Seen from the Wings

There have been several autobiographies written by the children of illustrious film actresses—Christina and Joan Crawford, Maria Riva and Marlene Dietrich, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. Each book lays bare the stark reality of being raised in Hollywood, where the glamour and drama of being raised by world-renowned parents is tempered by the pressure to succeed in life and love in the shadow of Hollywood perfection. Now, add to that list the story of Francesca Knittel Bowyer, daughter of Luise Rainer—the first woman to win two Academy Awards before the age of 30. Knittel Bowyer describes her desperate need to become independent from a mother who was almost never pleased, especially when she felt upstaged, and chronicles her journey to find her life's purpose and to define herself as an individual.

There have been several autobiographies written by the children of illustrious film actresses—Christina and Joan Crawford, Maria Riva and Marlene Dietrich, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. Each book lays bare the stark reality of being raised in Hollywood, where the glamour and drama of being raised by world-renowned parents is tempered by the pressure to succeed in life and love in the shadow of Hollywood perfection. Now, add to that list the story of Francesca Knittel Bowyer, daughter of Luise Rainer—the first woman to win two Academy Awards before the age of 30. Knittel Bowyer describes her desperate need to become independent from a mother who was almost never pleased, especially when she felt upstaged, and chronicles her journey to find her life's purpose and to define herself as an individual. Francesca Knittel Bowyer's is a life woven with adventure. She went from theater actress to editor at Harpers Magazine; recognizably as the first Devil Wears Prada girl, then from art dealer to executive at a highly prestigious advertising agency. Meanwhile, she worked tirelessly as a devoted and sometimes single mother raising two daughters and while escaping abusive relationships and marriages. In this poignant, true story of a daughter, wife and mother who escapes from the trappings of her golden upbringing in the villas of Europe and the mansions of Beverly Hills, Knittel Bowyer reveals how her imperious mother and gentle-hearted father affected her relationships, choices and happiness. All these life experiences resulted in her catapulting herself into a new and positive life path of faith, peace and self-acceptance.

Francesca Knittel Bowyer was born in 1946 to Luise Rainer, an Austrian actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and publisher Robert Knittel. Though her mother's Hollywood career was virtually over by the time she was born, it overshadowed her childhood and influenced the decisions she would make later in life. Her memoir is not simply about her mother, who has always been the key factor in her life, but rather about her mother's influence on her life. Luise Rainer weaves her way through the story with threads of possessive love, jealousies and passionate opinions about her daughter's every move. This is a story of the fine line between love and hate and of the importance of loyalty. It is a story about people whose lives and minds are so different, yet whose worlds and persuasions follow a parallel path. There are no mistakes, only learning experiences and a host of stories to tell.