The House of Redgrave

April 15, 2013

Though touted incorrectly as "the first full biography of this...remarkable family" (Donald Spoto's The Redgraves: A Family Epic was published in 2012), this effort does take a different tack from previous books. Spoto concentrates on the patriarch, Michael Redgrave, whereas Adler (Hollywood and the Mob: Movies, Mafia, Sex and Death) places the most emphasis on director Tony Richardson (Tom Jones), Vanessa's first husband and the father of Natasha and Joely. This is a welcome addition to the literature since little has been written about Richardson, except his autobiography published posthumously in 1993, which supposedly glossed over the facts of his life. Similarly, Corin Redgrave is often overlooked because of his more famous sisters, Vanessa and Lynn. Here Adler shares the family's lesser-known stories along with the scandals (Vanessa's affair with Franco Nero), tragedies (the early deaths of Natasha and Lynn), and political activism (Vanessa started very early) of this famous family in a wonderfully gossipy, intimate tone that will delight celebrity watchers. VERDICT This well-researched work is a nice complement to Spoto's earlier book.--Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA

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