Joyce Grenfell (1910-1979) was a British institution and one of the country's best-loved entertainers. She achieved success as a writer and performer of songs and monologues on stage and radio at a time when it was unusual for a woman of her background to work at all. Joyce revealed little about her private life in her two autobiographies, and after her death her image was fiercely guarded by her husband and friends, so that she came to be remembered as almost unnaturally perfect. Now, at last, it is possible to show her human failings as well as her humour, kindness and generosity. Janie Hampton explores Joyce's intense relationship with her brother and her mother; her childlessness; her love affair with Prince Aly Khan; her mixed feelings about the theatre; her moving acts of philanthropy and her faith in Christian Science which enabled her to endure the pain of cancer without medical treatment. The result is an affectionate portrait of a unique, complex and lovable person.

About the Author
Janie Hampton is the author of a dozen books and the editor of 'Joyce and Ginnie', the letters of Joyce Grenfell and Virginia Graham, and 'Hats Off', a volume of Joyce Grenfell's poetry and drawings. She has been a BBC World Service producer and a planner of health projects in Africa. She and her husband have four grown-up children and live in Oxford.

Reviews
'Using Joyce's journals and her extensive output of letters, this is an extremely well-written and detailed account which reveals the real and wonderful Joyce' -- This England 20030401 'Hampton has produced a winner' -- The Sunday Telegraph 20011201 'This is undoubtedly the definitive life of Grenfell' -- The Literary Review 20021201 'Hampton has turned her lesson plans into a popular book' -- The Independent Review - Jane Matthews 20050301 'This full and surely definitive biography' -- Mail on Sunday 20030105 'Like her subject, Hampton is well organised, with an excellent eye for detail' -- The Sunday Times 20021110



Book Information
ISBN 9780719564901
Author Janie Hampton
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint John Murray Publishers Ltd
Publisher John Murray Press
Weight(grams) 337g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 129mm * 26mm