Audrey Hepburn: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies)

From the moment she appeared on the American silver screen as a runaway princess in Roman Holiday, Audrey Hepburn was beloved by critics and audiences alike. From her childhood activism in the Dutch resistance movement during World War II, to her extensive film career, her charity work for UNICEF, and her roles as a wife, mother, and fashion icon, Audrey Hepburn's place in American cultural history is brought to life for a new generation of readers. Featuring illustrations, a timeline of events, a selected bibliography, and an appendix of Hepburn's film, stage, and TV appearances, this volume will appeal to students of American studies, American history, film, and popular culture.

A graceful and diminutive presence onscreen, Hepburn breathed life into some of the most iconic film roles in Hollywood history. To study her life is to study American fashion and culture, especially classic films of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Her story also illuminates the experience of everyday people living in Europe during World War II, and the possibilities of modern-day activism as exemplified in her work for UNICEF in the 80s and early 90s. From her childhood activism in the Dutch resistance movement during World War II, to her extensive film career, her charity work for UNICEF.

With entertaining flair, this engaging biography explores the life and work of one of the most beloved actresses ever to grace the stage and screen. Readers will explore the German occupation of her hometown during World War II and her anti-Nazi resistance activities, her early stage roles and her discovery by French novelist Colette, who cast her in the stage production of Gigi, her status as fashion icon, and a behind-the-scenes look into the casting and filming of some of her most well-known films, including Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina, and My Fair Lady.

Gitlin is a freelance book writer and journalist based in Cleveland, Ohio; he has written several history books for students, and biographies on Princess Diana, and NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. His latest work, for students and general readers, traces the life and career of beloved screen star, Audrey Hepburn (1923-1993), from her childhood in Brussels, England, and Holland to her experience of WWII, the beginnings and development of her acting career, her marriages and divorces, the challenges she encountered juggling private and public lives, her work with UNICEF, and her death in 1993. The text also includes a timeline of key events in Hepburn's life and a list of her works on stage and screen. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

From her work for the Dutch resistance during World War II, to her extensive film career, to her charity work for UNICEF, this accessible biography explores the life and work of one of the most beloved actresses ever to grace the stage and screen.

MARTIN GITLIN is a freelance book writer and journalist based in Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to Diana, Princess of Wales (Greenwood 2008), he has written several history books for students, including works on the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, Battle of The Little Bighorn and Stock Market Crash of 1929. He has also written biographies of NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Gitlin worked for two decades as a sportswriter, during which time he won more than 45 awards, including first place for general excellence from Associated Press. That organization also selected him as one of the top four feature writers in Ohio.

Series Foreword

Introduction

Timeline

Chapter 1 The Young Aristocrat

Chapter 2 War Child

Chapter 3 Birth of a Career

Chapter 4 From Cigarette Girl to Stardom

Chapter 5 Movies Over Marriage

Chapter 6 Juggling Private, Public Lives

Chapter 7 Finally a Mom

Chapter 8 My Fair Lady

Chapter 9 New Life for Audrey

Chapter 10 Old Fan, New Man

Chapter 11 Working Herself to Death

Epilogue

Appendix: Works of Stage and Screen

Selected Bibliography