About the Book:

The legendary Hollywood star blazes a fiery trail in this enthralling portrait of a brilliant actress and the movies her talent elevated to greatness.

In Dark Victory, noted film critic and biographer Ed Sikov paints the most detailed picture ever delivered of Bette Davis, the intelligent, opinionated, and unusual woman who was – in the words of a close friend – "one of the major events of the twentieth century." Drawing on new interviews with friends, directors, and admirers, as well as archival research and a fresh look at the films, this stylish, intimate biography depicts Davis's personal as well as professional life in a way that is both revealing and sympathetic.

With his wise and well-informed take on the production and accomplishments of such movie milestones as Jezebel, All About Eve, and Now, Voyager, as well as the turbulent life and complicated personality of the actress who made them, Dark Victory brings to life the two-time Academy Award–winning actress's unmistakable screen style, and shows you how Bette Davis's art was her own dark victory.

What people say:

"A refreshingly unsentimental and unapologetic biography ... Sikov's book is a valuable guide to an essential career." — The Washington Post

"[Sikov] is both a respected scholar and a delicious gossip, which makes him perfect to chronicle Davis's bravura life ... Essential reading for anyone interested in Bette Davis." — The New York Times

"Sikov makes a compelling case that despite her stylized mannerisms and clipped diction, Davis was an actress of genius in a way other stars such as Joan Crawford never were." — USA Today

"The biggest surprise of Sikov's perceptive and superbly written Bette Davis biography is that there are still fascinating details to be discovered." — Publishers Weekly

"A through and entertaining biography." — Chicago Sun-Times

About the Author:

Ed Sikov is an American film scholar and author. His books include Dark Victory: The Life of Bette Davis. He has taught film studies at several colleges and universities, including Colorado College and his alma maters Columbia University, and Haverford College.