Noel Coward: A Biography

Book Description:

Noel Coward was a remarkably prolific writer with dozens of plays, several films, hundreds of songs plus volumes of autobiographies, stories and verse to his credit, produced in his rapid-fire style from the 1920s through the 1960s. His plays defined postwar Britain and are among the wittiest works ever written. Yet despite the spotlight he attracted--not to mention several biographies of the man--the full story of Coward, complete with his less-admirable sides, has remained untold. That is until Philip Hoare’s striking biography, which offers insight into Coward’s work and private life. Noel Coward’s plays need not be forgotten; this biography should help keep them alive.

To several generations, actor, playwright, songwriter, and filmmaker Noel Coward (1899-1973) was the very personification of wit, glamour, and elegance. "Hoare’s retelling of Coward’s story (is) the most vivid, insightful, and fascinating so far".--John Lahr, "The New Yorker". 88 photos.