Furious love how long

Richard had mailed it on August 2, , so it arrived a few days after his death. It was waiting for Elizabeth when she returned from London, after attending Richard's memorial service there. It was his final letter to her, te one he had slipped away to write in his study at Celigny, surrounded by his books. It was a love letter to Elizabeth, and in it he told her what he wanted. Home was where Elizabeth was and he wanted to come home. She 's kept that letter by her beside ever since.

Dec 27, Louise rated it liked it Shelves: biography , entertainers. This book merely scratches the surface of a complex relationship. The authors tell this story of fame and excess. One of the themes is that in leaving his wife and two daughters to marry Elizabeth and participate in her extravagant lifestyle , Richard made a Faustian deal. Another theme is that their joint projects reflected the status of their relationship.

For those who like to glimpse the rich and famous there are tales of jewelry, yachts, royalty and fabulous entertaining. For Liz'n'Dick afi This book merely scratches the surface of a complex relationship. For Liz'n'Dick aficionados there is the retelling of the story, photos, Richard's letters to Elizabeth and two poems.

For those who are looking for some understanding of the two lovers, there is very little. It's a quick and engaging read. Most of the book is filled with stories love, jealousy, guilt, alcohol, beautiful people and conspicuous consumption.

There is little focus on the character of the two principals. Why does Elizabeth not try to help Richard's efforts to dry out when she knows the consequences of the status quo? Why does Richard continue flirting when he knows this can destroy what he claims is most dear? Between their marriages to each other, why did they each marry a very conventional partner?

We're told of their love of family life, but the partying is excessive and the children are in Hawaii or boarding school and not much present. It may be that the authors are too close to Richard's cooperating widows to analyze what they told them.

For instance, Richard's acceptance of Papa Doc Duvalier invitation to Haiti is said to be for anonymity. This leaves me unsatisfied since there are a lot of places where he could live anonymously that would fit with what one might assume was Richard's sense of social justice. A little digging or analysis might have yielded the same conclusion, or maybe not, but "anonymity" is accepted and printed as fact. This example comes at the end of the book so it is fresh in my mind, but the book is filled with unturned stones like this.

The only personal aspect that receives any significant treatment is the pull of Richard's roots, which this is pretty safe ground. The drama of this relationship keeps you reading. Despite some repetition, it is a page turner.

One highlight is the group of never before published letters from Richard to Elizabeth. His expression of his thoughts and feelings is every bit as compelling as his work on the stage.

I recommend this as an entertaining read, but if you're looking for depth, this is not the book. Dec 10, Ericka Clou rated it liked it Shelves: own-read , read-female , , read-nonfiction , moms-books , 0-own-nonfiction , biography.

I'm not that interested in celebrities as a general rule and I would never have picked this book on my own, but it was one of my mom's few recent books I found in her apartment. She moved a lot and didn't tend to keep her books from move to move. I had two main issues. The first was that it should have been edited down and shortened. The second was that I didn't enjoy the first chapter and almost stopped reading right away because of it.

The first chapter is a sloppy attempt to get us to Elizabe I'm not that interested in celebrities as a general rule and I would never have picked this book on my own, but it was one of my mom's few recent books I found in her apartment. The first chapter is a sloppy attempt to get us to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton while basically skipping over their early lives, but still mentioning their early lives.

A subsequent chapter goes back to deal with things more chronologically. But in general, given that I wasn't even originally interested in the topic, I felt a little obsessed after reading the book.

I was talking about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, looking up their films, looking up youtube clips of them, and even dreaming about them. We went yachting and watched their daughter Maria play. I didn't really know anything about them in advance - a bit more about ET than RB but not much.

The photos in the book helped place the story a bit but the Youtube videos were a must for me. Aug 17, Carol Storm rated it liked it. Epic love story of Hollywood's last great era, the early Sixties. The best thing about this careful, exhaustive study is the portrait of the era, the dying studios throwing money at stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

The only problem is that, to modern eyes, the great love story of Liz and Dick looks like an orgy of co-dependency, self-deception, and despair. Richard Burton's slow death is so gruesome a Epic love story of Hollywood's last great era, the early Sixties. Richard Burton's slow death is so gruesome and without hope that he makes the last years of Elvis Presley look positively uplifting by comparison.

While really well-written and knowledgeable, this book left me feeling the authors had missed the point. What keeps the story out of the range is that the alcoholism of Richard Burton gets shrugged off as a side issue. It's really at the core of how unhealthy the relationship was. Codependent much? And people keep enabling the poor man even after he's dead!

Jan 30, Frannie rated it it was ok. I didn't know much about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's relationship but after reading an excerpt of Furious Love in Vanity Fair over the summer, my interest was piqued. After finishing Furious Love, my interest was still piqued because it was clear that the story of "Liz and Dick" is a really juicy one, but I'm sorry to say the book didn't do it justice.

Weak writing and editing distract me while reading a book, regardless of how interesting the subject matter is, and Furious Love sadly s I didn't know much about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's relationship but after reading an excerpt of Furious Love in Vanity Fair over the summer, my interest was piqued.

