Jonathan Croall was an editor in publishing and newspapers before becoming a full-time writer. His books include Gielgud: A Theatrical Life; The Coming of Godot: A Short History of a Masterpiece; Buzz Buzz! Playwrights, Actors and Directors at the National Theatre; and in the series 'The National Theatre at Work', Hamlet Observed, Peter Hall's 'Bacchai', and Inside the Molly House. He currently edits the programmes at the Old Vic.
'Jonathan Croall's handsomely produced and meticulously researched biography reminds us of the rich and glorious life of a great actress and a hugely attractive human being...I found it far more engaging and enjoyable than Michael Holroyd's recent trawl through the torridly eventful saga of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving' - Rupert Christiansen, Literary Review 'The impression of a great actress and a glowing spirit shines through this richly absorbing chronicle' - Alan Strachan, Spectator 'A fine biography, enlivened by Thorndike's copious correspondence to family and friends... It is hard to imagine a more engaging portrait of a woman whom A.P.Herbert rightly described as 'a star of life" - Michael Arditti, Daily Mail 'It is as an intimate picture of the British theatre scene and its leading lights over one of its golden ages that this book will be treasured' - Ian Herbert, Stage 'This marvellous and erudite biography succeeds in capturing a remarkable actress and idealist, whose human generosity and vitality were legendary' - Patrick Garland, The Oldie 'It gives any reader with an interest in theatre history an immediate and colourful insight into what for many is a rather sepia and dusty theatrical past' - Robert Bathurst, Tablet 'The definitive biography of this stupendous life force - a woman who never lost hope that a better society was possible' - Illtyd Harrington, Camden Journal 'magisterial...superb...a great biography' - Brian McFarlane, Australian Book Review 'Croall has written a fine biography, enlivened by Thorndike's copious correspondence to family and friends. The book inevitably suffers by comparison with Michael Holroyd's recent study of Ellen Terry since, while Thorndike was by all accounts the greater actress, she did not define her era in the same way.' -- Michael Arditti Daily Mail 20081114 'It's a beautiful book about a beautiful person... It makes for a very rich and varied read' -- Peter Hall 'superb biography' 'Jonathan Croall's magisterial biography (the equal of his Gielgud [2001]) not only persuades us of her individual pre-eminence but conveys as well the sense of a career's encapsulating a history of much twentieth-century British theatre. And not just in Britain but also in such far-flung outposts as the Middle East, South Africa and Australia' The Australian Book Review 'A riveting and wonderfully sympathetic account of a great actress and a remarkable woman, which vividly captures her life offstage as well as in the theatre' -- Polly Toynbee '...here is Jonathan Croall's handsomely produced and meticulously researched biography to remind us of the rich and glorious life of a great actress and a hugely attractive human being...its subject's charm and vitality radiate such illuminating force that I found it far more engaging and enjoyable than Michael Holroyd's recent trawl through the torridly eventful sage of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving.' -- Rupert Christiansen The Literary Review 200902
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