Page 27 - IFV June Issue 2025

Book Reviews

Juliet Prowse: Born to Dance
BY JULIET E PROWSE

uliet Prowse was a young South
African dancer who burst into
Jthe international spotlight in her
first Hollywood movie. Considered
talented and exotic, she caught
the media’s attention, and her
engagement to Frank Sinatra fuelled
their fascination further. But was it
true love, and what did Sinatra make
of Juliet’s relationship with Elvis
during G.I. Blues? Unhappy with 20th
Century Fox, Juliet broke out of her
contract, created her own company featured on the international stage for
and became one of the highest-paid over four decades.
dancers of her era. This story is personal. Told by Juliet’s
While Juliet won awards for Sweet niece, it includes Juliet’s words from
Great Big Beautiful Life Charity in Las Vegas and London, letters written to her mother, family

BY EMILY HENRY opening on Broadway seemed to be anecdotes and amusing insights from
elusive. Juliet continued to build her those who worked with Juliet. With
hen Margaret Ives, world-class modern dance company, her endless legs and playful charm,
the famously reclusive winning Female Entertainer of the Juliet had many romances and married
Wheiress, invites eternal Year in Las Vegas three times with actor John McCook of The Bold and
optimist Alice Scott to the balmy competition from Liza Minnelli, Barbra the Beautiful. But in her search for love
Little Crescent Island, Alice knows Streisand and Shirley MacLaine. By the and professional fulfilment, could she
this is it: her big break. And even mid-1970s, she was on a $1 million accomplish it all?
more rare: a chance to impress her contract as a Desert Inn Million Dollar
family with a Serious Publication. Baby. Considered a triple threat, Juliet Price: R310.0
The catch? Pulitzer-prize winning
human thundercloud, Hayden My Life in Red and White
Anderson, is sure of the same thing. BY ARSèNE WENGER
The proposal? A one-month trial
period to unearth the truth behind here is only one Arsène Wenger –
one of the most scandalous families and for the very first time, in his own
of the 20th Century, after which Twords, this is his story. In this definitive
she’ll choose who’ll tell her story. autobiography, the world-renowned,
The problem? Margaret only gives revolutionary football manager discusses
each of them tantalising pieces. his life and career, sharing his leadership
Pieces they can’t put together principles for success on and off the field.
because of an ironclad NDA and At Arsenal, Wenger won multiple Premier
an inconvenient yearning pulsing League titles, a record number of FA Cups, and
between them every time they’re in masterminded the historic ‘Invincibles’ season
the same room. of 2003-2004. He changed the game in England
And it’s becoming abundantly forever, popularising an attacking approach and changing attitudes towards
clear that their story, just like the nutrition, fitness and coaching methods – and towards foreign managers.
tale Margaret’s spinning, could be The book charts his extraordinary career, from his rise in France and Japan, where
a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad – he managed Nancy, Monaco and Nagoya Grampus Eight – clubs that also play in red-
depending on who’s telling it. and-white – to his twenty-two years at the helm in north London.

Price: R370.00 Price: R315.00

The Villager • June 2025 • 25