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Don Bachardy: An Artist's Life
Complete with never-before-seen photos and a selection of iconic artworks, an unfiltered and intimate chronicle of the storied Hollywood life of Don Bachardy, the acclaimed portrait artist who, as famed author Christopher Isherwood’s life partner, was half of America’s most famous gay couple for over three decades, and whose subjects and friends include an astounding array of Hollywood and literary celebrities.
“Believe me baby, this is not just a book, sugar, it's a marvelous dance with words, enchanting, heady and daring!” —Liza Minnelli
A figure as fascinating as any of his celebrated subjects, Don Bachardy has lived an extraordinary life at the heart of Hollywood, literary, and artistic circles. His drawings and paintings reside in museums throughout Europe and the United States, and include portraits of movie stars, writers, artists, and public and private figures of every background—from Bette Davis and Joan Crawford to Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote—all rendered in a candid, expressive style unmistakably the artist’s own.
In this unique oral biography, Bachardy recounts his astonishing story, providing illuminating recollections of celebrity portrait sittings and revelations about his 30-year relationship with Christopher Isherwood. From their meeting in the 1950s until Isherwood’s death in 1986, theirs was a legendary love story, courageous and uncompromising for its time, and remarkable in any era for the creative collaborations and art it continues to inspire.
Drawn from one-on-one interviews and conversations conducted at the Santa Monica home Bachardy shared with Isherwood, Michael Schreiber has crafted a biography unlike any other, filled with tantalizing celebrity tales set against the backdrop of Bachardy’s artistic and personal journey. Wise, warm, and thoroughly unflinching, this is a fresh and revealing portrait of a life lived with boundless bravery, curiosity, and love.
“Believe me baby, this is not just a book, sugar, it's a marvelous dance with words, enchanting, heady and daring!” —Liza Minnelli
A figure as fascinating as any of his celebrated subjects, Don Bachardy has lived an extraordinary life at the heart of Hollywood, literary, and artistic circles. His drawings and paintings reside in museums throughout Europe and the United States, and include portraits of movie stars, writers, artists, and public and private figures of every background—from Bette Davis and Joan Crawford to Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote—all rendered in a candid, expressive style unmistakably the artist’s own.
In this unique oral biography, Bachardy recounts his astonishing story, providing illuminating recollections of celebrity portrait sittings and revelations about his 30-year relationship with Christopher Isherwood. From their meeting in the 1950s until Isherwood’s death in 1986, theirs was a legendary love story, courageous and uncompromising for its time, and remarkable in any era for the creative collaborations and art it continues to inspire.
Drawn from one-on-one interviews and conversations conducted at the Santa Monica home Bachardy shared with Isherwood, Michael Schreiber has crafted a biography unlike any other, filled with tantalizing celebrity tales set against the backdrop of Bachardy’s artistic and personal journey. Wise, warm, and thoroughly unflinching, this is a fresh and revealing portrait of a life lived with boundless bravery, curiosity, and love.
453 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
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January 22, 2026
Such a terrific book. I have been a huge fan of Christopher Isherwood and have been aware of his very long relationship with Don Bachardy but this book really turns the spotlight on Bachardy in a fascinating way. The author has done his research expertly and the book is really a series of long interviews. Don Bachardy, although 90 years old when this was published has a very clear view of his entire life and is able to fill in all the blanks so to speak. His escapades of sneaking into Movie Premieres in the 1940’s and 50’s are interesting down to the last detail and the remarkable fact that he was able to draw portraits of some of his favorite screen gods and goddesses years later is almost amazing. His long career as a portraitist is documented in detail. He also is unstinting in sharing details of his life with Isherwood and his life alter ISHERWOOD’S death. I enjoyed this book to the point that I was sorry as I got close to the end as I was so pleased to be in Bachardy’s company as he reminisced.
Displaying 1 of 1 review