Weak writing and editing distract me while reading a book, regardless of how interesting the subject matter is, and Furious Love sadly suffered from both. The pacing was weird - the story jumped back and forth chronologically and it lingered too long on certain points and didn't spend enough time on others. There was a heavy emphasis on the development of Taylor and Burton's romance - it takes up a significant part of the book - but the authors rushed through how it all unraveled.

The writing also felt a little repetitive. The authors made the same points multiple times I get it - they had a co-dependent drinking problem and would explain who someone in their entourage was on one page and then on the next essentially reintroduce that same person.

All of these issues could have been fixed with a little more stringent editing, which is a shame because their story is just so great. Their life together was totally over the top. They were the original Brangelina - breaking up marriages, traveling the world, adopting children, spending incredible amounts of money Fabulous is the first word that springs to mind. Even without the entourage and paparazzi surrounding them, their story would still be great because they clearly had a passionate and deep-seated love for each other.

Furious Love includes a number of Burton's love letters, which were a great addition. The letters provide a fascinating look into his personality and it's through them, more so than the book itself, that I was able to understand their relationship. It's just too bad the book didn't live up to the story waiting to be told. In a nutshell: Great source material, but the writing didn't do it justice. Two and a half stars. Apr 14, Janet rated it really liked it Shelves: biography. I've never been a particular fan of either Taylor or Burton's careers, nor especially interested in their romance -- but I was unexpectedly caught up in this excellent account of their passionate, enduring, ferocious love for each other.

The author, who was given access to Taylor's letters from Burton, walked a nice line between revelation and discretion. We see both Burton and Taylor up close, warts and all, but always with a sense of affection and respect. Kashner makes a plausible case for th I've never been a particular fan of either Taylor or Burton's careers, nor especially interested in their romance -- but I was unexpectedly caught up in this excellent account of their passionate, enduring, ferocious love for each other.

Kashner makes a plausible case for the damage their public "Liz-n-Dick" partnership personna had an increasingly damaging effect on the private relationship between Elizabeth and Richard. Their drinking, particularly Burton's became increasingly damaging as well. Taylor was blessed with a much greater capacity to drink with become drunk, or to suffer as much physically from it. Unfortunately, when Burton tried to get sober, Taylor didn't quit her own drinking in support, and in fact often chided him for having become boring.

Kashner takes pains to remind his readers that all this played out in the sixties and early seventies, before "alcoholism" was recognized as a disease. What shines through the tragedy, the extravagant lifestyles, the ups-and-downs of their theater and film careers, is their enduring love for each other. They were not always good for each other, but they were passionately in love and remained so all their lives.

In the end, I think that was the most compelling aspect of the book: an up-close look at so great and consuming a love, despite its terrible aspects. Jul 22, Lee Anne rated it really liked it Shelves: borrowed-not-bought. Everyone and no one should have a love like this. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton loved each other so much it ruined the both of them.

Elizabeth, so used to being spoiled and petted, and so skilled at being famous, controlled their crazy, decadent life. They lived on a yacht mainly to avoid taxes , sent their children to Swiss boarding schools, and spent money like water, on pets, furs, and gigantic pieces of jewelry.

Richard, a poor Welshman who always found acting an unmanly and degrading Everyone and no one should have a love like this. Richard, a poor Welshman who always found acting an unmanly and degrading profession, yet yearned to be a respected stage actor, found himself more famous yet trapped by that fame once he entered Elizabeth's orbit.

A morose alcoholic, Richard was always less able to handle his drink than Elizabeth, who dried out in Betty Ford after they were split. This book is filled with love letters from Richard, which are erotic and very touching. I also liked referring to my copy of Elizabeth Taylor's My Love Affair With Jewelry , a great coffee table book, to see for myself the beautiful jewels Richard bought for her. It could have used a sharper editing hand, though, as some passages are repetitive.

I came away from this loving Elizabeth Taylor as I have for years, maybe even more, and having fallen in love with the manly, rakish, and totally besotted Richard Burton. Jul 25, Elizabeth rated it it was ok Shelves: hollywood-and-film , s , s , biography , did-not-finish. Okay, I'm ditching this.

It's just getting to be too much like an AAA trip-ticket combined with shopping list. There's just not enough analysis. That's not analysis, that's a fortune cookie.

For furious love, this is really boring. View 1 comment. Jan 22, Lucie Jane Miller rated it it was amazing. A riveting and well-written biography on the greatest Hollywood love story ever told. The biographers interviewed Elizabeth Taylor numerous times and were the only journalists given access to her extensive collection of personal letters and journals.

This is an informed biography that honours the lives of these two larger-than-life stars, and of their glamorous, volatile, and audacious relationship. These two were truly made for each other and always loved one another despite several break-ups and marriages to other people.

What I loved most about these people is that Richard Burton was a true gent and poetical, a great man. Elizabeth was really earthy, had a wicked sense of humour, was generous and kind and could drink as much as her fiery, passionate Welshman.

