I read this because I wanted to know more about Coward, and the book delivered on that, in spades. The details of Coward's career, from its (and his) infancy to the heights he achieved later in life, were thoroughly and meticulously laid out. It was the second biography by Morley I read as part of Dean Street December 2024, and this one was an easier read. 

It felt like that was in large part due to the very obvious affection the biographer had for his subject. In his Niven biography, Morley came across as almost ruthlessly dispassionate, detailing Niven's many failures and failings both personal and professional in minute (at times almost mindnumbing) detail. The mindnumbing minutiae in THIS biography is reserved for descriptions of the sets and stages of many of Coward's plays. Coward's professional failures are mentioned, but not any personal ones. Even the mother Coward adored comes in for more critical scrutiny than he does. 

Coward was godfather to Morley's son, and that sort of closeness gave this work a much softer focus than his Niven biography. Another factor that likely contributed to the warmer, less clinical feel was that Morley first wrote the book while Coward was alive, with his consent and cooperation, whereas the Niven biography was literally a post-mortem. 

In the prologue Morley states "This was, then, always intended to be a career book and it remains just that." Despite that assertion there are many comments from people who knew him about Noel Coward the person in the biography, but they are without exception positive. Morley states in the prologue to the 1985 edition that he had specifically told Coward he would be talking to Coward's enemies as well as his friends, but if he did, nothing they said made the cut (unless critical reviews count). 

 The book's almost-exclusive focus on Coward's professional life was made much easier because of the length of that career and the staggering breadth and variety of it. Detailed descriptions of the genesis, development and performances of Cowards theatrical productions, songs and films made this a dense read, and an interesting one. I knew he was a  famous playwright, of course, but for me he was primarily a  clever songwriter whose ditties my Dad enjoyed (to this day I often find myself singing "unpack your troubles from your old kit bag and nag, nag, nag" to myself), this book showed that he deserved to be called a genius. A single-minded, determined and (often excessively) hardworking genius. One comment from an actor he worked with summed up many similar remarks throughout the book 

 Morley stated in his prologue that he told Coward the book was not going to be a fan book, but it is obvious throughout that he was a fan. A fan who did a great job of recounting a remarkably gifted life and career with incredible attention to detail. That it gave me the opportunity to also compare the same writer's approach to two different life stories was an added bonus.  That it increased my sympathy for David Niven who never got such kind treatment was collateral kindness, I guess.