Maggie Smith: A Biography: A Biography Paperback – March 14, 2017

Book was excellent, a great companion book to Michael Conveney's first book about Dame Maggie Smith, A Bright an Particular Star. People who have commented that there is not enough personal information about Dame Maggie in the book do not understand just how private a person she is. Basically, she believes she only exists in the characters she plays, and she plays those characters to great success. This is a beautiful book if you want to know about the great career of Dame Maggie Smith.

Maggie Smith is one of my favorite actresses in the world but if one is unfamiliar with the many people involved in and surrounding the British Stage, I'm afraid this is not a story one would truly enjoy. It's difficult to relate to the Maggie Smith we all wish we knew more about. Anyone who knows Miss Jean Brodie will understand this: I was bored to P E T R I F I C A T I O N!

Great book about a wonderful actress!

I'm a big Maggie Smith fan! However, I never have seen her on the stage, only in movies. I believe that I've loved everything movie she has been in. The book however, is mostly about her stage career with too much detail about each play. If you love the London and New York stage you'll probably relate to this book better than I. It really was not what I was expecting; I was hoping to get to know the real her better not just her work.

Coveney hasn't settled for one of those "and then I played......." bios. He gets to the soul of his subject, letting her background explain both her personality and her work ethic...and the difference between the person and the public persona. Smith's life, like the author's list of resources, reads like a Midsummer dream of 20th century theatre and film. Brilliant and totally engrossing.

I thought it was boring. There was way too much about other actors and the description of the plays she had been in were not very informative. The book was more about other people and the outrageous words the author used than about Maggie. Would not recommend it.

I was hoping for so much more. The author seems more interested in showing off than in shedding any sort of light on Smith. I understand that she is not a terribly public person, and would be happy enough with the outline of what she did and when and with whom and what SHE thought about it, but he just goes over the top trying to write clever (theatrical?) descriptions of absolutely everything. There's no semi-objective analysis of Smith as a person or as an artist. And I really don't care what HE thinks is her greatest movie or play, nor do I find extensive quotes from critics on each and every play/movie/TV program she was in terribly helpful. He really needed to dial it down and put the focus on his subject.

This is a very comprehensive biography of Maggie Smith. There is nothing salacious or dishy here. If you are interested in every detail of Maggie's long theatrical and movie career, this fills the bill. If you only remember her in Harry Potter or Downton Abbey, you may get bored. The author took pains to include any review that may seem negativel, including the Guardian's commentary on Downton Abbey that seems off the mark. Like many so-called movie or theatre reviews these days, it has more to do with a political statement rather than an actor's performance.Clearly Maggie has been a magical gift to the theatre, television and movie audiences her whole career.

Super bouquin

I would say as a very great fan of Dame Maggie Smith the book is excellent. It charts her life from young girl to the very greatest actor that has ever lived. It tells of the beautiful lady that does not like the usual glamour of being a very famous person. She thinks the job she does is like anyone else going to work. The book is excellent and very enjoyable. I am only one person who thinks Dame Maggie Smith is a fabulous.

Although I haven't yet read this biography, but it just has to be good !A wonderful and admirable actress for so many years.Book in very good condition and very fast delivery - thank you.

Maggie Smith has been my acting hero for more years than I care to remember. While browsing Amazon.ca I was delighted to discover Michael Coveney's new book. In my opinion, the creation and publication of this biography was long overdue. Readers who hold Maggie Smith's great talent in high regard owe Mr. Coveney a debt of gratitude for bringing this great artist's life respectfully and brilliantly to life.Dame Maggie was a young actress when I left my native England for Canada in the mid 1960's. What a privilege then, when in the 1970's, she crossed The Pond to The Big Land and some fortunate Canadians had the opportunity to watch her tread the boards at Ontario's Stratford Festival. Her four season stay at Stratford is now the stuff of legend. and is just one of the many interesting life stories outlined in Michael Coveney's excellent book. For those who continue to follow Dame Maggie's illustrious career and who cherish memories of her many wonderful performances, this book is a must have.

Maggie is so regal and has so many fine parts to play.She can adapt to any part and is fully that.I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good book about players.