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Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit: A Son Remembers

Name: Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit: A Son Remembers
Author: Sean Hepburn Ferrer
ISBN: 9780671024796

by Sean Hepburn Ferrer

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Overview

She dazzled millions as Gigi. Eliza Doolittle. Holly Golightly. But to her most adoring fan, Audrey Hepburn was best known for her role as "Mummy."

In this heartfelt tribute to his mother, Sean Hepburn Ferrer offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the life of one of Hollywood's brightest stars. Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit is a stunning compilation of nearly 300 photographs, many straight from the family album and never before published; archival documents, personal correspondence, and mementos; even paintings and illustrations from the actress herself.

Sean tells Audrey Hepburn's remarkable story, from her childhood in war-torn Holland to the height of her fame to her autumn years far from the camera and the crush of the paparazzi. Sean introduces us to someone whose grace, charm, and beauty were matched only by her insecurity about her appearance and talent, and who used her hard-won recognition as a means to help children less fortunate than her own. With this unique biography, Sean celebrates his mother's history and humanity—and continues her charitable work by donating proceeds from this book to the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund.

Synopsis

She dazzled millions as Gigi. Eliza Doolittle. Holly Golightly. But to her most adoring fan, Audrey Hepburn was best known for her role as "Mummy."

Sean tells Audrey Hepburn's remarkable story, from her childhood in war-torn Holland to the height of her fame to her autumn years far from the camera and the crush of the paparazzi. Sean introduces us to someone whose grace, charm, and beauty were matched only by her insecurity about her appearance and talent, and who used her hard-won recognition as a means to help children less fortunate than her own. With this unique biography, Sean celebrates his mother's history and humanity--and continues her charitable work by donating proceeds from this book to the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund.

The New York Times

… Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit lives up to its title thanks to the obvious love of the author, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, for his mother. Family photos like one of Hepburn lying on a gravel path, toes in the air and rollers in her hair, as she takes a snapshot of the family Yorkie heighten this book's self-evident allure. —Janet Maslin

About the Author, Sean Hepburn Ferrer

Sean Hepburn Ferrer was born in films. His mother is Audrey Hepburn, his father Mel Ferrer. He has worked in all aspects of motion picture development, production, post-production and marketing. Sean founded the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund to continue his mother's legacy of helping children in need all over the world. Educated in Europe and fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, English and Portuguese, he lives in Santa Monica and Tuscany with his wife and his two children.

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Editorials

The New York Times

… Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit lives up to its title thanks to the obvious love of the author, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, for his mother. Family photos — like one of Hepburn lying on a gravel path, toes in the air and rollers in her hair, as she takes a snapshot of the family Yorkie — heighten this book's self-evident allure. Janet Maslin

Publishers Weekly

Hepburn's son (with actor Mel Ferrer) shows his mother as a compassionate, emotional woman who searched for and offered love above all. He traces the roots of his mother's longing in her experiences with her distant father and the destruction of her native Belgium during WWII. Via photos and stories, he notes how Hepburn (1929-1993) aimed to live an everyday family life of home, school and holidays. Rendering her husbands respectfully and without off-color stories, Ferrer doesn't offer lascivious behind-the-scenes dramas or quips about directorial injustices. Instead, he lets designers and composers who worked with Hepburn talk about the actor's inimitable talents. Composer Henry Mancini believes her "quality of wistfulness" inspired the songs he wrote for her, especially Breakfast at Tiffany's "Moon River." Designer Cecil Beaton calls her an "authentic existential Galatea" with a voice containing the "quality of heartbreak." Ferrer also details Hepburn's influential friendship with clothing designer Hubert de Givenchy, including the dressmaker's generosity in Hepburn's final days. Directors William Wyler and Billy Wilder also appear, as do actors Gary Cooper and Fred Astaire (the latter was Hepburn's co-star in her favorite movie, Funny Face). Movie-related photos abound, but the most memorable images are of Hepburn's family and the children she met in her work with UNICEF. Her 1989 speech to members of the United Nations staff on the millions of dying children in developing countries concludes the book. What began as a son's remembrance and selective movie survey becomes a call to action. In this way, the work differs greatly from standard self-important star bios. 300 full-color and b&w photos. (Oct. 28) Forecast: Town & Country recently featured Hepburn on its cover and presented a handful of the photos that appear in this book. If that didn't put Hepburn back into the minds of nostalgic baby boomers, seeing the stunning cover of Ferrer's book certainly will. Ferrer will contribute proceeds from the book to the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.