Alec Guinness was a truly prolific actor, appearing in 77 films and 55 plays. An astonishing talent, he became a British institution, yet as his private self Guinness was a many-layered, complex man who shielded his emotions and displayed little of his real self. He died with a large part of the truth still hidden.

Now Garry O'Connor is able to reveal the full story of his remarkable life, including startling information on Guinness's childhood, his secret relationships and the fears that haunted him. Backed by impeccable research, including interviews with Guinness himself as well as those close to him, this riveting biography fills in the gaps, adding a new depth to our understanding not just of Guinness's life but of his remarkable acting ability.

'The more I think about this book, the more I come to believe that it is one of the truly great actor biographies of our time' Sheridan Morley, LITERARY REVIEW