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Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,404 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From veteran entertainment reporter Sam Kashner and biographer Nancy Schoenberger comes the definitive account of the greatest Hollywood love story ever told—the romance of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Kashner has interviewed Elizabeth Taylor numerous times and is the only journalist given access to her extensive collection of personal letters and journals, and he and Schoenberger have also interviewed the Burton family at length, including Burton’s actress daughter Kate. This is truly an authorized and singularly informed biography of these two larger-than-life stars, and of their glamorous, volatile, and audacious relationship.
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"of an obsession story. They were a classic example of the "can't live with you, can't live without you," dysfunctional couple. This book gives excerpts from letters, interviews with friends, and other proof to show that, yes, they really were desperately in love with each other, and, yes, they were also both very self-destructive people. Put these two together, and there would be fireworks, guaranteed. I enjoyed the style of this...more I've always been fascinated by the Burton/Taylor love story...more of an obsession story. They were a classic example of the "can't live with you, can't live without you," dysfunctional couple. This book gives excerpts from letters, interviews with friends, and other proof to show that, yes, they really were desperately in love with each other, and, yes, they were also both very self-destructive people. Put these two together, and there would be fireworks, guaranteed. I enjoyed the style of this book, and it was definitely the best work I've read to date about the Taylor/Burtons. Light reading, but good for those who just have to know..."
— Vivian (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Long before there was Brangelina, the high-wire romance between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton rocked the world. In Furious Love, Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger provide dramatic historical insights into Hollywood’s stormiest up-and-down relationship. Every page is riveting. A hit book for sure!”
— Douglas Brinkley, New York Times bestselling author -
“Exciting and well written, fast paced yet containing a wealth of information, Furious Love is a fine read.”
— Patricia Bosworth, New York Times bestselling author -
“[An] unfailingly respectful and journalistically honest chronicle…Where this book breaks ground is in its ability to humanize these colossal celebs…Reads like a Shakespearean drama.”
— USA Today -
“[An] entertaining, blow-by-blow account of the life and times of an epic Hollywood couple…There is no shortage of saucy anecdotes in Furious Love.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“Life outdoes movie melodrama in this raucous, intimate, dual biography of Hollywood's ultimate It Couple…Here is that rare love story that holds one’s interest beyond the wedding—and a reminder, after the thin gruel of Brangelina, of what a feast celebrity can be.”
— Publishers Weekly
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A Los Angeles Times bestseller
Furious Love Listener Reviews
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" Yes its tacky and they were obscene in their excess, but it is interesting to understand celebrity and to understand them. Definitely I devoured it. "
— Amelia, 2/14/2014 -
" This book was so fun to read! It was packed with great information, and the title absolutely delivered. For a good gossipy read, this is great! "
— Laurie, 2/11/2014 -
" I cannot wait to get my hands on this book. Love love love Elizabeth Taylor. "
— Megan, 2/7/2014 -
" The relationship between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton was truly bigger than life - I can't say I envy them, but their story is fascinating to read about. And admittedly, I wouldn't mind it much if my boyfriend started sending me letters as love-struck as Burtons... "
— Hedwig, 1/31/2014 -
" Loved the story, but not Kashner's writing style. "
— Constance, 1/31/2014 -
" Liz & Dick were CLEARLY wild for eachother! Great telling of their LOVE story! "
— Tonya, 1/21/2014 -
" I really enjoyed this inside look. "
— Pam, 1/18/2014 -
" Really fun old Hollywood pleasure reading. "
— BetsyD, 1/14/2014 -
" Ate it up. "
— Jen, 12/24/2013 -
" fun fun and more fun. you do feel that they would have found their way back to each other if burton hadn't died so early "
— Jessica, 12/22/2013 -
