John Thaw: The Biography |
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Stafford Hildred, Tim Ewbank
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Pages: 256 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 0233994750
Pub: Andre Deutsch Ltd
Pub date: 1998-10-29
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 385466
Editorial Review:
To make it from comparative poverty to wealth and fame is always to make oneself interesting. Acting has several times made John Thaw, son of a Manchester lorry driver, one of the most instantly recognised faces in television, and his dedication to his profession keeps him from being notably arrogant about the fact.
Thaw talked his way into RADA while still underage and was one of the talked-about figures of a generation that included Tom Courtenay and Sarah Miles. Stage success eluded him until he was already famous--though his performance as a Labour Party leader in David Hare's Absence of War was rightly praised. This likable book concentrates on his television work, rightly recognising that it is as the character of Regan in The Sweeney and as Inspector Morse that he awakened the interest of millions; there is a full account of how those two performances grew and changed.
Thaw has for 25 years been married to Sheila Hancock; the book is, without being intrusive, an attractive celebration of a sometimes turbulent relationship. Gruff and intelligent and blue-eyed, Thaw has made himself a model of redeemed sensitive masculinity for our times--this book manages to capture something of that essence. --Roz Kaveney
Reader Reviews:
Lacks any real depth of detail. (13/16 people found this helpful)
Despite its 250 pages, this book is very thin on detail; it makes up for this with frequent repetition and double spacing. It wouldn't be too dificult to compress the detail of this book into a Sunday Supplement in-depth profile.
This book reads like a celebrity magazine. (9/10 people found this helpful)
"John Thaw: The Biography" reads like a celebrity magazine. Surely a personality as complex and as popular as John Thaw deserves better. Not that the authors have many negative things to say about him but this book appears to lack focus and does not have its own point of view. There are many instances in which an event or incident is mentioned only to be followed up by three pages of description of the same event from another source. This book has the appearance of being five or six "celebrity" or "gossip" magazine articles strung together into one whole.
Glad to find some fascinating info about a wonderful actor (5/8 people found this helpful)
I am a relatively new fan of John Thaw's in America (we are not so lucky to have him as the British are!). Inspector Morse (shown on our A&E network) is about the only chance we have to see his great work, so I was thrilled to find this biography. Yet, it seems as though some major subjects are not addressed. I understand Thaw has won several acting awards (BAFTA?), but no mention in the book. He received the CME(?) or... yet again no mention of the presentation or how he felt about the honor. I realize the authors wrote for their British audience who already have this information, but this American girl would like to know more! (And why hasn't Thaw worked in America - we'd love to see more of him!)
Great read. (1/6 people found this helpful)
A fascinating book about one of Britain's best actors. The authors really get under John Thaw's skin in a book which is as compelling as an Inspector Morse mystery.
Confused about Thaw - you will be! (1/1 people found this helpful)
I found the book confusing. It said one thing about Thaw like he was soft and gental at school but on the next page, he beat up children for lunch money and also ran a protection racket in exchange for their sandwitches! If you want to really find out about Thaws` life, wait for another biography but if you are looking for a little insight about this wonderful blue-eyed actor, this is the book for you - there is also some really great pictures included which is worth a crown by its` self.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Biography -> General
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Performing Arts
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Television
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Hardcover