Ever, Dirk: The Bogarde Letters

Ever, Dirk: The Bogarde Letters presents the correspondence of British actor and author Dirk Bogarde, spanning several decades of his life and career. The letters, edited by John Wells, showcase Bogarde's communications with friends, colleagues, and admirers from the 1960s through to his final years. The collection includes exchanges between Bogarde and notable figures in British arts and culture, revealing his perspectives on acting, writing, and the entertainment industry. Through his private correspondence, readers gain access to Bogarde's observations about his transition from acting to writing, his life in France, and his views on the changing cultural landscape. These letters paint a portrait of Bogarde beyond his public persona, exposing his wit, candor, and intellectual depth. The themes of artistic integrity, personal identity, and cultural transformation emerge through his natural, unguarded writing style.

Readers comment on Bogarde's wit, intelligence and acerbic observations in his letters. The collection provides insight into his private thoughts and personality beyond his public persona as an actor. Liked: - Entertaining exchanges with notable figures like Katharine Hepburn - Behind-the-scenes glimpses of film industry and British society - Bogarde's sharp humor and cultural commentary - His reflections on aging and mortality Disliked: - Some found the letters pretentious or self-absorbed - Several readers noted repetitive complaints about his health - A few mentioned difficulty following the context without knowing all the historical figures referenced Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (57 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (19 ratings) "A treasure trove of observation and gossip" - Amazon reviewer "Shows his brilliant mind but also his vanity" - Goodreads reviewer "The letters reveal both charm and spite in equal measure" - LibraryThing review

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🌟 Dirk Bogarde wrote over 2,500 letters between 1967 and 1999, showing his wit and insight as one of Britain's most prolific letter writers among actors 📝 The letters reveal Bogarde's sharp observations of fellow celebrities, including candid assessments of Judy Garland, Noël Coward, and Maggie Smith 🎬 Beyond his acting career, Bogarde's correspondence demonstrates his success as an author, having written several bestselling memoirs and novels 🏠 Many letters were written from his farmhouse in Provence, France, where he lived for many years with his manager and companion Anthony Forwood 📚 The book's editor, John Coldstream, served as literary editor of the Daily Telegraph and was Bogarde's authorized biographer, giving him unique insight into the actor's life and correspondence