Alfred A. Knopf
Beaton in the sixties; the Cecil Beaton diaries as he wrote them, 1965-1969.
Beaton describes one of the world's most famous, and still performing rock bands as "incredibly untidy" with their hashish. He appears to be incapable of taking a bad photograph of Katherine Hepburn but calls her a "viper." He gleefully reports his nemesis Evelyn Waugh died of snobbery. Beaton made the most of his significant artistic talents and rose to highest prominence in portraiture, theater and film set design, but especially in the strange, closed world of money and fame. Vickers, who is also Beaton's biographer, provides very helpful annotations for these diaries, written as Beaton was hanging out with rude rock stars, cohabiting with old money, at least on holiday, and having a doomed affair with Garbo. Readers get a little insight into Beaton's design theories but a much better understanding of why the world of 1965-69 could not last. Illustrated with a wealth of Beaton's portraits. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
