Sparks Fly Upward, published in 1981 by Stewart Granger, is the forthright and entertaining autobiography of the celebrated British actor known for his swashbuckling roles in classics like Scaramouche and King Solomon’s Mines. Granger candidly recounts his rise from humble beginnings in England—his early film work, wartime service, and breakthrough at Gainsborough Studios—to Hollywood stardom. Alongside behind‑the‑scenes anecdotes featuring icons like Ava Gardner and Howard Hughes, he shares glimpses into his personal life, including marriages to Elspeth March and Jean Simmons, and the tragedies and debts that dogged his later years. Illustrated with photographs, the memoir is rich in self‑deprecating wit, revealing a reflective man navigating ambition, love, and the often brutal demands of fame—though it concludes around 1960, leaving his later decades untold.