" This book started out fast and pretty salacious but it lost steam half way through. They lost their lust for each other and I did too. Their relationship was pretty fascinating and tragic, for while they were apart, they still ached for each other. Oh love, how tangled you are. "
— Maureen, 12/21/2013 -
" I thought this book was poorly written. At times both repetitive and contradictory, the author seemed to rely on simply retelling the story of Ms. Taylor and Mr. Burton's relationship instead of showing how fraught and scandalous it really was. "
— Angeline, 10/19/2013 -
" Strangely beautiful!! Heart breaking "
— Alejandra, 5/31/2013 -
" Great summer read. Just the right level of trashiness for my second unplanned week off this month! "
— Lisa, 4/27/2013 -
" Fascinating, and a wee bit heartbreaking at times. "
— Jane, 1/9/2013 -
" A little too breathlessly reverential about a couple that seems louche, at best. "
— Nancy, 9/22/2012 -
" A fascinating story of the Taylor-Burtons and all their drama...better than so much fiction out there!! "
— Kate, 2/18/2012 -
" Fantastic and engaging. Really enjoyed it. "
— Jessica, 12/27/2011 -
" So much better than Brangelina...filled with poetry and remorse and madness. I found it intriguing and inspiring. What strange lives.... I was sorry, at the end, that both these wild and passionate individuals are dead and gone. "
— Jennyphresh, 12/25/2011 -
" Epic love story; so-so book. "
— Jennifer, 12/3/2011 -
" I did enjoy this book, but it makes me sad that such talented people have such distorted lives. It seems impossible to achieve normalcy when fame strikes. "
— Carol, 10/18/2011 -
" Interesting book with great photos, but could be about half as long and be better. I can't bring myself to read the last half when Tina Fey's book is begging me to read it. Officially abandoned. "
— Margo, 7/23/2011 -
" I enjoyed this book so much and it breaks my heart that my mom can't read it as she'd have loved every single page. "
— Caroline, 5/13/2011 -
" If you are going to write about specific photographs or items that were photographed, include them in the book. Otherwise, fun and easy read about two tragic lovers. "
— Cynthia, 4/20/2011 -
" Not particularly well-written, but an interesting read in how not to conduct oneself through life and love. "
— Yvonne, 4/18/2011 -
" Fascinating look at Old Hollywood and the drama and scandal that accompanied their relationship. "
— Taralivels, 4/18/2011 -
" Interesting, well written biography of a marriage or two extraordinary, messed up people who were bot good and poison for each other. Some of it I already knew, but there was much I learned. "
— Jenny, 4/17/2011 -
" Was curious to learn more about Elizabeth Taylor and this book was recommended. Found the story of Elizabeth & Richard's marriage, their films and their lives fascinating. Now I have a long list of movies to rent! "
— Marcella, 4/13/2011 -
" Some great loves are too white hot to last! Liked it! "
— Susan, 4/10/2011 -
" It was a pretty good book but it really didn't need to be 500 pages. There was repetition that took away from the book. "
— Cynthiathompson, 4/9/2011 -
" Sort of looking behind closed doors--felt a bit perverse. She died last week, and my curiosity was aroused. Now it isn't. "
— Ellie, 3/29/2011 -
" Having been a young teen during the "scandal", I was fascinated by anything written about "Liz and Dick". It was nice to read about Elizabeth and Richard from those who were actually there. I can't help but wish that they are finally together. "
— Deena, 3/28/2011 -
" Great love story. Much passion. However a bit too long and too much detail. <br/> "
— Cheryl, 3/23/2011
About the Authors
Sam Kashner is a contributing writer for Vanity Fair, though his career began at GQ. His Vanity Fair articles mostly discuss films from the 1980s and earlier, as well as the Hollywood stars who made them, with topics ranging from the director of Rebel without a Cause to Natalie Wood to the making of The Graduate. Many of his articles appear in Vanity Fair’s Tales of Hollywood anthology and his feature on the making of Saturday Night Fever is included in Da Capo Best Music Writing, 2008.
Nancy Schoenberger, a poet and biographer, is the author of Dangerous Muse: The Life of Lady Caroline Blackwood and Wayne and Ford: The Films, the Friendship, and the Forging of an American Hero. She is co-author with Sam Kashner of The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters and Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century. She also published three prize-winning books of poety. She taught for many years at the College of William and Mary, where she directed the creative writing program
About the Narrators
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.