Syphilis, alcoholism, infidelity, and indeterminate parentage may seem improbable touchstones in the back story of one who didn't so much portray as embody the blithe Maria in The Sound of Music. But as this memoir of her formative years makes clear, there is more gravitas to Andrews than meets the eye. From her childhood in rural England and initial forays into British theater, to her first massive successes on Broadway and in the West End--notably as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady--Home puts her celebrated career in context. While arguably offering more detail about the Andrews family than necessary, it nevertheless dishes wonderful anecdotes about legends and Andrews contemporaries like Noël Coward, Rex Harrison, Robert Goulet, Richard Burton, and Rodgers and Hammerstein, in prose as crisp and immaculate as the author herself. It also offers a revealing look into the intricate, exhaustive craft of performing--skills often taken for granted in tabloid times. Since the book ends just as Andrews is about to launch into the celluloid stratosphere, can Volume II be far behind? After Home, it would be most welcome. --Kim Hughes

Since her first appearance on screen in Mary Poppins, Julie Andrews has played a series of memorable roles that have endeared her to generations. But she has never told the story of her life before fame. Until now.

In Home: A Memoir of My Early Years, Julie takes her readers on a warm, moving, and often humorous journey from a difficult upbringing in war-torn Britain to the brink of international stardom in America. Her memoir begins in 1935, when Julie was born to an aspiring vaudevillian mother and a teacher father, and takes readers to 1962, when Walt Disney himself saw her on Broadway and cast her as the world's most famous nanny.

Along the way, she weathered the London Blitz of World War II; her parents' painful divorce; her mother's turbulent second marriage to Canadian tenor Ted Andrews, and a childhood spent on radio, in music halls, and giving concert performances all over England. Julie's professional career began at the age of twelve, and in 1948 she became the youngest solo performer ever to participate in a Royal Command Performance before the Queen. When only eighteen, she left home for the United States to make her Broadway debut in The Boy Friend, and thus began her meteoric rise to stardom.

Home is filled with numerous anecdotes, including stories of performing in My Fair Lady with Rex Harrison on Broadway and in the West End, and in Camelot with Richard Burton on Broadway; her first marriage to famed set and costume designer Tony Walton, culminating with the birth of their daughter, Emma; and the call from Hollywood and what lay beyond.

Julie Andrews' career has flourished over seven decades. From her legendary Broadway performances, to her roles in such iconic films as The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hawaii, 10, and The Princess Diaries, to her award-winning television appearances, multiple album releases, concert tours, international humanitarian work, best-selling children's books, and championship of literacy, Julie's influence spans generations. Today, she lives with her husband of thirty-eight years, the acclaimed writer/director Blake Edwards; they have five children and seven grandchildren.

Featuring over fifty personal photos, many never before seen, this is the personal memoir Julie Andrews' audiences have been waiting for.

Julie Andrews is the beneficiary of exceptional talent, hard work, good luck and the support of others. Many times she graciously calls out people who helped her in time of need, from timely advice to taking a risk, or who simply did something for which she was ever-grateful. That's the sweet and professional Ms. Andrews we all expect, and that part of her memoir was unsurprising, albeit very enlightening.

The surprise for most readers will probably be Julie's youth of humble origins and near poverty in rural England. I knew she was a child prodigy by twelve or so, but always assumed she had been at least middle class to have had that opportunity. Instead her family struggled to get by, compounded by alcohol and family breakup. Similarly, her real early years in the business were focused on the vaudeville circuit with her mother and stepfather, rather than highbrow appearances for the cultured set. The lessons learned were exceptionally valuable to Julie as she hit the big time on stage while still a teenager.

Julie clearly loved her Dad immensely, generous with his loving support throughout, even though absent when Mom split for Ted Andrews. She could easily have fallen off the tracks without Dad and Aunt Joan and some teachers. Her loyalty to Dad when Mom confesses to Julie's true paternal origins was touching.

A book of all sweetness and modest tell-all would be insufficient. The author's tale of the home life is frank, without being mean or vindictive. She understands the struggles of her Mom, who still did a lot for young Julie, and the sad decline. Fortunately, Julie had the gifts and will to survive as a teen and hold the family together enough. The image of sweet and innocent Julie masked a tough girl who got by, even when she didn't really know what was going on or what to do. She is honest about how often she came close to failure, again calling out her good fortune at key moments.

