God and the Devil

‘A commanding portrait.’ Total Film

‘Indispensable . . . rich, engaging, thorough.’ Sight & Sound

‘Bergman’s films stand alone as beacons in film history.’ Wim Wenders

A chronicle of the life and career of one of film’s defining figures, God and the Devil draws on exclusive extracts from Bergman’s diaries, letters and production workbooks. Peter Cowie brings us close to the man and the artist, as he wrestled with themes of love, sex and betrayal – with the figure of Death always hovering overhead.

‘Cowie’s meticulously researched book maps the details of Bergman’s eventful personal life onto his characters and themes.’ Barney Horner, New Statesman

‘Scrupulous, accurate and trustworthy.’ Tom Shone, Sunday Times

‘Brings us as close to the man – and the artist – as we’re likely to get . . . Sure to become the definitive Bergman biography.’ Paula Hammond, Film Juice

‘ The mark of a good critical biography is that it sends you back to the work with fresh perspectives and renewed curiosity . . . This reader . . . came out wanting to watch or rewatch everything Bergman ever did.’ Wall Street Journal

‘Having met Bergman in 1969 and corresponded with him until 1995, veteran film author Peter Cowie is able to channel first-hand knowledge of Bergman into a book that’s respectful without being overly reverential.’ Matt Looker, Total Film