High Society: The Life of Grace Kelly

Donald Spoto's new biography of Grace Kelly is a well-written account of Kelly's life, with a special emphasis on her acting career. He bookends his solid accounts of her films, Broadway, and television work with info about her private life. I think most readers of Spoto's book will have already read other biographies of her entire life and so not mind the emphasis on her career. Spoto's a good writer. He had a long-term friendship with Kelly and she talked to him over the years about her life and career, asking only that he wait twenty-five years to publish what she told him. The book seems restrained about her private life - particularly because other biographers have written about her supposedly voracious propensity to have affairs with her leading men. Spoto writes that most of the speculation about her sex life is just that - speculation - and was not true in most cases. Spoto's obvious regard for his subject does not extend to fawning over her. Because he was concentrating on her career, I think it was easy for him to avoid making conjectures about her private life. I read the book in one sitting - it's not long - and came away with a very good appreciation of her career.

I read Donald Spoto's first book when it came out in 1976, to which Princess Grace generously contributed a foreword, and I have read many of his books since. I'll have to say, as someone who has also read a number of other biographical books about Grace Kelly, this one does seem like something of a labor of love (being very restrained in its speculations), which is not all that bad, I suppose, considering that some of those other books probably adopt too lurid a view of Grace Kelly's Hollywood romances. If some of the omissions are surprising (no mention of Mark Miller, of Grace turned off by Gable's false teeth, of William Holden's trip to Philadelphia to meet the Kelly family and their cold treatment of him, of Grace's quite commendable candor to Gwen Robyns about her love affairs), Mr. Spoto has other things to contribute from his many interviews with Princess Grace and others (like Hitchcock) who knew her. His analytical comments on her films are also excellent (especially on HIGH NOON). He quotes Hitchcock on the essential "anti-cinematic" nature of 3D movies (which was how DIAL M FOR MURDER was filmed) and is consistently interesting on the background topics of the mores and customs of the Fifties. His view about the canceled plans for Grace to do MARNIE are contrary to those of others, but he makes his case convincing (I would say). Mr. Spoto's book is not in the least bit gossipy, and it's smart and enjoyably written (though the word "inchoate" turns up at least three or four times, annoyingly starting to seem like a word admiring itself in the mirror).

Missing about her family--more on husband and there is nothing about three children.

This is such a great biography of Princess Grace. It was very informative and was an awesome book about Grace’s life. I learned a lot about Grace Kelly as a movie star and about the movies she was in. The book is mostly about America’s Grace Kelly, but the last chapter or so gives quite a bit of information about her once she became Princess Grace of Monaco. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Grace. It showed and represented her personality very well. Most of the information is from Grace herself, and quite a bit of the book is quotes from her. The book was absolutely amazing and shows who Grace really was.

A wonderful book which gives a very background look into Princess Grace's life! I'm looking forward reading additional books about her;!

I enjoyed reading what a first class lady, that she was all her life, yes she had a few trysts. In her single years but they were handled like the true lady that she truly was. I suspect she was not as happy in the role as a princess as she thought she would be early on, but she kept up her end of the deal, with utmost class and Prince Rainier seemly did the same, both of them unusual in this day and age.

I have probably read most of the books written on Grace ever since her untimely death in 1982. I never expected to read new information but within these pages I found much. It's well written with details that intrigue. Interesting takes on the plot lines of her movies and what she hoped to accomplish with her career as she undertook each role. This is a must read for any Princess Grace fan. I found many of her ideas and actions completely understandable, making a lot of sense in view of some of the many accusations that have been made since her death. It was believable and real to comprehend her marriage, her wishes for her lost career in Hollywood and yet her desires as a mother and wife. It was a treat to read and absorb.

This book was mostly about her Movies band very few mentions about her private life,definitely Roberts Book was the best you should read all three books to see what I mean.God Bless your Soul Grace you were a true catholic.

A very engaging book, especially if you enjoy the golden eta.

I really loved this book. The author depicted Grace with the grace she deserves. Very inspiring! Great choice if you want to find out more about the life and work of Grace Kelly!

To begin with, I am a huge Grace Kelly fan so I was very excited to see this book. I was a bit disappointed, to be truthful. The book is not a long one, at 216 pages and doesn't cover anything that hasn't been covered in numerous other books. For an indepth biography I would recommend Steven Englund. Most of the book is spent discussing the pre-Monaco life of Grace Kelly, and I will admit, I have always found what happened after she became Princess Grace of Monaco far more interesting. Also Mr Spoto seems incapable of saying anything negative about Ms Kelly. It smacks of a Palace-approved biography. He also rates her acting skills far higher than I would- and I'm a big fan! Having said all of that I would suggesting giving this book a read, it is interesting and there is a lot of direct quotes from Grace thanks to an interview in the late 1970's with the author.

A revealing story for those who didn't see enough of Grace and would like her to shine in yet another role.

tells you all about her life