Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life

by Stephen Michael Shearer

The internationally acclaimed actress Patricia Neal has been a star on stage, film, and television for nearly sixty years. On Broadway she appeared in such lauded productions as Lillian Hellman's Another Part of the Forest, for which she won the very first Tony Award, and The Miracle Worker. In Hollywood she starred opposite the likes of Ronald Reagan, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Paul Newman, Fred Astaire, and Tyrone Power in some thirty films. Neal anchored such classic pictures as The Day the Earth Stood Still, A Face in the Crowd, and Breakfast at Tiffany's, but she is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Alma Brown in Hud, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1963. But there has been much, much more to Neal's life. She was born Patsy Louise Neal on January 20, 1926, in Packard, Kentucky, though she spent most of her childhood in Knoxville, Tennessee. Neal quickly gained attention for her acting abilities in high school, community, and college performances. Her early stage successes were overshadowed by the unexpected death of her father in 1944. Soon after she left New York for Hollywood in 1947, Neal became romantically involved with Gary Cooper, her married co-star in The Fountainhead, an attachment which brought them both a great deal of notoriety in the press and a great deal of heartache in their personal lives. In 1953, Neal married famed children's author Roald Dahl, a match that would bring her five children and thirty years of dramatic ups and downs. In 1961, their son, Theo, was seriously injured in an automobile accident and required multiple neurosurgeries and years of rehabilitation; the following year their daughter, Olivia, died of measles. At the pinnacle of her screen career, Patricia Neal suffered a series of strokes which left her in a coma for twenty-one days. Variety even ran a headline erroneously stating that she had died. At the time, Neal was pregnant with her and Dahl's fifth child, Lucy, who was born healthy a few months later. After a difficult recovery, Neal returned to film acting, earning a second Academy Award nomination for The Subject Was Roses. She appeared in a number of television movie roles in the 1970s and 1980s and won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Dramatic TV Movie in 1971 for her role in The Homecoming. Patricia An Unquiet Life is the first critical biography detailing the actress's impressive film career and remarkable personal life. Author Stephen Michael Shearer has conducted numerous interviews with Neal, her professional colleagues, and her intimate friends and was given access to the actress's personal papers. The result is an honest and comprehensive portrait of an accomplished woman who has lived her life with determination and bravado.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Media Tie In

508 pages, Hardcover

Published May 19, 2006

Reviews

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Patricia Neal ever since I was in junior high, and watched The Fountainhead for the first time. The strength of her performance, the incredible chemistry she shares with Gary Cooper, and the power of Ayn Rand's words, amazing!

Stephen Michael Shearer's biography, Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life, is a thorough accounting of Ms. Neal's entire life. From her humble roots to her quiet passing, Mr. Shearer also details every last bit of her acting career. Interspersed with quotes of those who knew her well, snippets from interviews, and tid-bits from her memoirs, An Unquiet Life seems a very honest assessment of this incredible woman's journey.

The audio is nicely performed by Christa Lewis.

thank you to Tantor Audio through NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook copy of Patrica Neal: An Unquiet Life, all opinions are my own

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I saw the movie To Olivia, starring Hugh Bonneville as Roald Dahl, the beautiful Keeley Hawes as Patricia Neal, and Sam Heughan (from Outlander) in a small but extremely impressive role as Paul Newman. That film was based on part of this biography, which is very well-written, researched in depth and clearly filled with love and admiration for Patricia Neal. Her life was definitely "unquiet," with success, heartache and tragedy in equal measures. Her survivor's spirit and joie de vivre shine through it all, and leave an inspiring legacy.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting bio about an underused stage and screen actress.
Amazing strength of character to deal with illness and death in her family, as well as her own series of strokes at the age of 39.
Would have liked more background info about the theater/film work. Would have liked more analysis/examination of her acting.
Great photos.
Will send readers scurrying to the library in search of Neal's films.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After watch "Hud" recently, I was struck by Patricia Neal. She managed to steal the movie from Paul Newman. After that feat I was intrigued. What a life! This biography was well researched & written in a way that really captured Neal's voice. I felt emotionally caught up in her life. The author is clearly a fan, but the book never turned into a gush feast.

[Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Patricia Neal has traveled the road from triumph to despair in ways few of us can imagine. There is a sincerity and dedication behind this work." -- Paul Newman

Patricia Neal (1926-2010) was born in Packard, Kentucky, but spent most of her childhood in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was a exceptionally talented actress known for her lengthy film career including over thirty films starring with leading men Gary Cooper, Ronald Reagan, John Wayne and John Garfield. Her recognition in the film industry won her many awards including a Golden Globe and a Tony Award.

Along with Patricia Neal's fame came love, heartache, affairs, abortion, a failed marriage, tragedy and illness (including strokes). This audiobook is a raw, honest and open account of her life. The author interviewed Patricia on several occasions in preparation for the book. Before her death she was very adamant that she wanted the truth about her life published in her memory.

