Where Madness Lies: The Double Life of Vivien Leigh

Written by Lyndsy Spence

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Featuring a wealth of unpublished material—including private correspondence—Lyndsy Spence reveals how Leigh tragically fell victim to the draconian medical practices of the era.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jan 7, 2025
• ISBN: 9798350857061

Lyndsy Spence

LYNDSY SPENCE is a bestselling author, historian and screenwriter who specializes in daring aristocratic women. She is the founder of The Mitford Society, an online community dedicated to the Mitford girls and is a freelance book reviewer for The Lady. Her books include The Mitford Girls' Guide to Life, The Grit in the Pearl: The Scandalous Life of Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, The Mistress of Mayfair: Men, Money and the Marriage of Doris Delevingne, and Cast a Diva: The Hidden Life of Maria Callas. Her book on Maria Callas is being adapted into a documentary by a double-Oscar nominated production company.

Reviews for Where Madness Lies

[shea knowles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an eye opening look at the great actress. So so so sad that she had such a distraught life. However, I was impressed by how much she was able to accomplish during her career, in spite of struggling with mental issues.

[eliz12_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is essentially a running commentary on Vivien Leigh's mental struggles, with no real beginning or end, nothing in context, so it's odd. I've read several biographies of Vivien Leigh and this one offers a bit more information, but not enough to warrant yet another book. I didn't particularly care for the author's decision to analyze situations and suggest subjects' thoughts, though she seems to be a competent enough writer. The photos are also weird - notably one of Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier together, into which a photo of Leigh's daughter has clearly been added by the 1940s version of Photoshop. There's also a ridiculous chapter at the end of the book focusing on a psychic. Altogether a curious, and mostly useless, book.