Truly, Madly by Stephen Galloway was a wonderful biography of Vivien Leigh and Lawrence Olivier, As a young teen, I was kind of obsessed with reading biographies of the most glamorous film stars- Ava Gardner, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, etc-and of course Vivien Leigh. What I particularly enjoyed about this author's book was the juxtaposition between the lives of the stars with current events and the social/political cclimate at the time. A truly compelling read I couldn't put down- highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I love Vivian Leigh and I love old movies and I had no idea any of this happened. What a great trip into the life of these two! Pretty scandalous for their time! Its even scandalous in present time! WOW

Insightful read for fans of Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier. They were the golden couple of the theatre. Both dynamic and passionate, this book chronicles their relationship from beginning to the tragic end. Loved how the author's knowledge of mental illness shed light on what was truly happening to Vivien and how it affected both of their lives and their ties to each other. #netgalley #goodreads #trulymadly #stephengalloway

Beginning with Anne Edwards' excellent biography of Vivien Leigh in 1997, I have read several joint biographies of the Oliviers. Happily, with some new material and insights from contemporaries of both who are still living, this book holds its own with previous offerings. The author has done some research into mental illness which sheds greater light on Leigh's personality and issues; the book also benefits from the fact that science has made strides in understanding manic depression.
It does seem as if the author, while duly charting Olivier's rise to greatness, fails to adequately appreciate Leigh's talent; after all, the woman won the most coveted role of all time, as well as two Academy Awards for Best Actress, in addition to her lauded stage work. Occasionally I was left with the impression that the book attempts to convey that "she could have been great had mental illness not intervened." Discussion of Leigh's roles often transitions into her mental health issue; if anything, this condition should be a cause for even greater respect for her skills and endurance, and investigation into how much her condition influenced her portrayals of characters such as Scarlett, Cleopatra and Blanche DuBois. However, overall, I appreciated the well-rounded portrayal of this couple and the author's research into the sad factors that ended the fairy tale. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book; the opinions conveyed are my own.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for my honest review.
Such a interesting read learning more about these two Hollywood stars than I'd previously known. Vivein Leigh is one of my favorite actresses ever.

I loved reading about the love relationship between Vivian Leigh and Laurence Olivier especially since I never realized they were together. What a wonderful and enchanting book.

Truly, Madly is an impressively researched memoir that peeled back the glamour around two of acting's iconic figures, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier. This book exposed the all-encompassing love that overtook both of their lives and provided them with so much happiness. It also delivers a clear portrayal of what life was like out of the public eye and how their love for each other was ultimately not enough. Childhood trauma, jealousy, drinking, pride, mistrust, mental health, and more go into the surreal story of their lives. The book is full of quotes from friends and colleagues who knew the couple, which added to the depth of the narration. We learn of the backstage happenings during some of the biggest films of that time such as Gone With the Wind. I found this book engrossing and would recommend it to those who enjoy memoirs.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with the arc.

I love classic movies but I rarely know much about the personal lives of the actors I admire; I am more interested in the art than the tinsel fame of Hollywood. But, I was instantly intrigued by the cover, title, and theme of Truly, Madly.

I was actually mesmerized by the book! The instant passion between them that became a nightmare when Leigh’s bipolar disorder altered her beyond recognition, the tragedy of it all! These great artists created iconic roles while their private lives were rife with discord and distress. They were imperfect people who often made bad choices, and although one can esteem their stunning talent, they were very human and relatable in their vulnerabilities and psychological struggles.

Although the book focuses on their relationship, it is also about their careers. Olivier was driven to perfection, becoming far more charming on screen than in real life. Leigh was intelligent and well educated, an amazing actress, but with limitations.

Both suffered childhood trauma, leaving them with huge needs .Leigh’s parents sent her from her childhood home in India to a Catholic school, separated from the life and family she knew. It was a harsh and lonely life for a child. Olivier’s father was a poor priest who left a country parish for the London slums. His beloved mother died when he was a teenager. Olivier married, perhaps not for love. Leigh became “liberal with her affections” but married a rather dull, older man. Ten months later she had a daughter, and ten months after that, while at the theater she saw Olivier and she told a friend “That’s the man I’m going to marry.” Olivier later saw Leigh in her first stage success. They met, and their relationship escalated to a secret, passionate affair. Olivier felt guilty, but even his wife admitted that Olivier and Leigh had the kind of passion she had only seen a few times in her life.

It took years before Leigh was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Until then, she was held accountable for her behavior, as if she had a choice or control. The scenes of her behavior while ill is heartbreaking. I have known several people with family members with bipolar disease and have a greater appreciation for the challenges they have faced.

Galloway draws from many sources, and includes insights and stories from the Olivier’s friends and peers. Learning about how the actors were treated by Hollywood and directors, and their personal demons while creating iconic roles, will inform my reaction to their movies in the future.

After their divorce, Leigh still loved Olivier. She died of untreated tuberculosis. Olivier’s third marriage lasted until his death.

I received a fee egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.