A bare-knuckle fighter turned moviestar, Lenny Mclean had powerful friends and terrible enemies. In this biography, he tells stories about his life, including how he knocked the mafia's greatest boxer out in three minutes, and how he was brought in to intimidate the IRA.
The Guv'nor
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Lenny McLean: the Guv'nor, Dirty Len, a human timebomb waiting to go off, one of the old school--however he was known, Len McLean was--until his high-profile death through cancer in 1998-a living legend and the truth behind a dozen urban myths (all of them extremely violent no doubt); as well as a byword for toughness and street smarts. You didn't mess with Len. Stories of his exploits abound, his name being known far beyond his native manor of Hoxton, with a fearsome reputation built on the back of being a gentleman and one of the best fighters I have ever seen, according to the late Ron Kray. The turn out of minor celebrities and gangland notables at his funeral is a testimony to the (for him) all-important respect this larger- than-life character earned in his chequered life. But who was the great pugilist-turned-actor (see his impressive performance playing, not surprisingly, an East End enforcer in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), and what does it take to be the so-called Guv'nor?
In The Guv'nor, Len takes us, in what largely seems to be his own words (those offended by coarse language beware, he is no honey-tongued rhetorician), through his reminiscences. He evokes a compelling picture of times past, of a tough childhood growing up in the impoverished East End under the auspices of a brutally violent and unforgiving stepfather. He lived his early life in violence, and from that point, through a career of petty crime, minding, bouncing and unlicensed prize fighting (in fact anything that required muscle--his weapons were his fists, and he never used a shooter) it never ended. Because violence came so naturally to Len, his blasé attitude to hospitalising several slags ("no good bastards", so the helpful glossary of colourful terms informs us) can be bluntly shocking. But although violence was a feature of his life, this is not what the man (nor the book) was about. Len was essentially a man of simple values, but with a temper and the tools to make those who crossed or challenged him regret it--badly. A man of strong principles, (by his own account but also by the account of many others), a loving husband and father, not to mention brother, uncle, friend and, perhaps most poignantly, son of a cherished mother. Like many other hard men, he had a particular soft spot for his mother, who herself lived a cruelly tough life of sacrifice and subjugation.
When I met Len, he was courteous and charming, but the air of menace was unmistakable when he had to straighten a fellow bouncer for disrespecting a lady (I cannot remember what the guy actually did, but he definitely wouldn't do it again in Len's presence). Once the message was received, he happily returned to chatting, enlightening me with his words of wisdom. And what wisdom, you may ask, did I take from him? Son, treat kindness with kindness, he pronounced in that gravelly, stentorian tone--an admirable sentiment I thought--and violence with EXTREME violence! he trumpeted. Thankfully, few, if any, can do it quite like Lenny.--Alisdair Bowles --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'He was a man amongst men. His life was extraordinary.' Vinnie Jones
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"The Guv'nor" opens with the protagonist Lenny McLean relating fond memories of his parents, despite the materially tough times they lived in back then. Unfortunately for him, however, they would become much tougher with the sad death of his beloved father, and the arrival of a violent step-father who regularly beat Len, his brothers and even the widow.
Len tells of the petty crime he engaged in as a young lad and of some of the time he was put away for it. But it's the brutal beatings he suffered at home that would become the catalyst for Len to lead a violent and difficult adult life, in which he became the world's meanest bare-knuckle fighter, worked the doors, collected debts, mixed with characters from the underworld, was stabbed, and was shot at twice.
The violence is horrific, as Len recounts some of the opponents he came up against as a prize fighter, some of them cold-blooded men who would have thought nothing about beating him to the point of paralysis. He recalls as well how drunks who tried to assault him on the doors, and people who shot at him or stabbed him, ended up on the receiving end of some brutal punishment, as did anyone else who tried to take a pot shot or pull a fast one on him.
The great thing about "The Guv'nor", though, is that it's not all savage beatings and violence. It's the story of a man who would have walked to the ends of the earth for his parents, wife and kids; and of a big-hearted man and loyal friend who others could always depend on when it counted. There are genuinely touching moments in the book, such as the death of his mum, and the meeting with his future wife for the first time ("The door opened and in walked this little angel, and Lenny took a knockout."), not to mention the ending, with Lenny expressing his feelings about events and people with an honesty and openness that gives a refreshing edge to the book.
Some of the events in the book are also accompanied with a dose of humour, really allowing Len's voice to shine through as if he's actually telling the story right in front of you. It all makes for a book which makes you wince one moment, laugh the next and maybe even cry the following. "The Guv'nor" is well worth a read and once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down again.
