Much of prolific Auckland author Graeme Lay's writing is inspired by the history and cultures of the South Pacific islands, through which he has travelled extensively. However, his new historical fiction novel, Larry & Viv, is different to anything else he's ever written. The book tells the story of two of the 20th Century's most glamorous stars of stage and screen, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, and their 1948 tour Down Under. Evoking post-war life in New Zealand with great authenticity, Larry & Viv highlights Lay's "marriage to huge research" (as the late Max Cryer, whom the book is dedicated to, put it) and perpetual desire to get into the soul of his characters. Lay joins the show to discuss Larry & Viv and why the arrival of Olivier and Leigh here in 1948 was, up to that point, arguably the most glamorous visit New Zealand had ever experienced.
Graeme Lay Photo: Photo David White New Zealand Listener
