Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Eternal Optimist versus Life Itself, 5 Jul 2004
There is a sense in which Colin Wilson has only ever written one book, many times over and in many different guises, putting forward the same central message whether discussing UFOs, serial killers, literature, sex, psychology, and all the rest of that huge list of subjects he's covered in his long career. Wilson admits this himself, in one interview classifying himself as a Hedgehog in Isaiah Berlin's 'Fox and Hedgehog' terminology (where a Hedgehog knows one thing and knows it very well, whereas a Fox knows many things superficially).
So Wilson's autobiography is all about his ideas, but as seen through the events of his own life which, really, is the most logical context in which to present them. Regarding Wilson's work in general, I sometimes find this constant harping on about one thing can give me a sort of mental indigestion because, when it comes down to it, Wilson's real 'message' is not best communicated by his theories about 'Faculty X' (an unfortunately 50s B-movie term), the 'St Neot Margin', the 'pen technique' for focussing consciousness, and so on - all of which are covered in this (and almost every other) Wilson volume, often by what I find to be an unsatisfactory use of illustrating metaphors - but his essential optimism and fascination with the subjects he covers, something which makes his writing extremely lively and moreish - I knew, buying this book, I was setting myself up for a week of compulsive reading. So really, if you like Wilson's work, you'll know what to expect and find it here in bucketloads, and if you don't know Wilson's work but are intrigued, this will be a good introduction.
A slight quibble is that the book could have been better edited: the very first page has an incomplete sentence, and there are a few other missing words and proof-reading errors throughout, though not enough to detract from the pleasure of reading; also, Wilson repeats a few of his anecdotes more than once, but this is by far the only evidence of his turning into a doddery old man. That said, one of the more revelatory parts of the book was its look into the life of a jobbing professional writer, and Wilson's incredible work ethic and constant output are more than enough of an excuse for a rough edge or two in this otherwise excellent book.
As to the life lived: Wilson's strong self-belief and sorely-tried optimism pushed him up from dreary and potentially mind-numbing beginnings, through years of virtual homelessness, to achieve his dream of becoming a writer only to find it was not, at first, all he expected, and from there went on to achieve a more liveable balance. On the way there are plenty of interesting anecdotes about literary personalities including Henry Miller, A N Wilson, the other 'Angry Young Men', and so on. Full of interest, and well worth a read.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful read, 29 Sep 2004
By A Customer
Great auto, full of insight and worth a read to both Wilson fans and readers not aquainted with this versatile and highly revalatory author.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Warm and Delightful Story, 13 Jun 2004
Colin Wilson has lived a colourful and full life, and he is blessed with a good memory and a candid writing style.
If he had gone through with his implusive decision to commit suicide at the age to 16 what a loss that would have been to the literary world.
Fortunately Colin decided that to study science was less painful than killing himself. As I scientist I feel I should not comment on the wisdom of that choice. But anyway, a short spell of National Service soon knocked all that nonsense out of him, and he decided to become 'a writer'. A very Bohemian choice in the early 1950's.
After years of hard work, and short rations, he became an 'overnight success' with The Outsider. During the next forty years he met many of the more interesting people of his times, Victor Gollancz, Iris Murdock, John Osborne, Francis Bacon, John Braine, Marilyn Monroe, Graham Greene, Aldous Huxley. Abraham Maslowe, Albert Einstein, Norman Mailor... This list is far too long to put in a review but it's a who's who of the period. Colin brings them all to life on the pages of this refreshingly honest memoir.
If you have ever enjoyed one of Colin Wilson's novels or non-fiction books you will love this cheeky story of his life.
Read and enjoy the life of master craftsman of the pen and find out just how he got to be the way he is.
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