This audiobook is over 15 hours detailing Patricia Neal's behind the scenes film career and personal life. It includes a eye-opening complex look at Hollywood during the 1940's and 1950's.

Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life Audiobook by Stephen Michael Shearer is narrated by Christa Lewis. It will be published Dec 28, 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the free e-book in exchange for my honest review.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patricia Neal's biography by Stephan Michael Shearer is a real treat for Hollywood history enthusiasts and classic movie fans.

The book follows Neal's life story from her early childhood to her last years, all told in a really taking way. Biographies don't leave a lot of room for creativity in theory, but in practice they can really shine with compelling writing and a candidness that Shearer pulls off with wonders.

What I particularly appreciated was how much real-life detail went into Neal's movie career, as opposed to books that simply list a few anecdotes and movies before moving right along. Neal's life feels human and full, with good as well as terrible times. Her biography is a welcome surprise, especially to readers unfamiliar with her work. It's rare to find a book so interesting that you can read it without having in-depth knowledge of all the movies referenced.

All in all, I'd recommend this to classic movie buffs and anyone interested in the business & career side of Hollywood, where actors hustle for work and try to balance their personal lives with professional considerations. It's all strangely relatable given how distant Hollywood can feel at times.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for sharing an e-copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review.

[Reeca Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patricia Neal was an acclaimed actress with a Golden Globe and an Academy Award under her belt. She was married to the famous author, Roald Dahl. She had several dramatic ups and downs in her life but she still managed to do some amazing accomplishments..

I had never heard of Patricia Neal…I know…GASP! I have probably seen a good bit of her work and just did not realize who she was. I love her tenacity and her intelligence. It is hard to believe all of her life changes. Her life was definitely a challenge. She was full of strength and fortitude!

The only thing holding me back from giving this 5 stars is all of the descriptions of every show, movie, play Patricia was ever in. In my opinion, and it is only my opinion, this could have been left out and just hit the high spots or just give a synopsis of the ones that she won awards for. This made the biography a bit long and tedious in places.

The narrator, Christa Lewis is excellent! I am on the lookout for more books read by her!

Need a good, old Hollywood biography…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is very informative regarding all her performances. It was almost like reading an encyclopedia sometimes. The personal side was not as in depth, but still informative. The author quoted from her autobiography sometimes and I kept asking myself why was I not reading that book instead. I didn't know that much about Patricia Neal before reading it and now I know a lot more so that makes it worth reading if you are interested in this person.
I won the book through Goodreads and thought it was an ARC. When I read the praises on the book jacket they were from two celebrities who are no longer alive. Surprised by this I looked at the publishing date and it was from 2006. Just wondering why it was offered in 2021.

[Arika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life of Patricia Neal is a very interesting topic to listen to in an audiobook, she achieved a great many successes and went through some very difficult situations. I started this book with very little knowledge about Miss Neal, so the thought of an 16 hour audiobook was a bit daunting. The book covers her entire life in great detail and gives the reader many interesting facts. I found that the more I listened, the more I wanted to know, it was very easy to get engrossed in the story. I always enjoy listening/reading books about the 40's, 50’s and 60’s. Miss Neal endured many sad times but persevered and grew stronger with each one. She was a very tough lady and an amazing actress. I thought the narration was done beautifully and was very easy to listen to. ⅘ stars

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

She was a complex woman who had a difficult life and overcame many challenges. The author opts for achronological retelling of her life, without much analyzing. I enjoyed it just because I knew very little about her, and the book was a look into the old Hollywood of the 1940s and 50s.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

I would read again, very informative. Lots of hardships in her life,she was a wonderful women, didn't know her own strength

[Amy Roebuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing woman, in a story well, thoroughly and fairly told.
Now I have a list of movies of hers that I need to source.

[Poptart19 (the name’s ren) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

A wonderful biography! Patricia Neal had a truly fascinating life, & this book is a tender & honest portrayal of her career, family life, health struggles, philanthropy, & spiritual journey. I really enjoyed it.

[What I liked:]

•Thoroughly researched, this biography manages to include so many details about Neal & her life I never knew without getting bogged down in an emotionless recitation of facts.

•The biographer interviewed Neal several times & became friends with her, staying in touch until her passing. He doesn’t white wash Neal’s difficult moments or her mistakes & regrets, but you can tell he admires her. Neal’s story is told with warmth & humor, & her resilience & personality shine through.

•I’ve been familiar with Neal as an actor since childhood (especially in The Homecoming, & in Heidi), but I didn’t know much about her. Her life story is fascinating, from her early success on the stage, to her relationships with Cary Grant & Roald Dahl, to her struggles with severe health issues (& those of her children). I only admire her all the more having read this!

[What I didn’t like as much:]

•This book is quite long. There is a lot to tell, & it was worth the read for me, but it’s a time commitment.

CW: child death, infidelity

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]