Audrey Hepburn

by Michele Botton, Dorilys Giachetto (illustrator), Nanette McGuiness (Translator)

“Everyone has their own Audrey, for some she is always twenty years old, for others she is in black and white and for others in color. Sometimes she is a European princess, a tipsy New Yorker or a UNICEF ambassador. Here you will discover her differently, made of ink and paper in a much more intimate and unvarnished dimension, without a soundtrack and with the voice you prefer. I sincerely hope that you will discover her as yours.” From the preface by Luca Dotti, Hepburn’ s son. When Audrey Hepburn is mentioned, one thinks of her being beautiful and elegant, of her films, or of how her image is used to recall something immortal and fashionable. But Audrey was also a little girl who saw the Second World War with her own eyes, a woman who was at times fragile at work and in her private life, with a strong desire for motherhood and, above all, a boundless love for children that would lead her to find her true vocation, far from dancing or acting: she will in fact become a UNICEF ambassador to raise awareness in the world and help minors in difficulty. “When I started acting I didn't have a method, I just pretended to be someone else, like little girls can do for fun!" -Hepburn.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Biography, Nonfiction, Comics, History, Graphic Novels Comics, Film

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't like Audrey Hepburn? I certainly do, she was not only stunningly beautiful, but also glowing with charisma. So here we have a graphic biography, and it's fine. As the author notes in the back of the book, there's so much material available on Hepburn's life, it felt to him that he only could choose which events to show, but that he finally did find a way to make her story his own. He seems to have chosen to focus on the tension between Hepburn's career and her personal life (and a certain kind of neediness coming out of Hepburn's distraught relationship with her parents). It works, but sometimes it still feels like a rattling off of biographical facts.

The art is sweet, quite European in style. Weirdly, I find the likeness of older Audrey more convincing than her younger self.

3.5 stars

(Thanks to NBM Publishing for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A breezy skim through Audrey Hepburn's life that comes off more like an Archie comic or a Hollywood biopic than a real biography.

If you don't having a passing familiarity with the actress, you may find yourself a little lost as the narrative is not strong on providing dates or even the last names of some of her significant others, e.g., William HOLDEN and Robert WOLDERS. The story touches on about a half dozen of her films, her two marriages, and her time as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, but is more concerned with communicating her emotional state than digging into too much detail. The author even presumes to tell the story in the first-person, using Hepburn's voice.

As long as you're not expecting a deep dive, this is a fairly enjoyable swim across the surface of her life with pleasant, cartoony art.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Everyone Has Their Own Audrey / Luca Dotti -- Prologue -- Chapters 1-9 -- Epilogue -- My Audrey / Michele Botton -- To Learn More -- Creators

[lindalettrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝐿’𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑧𝑎 𝑒’ 𝑙𝑎 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑧𝑧𝑎 𝑐ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑓𝑖𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑖”

👛Iniziamo dal perché ho letto questa graphic novel, i motivi sono essenzialmente due:
- dopo l’intervento agli occhi faticavo a leggere e la soluzione migliore era dedicarmi ad un fumetto, che impegnasse di meno la vista,
- mia nipote si chiama Audrey, e io di Audrey sapevo poco o nulla, volevo approfondire la figura di questa famosissima attrice attraverso una biografia.

👛Ecco, ora posso dire una cosa: questo libro è stupendo. Stupendo per come è stato scritto, i dialoghi filano, la grafica è pazzesca, tutto è studiato nel minimo dettaglio e gli eventi della vita della Hepburn sono ben spiegati, nonostante sia un fumetto trovo sia una biografia esaustiva, che riporta tutti gli avvenimenti più importanti.

👛Ho amato la storia di Audrey dall’inizio alla fine, mi sono commossa, ho letto col fiato sospeso le vicende di questa donna molto sensibile, che ha sempre avuto un forte desiderio di maternità, che è stata a volte sfortunata e a volte molto fortunata, ma più che fortuna direi che la sua è una storia di coraggio e impegno.

