Bette Davis: A Biography Hardcover – January 1, 1992 by Barbara Leaming
 
The first major biography of Bette Davis since her death in 1989 provides a revealing look at her rise to the top, her complicated familial relationships, and her bouts with alcoholism and cancer
 
From Publishers Weekly
The author of biographies of Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles, Leaming offers a portrait of Bette Davis (1908-1989) that is both sympathetic to the actress and frank about her legendary bitchiness and horrible treatment of family and friends. The star of Jezebel and All About Eve , among other notable films, Davis's presentation of herself over the years in interviews and her two autobiographies was misleading at best, Leaming shows. Using material--including scrapbook-diaries kept by Davis throughout her life, letters and other documents--only recently released, Leaming demonstrates that Davis was deeply affected by her father's abandonment of the family when she was a young child. This, combined with her mother's pampering, created a self-assured, demanding person. Although marred by flat writing, the book is distinguished by its psychological understanding of the subject. Photos not seen by PW. BOMC featured alternate; Reader's Digest Condensed Book selection; author tour.Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
 
3.6