hepburn's story is also one of lifelong struggle--to escape the burden of family history, and to conquer the demons of her own life.In this newly expanded edition of his definitive biography, Alexander Walker reveals new details about her parents' Fascist sympathies, about Audrey's own wartime experiences, and about the tragic story of her attempts to make peace with her father before the end of his life.And he offers a moving portrait of a woman whose search for happiness was compromised all her life by insecurity, eating disorders, and an inability to find lasting love.From her troubled childhood through her heartfelt battle against world hunger on behalf of UNICEF, Alexander Walker has painted a candid and affectionate portrait of one of the world's most beloved actresses: This is Audrey's real story.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

'Audrey Her Real Story' is 'divine'.
`Audrey: Her Real Story' was an unexpected Christmas gift in 2006. I had wanted a biography on Audrey Hepburn, but I hadn't expected this one. It is an expanded and revised edition. It contains new information not known when the previous edition of this book went to print, about Fidelma, Audrey's Irish stepmother, and more information on Audrey's father. I originally had my eye on `Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn' by Donald Spoto. What I found however after reading 'Audrey: Her Real Story' first, is I really couldn't do any better then this book. `Audrey: Her Real Story' is an exceptional book that wonderfully recounts her film career and humanitarian efforts. It also has marvellous quotes from Audrey Hepburn herself and is approved by her and those who know her. I really believe this is one of the absolute best books on her life. I also watched a lot of her films thanks to this book and really enjoyed most of them. There really aren't many poor film choices for Audrey. A great deal of effort and care had been taken to keep Audrey's image pure, like a princess. You'll find if you study her films she stays in a close group of friends, Billy Wilder and William Wyler are two great talents. Audrey also stays usually in Paris, and wears some of the most beautiful clothes designed by friend and life-long confidant Hubert de Givenchy. I do love the fact that Audrey started off as a dancer, and her time during the war was very brave. Due to work around the time of her first film, and Award-winning role in `Roman Holiday', Audrey could not commit to first prospective husband James (later Lord) Hanson. It is however during her film `Sabrina' she meets Mel Ferrer, twelve years her senior. Together they decide only to appear on stage and screen together. `War and Peace' is one of their films together, but really wasn't praised by film critics. Neither was 'Wait Until Dark' that Mel produced or 'Green Mansions', Mel took a directing credit. Audrey had one son with Mel Ferrer called Sean Ferrer and appears with Audrey in Peter Bogdanovich's `They All Laughed', a film I thought would have been better. I usually enjoy director John Huston films but I hated `The Unforgiven.' John Huston hated it too. I also didn't think much of `Robin and Marian'. Audrey's second husband was an Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti, who wanted to marry a movie star, and not let her be a mother and a wife. Audrey unfortunately, had a lot of miscarriages. I really love Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall films and her three autobiographies. When I read about Humphrey's behaviour during 'Sabrina' I was shocked. I believed Lauren Bacall when she said of Humphrey that he had a lot of time for actors but had very little time for stars. I would have thought Humphrey would have got on better with Audrey then he did. The films of Audrey Hepburn I really enjoyed are `Breakfast At Tiffany's', a role perfect for Audrey Hepburn, however Truman Capote would have preferred and wrote it for Marilyn Monroe. I love Marilyn's films too but she would have been so wrong for this film. I also loved Audrey in `How To Steal A Million.' I also love Stanley Donen's films `Funny Face' (I wrote a poem about it), `Charade', and `Two for the Road'. I loved 'Sabrina' as well, the remake with Harrison Ford isn't really worth mentioning, neither is 'The Audrey Hepburn Story' with Jennifer Love Hewitt, which could have been much better, but it's nice of her to be a fan. Audrey was closest to her father who loved her in 'My Fair Lady' best but was almost non-existent in her life. I truly believe Audrey Hepburn would have loved me had she known me. Audrey Hepburn had a remarkable life. I absolutely love this book. I would love to be recognised as one of Audrey Hepburn's best and devoted fans and hope to hear from other fans of her. I am thrilled she lived during some of my time on this earth. I love reading about actors lives. The next exceptional biography I would read by Alexander Walker is 'Vivian: The Life of Vivien Leigh'.

