Grace Kelly Biography

Rushcourt71

This biography is of the only American socialite/ actress in the 20th century to become a princess of a little known nation that few in her own country had even heard of.

Before being swept off her feet to become the bride of Prince Rainer III of Monaco (who was really a king), this young woman was already an academy award winner, a successful Hollywood heart throb and the daughter of multi millionaires.

Grace Kelly (1929-1982) may have been the Prince's consort, but it was her glamour, physical beauty, personality, finesse and ambassadorial style that brought the tiny principality the publicity, wealth and attraction of the World's attention to the state. At the time, Monaco was not known for anything of worth, was in debt and needed good investment just to continue to exist.

Divided into four major chapters and three sub chapters, the 597 pages book of Grace Kelly is quite detailed and as the only major biography of the actress turned princess, is revealing in its in depth analysis of one of the century's first and finest people's princesses.

Born Grace Patricia Kelly as the middle of four children on 12th November 1929 to John Kelly and Margaret Majer in Philadelphia, USA. Her siblings included one brother and two sisters. Her father was a self made millionaire and her mother was a champion swimmer. Both were athletic, highly disciplined and expected much from their children. Grace was the only one that let them down.   

The shy girl, sent at first to an all Catholic all girl's school, did not shine straight away. However by the age of twelve, she had already done some modelling and participated in fashion events, much to the displeasure of her parents. Soon after leaving her studies, she took up acting and in 1947 when aged eighteen she enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Appearing in advertisements and magazines for two years, she made her debut on broadway in 1949, then aged nineteen for 'the Father'. She was not in the film, but was associated with it. The film itself was an instant success and she was praised for both her looks and her acting abilities.

In 1951, she was finally on the big screen herself, in 'Fourteen Hours' where her role was minor and although it was not a success, at 22 she was now a film star. By the time she 'retired' from acting in 1956, her five year career had led to three films with Alfred Hitchcock, and ten movies in total. Ironically her last film is where she played a princess.

It was one year earlier in 1955 she met her future husband, Prince Rainer III, when he visited the US on a diplomatic tour. Grace was also at the event and the two bumped into each other. Over the course of several other meetings, came a marriage proposal, a $2 million dowry paid partially by her and the rest by her ever grateful family and the rest is as they say is, history.

At 26, Grace was now in addition to being a princess, also a duchess, a countess and a baroness as well. Although her heart was always in returning to the big screen, she never did, however offers did appear now and again and she responded positively at first.

She put her life into royalty instead. From 1956 until her death in 1982, she approached her royal duties the same as she did with acting. Rising early she would be receiving guests and visitors, attending, giving and listening to presentations, appearing in galas, charity events and being involved in various projects.

She died of a stroke while driving her car in Monaco in 1982. She was 53.  

cynic

Please include the name of the book and the link to Reading Room if it is available.

Rushcourt71

cynic 12-8-2018 02:14 PM
Please include the name of the book and the link to Reading Room if it is available.

Thank you for your request Cynic.

The book's name is Grace Kelly by Dr Julia Sanders (2017) and I believe it is the latest biography of the late princess/actress.

I spoke about the book only in the book review section as I have not seen it in the Reading Room. I read the book from my kindle device and not from the forum itself.

I have checked the Reading Room using the advanced search engine and I have not found it there or anywhere else on the forum myself.

cynic

Rushcourt71 12-8-2018 04:08 PM
Thank you for your request Cynic.

The book's name is Grace Kelly by Dr Julia Sanders (2017) and  ...

Thanks for sharing your review. You can add up the book name to the title.

Regarding the link to the Reading Room, if the book is unavailable, interested members can always post a request in the general request thread in the section. Adding a link to the review posts just makes it easier to find.

Rushcourt71

cynic 12-8-2018 05:27 PM
Thanks for sharing your review. You can add up the book name to the title.

Regarding the link to  ...

Thank you Cynic. If I make a future review of a book or speak of one that is in the Forum, I will endeavour to let our colleagues know and enclose the link/s if possible.