This biography of Richard Burton is written in Melvyn Bragg's very elegant, and readable style, although it also contains a considerable number of lengthy extracts from Burton's writings, to the point where it sometimes becomes more of a joint enterprise.

Burton was born Richard Jenkins in 1925, and this book shows that he was a man who overcame very humble beginnings as a son of a Welsh miner to become one of the greatest actors of his generation. He was intelligent, possessed a prodigious memory, a unique voice, and was generous to a fault with family and friends. Unfortunately he was also haunted by his demons; of alcohol; of always being very aware that his roots set him aside from many of his rivals; and of course of his passion for Elizabeth Taylor, one which led him into one of the most public relationships of the post war era, but which eventually contributed to the problems for which he is often remembered.

Melvyn Bragg details Burton's early life, his relationships with his family, particularly his father, his brother Ivor, and his elder sister Cecilia (Cis) and her husband, Elfed James, with whom he lived in the village of Pontrhydyfen, following the death of his mother. He grew up with their two daughters, Marian and Rhiannon, who he considered his sisters.

When he was seventeen he moved in with his teacher, Philip Burton, who became his legal guardian and helped launch his acting career, and whose surname he adopted. Philip was an inspirational English teacher, and mentor, who helped foster Richard's passion for acting and education, ultimately paving the way for his career, and entry to Oxford University. This relationship was the subject of a recent film, and it was a lifelong friendship, without which Richard might never have become the global superstar he was.

In the 1950s Richard established himself as a tremendous Shakespearean, actor, playing so many of the great roles such as Henry V, Othello, Prince Hal, Coriolanus, and, most famously, Hamlet. He appeared at the Old Vic, the Lyric, the RSC at Stratford, plus many other regional theatres, and later on Broadway. He was called the natural successor to Olivier by critic Kenneth Tynan. Burton is often accused of abandoning the theatre for the money and glamour of Hollywood, but in fact he returned the stage on numerous occasions, even after he became a global superstar.

He never really overcame his addiction to alcohol, and it was that which caused his early death at the age of only 58, although his marriages to Elizabeth Taylor led him down a road which many believe eventually undermined his life.

The quotes from his writings reveal a troubled man, and in fact I feel that Melvyn Bragg included too many of these, so that some sections of the book become more of a psychological dissection of Burton, than an account of his life. Nevertheless this is an absorbing account of one of the life of one of the giants of British acting, whose films are still among the best available. This year is the hundredth anniversary of his birth, and he is still remembered with affection, and respect for what he achieved.