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Product Description
New York Times Book Review
'As good as literary biography gets'
Newsweek
'Sensationally exciting'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
This is perhaps the best literary biography I have ever read. Lahr's writes with integrity throughout; the first chapter deals with the facts of orton's death as if to despatch with any tendency to sensationalism or melodrama. He also approachs Orton's work with due caution, not a writer to sell his subject's talent through biography. What emerges is an engrossing story in itself, of the 'other side' of sixties life.
I was never much of a fan of Orton's work before this, but as a man he interests me hugely. He has seemed to have gained a misplaced reputation as a cutting edge sixties sexual revolutionary, but Lahr's Orton is a throwback to the days of Coward and leisure class decadence. At one point Lahr relates how Orton was against homosexuality being legalised or accepted into the mainstream; he was excited by the exclusivity and secrecy of it. He was more wannabe aristocrat than liberal revolutionary.
This book is hugely entertaining, thanks in a large part to the richness of Lahr's source material, Orton's diaries, which serve as a useful companion volume to this. Not just as a treatment of one man's life, but as an evocation of the sixties as a period of transition and one man caught in the middle, this book is essential.
I was never much of a fan of Orton's work before this, but as a man he interests me hugely. He has seemed to have gained a misplaced reputation as a cutting edge sixties sexual revolutionary, but Lahr's Orton is a throwback to the days of Coward and leisure class decadence. At one point Lahr relates how Orton was against homosexuality being legalised or accepted into the mainstream; he was excited by the exclusivity and secrecy of it. He was more wannabe aristocrat than liberal revolutionary.
This book is hugely entertaining, thanks in a large part to the richness of Lahr's source material, Orton's diaries, which serve as a useful companion volume to this. Not just as a treatment of one man's life, but as an evocation of the sixties as a period of transition and one man caught in the middle, this book is essential.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
For anyone interested in the theatre, media, celebrity or the 60's this is a must read. Orton is a fascinatingly complex character, but it's his candid (and sometimes wicked) frankness that grabs your complete attention. Sarcastic, caustic, egotistical, warped, macabre - all go into the melting pot that was Joe Orton - a unique artist and an original for his time. For anyone who has heard the expression 'Orton-esque', this is an essential guide for understanding exactly what this means.
In my opinion, Orton's diary (if it were all true) makes for more delightful comedy than any of his plays (with maybe the exception of his masterpiece - the groundbreaking What The Butler Saw). His knack of picking up dialogue from the wackiest of people and places, his barbed comments about theatrical legends of his time, his ruthless pursuit of sex and buggery, the brilliantly defaced library books, his heartless treatment of his long-term partner (and ultimately his murderer) Kenneth Halliwell - not to mention the fabulously entertaining letters from 'Edna Welthorpe' - all conspire to make one gasp in horror, awe and admiration for one man's audacity, verve and vivacity for life - and death.
In my opinion, Orton's diary (if it were all true) makes for more delightful comedy than any of his plays (with maybe the exception of his masterpiece - the groundbreaking What The Butler Saw). His knack of picking up dialogue from the wackiest of people and places, his barbed comments about theatrical legends of his time, his ruthless pursuit of sex and buggery, the brilliantly defaced library books, his heartless treatment of his long-term partner (and ultimately his murderer) Kenneth Halliwell - not to mention the fabulously entertaining letters from 'Edna Welthorpe' - all conspire to make one gasp in horror, awe and admiration for one man's audacity, verve and vivacity for life - and death.
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
if there was evr a tragic,but humourous account of a very complex and exciting guy,then this is the one.from a "mediocre" estate in anonymous leicester,he had real talent.i wish i could have met him.in this biography i feel ive got a friend who is sarcastic,witty,cutting,promiscuous,intelligent.....nothing like his friend halliwell. somehow halliwell was a living memory to orton of his grey and unhappy past.a constant reminder.
just like quentin crisp,kenneth williams,tony hancock,there are so many facets to orton,he has got to be on your shelf.....along with the other "greats".
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