I think I’ve finally finished my research in the British Library. I’ve gone through all of the relevant Vivien Leigh-related materials as well as some extra stuff just having to do with Larry. Today and yesterday I read through the first draft of his autobiography).
Things that were reaffirmed and made startlingly clear:
- Larry loved Vivien very much
- He was constantly worried about her
- She put him through hell when in her manic phases. For example, she would only get two hours of sleep and would then wander around rearranging things in the house or wandering around outside. Therefore Larry would only get 2 hours of sleep. Larry said he couldn’t let her stray out of his sight for fear she’d be hit by a car zooming up and down the driveway from the epic party the night before, or she’d fall in the river and drown.
- He never got over her/it. Said the 50s was the most difficult period of his life and the hardest to get down on paper.
- I find them more fascinating than ever
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