Julia James was born in Australia and through sheer stubbornness, paid her fare to England to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). She worked in repertory theatre through the 1950s and has more than a few good tales to tell of interesting lodging arrangements, 'borrowing' props and set dressings from obliging local businesses, mishaps on and off the stage and 'Barnaby Grudge', the troupe's cantankerous van. With moral support from her mother, sister and other family she trekked from agent to agent, small theatre to small theatre - but when still a minor, won a beginning in West End Theatre...and because she was still a minor, Mother had to sign the contract. Handy glossary of theatre slang/terms in the back of the book. Well-written with economy, Julia James had an obvious readiness to laugh at life.