👛Audrey Hepburn è nata nel 1929, ha vissuto la Seconda Guerra Mondiale, è stata ballerina, attrice di teatro e cinema, donna carismatica e di impareggiabile eleganza. Ha dedicato molto del suo tempo all’Unicef, diventandone ambasciatrice e portavoce dei diritti dei minori.

👛Questo fumetto è stato autorizzato da Luca Dotti, secondogenito della Hepburn e dello Psichiatra romano Andrea Dotti.

👛Se come me volete conoscere meglio la storia di Audrey Henpurn comprate questa graphic novel, la leggerete tutta d’un fiato.

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway! It was a very quick read; finished in one sitting. The graphics are beautiful and Audrey Hepburn is an astonishing talent.

I am glad to have read this book to learn more about Audrey. Her devotion to her family and UNICEF is inspiring as well as her dedication to her acting career. Her son, Luca contributed to the making of this book which is absolutely incredible that he is supporting the creation of this book.

The story lacks in going into depth about Audrey’s life, focusing mainly on her love life and romantic encounters.

Overall, this was a mostly enjoyable, fast and engaging read.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been an Audrey Hepburn fan for almost 40 years and I have read numerous biographies about her. And while this graphic novel includes biographic elements, it doesn’t tell the full story. I found the first person voice of Audrey to feel inauthentic to the woman I have come to understand she was. And while no one can fully know another person (especially one they’ve never met) I found the overwhelming neediness portrayed in this to be counter to the strength of a woman who became one of the cultural icons of her era.

This is not a good book for someone not familiar with Audrey. It skips around in time and only gives cursory information about certain aspects of her life and certainly doesn’t cover all her movies or personal life in great detail. I hope no one takes this as the full picture of her life.

I will say that the illustrations are lovely and were my favorite part of the book.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nicely drawn and presented comic biography--breezy and fast-paced, but enough about the highs and lows of the film legend's life to whet the interest of those who were unfamiliar with her story.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly enjoyable glimpse of Audrey Hepburn's life and loves. Guaranteed, it'll make you want to tee up all her movies. The artwork is terrific, perfectly capturing all the characters and locales with a light "Disney animation" edge. There's not a ton of depth here - it really just scratches the surface of Hepburn's life, but it's a wonderful introductory read.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ormai lo sapete, sono fan ella Beccogiallo. E lo divento sempre di più quando mi trovo fra le mani delle graphic novel così ben scritte e ben disegnate, ma soprattutto ben ricercate: il volume è infatti introdotto da Luca Dotti, uno dei figli della Hepburn, che ne garantisce la veridicità.

[kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this iconic woman and her story. More biographies should be told this way.

[hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just love Audrey Hepburn

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The graphic novel Audrey Hepburn is a brightly illustrated, first-person account that provides an engaging walk through Audrey's life, from her iconic movies to her personal struggles and relationships. The narrative emphasizes her lack of self-esteem in acting but highlights her dedication to her craft and her collaborations with supportive directors. The book doesn’t shy away from candid moments, such as her frustration with being dubbed in My Fair Lady and her struggles with her first husband, Mel Ferrer, whose envy contributed to their breakup. Overall, it’s a nice if shallow read that inspires revisiting her classic films or reading more in-depth books if you’re really interested in Audrey.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay graphic novel biography I picked up at the library on a whim. Very brief and skips over a lot. (How to Steal a Million and Charade not even mentioned?!? Horror of horrors. Also her first marriage is dwelt on quite a bit but her second marriage is literally like one page, then she's divorced.) The art is quite nice and did a good job of capturing actors and facial expressions. Overall just a bit of a letdown.

P.S. Not for kids. There's a page that shows her half naked (nothing explicit shown) in bed with William Holden. He's apparently still married at the time and he mentions he can't have kids because he's had a vasectomy.