Their love and life together is an inspiration and a great read. This book was published in , a year before the death of Elizabeth Taylor. Touching was the fact that, in August , after Elizabeth returned from Burton's funeral in London, she found waiting for her Richard's final letter to her, posted just before he died, in his home in Celigny, where he lived with his wife : " It was a love letter to Elizabeth, and in it he told her what he wanted.

Home was where Elizabeth was, and he wanted to come home. She's kept that letter by her bedside ever since". Jun 01, Deodand rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fiction , usa , europe. My interest in all things regarding Elizabeth Taylor put me first in line to read this book.

I have a strange attachement to her life story - it is incredible and compelling to imagine myself in half the situations she experienced. I cannot imagine the burden of her life. She is quoted in the book calling herself a freak and I guess that term comes closest to describing her. She is a one-off, a fantastic phenotype.

Her genetic blessings gave her so much, and yet she and Richard both are portraye My interest in all things regarding Elizabeth Taylor put me first in line to read this book. Her genetic blessings gave her so much, and yet she and Richard both are portrayed as being unhappy in every biography I've read.

I guess that is how my interest in them boils down: How do two people with so many advantages wind up so miserable? This book gave me a new perspective on Richard Burton. I admit that my knowledge about him was pretty shallow. I was surprised by the eloquence of his writings - he was always presented as a great lover of the English language, and it is pleasing to see that he chose his words carefully and with skill.

His tender side is exposed. Jan 14, Julia rated it liked it Shelves: new-to-me , completed , non-fiction. I read this book for a guilty pleasure, and found it interesting, if not compelling, and averagely written, with a few moments that made me cringe for the writing, separate from the lives being described. But hey - it was a guilty pleasure. I have no idea why past me bought this book. Maybe it was cheap? I don't watch old movies, I didn't know anything about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton their names sounded familiar, but that was the extent of my knowledge and I don't read a lot of non-fiction.

All in all there is nothing to suggest this would appeal to me. But it turns out Taylor and Burton are actually fascinating people, with an interesting and at times heart-breaking history. The pressure of being "Liz and Dick" ruined I have no idea why past me bought this book. The pressure of being "Liz and Dick" ruined their marriage just as much as they themselves did. But despite it all they clearly loved each other to the end.

Feb 09, Martin rated it it was amazing. It took me a while to get into this book. Although the author breezes quickly through their lives and marriages prior to their meeting, I still felt like I was getting the same old biography, and that I knew most of it already.

The author recognizes this It took me a while to get into this book. Because they lived on a boat and paid no taxes, they had a greater gross income than their close friends, the Rothschilds Burton would gripe about having to always pick up the check for the Rothschilds. The author also answers all of my endless questions about why their films became so bad.

The answer differs for each film, either in the financing or the director, i. Burton had fun with the challenge of building his career and transitioning to Hollywood, but at the top he became bored, while simultaneously frustrated that Elizabeth had two Oscars and he had none. They became close with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, one of the few couples who could understand what they were living through.

And when Taylor publicly checked herself into rehab, Betty Ford became her sponsor. The author writes a long section on the purchase of the Cartier Diamond Burton in a Welsh pub, trying to act like an average bloke while constantly phoning his rep at the auction.

In many ways it was the beginning of the end for their allure, as the younger generation became disenchanted with their extravagance when there was so much global unrest and poverty.

The latter, excerpted here, are remarkable: by turns, playful, elegant, heartbreakingly felt and wonderfully earthy. As the proud son of a Welsh coal miner, Burton never shrugged off the suspicion that acting was unmanly — in part, perhaps, because, according to the book, he carried a lifelong guilt about the flings he had with John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier early in his career.

The roots of his savage — ultimately fatal — drinking seem fairly clear. One drinks because life is big and it blinds you. Poetry and drink are the greatest things on earth. Besides women. Liquor helps. Taylor, a woman of wonderfully Rabelaisian appetites, drank for other reasons. It was, for her, an important antidote to her staggering beauty and hothouse upbringing. It made her human. It kept her real. Drinking with Richard had kept them in the same house of the spirits, cocooned from the sometimes unbearable pressures of celebrity.

It was, quite simply, something they could do together. Their relationship with another equally infamous, unsettled couple—the Duke and Duchess of Windsor —also led to many boring dinners for Burton. Chipped around the edges.

Something you keep in the front room for Sundays only. How very vulgar! The Burtons were infamous for their performative fights in both private and public. I will accuse her of being ugly, she will accuse me of being a talentless son of a bitch, and this sort of frightens people I love arguing with Elizabeth, except when she is in the nude.

So legendary were these battles that folks would pay to hear them fight. They reportedly climbed up on chairs, placed empty glasses against the ceiling, and listened in.

Over the course of their relationship, TVs were smashed, hotel rooms trashed. Though initially gleeful, these fights would become increasingly brutal over the years as alcohol and jealousy took their toll. Suddenly Taylor jumped out from behind the sofa. They were divorced in , only to remarry in and divorce again less than a year later. It was a love letter to Elizabeth, and in it he told her what he wanted.

Home was where Elizabeth was, and he wanted to come home. All products featured on Vanity Fair are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.