On Elizabeth Taylor: An Opinionated Guide
Oxford University Press, 2024

For publication in April 2024. I'm thrilled to announce a new book in the works. I've signed with Oxford University Press to pen ON ELIZABETH TAYLOR: AN OPINIONATED GUIDE. This will be a complete career assessment, covering her films, television work, theater, documentaries, and appearances on talk shows and awards ceremonies. The business of marriages, health, scandals, a perfume empire, and inspiring latter day political activism and fundraising for people with AIDS/HIV take a backseat here. The focus of ON ELIZABETH TAYLOR is her six-decade acting career, and the stunning charisma she brought to the screen. Taylor appeared in everything from masterpieces to garbage, making her legacy complex and intriguing. I'm honored to contribute to Oxford's "Opinionated Guide" series of important artists, and excited to write about someone I've loved for so long, and who is so huge in twentieth century popular culture. Thanks as ever for the ongoing support and encouragement of Oxford editor Norman Hirschy.

Advanced Praise for Elizabeth Taylor: An Opinionated Guide

"Immersive.... Fans of Taylor's legacy will find a treasure trove of information and opinion in this must-have filmography." —Bay Area Reporter

"Kennedy embarks on a scrupulous career overview that accounts for megahits, flops, and all manner of oddities in between... In the process, Taylor comes into view as one of the last great actors of the studio system.... those in the mood for a deep dive into the nooks and crannies of her oeuvre will be gratified. This belongs on the bookshelves of those who can't get enough of Hollywood's golden age." —Publishers Weekly

"[Kennedy's] concise, chronological biography is dedicated to delineating Taylor's entire career, including feature films, TV movies, stage productions, and countless guest appearances on TV series, talk shows, documentaries, and fundraisers. With Taylor's famous peccadilloes providing backstory content, Kennedy's reference-level filmography will delight fans and entice new converts to the Taylor bandwagon." —Booklilst

"Finally - an in-depth consideration of Elizabeth Taylor as an actress and not just as a movie star. Matthew Kennedy's astute analysis of her work reminds us that for all her glamorous and scandalous personal life, she was every bit as fascinating and complex onscreen." —William J. Mann, author of How to be a Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood

"What shines through these pages is Matthew Kennedy's passionate fondness for Elizabeth Taylor as a screen goddess like no other. But he's also smart in assessing her triumphs and her slip-ups, proving himself to be savvy indeed about the aesthetic implications of her choices." —Beverly Gray, author of Seduced by Mrs. Robinson: How The Graduate Became the Touchstone of a Generation

Pre-order at Oxford University Press