Where Madness Lies

The Double Life of Vivien Leigh

De: Lyndsy Spence

Narrado por: Sarah Welborn

Vivien Leigh was one of the greatest film and theatrical stars of the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. Her Oscar-winning performances in Gone With the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire have cemented her status as an icon of Hollywood.

From 1940 to 1960, Leigh was married to Sir Laurence Olivier, and together they were considered the royal couple of British theater. Indeed, their romance and acting partnerships captured the imagination of the public around the world.

Behind the scenes, however, Leigh's personal life was marred by manic depression. Largely misunderstood and subjected to barbaric mistreatment at the hands of her doctors, she would also suffer the heartbreak of Olivier's infidelity. Contributing to her image as a tragic heroine, she would die at the age of fifty-three.

Unlike previous biographies, Where Madness Lies begins in 1953 when Leigh suffered a nervous breakdown and was institutionalized. The tragic story unfolds as she tries to rebuild her life, salvage her career, and save her marriage.

Featuring a wealth of unpublished material—including private correspondence—Lyndsy Spence reveals how Leigh tragically fell victim to the draconian medical practices of the era.

©2025 Lyndsy Spence (P)2025 Tantor Media

Interesting but hollow.

This is one of several biographies of Vivien Leigh that I have read or listened to. Beginning in the 1950’s, there were pieces of new information and new insights but is hampered by the structure of the narrative. While the main story moves forward; it is often interrupted by flashback stories that begin and end without transition or warning. (Especially hard to follow in audio form without the written text as backup). Overall an interesting inclusion to a collection of biographies about a fascinating and complex woman that was Vivien Leigh.

Disjointed story line

I truly enjoyed learning more about Vivien, but the storyline was very frustrating as it bounced around too much and would have several timelines within the same chapter that made it very difficult to follow. I assume much like what was going on in her head with her bipolar illness.

Best VL Bio

This is the best bio of Viv. Outstanding. Lyndsy does a wonderful job of providing a fresh perspective by shuffling the timeline, while fleshing out a complete portrait. It’s a sensitive, accurate analysis of VL’s battle, compared to others who just label her as ‘schizophrenic’ or ‘manic depressive’. It’s a bit more complicated, as we learn more about mental health. Most importantly the author treats everyone with dignity, rather than simply highlighting the scandalous episodes.