Alec Guinness: the Unknown: A Life - Hardcover

0'Connor, Garry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0283073403 ISBN 13: 9780283073403

Publisher: Sidgwick & Jackson, 2002

Synopsis

The definitive, highly revealing biography of a great actor whose career spanned the twentieth century. Alec Guinness appeared in 77 films and 55 plays, winning acclaim for commanding roles such as Professor Marcus in The Lady Killers, Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars and George Smiley in Smiley's People. He was an astonishingly gifted actor who became a British institution, a familiar figure to many. And yet Alec Guinness was a many-layered, complex man who was careful throughout his life to show only a little of his real self, never too much. He died with a large part of the truth still hidden. Now, for the first time, Garry O'Connor is able to reveal the full story, including startling new information on Guinness's childhood, his secret relationships and the fears that haunted him. Backed by impeccable research, including interviews with Guinness himself as well as those close to him, this riveting biography will at last fill in the gaps, adding a new depth to our understanding not just of Guinness's life but of his remarkable acting ability. Garry O'Connor has directed at the Royal Shakespeare Company, been a critic for The Times and written authoritative biographies of Paul Scofield, Peggy Ashcroft, Ralph Richardson and Sean O'Casey.

About this title

About the Author:

Garry O'Connor has directed at the Royal Shakespeare Company, been a critic for The Times and written authoritative biographies of Paul Scofield, Peggy Ashcroft, Ralph Richardson and Sean O'Casey.

Review:

'the more I think about this book, the more I come to believe that it is one of the truly great actor biographies of our time' Sheridan Morley, LITERARY REVIEW

About this edition

• Publisher: Sidgwick & Jackson
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0283073403
• ISBN 13: 9780283073403
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1