The Story of a Life

Начало книги

In June 1964, having just alighted from her plane in Moscow, Marlene Dietrich was mobbed by reporters. The actress had arrived in the Soviet Union for a concert tour, and the press was in a fever over the chance to interview the Hollywood legend. Bombarded by questions, Dietrich replied that there was only one thing she had to say: tell me all you know about Konstantin Paustovsky.

Dietrich had recently read a French translation of Paustovsky’s novella The Telegram and could not stop thinking about it and its author. For the next hour the reporters told her everything they knew about Paustovsky before Dietrich finally had to end the conversation and leave for her hotel.

On the night of the 13th, Dietrich performed for a gathering of writers, artists and actors at Moscow’s Central House of Writers. Before going out on stage, her interpreter came to the dressing room to tell Dietrich that Paustovsky was in the audience. She couldn’t believe it. ‘That’s impossible,’ she gasped, seized by an attack of nerves. She was unhappy with her performance that night, for she overexerted herself trying to make the best possible impression on the one man in Russia she had most wanted to meet.

Читать дальше →