I love Bogart and Bacall films and raced through this book. It's really readable. I thought there was more on Bogart than Bacall - perhaps because he was older and had a longer career. The author drew lots of different sources together and incorporated some really interesting details. The scenes relating Bogarts illness and final days were heartbreaking. An interesting read for fans of the films and golden age of Hollywood.

NetGalley, Emma Cannon

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Real Bogie and Bacall by Catherine Curzon is a fascinating, in-depth commentary on one of the most famous romances of all time, and one that I found very surprising for the wealth of facts and intrigue that I did not know. Absolutely brilliant!

NetGalley, Ink Reads

Author interview on History Hack - listen to the episode here!

History Hack

As seen in 'Best-selling author lifts the lid on Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall’s compelling and tragic love story'.

Read the article here!

Huddersfield Hub

Author interview on Lights, Camera, Author - watch the episode here!

Lights, Camera, Author!

Departing from her usual focus on eighteenth and nineteenth century British history, Catherine Curzon brings her incredible skill with the written word to Hollywood and the twentieth century in her latest book. Exploring the romance between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in all of its highs and lows, Curzon explores their histories, beginning with their childhood and early career, their joint appearances in To Have and Have Not (1944), and their tumultuous, wildly glamorous, and successful romance after that film. Curzon seeks to honestly and realistically tell this story amidst the backdrop of the golden age of Hollywood, and she successfully captures the atmosphere and glamor of the period in this book. As in her other books, she captures characters, setting, and historical context in this incredible biography of two Hollywood stars and brings them and their romance to life for readers who may or may not be familiar with these two figures. The organization of the book by their lives and relationship into three acts is clever and creative... Another fascinating and vibrant book by Curzon, this is a must-read for fans of Hollywood and her other history books.

NetGalley, Lily Amidon

I love reading about learning more about my favorite Hollywood couple and the golden age of Hollywood. This was a fast paced and easy to read book.

NetGalley, Kelsey Welch

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Humphrey Bogart, who endured a tough climb to stardom and battled alcoholism, found unexpected love with the much younger Lauren Bacall, a young model-turned-actress from New York. Despite his turbulent past and three failed marriages, Bogart's romance with Bacall, which began on the set of "To Have and Have Not," captivated the world. "The Real Bogie & Bacall" chronicles their unlikely yet enduring love story amidst the challenges and spotlight of Hollywood.

I have a fondness for “the Golden Age” of Hollywood and I’m always interested to learn more about the time. Humphrey Bogart is a well-known name, but I can’t say I knew much about him before I began reading. It was interesting to read about how he became an actor. I knew even less about Lauren Bacall, and it was fascinating how her path to her career was so different to that of her husband.

I’m always hesitant about love stories where there is a significant age gap, but it really did work for this couple. They supported each other in their careers and built a life together.

This is a book I would recommend to readers interested in the Golden Age of acting or are interested in learning about these two actors.

NetGalley, Bethany Swafford

This is a very comprehensive history of Bogie and Bacall’s relationship and there was a lot of really interesting things that I did not know. I have always loved this couple and their old movies so I really appreciate it and very very impressed with the research.

NetGalley, Roxi Wasmer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

While I loved Lauren Bacall's 1978 autobiography, written from her own point of view, to my surprise I found this account of my favorite love story of all time to be much more satisfying.

As a historian with a specialized interest in old Hollywood, author Catherine Curzon has the research chops to surround and permeate the story of Bogie and his Baby with needed context. Their story is enriched by knowing what was going on during the eras they lived in, as well as learning more about their relationships with friends, family, lovers, and the unique business that is the entertainment industry. Even the cities of New York and Hollywood are influential—and influenced—by this famous couple and are well-lit backdrops for Bogie and Bacall as they struggled with life choices while living in these entertainment-centric cities.

This larger scope brings so much more context to events and decisions that shaped Bogart and Bacall throughout their lives, forming them into two people instantly recognizable by anyone in America, and quite a few more globally.

Anyone who is intrigued as much as I am by this classic power couple, or by the early days of Hollywood, classic noir films, impossible relationships, or the cultural standards of decades past will find history coming to life in the pages of this excellent book.

NetGalley, Lori Alden Holuta

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Bogie and Bacall were one of the great romances of Hollywood. This intimate view of where they came from an how love flourished gives readers a new insight to their relationship. Must read for anyone who wonders how two opposites can attract.

NetGalley, Marianne Malone