Elizabeth Taylor's longest love affair began early: 'By the age of fifteen I really did have a new love in my life; jewelry. And I've been loyal to that love ever since.' In a life in which every facet has been marked by supreme glamour, excitement and passion, there has been one recurring theme - fabulous jewels. Now Miss Taylor's collection will be revealed with the publication this autumn of Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair With Jewelry. With an introduction by François Curiel, Head of Christie's Jewelry Department Worldwide, and photographs by John Bigelow Taylor, the book, from publishers Simon & Schuster, is a magnificent testament to perhaps the greatest private collection of jewels formed in the 20th century. But it is not just the dazzling illustrations of world-class gems which make this book so special. 'My memories are the real jewels of the book,’ says Miss Taylor. 'The stories that accompany these pieces of jewelry have sort of tumbled out... Looking at these beautiful pieces has invariably stirred up many moving memories and reminded me of some truly outrageous times. I mean, how many young women get a set of rubies just for doing something wholesome like swimming laps? Or win a diamond ring at ping-pong with their husband?' Writing in a strikingly lively and conversational style, Miss Taylor recalls episodes from every stage of her life. She conjures up the applause-struck three-year-old who had to be removed from the stage, still curtsying, after her first performance; the anxious 12-year-old saving her allowance for her first jewelry purchase, a gem-set pin for her mother; and the rising star of Hollywood, fêted by everyone, and given jewelry by the special few. The book bears the dedication: 'To my beloved Mike and Richard, the two greatest loves of my life. And to my children, without whom there would have been no life.' Miss Taylor's lasting affection for Mike Todd and Richard Burton is symbolised by the many magnificent stones they gave her; the 'Mike Todd diamond ear pendants' and the 'Taylor-Burton diamond' both make prominent appearances in the book. In recent years Miss Taylor has dedicated herself to the fight against HIV/AIDS. She established The Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation (ETAF) in 1991, which so far has distributed more than $8 million to provide support for those with HIV and education programmes for those most at risk from the virus. The book’s publication provides a new opportunity for raising funds for ETAF. A selection of Miss Taylor's jewels will be exhibited at Christie's in New York and London. Meanwhile, a special auction will be held in Christie's Rockefeller Center headquarters in New York on 26 September. The invitation-only event will see nine items of jewellery go under François Curiel's hammer. Inspired by Miss Taylor, the pieces have been designed and donated by the finest names in jewellery - Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, JAR, Nakamura, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston, Paloma Picasso and Tiffany & Co - and 100% of proceeds from the sale will benefit ETAF. The evening will be attended by Miss Taylor, who has herself donated to the auction a magnificent emerald and diamond ring by Bulgari.