Maggie Smith: A biography

TITLE: ​Maggie Smith
AUTHOR: Michael Coveney
PUBLISHER: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
REVIEWER: Valerie J Elder
 A biography of a woman who has been in acting and film work all her life. She is very private in all aspects of her life but this book opens the door to much of her achievements and accomplishments.
The style of writing is such that you need to know a little about Maggie Smith, her work is prodigious and there is quite likely no one in the theatre world that she does not know, either worked with, met, or made it her business to find out about them, providing of course they are suitable! 

 They are all mentioned in this book. Her wit comes through with force, your minds eye is working overtime recalling scenes and laughing out loud in appreciation of that wry wit.
 This is not a book you can simply skim through, but one that needs time and constant return to sections to refresh as needed.
Perhaps a little hard going in places talking of the back to back stage performances, the detail is exact and intense, but you get a strong sense of who she is and what an extraordinary talent with a work ethic that shuts everything out but her professionalism.
 Much enjoyed but take your time..