Len tells of the petty crime he engaged in as a young lad and of some of the time he was put away for it. But it's the brutal beatings he suffered at home that would become the catalyst for Len to lead a violent and difficult adult life, in which he became the world's meanest bare-knuckle fighter, worked the doors, collected debts, mixed with characters from the underworld, was stabbed, and was shot at twice.
The violence is horrific, as Len recounts some of the opponents he came up against as a prize fighter, some of them cold-blooded men who would have thought nothing about beating him to the point of paralysis. He recalls as well how drunks who tried to assault him on the doors, and people who shot at him or stabbed him, ended up on the receiving end of some brutal punishment, as did anyone else who tried to take a pot shot or pull a fast one on him.
The great thing about "The Guv'nor", though, is that it's not all savage beatings and violence. It's the story of a man who would have walked to the ends of the earth for his parents, wife and kids; and of a big-hearted man and loyal friend who others could always depend on when it counted. There are genuinely touching moments in the book, such as the death of his mum, and the meeting with his future wife for the first time ("The door opened and in walked this little angel, and Lenny took a knockout."), not to mention the ending, with Lenny expressing his feelings about events and people with an honesty and openness that gives a refreshing edge to the book.
Some of the events in the book are also accompanied with a dose of humour, really allowing Len's voice to shine through as if he's actually telling the story right in front of you. It all makes for a book which makes you wince one moment, laugh the next and maybe even cry the following. "The Guv'nor" is well worth a read and once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down again.
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
A good read but a little far-fetched. Lenny didn't have 3000 fights. He had 15 and lost 5. Cliff Fields knocked him sparko in one round and Johnny Waldroun put his lights out in under one round TWICE. Lenny said at the time that Cliff Fields "looked like he came out of the mountains".
Bearing these facts in mind this is a good read and probably the best of the "hardman" genre.
Roy shaw once remarked it was the ginseng that had lost him his third fight with Lenny. Lenny said "It could have been the ginseng, or it might have been the righthand that put him in the third row".
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By "dav99"
Format:Hardcover
Having been a regular visitor to the author's excellent website over the years, I was glad to see that he had finally made full use of his knowledge and extensive contacts by writing this book. At last we get a completely impartial account of the life of this amazing man, warts-and-all. Like Lenny, no punches are pulled in this frank account that tells it like it really is. Some of the stories are brutal, some sad and some will make you laugh to your boots, but if you want to get the full picture and get to know the real Lenny McLean, then this book is essential reading.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding
Old school, hard and brutal. The gloves are truly off in this story of true gentleman of principles. Inspiring and disturbing.
Published 1 day ago by Mark Holland
5.0 out of 5 stars
The guvnor
Brilliant compelling read. Makes you realise even the bad guys aren't all that bad. I have worked in clubs and know his type - they are keeping the streets safe rather than causing... Read more
Published 3 days ago by mr g e ireland
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read !
IF you enjoy "gangster" books then get this - its so real / funny / down to earth and scary !
Written well and I couldnt put it down. Read more
Written well and I couldnt put it down. Read more
Published 11 days ago by darron ward
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Brilliant autobiography.
Gritty story about britains hardest man. Lenny had a really interesting life. Book was really enjoyable to read and funny in parts. Read more
Gritty story about britains hardest man. Lenny had a really interesting life. Book was really enjoyable to read and funny in parts. Read more
Published 16 days ago by John Dawson
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Guv'nor
A great read about a hard but fair man. I first read this book 12 years ago and loved his story from his childhood to his death. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Graham Lawlor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
A really good read but often brutal and upsetting especially when he speaks about his childhood. I didn't agree with some of the things he wrote but after I'd finished the book I... Read more
Published 1 month ago by ALISON JEPSON
5.0 out of 5 stars
3000 fights - 1 loss. RIP lenny
What a story and what a read.....absolutely brilliant book.recommended to everyone to read because even if your not from "that walk of life" you feel as though you are.....class
Published 1 month ago by Adam Lopez
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nails
Good book, I think he defines the word "Hard", comes across as mountain with principles. Well worth a read, amazing how many celebs and gangsters he rubbed shoulders with. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Spence Norman
4.0 out of 5 stars
A bruiser of a book
Big Lenny was a powerful man with a colourful past,enjoyed the story of is life,some of it very violent,and he certainly suffered at the hands of a brutal stepfather,what a shame... Read more
Published 3 months ago by slugboy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exceptional
What an amazing book. So easy to read and understand everything this diamond of a man has been through. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Matthew Sippitt
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