Good evening.

This is Inside the Cover.

Tonight's book is Haywire by Brooke Hayward.

This book was originally published in 1977 and then republished in 2011, with a new introduction by Buck Henry and an epilog by Hayward.

This was the book I finished on May 14th, 2026.

It is now time to go inside the cover.

If you enjoy show business and are a fan of celebrity, I think this will be a great book for you.

Brooke Hayward appeared on the August 15th, 1959 cover of Vogue magazine at the age of 22.

She went on to perform as an actress on Broadway, in the movies, and on television.

Her father, Leland Hayward, was a film, television, and stage producer.

He produced the original Broadway stage productions of South Pacific and The Sound of Music.

He was also a talent agent in Hollywood in the early 1940s, and his clientele included Fred Astaire, Jimmy Stewart, Boris Karloff, Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers, and Ernest Hemingway.

And by the way, Haywire was the name of Leland Hayward's Westchester estate.

Margaret Sullavan.

That's Sullavan, spelled with an A, Brookes mother, was also represented by Hayward.

Sullavan was an actress who made 16 films, including four with Jimmy Stewart.

She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1938, but she really preferred acting on the stage.

She was married to Henry Fonda from 1931 to 1933.

Margaret Sullavan married Hayward in 1936, when she was pregnant with Brooke.

They divorced in 1948.

Leland and Margaret had two other children.

Brooke Hayward was married to Dennis Hopper from 1961 to 1968.

You will recall that Hopper rocketed to fame with the 1969 film Easy Rider, which he also directed.

His costar was Peter Fonda, who was a childhood friend of Brooke.

And of course, Jack Nicholso made a big splash in that movie.

Hayward was married to orchestra leade Peter Duchin from 1985 to 2008.

After all that name dropping, let me just say that Hayward, who turned 89 this past July 5th, wrote a remarkable memoir that I found to be moving, meaningful and beautifully written.

Her candor about her family her relationship with her mother and father, the mental breakdowns of her mother and sister, and the suicides of her mother, sister and brother, who, incidentally was a co-producer of Easy Rider, makes this a powerful and engaging read.

Hayward started writing the book while following the Daniel Ellsberg trial in Los Angeles.

At the trial, she would sit next to the New York Times reporter Martin Arnold.

At dinner one evening, he asked her about her life, and after she described her childhood, his response was, ‘write it.

It's a book.

She demurred, but he insisted, saying, ‘Write three pages, beginning with your sister's death, and I'll tell you if you should continue.

He did, and she did.

It took her three years to finish the book.

She then turned her manuscript over to the talented, remarkable and legendary Bob Gottlieb at Knopf.

At the book's completion, he is alleged to have said, ‘Damn good.

Let's hope someone out there reads it.

The book was indeed a bestseller, and I, for one, am glad I discovered it and read it.

That's our show.

Tonight's book has been Haywire by Brooke Hayward.

It's been out for some time but what better excuse to visit your favorite used bookstore or your local library?

Good night.

And see you next time.

Till then, be well and keep reading.