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With a foreword by Melvyn Bragg. The updated autobiography of Britain's most controversial film director. Moving with astonishing assurance through time and space, Russell recreates his life in a series of interconnected episodes - his 30s childhood in Southampton, his first sexual experience (watching Disney's Pinocchio), his schooldays at the Nautical College, Pangbourne and early careers in the Merchant Marines and the Royal Air Force. Full of marvellously funny anecdotes and fascinating insights, this is a remarkable autobiography.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended,
This review is from: A British Picture: An Autobiography (Paperback)
Autobiographies written by celebrities can be very flat and prosaic, starting out dutifully with the origins of the parents before moving step by step through schooling and career to the triumphs of the author's career spiced up with a few portraits of great people he or she has met.This is very much not the case with Ken Russell's book: he plunges into the heart of his story, using flashbacks to tell of his parents and childhood. He has a strong visual sense, as one might expect of a film-maker, and this makes his prose very vivid. He knows exactly when to cut to another scene so that one is never bored and has a fine sense of humour. Though generally considered something of an 'enfant terrible', he explains that many of what are perceived as excesses in his films were in fact imposed by producers. It is also interesting to see how a film grows from the first draft of a script. Russell has a very deep love and knowledge of classical music. There are some particularly fine pages evoking the spirit of Elgar while on a visit to the Malvern Hills. On another occasion he is inspired by a violent thunderstorm to put on a record of Bruckner's Eighth symphony, which sheds new light on the piece. Another highlight is of climbing a peak in the Lake District with his second wife. It is so vivid as to be almost frightening as the climb turns out more perilous than either of them expected. Russell is touchingly, and unexpectedly modest, speaking with complete frankness of failures and disappointments. Reasons for his enduring shyness may be found in the awful experiences he had as a thirteen-year-old in the army cadets and later in the navy. He is not the first writer to make one wonder how any war was ever won by armed forces run by such dreadful officers in such dreadful conditions. There are several "laugh-out-loud" scenes, including one where Russell finds himself "stark bollock naked" and locked out of his room in a long hotel corridor, dying for a pee. Definitely worthwhile.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!,
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This review is from: A British Picture: An Autobiography (Paperback)
I picked this book up for a pound in Poundland (!) just before Russell died. Some biographies are hard work but this is very well-written and is an enjoyable read. I get the feeling that this is a slightly 'toned down' version of his life but it still enthralls and gives a good insight into his creative mind.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best bio ever,
This review is from: A British Picture: An Autobiography (Paperback)
Russell was a one off and he makes his autobiography as fascinating and dynamic as one of his films. Not your usual celeb bragging biog, a genuinely great read!
Russell has a great style, full of humour and quirkiness. Definitely check this out if you're curious about the man behind the movies RIP Uncle Ken.
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