Nicely done...
The author seems to have done scrupulous research, particularly with regard to Hepburn's early years. However, this bio contains more conjecture and fewer direct quotes from Hepburn "insiders" than the Barry Paris book.It also goes into more detail about her early career, her parent's fascist connections, and her relationships with her costars and husbands.Curiously, her adult relationship with her mother is largely ignored by the author.

It's entirely possible that Walker had less cooperation from Hepburn's friends, family and associates, because this book is somewhat less flattering than the Barry Paris bio.For example, Walker makes no bones (bad pun) about her alleged off and on battle with anorexia, while Paris blows the rumors off.

The author makes one egregious ommission; he fails to note Hepburn's last work, the superb Gardens of the World series for PBS.He notes only a "coffee table book" by that title for which he says Hepburn wrote the text.As she did not write the script for the series, it's unlikely that she would have written the text for any companion book. Gardens of the World does not even appear in the book's index!For credibility's sake, Walker really should correctthis error in any future editions.
Nevertheless, all in all this is a satisfying read for any fan of Audrey Hepburn.

I'd recommend reading both books to get a more balanced view of this great lady.

She will always be remembered as a great actress
This book,(like so many other books on Audrey) explains the compassion,love, and charm that this lovely lady had. No wonder she is regarded as one of the most beloved actresses.I couldn't agree more.A wonderfully written book.

A wonderful book on a very lovely and talented actress!
I am a big fan of Audrey Hepburn's.This is a truly wonderful biography on her.I really enjoyed it, and highly recommend it.
I'd give it ten stars if I could!You learn so much about her life and career from it.

I love Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn is my idol.When I grow up I'd love to be like her.When i saw this book,I didn't know wheter to buy it until I read some of the reviews.After I read a few of the reviews I placed an order and I received this book a few weeks later!It is a great book and an ideal present for someone who is a fan of Audrey Hepburn..(like me)...,because I know I would have loved it if I got it as a present."Audrey:Her Real Story"by Alexander Walker is one of the best of all my collecter's items!It tells you a lot about Audrey Hepburn...things like,how she felt when her mother and father divorced and when she went through malnutrition in the early stages of her life.Audrey starred in 27 films.She won an academy award for best actress in 1953 in the film "Roman Holiday"..(which is a great film too)The book also tells you about her miscarriage andher two sons Sean and Lucas,and her two husbands Mel Ferrer and Dr.Andrea.Dotti,and it tells you a lot more.IF I LOVE THIS BOOK,I KNOW YOU WOULD TOO! Love Danielle..Age:14.. ... Read more

Product Description
Offering a unique perspective and unusual insight into modern Japan and its wartime past, Audrey Hepburn's Neck is also a shrewd study of cross-cultural obsessions, and of erotic, romantic and familial love.

The American author Alan Brown crosses both racial and cultural lines to tell his story through the eyes of a young, handsome Japanese cartoonist, Toshiyuki ("Toshi") Okamoto, who traces his strong attraction to Western women bock to his ninth birthday, when his mother took him to see Audrey Hepburn in the movie "Roman Holiday."

Leaving behind a sad, silent childhood -- which was spent living in two rooms above the family noodle shop on an isolated peninsula in the far north of Japan -- Toshi moves to Tokyo to pursue his career. There he falls under the spell of three Americans: his best friend and confidante, the generous and extroverted Paul, a gay advertising copywriter who has plenty of his romantic mishaps with Japanese men; Jane, his glamorous but emotionally unstable teacher at the Very Romantic English Academy, with whom Toshi has a hazardous sexual affair; and, finally, the lovely and talented composer, Lucy, with whom Toshi falls in love.

