Posted on 02/15/2009 6:31:14 PM PST by nickcarraway
Second World War songbird Vera Lynn, the voice behind The White Cliffs of Dover, will be giving a "full account" of her life in a new autobiography.
The 91-year-old British singer, who became a sweetheart to soldiers with songs such as We'll Meet Again, says her upcoming book — due out in June — will speak to her hard-luck upbringing in London's east end and cover her career from the time she began performing in local clubs to her post-war life.
"People have been hearing about me for many years, I know, but the publishers think it is a story that will be surprising," Lynn told The Guardian newspaper.
"There is a section on the war years, of course, and on the visits to Burma. But there will also be memories from later in my life."
Lynn, born Vera Margaret Welch, said she wants the public see her as a person and not just an institution. Putting her life 'in a proper context'
The performer is an icon for many who survived the war. Not only did she perform on radio, but she also went to visit British troops all over the world.
Publisher HarperCollins says Some Sunny Day will be different from a memoir the singer penned in the 1970s.
"She has reached a point in her life where she can put it all in a proper context," said Kate Latham of HarperCollins, who says the book will be a "full account" of the singer's life. The memoir coincides with the 70th anniversary of the start of the war in 1939.
"Her story is one of a woman in extraordinary times."
Latham said there are plans to adapt the book into a movie.
Lynn, who turns 92 next month, said she will do a book tour of Britain when the autobiography is published.
She was appointed a Dame of the British Empire in 1975.
I've often thought what happened to her? This is so cool she is writing a book!
sw
Sure do, even if she was before my time.
Great music then.
“Gee, my dad’s only 82 and he has a hard time remembering what he had for breakfast.”
LOL, note to self: Start autobiog early.
She was the soul of that small island during some tough times.
There’ll always be an England.
Wire your house for sound recording.
Bring the boys back home.
Bring the boys back home.
Dont leave the children on their own, no, no.
Bring the boys back home.
I didn't know very much about Vera Lynn until about a year ago when I heard her on youtube. I have to admit she was shockingly, awesomely talented. I love her voice in After the Rain and I'm Yours, Sincerely.
Even her facial expressions in these videos are endearing. She's not really classically beautiful but she comes across as an 100% genuine English girl. It's easy to understand the powerful effect she must have had on listeners during the War and how her songs would appeal on an individual level.
help! i need to find out who manages Vera Lynn’s songs, for copyright reasons... we want to use one for a program..
txs
http://www.davidhigham.co.uk/html/News/Item-302
This is her literary agent for the book, they might be able to point you in the right direction.
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