Author Description

Film critic for the London Evening Standard, Walker presents one of the world's most chronicled women, whose turbulent life has been eerily reflected, or anticipated, in her movies and from National Velvet and Cleopatra (on the set of which she fell in love with Richard Burton) to Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Private Lives. Walker shows how Taylor has indulged her passions, re-created herself in the image of each new lover, husband or project, and in due course flourished after rounds of combat with the public, the press, her weight and illness. Unfortunately, Walker repeats himself and reaches unsuccessfully--and unnecessarily--for dramatic effect. For example, referring to Taylor's fourth husband, Eddie Fisher, a protege of her third husband, Mike Todd--who died in a plane crash in 1958--Walker "He stepped into Todd's shoes, and ultimately into his bed." Photos not seen by PW.Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.