The novel deftly moves back and forth between present and past, as Toshi explores his unhappy childhood, the reasons behind his mother's unexplained abandonment when he was eight years old, and her move to a seaside inn across the peninsula. As the novel draws to a close, tragic events, both public and personal, bring past and present together, revealing the painful truth of Toshi's parents' lives during World War II, and a secret in Toshi's own past that, in the end, gives him the strength and knowledge to confront the future.Amazon.com Review
Alan Brown's first novel is a comic tale of sexual desire andbad manners set in contemporary Tokyo. Twenty-three-year-old cartoonistToshi is obsessed with slim American women, and his best friend, anAmerican named Paul, is obsessed with Japanese men. Toshi begins havingan affair with Jane, his English teacher, who turns out to be insane;Paul has an endless stream of Japanese boyfriends all of whom leave him.Audrey Hepburn's Neck is slyly funny and very observant. Brown isequally concerned with sex as an obsession and the erotics of culturaldifferences,but his comic masterstrokes are in being able to conjureup the humor in looking for sex and the sometimes tragedy in getting it.Audrey Hepburn's Neck is resonant, charming and very witty. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (45)

The Enormous Entertainment inOther People's Secrets
The Neck in the title is the foundation of T's erotic fascination with Europeans. He had seen Audrey Hepburn in a movie when he was nine and his mother had remarked on the beauty of her neck. Necks have a more central erotic role in the Japanese imagination than they do in ours and so our hero's feet are set on the romantic path that leads him to this story.( The cover, by the way, makes this particular fetish believable even if it's not your own. There is a wonderful erotic quality to that silver-green neck. . .)
Toshi Okamoto is 23 years old and he is half-buried in secrets. The most fundamental one is about his parents, their histories and their separation. The most immediate one is the Inscrutability of the West, as Toshi, smitten with European women struggles to understand the various westerners in his life.
The action takes place in Hokkaido and in the congested neighborhood around Shibuya station. "Congested" is a bit of an understatement. Before I saw it, I could not have imagined the density of people, light, sound, movement and anticipation that is Shibuya. Hokkaido, on the other hand is Japan's mid-west, laid back and naive. These contrasts play out in Toshi's take on the westerners in his life-he is both wise and gullible about them.
A good companion volume would be Asleep.

Lynn Hoffman, author of the very entertaining bang BANG

Read it for the scenery
Toshi Okamato is attracted to Western women, all because of a childhood vision of Audrey Hepburn in a film. Brown's novel hangs on this slender---very slender--- premise, but in fact the most interesting aspects of the novel have less to do with Toshi than with his surroundings. His childhood home on Hokkaido, along with the mystery of his parents' marriage, is beautifully evoked, and the scenes set in contemporary Tokyo are also nicely observed. The novel shifts back and forth between past and present, between the spare rural noodle shop run by Toshi's father and the hustle of the city. The cause of Toshi's infatuation with Western women is sketched but never really explained; the same is true of his friendship with Paul, a gay man. Enjoy this novel not for its plot or characterizations, which aren't particularly memorable, but for its impressionistic evocation of Hokkaido.

Stuck with me.Interesting book. Review may contain spoiler.
I read this book years ago based solely on the title which stood out to me as I passed it on the library shelf.It was nothing like what I expected.It was a readable book and I remember enjoying parts of it and being disturbed by other parts.But what stuck in my head, and drove me to write this review, and is possibly a spoiler (I don't remember the plot order well enough to say, but other reviews fail to mention it) is that this book is the ONLY place I'd ever seen reference so-called comfort women until it this week (april '07) when the news announced that people are calling on the emperor for an apology for the treatment of women in WWII.

I would probably have rated it only 3 stars - readable and good if you're inclined to like it - except that the relationship of the main character to his parents and theirs to each other has stuck in my head for years now.And I have to tell you, it's a bit disturbing.I rather agree with the reviewers who complain about some of the faults of the book and characterization of the secondary characters.But I felt it was worth reading about characters who overcame tragedy to some degree in order to live useful lives, the struggle to comprehend people from different backgrounds and cultures, and then still to try and distinguish culture from personality.

