Elizabeth Taylor by Kate Andersen Brower Summary

This authorized biography by Kate Andersen Brower chronicles Elizabeth Taylor’s life through unpublished letters, diaries, and interviews with 250 friends and family. It explores her rise from child stardom in National Velvet to her groundbreaking $1 million film salary, eight marriages, addiction struggles, and pioneering AIDS activism, revealing her resilience amid personal and public turmoil.

Fans of Old Hollywood, celebrity biographies, or LGBTQ+ history will find this compelling. It’s ideal for readers interested in Taylor’s unapologetic persona, her turbulent relationships (like with Richard Burton), or her humanitarian work during the AIDS crisis.

Yes. As the first authorized biography, it offers unprecedented access to Taylor’s private writings and family perspectives. Kirkus Reviews praises its “well-researched, gossipy” balance, while Taylor’s son noted it revealed new insights about her expansive life.

Brower frames Taylor’s life as a series of battles—against studio exploitation, addiction, and public scrutiny. Despite childhood abuse and health struggles, Taylor refused victimhood, channeling adversity into activism and maintaining a sharp wit.

Burton was Taylor’s great love, with their relationship described as “a slow suicide.” The book details their explosive passion, mutual alcoholism, and lifelong connection, including unsent letters Taylor wrote to him after his death.

While Taylor was devoted to friends like Montgomery Clift and Michael Jackson, the biography reveals her strained relationship with her children. They were often raised by nannies or in boarding schools as Taylor pursued her career and turbulent romances.

The biography highlights her AIDS work as her most defining legacy. Taylor co-founded amfAR, lobbied lawmakers, and personally funded initiatives, breaking stigma when most celebrities avoided the issue. Her efforts raised over $270 million.

Yes. It details her decades-long reliance on alcohol, painkillers, and sedatives, including two stints at the Betty Ford Clinic. Friends recount her “volatile” behavior during relapses, contrasted with periods of sobriety where she focused on philanthropy.

Brower uses 7,358 personal letters, 10,000+ photos, and diary entries. Notable finds include unsent letters to Michael Jackson and Burton, plus candid reflections on her marriages and fame.

As the first authorized account, it includes exclusive family cooperation and previously restricted archives. Brower emphasizes Taylor’s agency over her choices, countering tabloid narratives that painted her as “out of control”.

Some reviewers note a focus on sensational details (marriages, addiction) over cinematic legacy. However, the book balances this with deeper themes of resilience and humanitarian impact.

Her advocacy blueprint inspires modern celebrity activists, while her boundary-pushing career (negotiating profit shares, launching fragrances) foreshadowed today’s influencer-driven media landscape. The biography reinforces her status as a proto-feminist icon.