Furious Love

Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century

De: Sam Kashner, Nancy Schoenberger

Narrado por: Paul Boehmer

The definitive story of Hollywood's most famous couple.

He was a tough-guy Welshman softened by the affections of a breathtakingly beautiful woman; she was a modern-day Cleopatra madly in love with her own Mark Antony. For nearly a quarter of a century, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were Hollywood royalty, and their fiery romance - often called "the marriage of the century" - was the most notorious, publicized, and celebrated love affair of its day.

For the first time, Vanity Fair contributing editor Sam Kashner and acclaimed biographer Nancy Schoenberger tell the complete story of this larger-than-life couple, showing how their romance and two marriages commanded the attention of the world. And for the first time, in exclusive access given to the authors, Elizabeth Taylor herself gives never-revealed details and firsthand accounts of her life with Burton.

Drawing upon brand-new information and interviews and on Burton's private, passionate, and heartbreaking letters to Taylor, Furious Love sheds new light on the movies, the sex, the scandal, the fame, the brawls, the booze, the bitter separations, and, of course, the fabled jewels. It offers an intimate glimpse into Elizabeth and Richard's privileged world and their elite circle of friends, among them Princess Grace, Montgomery Clift, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Peter O'Toole, Michael Caine, Marlon Brando, Rex Harrison, Mike Nichols, Laurence Olivier, Robert Kennedy, Tennessee Williams, Noel Coward, John Huston, Ava Gardner, the Rothschilds, Maria Callas, and Aristotle Onassis. It provides an entertaining, eye-opening look at their films, their wildly lucrative reign in Europe and in Hollywood, and the price they paid for their extravagant lives.

©2010 Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Narrator makes this work

I loved this book. I might have taken it just as tabloid except for the effective narration. Paul Boehmer manages to "be" both Elizabeth and Richard without resorting to annoying voices. I was particularly struck with the power that Richard had with language which comes through in his letters and the delivery with a deeper voice and a lovely accent.

Entertainingly tragic!

It was a struggle to finish because it was to "bloody" long just to repeat the same horrible behaviors. Most memorable moments where the theatrical word Burton enjoyed using and his journal entrys. Though I have no doubts that he loved "E" as he called Elizabeth Taylor along with so many other names, I also believe that sometimes within that love affair were selfish motives which maybe one of the reasons his specific desire was never accomplished. As for Mrs. E.T. Burton what a sad soul.

One of the greatest love stories of our time

I have read most everything available on Liz and Dick, but this takes the reader right into the midst of the passion and tempest of a great love story. Love letters from Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor detail the agonizing bliss of their relationship, and explain why it ended all too soon. A great read!

Love Wins --- no matter who tries to stop it

Their Love Story is what we all want, but sadly very, very few ever get. To have someone who truly loves us, physically/emotionally and cannot bear to be without us. It is something I can only imagine, and this book makes that possible. I envy them both for the devotion and Love they feel for each other. He loved her more deeply than any of his family understood. When he died, I think her heart really did break and yet when she died, she knew they could finally be together again....this time forever. I loved listening to the book and reading it.
I have to say Shame on Richard's last wife for banning Elizabeth from Richard's funeral. Shame on her.

Elizabeth and Richard: Liz and Dick

What made the experience of listening to Furious Love the most enjoyable?

The love letters.

What other book might you compare Furious Love to and why?

Ava Gardner's biography, because of her volatile relationship with Sinatra.

Which scene was your favorite?

When they first met on Cleopatra.

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

I did.

Any additional comments?

Great read for those of us who grew up in their era. Was very surprised not to hear about Richard's drinking, but the many reasons why he drank. He definitely was a tortured soul. I believe as much as he loved Elizabeth, she was also like a poison to him, and he was not the strong one in that relationship.

Appauling bad narration

I was SO excited about this book, but the little voices that Boehmer does for Burton and Taylor are so offensively bad.... he makes Taylor out as a whiny school girl and Burton (whose voice and wit are arguably his best traits) as weak and soulless. Burton's words (ever the poet) are mangled and rhythmless in Boehmer's rendering.

Unfortunately the sample isn't a sample of the book, but of the opening credits- otherwise I could have avoided this unfortunate purchase.

Insight into MEGAstardom

Would you listen to Furious Love again? Why?

I wouldn't listen to Furious Love again only because I don't think I have ever listened to an audiobook twice.

What did you like best about this story?

It showed the beginning of megastardom and the fascination with the private lives of celebrities even more than their work as actors. Just like reality stars of today (although they had talent) Liz and Dick began to take their stardom more seriously, I think, than their work.

Have you listened to any of Paul Boehmer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I havent- but I will say he does a tremendous job. He has a voice for every character. It puts you off for 2 minutes but after listening you really appreciate his enthusiasm for the characters and the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me feel like I was in this 60's world of excess and appreciate how we have changed as a culture. There have always been stars, whether royalty or movie stars- we need them for inspiration, hope, escape.

Great narrator

He does a great Richard Burton impression! Gave their love story the tender hand it deserved!

Just fabulous insight into this true love story

I Loved it! Great job by narrator as well and I’ll listen to it again

What a tragic love story.

Couldn't stop listening to this! What a tale of glamour, addiction, talent, ego, excess and passion. If it were fiction, no one would believe this story to be true. Such a pity they were never able to conquer their demons at the same time to make a go of it.