Really good
It has an interesting twist in that it is told in the voice of a young Japanese man (half Japanese as it turns out - but that's part of the family secrets not disclosed until late in the book) who is fascinated by American women, especially Audrey Hepburn, yet it is written by an American man.Set in Japan, it offers insight into not only Japanese culture but is like looking in a mirror at our own American culture. Besides the culture, setting, and dialog, which are crisp and well told, the story has a historical background and is rich and detailed and compelling.

Moving
I've had this book on my Wish List for a long time after seeing a review in the newspaper a few years back.I finally got around to purchasing it, and I'm glad that I did.It's a very moving story; one that I won't soon forget.Once you get used to the writing style and the jumping back and forth in time periods, the book is a fast and easy read.It's about finding out who you are, and how that changes from day to day.It's about family secrets, love, sacrifice, the misunderstandings between cultures, and how the world is very quickly becoming a smaller and smaller place.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Born in Brussels in 1929, Audrey Hepburn was the daughter of a British father and a Dutch Baroness. But when she was five, her father deserted the family. With the outbreak of war in 1939, her mother thought they would be safer in Holland than Holland Park, but although they survived the German Occupation, the experience left its physical and emotional scars. Back in England again, Audrey studied ballet with Marie Rambert. After a few West End musicals and minor film parts, she was spotted by the author, Colette, to star in a stage version of her novel, "Gigi". And then Audrey's career took off. Her debut screen role was the Princess in the enchanting "Roman Holiday". It won her an Oscar. She went on to bring her unique grace and high spirits to a number of highly acclaimed films - from "Funny Face" and "The Nun's Story" to "My Fair Lady", "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Robin and Marian". For a while it looked as though her personal life would follow the Hollywood dream. But her marriage to Mel Ferrer was not to last.She married and divorced a second time, and there were other passionate but short-lived affairs, some revealed for the first time in this book, but her relationships were never entirely successful. With all the insight, background knowledge and innate sympathy for his subject, qualities that have made his biographies of Hitchcock, Dietrich, Monroe and Bergman such international successes, Donald Spoto truly captures the spirit of an elusive, beautiful, talented and vulnerable woman. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Beautiful still captures from one of my most favorite movies...
This is definitely a lovely book. There are a lot of unseen pictures of Audrey that were captured during the filming of Sabrina. Mark Shaw obviously had the privilege and he did a wonderful job because these pictures are so full of life. Audrey shines through each page as I flipped over... If you are also a fan of Audrey, you'll love this book!

Audrey Hepburn was breathtakingly beautiful
If you are an Audrey fan like me,you really appreciate the pictures that Mark Shaw had taken of Audrey while on and off the set of Sabrina. This book provides never before seen pictures of Audrey and really shows an intimate portrait of what a great person she was.

I really like this book and that is why I bought it.

A collection of intimate pictures of one of the great screen actresses of the last century
Mark Shaw was a famed photographer for Life, and one of his early assignments was documenting the production of Sabrina, starring a young Audrey Hepburn in 1963. While some of his photos were published in Life, many of them had been lost. Recently re-discovered and collected here, there are both the previously published and famous (Audrey in a men's Oxford shirt and little else) and the never before seen. Interspersed throughout are quotes from both Audrey and those that knew her well. Shaw's photography was excellent and Audrey allowed him access beyond just on set. The result is a collection of intimate pictures of one of the great screen actresses of the last century. ... Read more

Product Description
Audrey Hepburn's legendary style and grace, first seen by the public in her 1953 debut, "Roman Holiday", redefined perceived notions of Hollywood glamour and ushered in an age of sophistication and elegance. Her legacy on screen and in fashion is undisputed and her image has become as synonymous with her fame as her films. "Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years" collects for the first time those memorable billboard images which established Hepburn's iconic status. Featuring the golden period of her film career, this sumptuous book includes never-before-seen poster artwork for "Roman Holiday", "Sabrina", "Funny Face" and "Breakfast At Tiffany's" along with magazine covers from the period, lobby cards, Givenchy's stunning original costume sketches and rare behind-the-scenes stills from Audrey Hepburn's Paramount films. With a foreword written by Sir Christopher Frayling, Chair of Arts Council England and Rector of the Royal College of Art, this book shows, film by film, how Hepburn's classic image was created through a combination of exquisitely designed costume, beautiful photography and illustration and an elegance that has stood the test of time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years, a must have and a perfect 10!
The images alone in this book are worth it! They tell a story of her days rising to stardom and maintaining the image under the Paramount publicity vehicle.

