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John Gielgud was born in April 1904. When he died in May 2000, he was honoured as 'the giant of twentieth-century theatre.' In the centenary edition of this acclaimed biography, Gyles Brandreth draws from over thirty years of conversations with Gielgud to tell the extraordinary story of a unique actor, film star, director and raconteur.

In 1921 Gielgud made his first appearance at the Old Vic in London and through the next eight decades he dominated his profession - initially as a classical actor, later in plays by Harold Pinter and Alan Bennett. In his twenties he had appeared in silent movies: more than half a century later, he emerged as a Hollywood star, winning his first Oscar at the age of seventy-eight.

With wonderful anecdotes, and contributions from Kenneth Branagh, Alec Guinness, Paul Scofield, Donald Sinden and Peter Hall, John Gielgud: An Actor's Lifeis a compelling, humorous and moving account of a remarkable man.

Praise:
'Gyles Brandreth's memoir of Gielgud is vastly entertaining... a fascinating account of the actor's life' - Charles Osborne, Sunday Telegraph

'A sense of delight permeates Gyles Brandreth's John Gielgud: An Actor's Life...Brandreth combines neat reportage, deft evocation and lovely tales about a man he knew and relished' - Benedict Nightingale, The Times

'A delightful memoir which tells you all you need to know and collects all the anecdotes' - Michael Coveney, Daily Mail

'A testimony to Gyles Brandreth's talent ... Avoiding the usual tedious cradle-to-grave narrative, Brandreth braids Gielgud's own reminiscences with those from friends and colleagues. What sets this apart from the usual kind of puff is Brandreth's own voice, directing our responses to Gielgud's art' - Kathryn Hughes, Daily Telegraph

'Full of personal detail... a treasure trove of anecdote but also clear and informative... Brandreth's immaculate, charming and deceptively modest book ... fascinating.' - Carole Woddis, Glasgow Herald

'Cometh the hour, cometh the biography' - Stratford-upon-Avon Herald