And he lived to become tragically extravagant with the money he had and with his own talent.Ms Kingsland has said one other thing: that she and Burton were never seen together. He knew life about as tough and simple as it was in the British Isles in the Thirties. The women will tell you that there are always ways in which men grow older but stay young, while women grow wiser and lose their looks.Richard Burton is a significant example just because of those very humble and “ordinary” beginnings. Their superstition that somehow they are protected from dying, or growing old, is not that far removed from the habit.But they do die, and plenty of the marriages or relationships end up in the divorce court. What does prevail is the notion that successful men, with money and power, may command a succession of very young consorts.

In Hollywood, the tradition is built into the social structure – which is not quite the same as saying that rape is common there. Yet mature men are often attracted to women who are not of age. Burton was promiscuous, and one can also explain that haggard look on his face by saying that he could not care sufficiently about things – including his own crimes. It was a standard for him.But if it happened, it was rape – and no justification gets over that, unless one is prepared to abandon the principle of sexual protection for minors under the law.

But if she meant something profound to the actor, why is she not in the diary? I think it’s fair to say that in his worst times, Burton took some real pride in writing, and the fact of the diary. On the other hand, even her fuller version of what happened may end up sounding hollow or far-fetched Rosemary was older than Lolita when her affair took place. If Ms Kingsland can write, she might move us in her story, and add a lot to our sense of a troubled man. Or you can say that he was especially stricken because he knew that he could never overcome the gravest of temptations.Of course, we are minus the best witness, until Hold Back the Night is published. You can say that the religious spirit in him would have been shocked at the idea of an affair with a young girl – and he plainly had as much opportunity for adult sex as he could handle.

It’s there in his face (just as Jean Simmons has her smile), and it was strengthened later on by that burden of the greatest actor of his moment being dragged through the tabloids by Liz Taylor, and compelled to play in some atrocious movies.Now, you can read that stricken look in two ways. And I don’t think it’s going too far to see Burton as someone scarred by guilt and ruefulness. Later on in life, when rich, he was famously generous with money to family and friends. There was guilt among working men, and I’m sure this was passed down to Burton.