The photo book was in excellent condition and arrived right away. I'd buy from this seller again and actually, I may buy another one, as I'm enamoured with the style and am using several images as art pieces!

Beautiful photos of Audrey
Features many beautiful color photos of Audrey and posters from her movies. My only disappointment is that my copy arrived rather shopworn and battered for what was advertised as a new book.

Wonderful!!!
Just when you thought, they couldnt come up with anything new about Audrey Hepburn, they do! A wonderful book chock full of stills, lobby cards, and posters from around the world documenting Audrey's Paramount years (1953-1962). For some reason War and Peace is not covered (perhaps because she wore period costumes?). But most of Audrey's most loved movies from this period are here. Roman Holiday: Sabrina; Funny Face and of course, Breakfast at Tiffanys! A must book to have for any diehard fan and even casual admirers of Audrey. Audrey still lives on thanks to those who remember her and photographed her. How lucky for us!

Excellent!
This book is awesome!!!I received it almost immediately, and it was packaged just beautifully!Thank you Amazon!!

More than pleased
An affordable and well made book about Audrey.

Pictures are fabulous.

One of the best of this kind I have seen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn--great actress (VASTLY under-rated and under-Oscared ["The Nuns's Story" and "Two for the Road"].Excellent book about a fabulous woman who was as beautiful inside as out.There was never anyone like her.And there will never be anyone like her.Years of slogging through the hell-holes of Africa to benefit children was truly incredible and probably the first instance of a celebrity using that celebrity for charitable works. She was truly an original--and she is missed greatly. Brava, Audrey!

Excellent service!!
Thankyou so very much for your prompt and speedy service!The item arrived as described.

Similar to What Would Jackie Do?
Like the Jackie guide, this is made up of advice related to fashion, etiquette, what perfumes to wear, what sort of man to go out with, what kind of notes to write, how to be cool and kind and suave and fashionable and a lady, what shoes to wear, and how to make an exit or an entrance. good gift idea for Audrey-philes.

A keeper
I also sell books on Amazon but this one is a keeper - although used it was pristine and is a delightful read.

Thorougly Enjoyable Book!
I found out all sorts of little-known facts about Audrey Hepburn. I also got more of a sense of who she was as a person, and a glimpse over her life overall. Not only was she one of the most beautiful people ever, but she's an inspiration to me by what she overcame and did in her life, especially at the beginning and the end. This isn't quite a biography, but you will find out a lot about her! ... Read more

Product Description
She was living evidence that fairy tales are real and that angels can come down to earth. It was Colette who discovered the too tall and too thin girl with expressive eyes, then a complete unknown, and made her the lead in the 1951 Broadway production of Gigi. Her film triumphs were all the more astonishing since she didn’t match the usual Hollywood clichés. Petite, almost androgynous, and with a disarming naturalness, she had a worldwide impact on fashion and beauty trends and was enthusiastically welcomed as an alternative to the sex bombs and pin-up girls of the 50s.

This book, with an essay by Klaus-Jürgen Sembach, is dedicated to Audrey Hepburn who died in 1993. It includes the best film stills, portraits, and private photographs by well-known and by unknown photographers from all over the world who have provided us with an immortal image of Hollywood’s most endearing star. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Gift
This was a gift for a friend and she loved it.She's a huge Audrey fan.

Wonderful tribute to a great lady
Audieu Audrey is a sumptuous, beautifully presented tribute to one of the greatest actresses (and humanitarians) of all time!the photographs are exquisitely reproduced in both color and black and white.Any Audrey fan would love this book! ... Read more