Cynics predicted instant doom for macrobiotic Madonna and pub-loving moviemaker Guy Richie’s union, but it lasted almost eight extraordinary years, all kicked off by a four-day celebrity carnival of a Highland marriage at a historic Scottish castle. The phenomenal partnership of the self-created entertainment sensation and the very British bloke remains a global fascination. Its conclusion has only heightened the interested of what went on—and what went wrong—during the marriage. This rollercoaster ride of a story covers Madonna’s private life in America and London, her tastes, tantrums, fears, joys, and the truth behind her turbulent relationships. Having reported on Madonna for nearly two decades, Douglas Thompson now gives the full account of their turbulent time together. He explains why Madonna, the mistress of reinvention, decided at 50 to rewrite the mid-life rules.