From Publishers Weekly
How do you write a biography of a film star whose memoirs are already considered among the best the genre has to offer? Lord, former editor of London's Sunday Express, begins by pointing out that the tales in Niven's books were frequently exaggerated, if not outright fiction, then sets out to gently correct the record. The real story is filled with absorbing details, particularly when Lord recounts the young Niven's struggle to make it in Hollywood and his varied military career during WWII. But as the "authorized" biographer of Niven (1910–1983), Lord is often overly sympathetic to the actor, most notably when the subject turns to "Niv's" second marriage to a Swedish model. Lord and his interviewees repeatedly attack the wife for alcoholism, extramarital affairs and an allegedly ridiculous desire to be an actress, while shrugging off Niven's constant womanizing and heavy drinking. Other unsavory aspects of his personality, like his treatment of his book publishers, are similarly glossed over. It's worth noting, however, that an overwhelming number of Niven's films are described as among his worst; even The Pink Panther is surprisingly dismissed as "dreadfully unfunny." Yet such harsh critical assessments do little to diminish Niven in his biographer's eyes, and the star's reputation as a lovable raconteur remains untarnished, even by the truth. Photos. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Twenty Years after his death, David Niven is remembered with warmth, affection, and as one of the funniest and most lovable men who ever lived. For more than forty years, from the late 1930s, he portrayed on-screen the impeccable values of a lost breed of English gentlemen-handsome, beautifully spoken, elegantly dressed, witty, with perfect manners, and utterly charming, Niv, as his friends called him, was much the same off-screen. Both men and women were enchanted by his charisma, humor, and joie de vivre. In addition to his countless cinematic triumphs, including his Oscar-winning performance in Separate Tables, Niven also enjoyed tremendous success with his hilarious autobiography The Moon's a Balloon and Hollywood memoir Bring on the Empty Horses, which sold millions of copies and confirmed him as one of the great raconteurs.

Yet behind those twinkling eyes, Niven's life was punctuated by tragedy and he was often deeply unhappy. From the death of his father when Niven was five to the stepfather he loathed, through to the death of his beloved first wife and his volatile and disturbing second marriage, tragedy and hardship were never far away. Yet through it all Niven was determined to make people laugh. "Life is so bloody awful," he said, "that it's the duty of all of us to cheer other people up," and he did until the day he died. Written with the full cooperation and assistance of Niven's children, Niv is the authorized account of a remarkable life. Graham Lord has interviewed scores of people from all over the world, among them Niven's ninety-six-year-old sister Grizel and his great friends Lauren Bacall, John Hurt, Patrick Macnee, Roderick Mann, Sir Roger Moore, Sir John Mills, Sir John Mortimer, Michael Parkinson, Fiona Thyssen, Sir Peter Ustinov, and Robert Wagner. Using new material from Niven's private papers, manuscripts, unpublished stories, and correspondence, Lord has written a fresh, revealing, funny, and deeply poignant portrait of a brave and brilliant man. Niv is a fitting tribute to one of Hollywood's greatest heroes.

FROM THE CRITICS

Bruce Handy - The New York Times

As an epitaph, Lord quotes a film critic, Barry Norman, who wrote of Niven, ''I suspect that generations of moviegoers will continue to watch his films, bad though many of them are, simply because the very presence of Niven makes them feel better.'' Lord adds, ''What a glorious achievement -- to have made millions of people feel better.'' It's the old ''Sullivan's Travels'' moral, about the honest value of sheer, well-made entertainment. And as such, Lord's book deserves thanks too.

Publishers Weekly

How do you write a biography of a film star whose memoirs are already considered among the best the genre has to offer? Lord, former editor of London's Sunday Express, begins by pointing out that the tales in Niven's books were frequently exaggerated, if not outright fiction, then sets out to gently correct the record. The real story is filled with absorbing details, particularly when Lord recounts the young Niven's struggle to make it in Hollywood and his varied military career during WWII. But as the "authorized" biographer of Niven (1910-1983), Lord is often overly sympathetic to the actor, most notably when the subject turns to "Niv's" second marriage to a Swedish model. Lord and his interviewees repeatedly attack the wife for alcoholism, extramarital affairs and an allegedly ridiculous desire to be an actress, while shrugging off Niven's constant womanizing and heavy drinking. Other unsavory aspects of his personality, like his treatment of his book publishers, are similarly glossed over. It's worth noting, however, that an overwhelming number of Niven's films are described as among his worst; even The Pink Panther is surprisingly dismissed as "dreadfully unfunny." Yet such harsh critical assessments do little to diminish Niven in his biographer's eyes, and the star's reputation as a lovable raconteur remains untarnished, even by the truth. Photos. (Dec.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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