Publisher Description

Reissue of this multimillion copy bestselling autobiography from one of Britain's all time favourite actorsThe Moon's a Balloon is an account of one of the most remarkable lives Hollywood has ever seen. From early tales of school, army and wartime hi-jinx, Niven shows how, even as an unknown young man, he knew how to live the good life. But it is his astonishing stories of life in Hollywood, working and partying with the legends of the silver screen - Lawrence Oliver, Vivien Leigh, Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, James Stewart, Lauren Bacall, Marlene Dietrich, Noel Coward and dozens of others, while making some of the most acclaimed films of the last century - which turn Niven's memoir into an outright masterpiece.

Author Biography

David Niven was born in London in 1910. He was one of Britain's best known actors and, in later years, a bestselling author - his autobiography, The Moon's A Balloon which was first published in 1971, sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Often remembered for playing the archetypal English gentleman, he made ninety films during a career that stretched over forty years. He died in 1983.

Review

An immensely enjoyable, witty and racy memoir. * Sunday Times *
Forthright, bawdy, and often hilarious, zany and zestful, his anecdotes should keep you entertained for hours. * Sunday Express *
Niven's life was Wodehouse with tears. -- John Mortimer

Promotional

One of the bestselling memoirs of all time, David Niven's The Moon's a Balloon is an account of one of the most remarkable lives Hollywood has ever seen.

Kirkus US Review

The almost always outspoken memoir of that suave - well what else could he be - blithe bon vivant from the time (101/2) when he was expelled from school for a not very funny practical joke. At 14, Niven met Nessie on the streets who brightened much of his early life - self-described as "an 'ore wiv an 'eart of fuckin' gold" who proved to be a very good friend to David and some of his friends at the school where he first found himself before going on to Sandhurst. A little Mayfair socializing, and Barbara Hutton, took him to New York for some of his greener salad days but he was to learn he really didn't belong, went on to Hollywood, and became the almost first unknown to be signed on a seven-year contract by Sam Goldwyn. There's his marriage to Primula with whom he was "wonderfully in love" and who died, falling down a cellar stairs; a second one which almost ended differently to a beautiful Swedish model; and in between E.E. Cummings' balloon is "filled with pretty people" - Noel Coward and lan Fleming, Norma Shearer and Vivien Leigh, the Bogarts, the Colmans, you name them and he does because they were part of his life. Lots of pink gin, and it all goes down and up very easily. (Kirkus Reviews)

Review Text

An immensely enjoyable , witty and racy memoir.

Review Quote

An immensely enjoyable , witty and racy memoir.

Promotional "Headline"

Reissue of this multimillion copy bestselling autobiography from one of Britain's all time favourite actors

Details