Enchantment

The Life of Audrey Hepburn

By: Donald Spoto

Narrated by: Kimberly Farr

While her name is synonymous with elegance, style and grace, this poignant, funny and deeply moving biography, reveals the private Audrey Hepburn and invites readers to fall in love with her all over again.

Over the course of her extraordinary life and career, Audrey captured hearts around the world and created a public image that stands as one of the most recognizable and beloved in recent memory. But despite her international fame and her tireless efforts on behalf of UNICEF, Audrey was also known for her intense privacy. With unprecedented access to studio archives, friends and colleagues who knew and loved Audrey, bestselling author Donald Spoto provides an intimate and moving account of this beautiful, elusive and talented woman.

Tracing her astonishing rise to stardom, from her harrowing childhood in Nazi-controlled Holland during World War II to her years as a struggling ballet dancer in London and her Tony Award–winning Broadway debut in Gigi, Spoto illuminates the origins of Audrey’s tenacious spirit and fiercely passionate nature. She would go on to star in some of the most popular movies of the twentieth century, including Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Funny Face, The Nun’s Story, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and My Fair Lady. A friend and inspiration to renowned designer Hubert de Givenchy, Audrey also emerged as a fashion icon and her influence on women’s fashion virtually unparalleled to this day.

Behind the glamorous public persona, Audrey was a different and deeper person and a woman who craved love and affection. Donald Spoto offers remarkable insights into her professional and personal relationships with her two husbands, and with celebrities such as Gregory Peck, William Holden, Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper, Robert Anderson, Cary Grant, Peter O’Toole, Albert Finney and Ben Gazzara. The turbulent romances of her youth, her profound sympathy for the plight of hungry children, and the thrills and terrors of motherhood prepared Audrey for the final chapter in her life, as she devoted herself entirely to the charity efforts of an organization that had once come to her rescue at the end of the war: UNICEF.(P)2006 Books on Tape

Amazing story of an amazing woman

I was always entranced by Audrey Hepburn as I was growing up in the 50's. She was the ultimate in style and grace. To find out now of her life's hardships and triumphs just puts her miles ahead of anyone else from the era that was in show business.

A beautiful biography

I enjoyed that this book introduced both the professional actress. Audrey Hepburn as well as the real life, down to earth. Audrey Hepburn. She is an inspiring woman. I truly enjoyed this book and the great performance by the narrator. 👍

lovely ;-)

I just love her story and there is so much I didn't know! Balanced piece read by a nice voice.

Audrey The Lady as ever.

This is a great book if you are interested in the life of Audrey Hepburn.
It is clear, concise and ordered. The book is a historical time line of things that happened in her life and her career.

This is great book to get if you are interested in some of the back story of her life.
(You learn things about this remarkable lady that are not common knowledge)

The narrator is beyond good as she unfolds a compelling look at one of the truly great people of the last century. She doesn't drag the text nor is she too fast.
I have been through this book a few times, and am satisfied with listening.

Well worth the money if you are looking for a peek into Audrey" life.

Splendid story of a splendid woman

Learn the lovely, loving side to the iconic actress
Enjoyed it very much. The show biz stories great, yes, but the character of the woman, revealed, was the most satisfying.

Enchanting but turbulent Life...

What made the experience of listening to Enchantment the most enjoyable?

I have always adored Audrey Hepburn; her style, grace and movies. However, I did not really know who she was and all she had been through until this book. There were many enjoyable parts in the book, but there were also many sad, heart-wrenching parts as well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Enchantment?

There were so many; her Oscar win for Roman Holiday, her strained, cold relationship with her mother, her not-so-happy marriages, the struggles endured for the birth of her 2 children, and her life-long friendships.

What about Kimberly Farr’s performance did you like?

Kimberly's voice was very soothing and pleasant to listen to.

A Hollywood Fairytale with a Dose of Sadness

If you could sum up Enchantment in three words, what would they be?

Surprising, Remarkable, Balanced

What did you like best about this story?

The story of Audrey's life was told in chronological order and so it was easy to follow.

Which scene was your favorite?

The making of the movie "The Nun's Story" on location in Africa.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did not listen to it all in one sitting. It was easy to pick up the story as it moved along.

Any additional comments?

If you like Audrey Hepburn, you will like this audiobook. I thought that the writer managed to convey Audrey as a normal, caring and sensitive person. Although this is ultimately an uplifting true story of triumph and overcoming life's obstacles, I was surprised by the sad parts: her early life during WWII, her mother's coldness to her, the unhappy marriages, the many miscarriages she endured to have her two children, and the numerous affairs that she had while married. I enjoyed the audiobook as a whole, but the narrator's voice did tend to get on my nerves from time to time.

It's Audrey

All the stories of this beautiful person, actress is summed up in a single sentence - cant help but Love Audrey Hepburn!

She was a very special human being.

Written beautifully, reaserched completely, and performed flawlessly. She was a wonderful example of living well.

Beautifully told, encapsulating elegance.

A wonderful story of elegance told with great respect and enthusiasm for the legacy of the kindhearted Audrey Hepburn.