[˗ˏˋ janet ˊˎ˗ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

Written by Luca, Audrey’s second son. Seemingly divided by some of her most notable movies as she talks about her life, upbringing and her marriage. I enjoyed the art style-it colorful and boxy perfect for the silhouettes of the late 40s through 60s that Audrey was known for. There wasn’t much information I didn’t already know but the story made up for that.

Recommend— sure, quick fun read for any movie fans.

[Fabiola · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Alla fine ci credo davvero... se noi tutti diamo più amore di quanto riceviamo, il mondo diventerà un posto migliore."

Meravigliosa graphic novel ispirata alla vita di Audrey Hepburn, un' attrice, e prima ancora una persona, straordinaria, elegante, attenta al prossimo e al bisognoso.

Disegni bellissimi, curati, vivi.

[Abby Greaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey <3

I love reading more and more about her. This graphic novel is a quick way of learning more about her and her life in a quick pace. The drawings captured her beautifully.

This story has me learning things that I never knew. Told from the start of her acting career, with her childhood years intertwined, you see how her experiences shaped her life in many ways.

I appreciated the film timeline at the end of the book as well.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy.

[angelofmine1974 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just simply amazing the illustrations and the story.

For the rest of the review, visit my Vlog at:

https://youtube.com/shorts/QRwSoFPZp5...

Enjoy!

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars - mostly because I LOVED the artwork! Audrey has never looked cuter! The story mostly focused on her love life and want for children. There was a lot missing but it was still a really nice read.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

La vita di una super donna a fumetti.
Ho scoperto alcune chicche che non conoscevo.
Belli i disegni (soprattutto le copertina dei vari capitoli con i meravigliosi abiti indossati da Audrey).

[Lara (Atlas Of Stories) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audrey Hepburn by Michele Botton, with illustrations by Dorilys Giachetto, is a graphic novel that offers a glimpse into the life of Audrey Hepburn. From her career as an actress to her dedication to family and her work as a UNICEF ambassador, this book is a charming journey through her life, brought to life with fun and beautiful illustrations.

Why did I decide to read this book?
I’ve been a fan of Audrey Hepburn’s movies for quite some time now. From the moment I saw Roman Holiday, I fell in love with her films. I also own two biographical magazines about her, covering both her life and her influence on fashion, filled with stunning pictures from her movies.

When I found this graphic novel on Everand, I knew it would be a fun and enjoyable read.

What did I like about this book?
The graphic novel format makes for an engaging and creative way to experience a biography. The illustrations are beautiful and bring a unique version of Audrey to the pages. I also enjoyed the glimpses into her personal life and the behind-the-scenes moments from some of her most famous films.

Overall, this book provides a simple yet charming overview of Audrey’s life, blending key moments into a visually appealing and quick read.

Would I recommend this book?
If you love Audrey Hepburn and enjoy graphic novels, this is a fun and quick read that’s worth picking up.

[Ayushi Verma · Rating 4 out of 5]

One often relates Hepburn’s memory to her one gorgeous style statement in the movie ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ but do we know anything beyond the fact that Hepburn was a talented Oscar winning actress and a pretty woman, because as it turns out she was indeed much more than that!

Hepburn had seen the horrors of the Second World War, intense hunger and rationing in everyday life as a child and tending to the wounded soldiers as a young woman. She dreamt of becoming a famous ballerina but life took an unexpected turn with acting. Hepburn dealt with childhood and family trauma that left her craving familial love all her life, almost a desperation for it in her love life and wanting to raise a family with children. She was successful or not is a story you unravel in this graphic novel. She has served as a UNICEF ambassador working diligently for children’s rights. Her life has been quite a ride with a lot of ups and downs but she took it all in her stride and never stopped putting in the efforts. Hepburn experienced all the prejudices that women her age had to face, even in her personal life but she also met beautiful people that changed her life for the better.

