A Closer Look, 21 Oct 2003

The early chapters covering his family's flight from both the Nazi's in Czechoslovakia, then the Japanese in Singapore, prove gripping and emotive. A leaner account follows of his early years in England, before a strong analysis of his life and work since his early days in journalism, along with his campaigning for release of political prisoners in the 1970s and 1980s. The analysis of his radio, theatre and film work is an excellent look at perhaps the most imaginative dramatist of the last 40 years.

However, Nadel has been unable to reach beyond the headlines on Stoppard's private life, and rather like his subject proves cautious in revealing his personal stance. The author makes much of the threads he does draw on Stoppard's work, and accompanies this with some over-repetitious quoting from the plays. Furthermore it is a shame that the text ends just before his most ambitious work, the Coast of Utopia trilogy, is produced.

But as an account of Stoppard's writings and their development, this biography is hugely enjoyable and enlightening. Nadel has collated a wealth of material, and has memorably shed light on Stoppard's childhood years. An accomplished and professional work.

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REALLY NOW, WHO IS TOM STOPPARD?, 8 Jul 2002

By	Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews

We'll not find the answers to these questions in a biography of the playwright by Ira Nadel, although that is not due to lack of research as there are almost 100 pages of references and indices included in this rather weighty tome.

Perhaps the best one can do in assessing another human being is to hazard guesses based on observation. There are observations aplenty in this highly readable portrait of an enigmatic genius who, almost singlehandedly, has altered the face of 20th century drama.

For Stoppard, born Tomas Straussler in 1937, it has been a far journey from his home in Czechoslovakia to Hollywood, Broadway, and London's West End. Readers take this journey with him, observing Stoddard's evolution into a playwright concerned with morals and politics, noting the ups and downs in his personal life, and seeing his connectedness to his past.

Critic/biographer Nadel has done an exemplary job in documenting the life of a contradictory figure. Yet, the question lingers: precisely who is Tom Stoppard?

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