The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock: An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense by Edward White

 Hitchcock stands alone in the Hollywood canon:  a director whose mythology eclipses the brilliance of his myriad classic movies.

Edward White, The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock (W.W. Norton, 2021)

There are currently many books about Hitchcock.  The best analysis of his films is Robin Wood's 1965 Hitchcock's Films and the best biography is Patrick McGilligan's from 2004.  Edward White's book is the best attempt so far to combine Hitchcok's life and his films.  The twelve lives range from "The Boy Who Couldn't Grow Up" to "The Man of God" and include essays on everything from Hitchcock as a fat man to Hitchcock as a Londoner.  White explores every rumor and theory about Hitchcock and is even able, to a certain extent, to separate the stories about Hitchcock (many of which he promoted himself) from something near the truth, e.g., Hitchcock told Francois Truffaut that it was his original idea to reveal the important plot twist in Vertigo (that Judy and Madeleine are the same person) when he did, whereas White's research shows that he had to be persuaded by Paramount executives.  And White shows that Hitchcock could even be his own worst enemy. e.g.. his late films (Torn Curtain 1966 and Topaz 1969) often have their artistic quality compromised because of his relationship with Universal, just as some of his early American films (Rebecca 1940, The Paradine Case 1947) were compromised by his relationship with producer David O. Selznick.

White does bring to light, with many examples, Hitchcock's passion for detail, including costuming (even if the designer was Edith Head) to art direction (even if the art director was Henry Bumstead) and how it extended to and affected his personal and family life.  White's book will certainly add to one's viewing of Hitchcock's films, adding another layer to their impressive quality as both art and entertainment.