The stories behind "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot" and other productions include enough spice to keep the narrative moving, with insights about Rex Harrison, Richard Burton and so many others.

At the end, when Walt Disney has charmed Julie and Tony into "Mary Poppins", it's amazing that such a good memoir has been written, while the author's two most known achievements have yet to occur.

Some film clips with audio of the young Julie are out there on the Internet, and make a nice companion to the book.

4.5 stars

This book is written with irresistible honesty.
So I believe it can help some readers in their commitment
to that Land "somewhere over the rainbow" where the Author
probably can be found among the dearest Queens, in the grace
of God and in the grateful people's love. And it's to such
people that the book really looks like an invitation HOME.

What a delightful woman and what a challenging childhood. That she survived with her spirit intact has to have something to do with her gift - a pitch perfect voice. The appreciation she received from her teachers and audiences must have filled in for the lack of parenting. I hope she does a sequel about her life in America.

By now, most everyone who wishes to read this book knows many of the details. But to me, there are two extraordinary things that have become obvious about Dame Julie. First, she writes this book much like she speaks. It's as if she were reading it to me in her own special style. Refined, and with a well developed grasp of the English language. And yet, she has had virtually little, if any, formal education. Her mother put a halt to her tutoring by the age of 14, and she may have received an education that is barely the equivalent of junior high school! How did she manage that? Secondly, after reading about the performances for The Boy Friend, My Fair Lady, Cinderella, and Camelot, it is clear she had a work ethic that approached Herculean stature. Wow!! She has openly admitted that she wondered how she managed to get through it all. Sony Pictures has recently committed to do a film remake of My Fair Lady. The only rightful choice for the role of Henry Higgins' mother is Dame Julie. There are only two scenes for this role, and the last line for her is: "Bravo, Eliza!" Now, fellow Dame Julie admirers, wouldn't that just be ...."Loverly"? And do read this book.

Julie Andrews' greatly anticipated book Home : A Memoir Of My Early Life is just as it should be - honest, practical, humourish, and told without a whiff of vengence or spite.
Like so many other child/young adult stars of film, theatre, TV, Julie Andrews was the daughter of a woman with driving ambition to become a star of vaudeville, who even sacrificed her marriage to Julie's school teacher father to achieve it.
Though this must have proved devastating to a young Julia Wells, who adored her gentle father, there is never any sense of acrimony from the author and certainly no sense of self pity.
Julia Wells comes across as an "old head on young shoulders" as she learns to negotiate the minefield of life, maintaing a close relationship with her father and joining her mother and new step-father - Ted Andrews -treading the boards in vaudeville.
Her sense of loyalty and duty to her now alchoholic mother and fractious step father as they struggle to find enough work to keep them in lodgings
is rewarded when Ted discovers his step daughter Julie has a natural singing voice of her own.And this where the singing career of Julie Andrews begins.
Like Petula Clark's early career, radio beckons as do live concerts, and Julie becomes a great favourite with the war time British public who give her standing ovations - not bad for a 12 year old !
But along the way Julie meets and befriends neighbour Tony Walton - who she will later marry - and a fascinating insight into how these incredibly talented kids had their careers mapped out at an early age emerges.
Having read Richard Rogers autobiography, I was familiar with how Miss Andrews goes to try out for a part in the musical Cinderalla, with Richard Rogers. Her recollection is much the sames as his,and again Rogers' kindness to her and generosity of spirit when he advises Julie that although he would be more than happy if she consented to do Cinderalla for him, that if she gets the nod to do the My Fair Lady lead as Eliza Doolittle for which she has also auditioned - then she should take it. And take it she did - with the rest as we say, being history.
The wear and tear on her voice singing as Eliza night after night and month after month finally took its toll - even though she has always taken great care of her voice and its correct usage.
This is a fine book, full of interesting stories about the Wells family and her mothers family that are shared with us warts and all - yet always the love of family and loyalty to that family shows through.
This isn't a rags to riches story based on "luck".
Julie tells it as a life of hard work balanced with schoolwork, performing,and of having to travel long distances on a weekly basis to continue her singing lessons with her much loved teacher
It is this eye for detail and perfection, plus utter professionalism that drives Julie Andrews on to greater heights - the West End and then Broadway beckon, with great success, and a career beyond which will hopefully be covered in her next autibiography - part 2.