We select some of our favourite books about the beloved actress from our ever growing collection!
Audrey: Her Real Story by Alexander Walker: this was the first book about the actress that I read and I was deeply impressed with how detailed it was in charting the sadness of her childhood, her extraordinary rise to fame – but also just as importantly: her voice comes through at all times. It has been written with great warmth and intelligence that it is a book that shows how a biography should be written.
Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen: powerful and moving in equal measures, this offers such a vivid account of Audrey’s wartime experiences along with those of her immediate family – as well as the wider community in which she lived. Meticulously researched, you get a real sense of just how her experiences of the war impacted her life not just during the horror of war itself but its lasting effects on her. As well as Audrey’s own reflections, the book uses witness accounts and stories to make you see the war as she and many others would have seen it to create an immensely engaging read. Highly recommend to those who are looking to understand a little explored aspect of the actress’s life. You can catch up with our full review here.
The Audrey Hepburn Treasures by Ellen Erwin and Jessica Z. Diamond: this is a real treat of a book as it is filled with replica removable items that make you feel even closer to Audrey’s story – yet done in a very tasteful way that will continue to fascinate with every page that you turn. While overall it is more of a photography book than a biography, by telling her story in this way feels deeply more personal – particularly given the fact it includes a forward by her eldest son Sean Hepburn Ferrer. The range of removable items and the level of detail that is in them is exquisite, with too many highlights to mention (or to spoil for those yet to discover). Ideal for those looking for a more intimate way to bring you closer to Audrey’s story.
Audrey Hepburn in Paris by Meghan Friedlander: when I first start reading this book, I didn’t realise just how deeply Audrey was connected to the city of Paris, but Meghan Friedlander highlights this perfectly – going way beyond focusing on the fashion and how it as a city in many ways tied into different aspects of her life. It also feels like a love letter to the city, but on a deeper level highlights stories and even photographs that personally I had never seen before, adding a freshness to her story which has been told so many times before.
Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn by Donald Spoto: for those looking for an introduction to her life, this concisely written book by Donald Spoto (whose biography on Grace Kelly is also worth a read) is an ideal starting point. The balance between detail and research is nicely judged and it feels insightful in all the right places. Light and breezy there is plenty to be enjoyed about this book.
By Emma Clarendon