When I was growing up, Elizabeth Taylor was probably more known as Michael Jackson’s goofy, boozy pal than the sultry sex symbol she became famous for in the 1950’s and 60’s. But in Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger’s new book, Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century, readers get a backstage pass to the volatile, red-hot romance between two of the greatest actors from Hollywood’s golden age.

They were married and divorced twice over two productive, but hard-partying decades — and Taylor was more than capable of drinking him under the table. And it’s been reported that right before Burton died of a brain hemorrhage at age 58, he had sent one last letter to his old flame, which she received a few days after his funeral, and apparently still sits on her nightstand to this day.

*NOTE: The stunning French version of The V.I.P.s below (middle, right) was done by Roger Soubie.