Road to Tara: The Life of Margaret Mitchell

By: Anne Edwards

Narrated by: Karen Commins

Length: 14 hrs

Publisher's summary

Nominee 2018 Voice Arts Awards - Best Narration in Audiobook Biography 

Finalist 2018 Digital Book World Awards - Best Audiobook 

Margaret Mitchell was as complex and compelling as her legendary heroine, Scarlett O'Hara, and her story is as dramatic as anything out of her own imagination. Indeed, it is the basis for the legend she created. Gone with the Wind took the American public by storm and went on to become one of the most popular books and motion pictures of all time. The book was a phenomenon whose success has never been equaled, but it shattered Margaret Mitchell's private life. In Road to Tara, Anne Edwards tells the real story of Margaret Mitchell and the extraordinary novel that has become part of our heritage. 

©1983, 2014 Anne Edwards (P)2017 Jewel Audiobooks

Interesting - but far too padded with minutiae

Listened to this in tandem with Audible's "Gone With the Wind" (highly recommend!!).

What begins as an interesting biography of Margaret Mitchell gradually bogs down into excruciating minutiae focused on the mechanics of publishing GWTW and production of the movie itself. At times - literally - it felt like events were recounted in real time. Then there were word-for-word transcripts of "Peggy" Mitchell's correspondence with obscure journalists and assorted "who-dats".

Mitchell's early life, as portrayed in this biography, was intriguing background for this fan of GWTW ... but she becomes increasingly off-putting as time goes on.

As I write this, I'm (still) listening ... this time, to quote after quote after quote of movie reviews from 1939.

Edwards is an excellent biographer, and I took a chance on this new release based on my experience. Unfortunately, this time - a skimpy biography is padded beyond recognition.

Margret Mitchell is a PIA

I think I cannot finish this book due to Margret Mitchell’s hypochondria, many self inflicted accidents, complaining about her fame ( yet cashing the checks) and moaning about just about everything. Too bad! I love the book and movie but Peggy is a nightmare! How unfortunate and irritating to listen to albeit true.

The Life of Margaret Mitchell: author Gone with the Wind

This book had amazing details about Gone with the Wind author, Margarett Mitchell. I understand how she wrote the book. Where the book came from and who the author was. This biography was as interesting to me as the fictional book, Gone with the Wind.

Well written biography and exceptional naration

I first read this book about 15 years ago and very much enjoyed it, but it really came to life when I listened to it narrated by Karen Cummings.
Margaret Mitchell was a strange little woman who was quite selfish. If she had channeled as much energy into writing another novel or a book of short stories as she did trying to avoid fame, she might have been happier. She was very self-absorbed.
I ordered more books by Anne Edwards after reading this one "with my ears".
I highly recommend this detailed account of the life of Margaret Mitchell to fans of Gone with the Wind.

Excellence!

An extremely enjoyable read! Very enlightening! I have been a Margaret Mitchell Fan since a child... This opened many facets of her life, that were otherwise unknown. The Masterpiece that is Gone With The Wind... will forever touch the hearts of it's followers. My own experience with the book has changed and grown with each and every reading. As our own lives and experiences mature... so does our understanding of Scarlett! and consequently, Margaret Mitchell! Kudos to the Narrator.... She did an Amazing AAAAA+++++ job of bringing Margaret to Us... And the Characters who surrounded her during her own personal growth. This book was provided free of charge in exchange for a fair and honest review... Thank You for an Amazing opportunity! ☺

Great Story!

I am a huge fan of Gone With The Wind and listening to the story of the woman who wrote it was mind-boggling! I must say at times she came t across to me as an eccentric woman but she was also a woman who knew what she wanted and went for it with the guidance and love of her second husband. Am so glad that not everyone destroyed their correspondence with Margaret Mitchell. Anne Edwards did a wonderful job writing this biography of a great writer and Karen Commins did a wonderful job telling it.

Borderline?

As a physician, I found it very easy to diagnose. Margaret Mitchell has a borderline personality disorder.

Adore GWTW but didn’t know…

…that Margaret Mitchell was such a pain! And now I know it in such excruciating detail!! I did learn a whole lot though. The narration was horrifying for a Southerner to listen to, especially when Margaret’s voice was mimicked. I really wanted to love this whole thing but was unable.

Wonderful

Fascinating, insightful and important in our modern PC Culture. What a woman. Also a lesson about fame.

As captivating as the novel itself.

Everything about this kept me turning the pages just as her novel did for me 30 years ago. Great performance and Peggy’s story helps me understand why I relate to Scarlett so much. It’s all Peggy.