If you want to read about Hepburn’s life in a holistic manner, with a voice that you give her in your head this graphic novel will fit perfectly in your readings. Hepburn might be a different figure in your head, a princess, a New Yorker, a Parisian, or a social worker, these sketches might change that and evoke a whole new human being for you! This graphic novel is an intimate work by a preface from Hepburn’s own son, Luca Dotti, authored by Michele Botton and the colourful and beautiful artwork is done by Dorilys Giacchetto. I appreciate the fact that I’ll now remember the very talented Hepburn in different shades now!

Thank you @nbmgraphicnovels for the review copy!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this graphic novel about Audrey Hepburn. I liked the approach of taking a look a the woman instead of JUST the movie star. The artwork felt perfect for the story being told. I do think there were a few places where the writing assumed the reader had a certain amount of knowledge about Hepburn and her relationships going in...so there were a few places where I felt like I was missing information...actually checked to see if I'd missed a page that explained who a person was a few times (I hadnt). But all in all it was an interesting read and makes me want to learn more about her.

[PirateAriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una biografia molto accurata per la prima parte della vita di Audrey Hepburn ma che ho trovato molto frettolosa nel finale e che finisce per tralasciare alcuni elementi importanti degli ultimi anni di vita sia in campo professionale che nella vita privata.

D'altro canto i disegni sono stupendi e restituiscono l'eleganza, il portamento e lo stile di Audrey Hepburn: le illustrazioni sono molto molto fedeli non solo alla fisionomia dell'attrice e degli altri personaggi ma anche agli abiti iconici e alle atmosfere d'epoca.

[Joel Kramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel is a decent biography of Audrey Hepburn, but doesn't really go into any depth in any part of her life. If you just want a general breezy overview of who she was, this is perfect, but if you want something that spends more time on her early years or mentions her death you may want to read a more traditional biography. The art was very enjoyable, though, and did a good job of showing her aging and changing throughout her life.

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a true biography, this is not it. However, if you want a more poetic and slightly romantic look (though not totally sappy) at the woman, through an interpretation of what she might have said, then this is it. It is lovely hitting the highlights told by people who are fans, hopefully capturing the icon in a more human fashion. Sweet illustrations that keep the tone soft, mimicking what most feel about Hepburn.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good telling of the life of one of the most iconic actresses in the world in the form of a graphic novel. The illustrations were very beautiful depicting some of her most memorable fashion moments in a very fun style. I love how this not only tells the story of her life as a movie star but also tells us about her life as a mother and a humanitarian. All in all this book gives a short sweet look into the life of one of my favorite actresses.

[Tony Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un viaggio introspettivo dove a risalare non è solamente la diva che tutto il mondo ha conosciuto ma una donna vera, fragile e forte allo stesso tempo, con le sue paure, speranze, gioie che traspaiono anche dalle sue scelte cinematografiche come nelle sue scelte di vita. Una vita non facile ma che ha plasmato un carattere unico che emerge molto bene tra i dialoghi e le illustrazioni di questa graphic novel

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the artwork in this book but it fell a little flat for me. The book tells the story of Audrey Hepburn, but it skips most of her childhood and upbringing and just jumps to when she starts making movies and then ends abruptly without talking about how her life ends. I had to go on Wikipedia to read more about her because I wanted to know if she was still alive and what happened to her.

[Krisanne Knudsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet and quick biography of Audrey Hepburn--it's always fun to learn a bit more about one of the most elegant and compassionate women to grace the screen. She faced serious hardships in her life yet managed to move through the world with such gratitude and poise. Truly a woman without reproach.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork is not bad—and we get some nice comic renditions of some of Hepburn’s iconic looks, but this book should really just serve as an intro to Audrey Hepburn’s life as it just skims through major life events.

[Mara Zanardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Con dolcezza e con dei bei disegni viene raccontata la storia di Audrey Hepburn, nota al mondo per i suoi film.
Commovente e delicato, uno sguardo su una Audrey, permesso dal figlio Luca, che coglie quello che va oltre i suoi personaggi e la fama.