Book: Olivier

Overview
Anthony Holden's "Olivier" presents a sweeping portrait of Laurence Olivier as both an icon of twentieth-century acting and a complex, often contradictory human being. The biography traces Olivier's trajectory from provincial beginnings to global stardom, illustrating how his talent, ambition, and temperament combined to shape a career that loomed over British theater and film for decades. Holden balances admiration for Olivier's artistic achievements with a readiness to examine the darker, more private aspects of his life.

Early life and rise
Holden follows Olivier's formative years, describing a child of modest origins whose gifts and drive set him apart early on. Training, early theatrical experiences, and the struggle to find a distinct professional identity receive careful attention as stepping stones to the decisive campaigns at the Old Vic and later at more influential stages. The narrative captures how Olivier transformed raw ambition into disciplined craft, positioning himself as the leading interpreter of Shakespeare for a modern audience.

Career and artistry
A central focus is Olivier's approach to performance and his restless pursuit of artistic excellence. Holden analyzes landmark stage productions and film roles, from Shakespearean leads to Hollywood features, showing how Olivier navigated different media with varying degrees of success. The book delves into his methods, meticulous preparation, use of voice and physicality, and a strategist's sense of repertoire, and how these underpinned both celebrated triumphs and occasionally criticized excesses. Detailed backstage anecdotes and contemporaries' reminiscences illustrate the tensions between Olivier's meticulous technique and the emotional spontaneity he sought to convey.

Personal life and personality
The biography does not shy from Olivier's private affairs, exploring marriages, friendships, and rivalries that complicated his public persona. Holden treats relationships, especially those with fellow actors and family, as integral to understanding Olivier's emotional life and its impact on his work. The portrait that emerges is of a man whose charm and charisma coexisted with a capacity for manipulation, insecurity, and a relentless need for control, qualities that both fueled his ambitions and strained personal bonds.

Directing, management, and ambition
Beyond acting, Olivier's roles as director, manager, and public spokesman for theater are examined with an eye to ambition and legacy. Holden assesses Olivier's tenure in leadership positions, his attempts to modernize institutions, and the compromises required by authority. These chapters illuminate the practical and political dimensions of mounting major productions and securing cultural standing, revealing how Olivier's artistic ideals sometimes collided with the realities of funding, politics, and public taste.

Sources, style, and authorial stance
Holden writes with a narrative energy that incorporates interviews, archival material, correspondence, and contemporaneous accounts, producing a textured account that reads as both biography and cultural history. His tone is generally empathetic but scrutinizing; achievements are celebrated without eliding failings. The prose emphasizes scenes and personalities, aiming to reproduce the atmosphere of rehearsals, opening nights, and private conversations rather than offering purely academic analysis.

Reception and legacy
The book situates Olivier's career within broader shifts in twentieth-century theater and cinema, arguing for his enduring influence on acting standards and theatrical production. Holden credits Olivier with shaping public perceptions of Shakespeare and serving as a bridge between stage tradition and modern performance practice. While acknowledging controversies and personal flaws, the biography ultimately presents Olivier as an artist whose scale, ambition, and craft left a lasting imprint on the performing arts.