The Unexpurgated Beaton

The Cecil Beaton Diaries as he Wrote Them.

The unexpurgated diaries of Cecil Beaton, royal and society photographer, film and theatrical designer, and fascinating social chronicler.

Although in his lifetime Cecil Beaton published six short volumes of his diaries, he was shy of hurting the feelings of those he wrote about.

Hugo Vickers has gone back to the originals to produce the Beaton diaries as they were written. Beaton records a vigorous social life among hostesses such as Emerald Cunard and Sybil Colefax, performers including Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn (in the not wholly successful musical of Coco Chanel's life, 'Coco') and Marlene Dietrich, as well as artists from Cocteau and Picasso to Bacon and the young Hockney. Running through the diaries are his friendships with the Queen Mother, with Diana Cooper and Greta Garbo.

In this unexpurgated edition Vickers shows what Beaton really had to say about those with whom he worked. He could be waspish and brutal; these diaries are frank and uninhibited.