Blind in One Ear: The Avenger Returns [Paperback]

Patrick Macnee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1992

The life of Patrick Macnee, star of the 1960s TV series The Avengers .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Macnee was the star of the British TV series The Avengers , which aired for eight seasons and was popular in the U.S. His autobiography is interesting only in its early sections, which cover his childhood as the offspring of two upper-class English eccentrics. His mother took him to live with her lesbian lover, "Uncle Evelyn," whose mansion housed a veritable harem. His father was an alcoholic horse trainer who lived in India until he was barred. "Uncle Evelyn" financed Macnee's schooling at Eton, but he was expelled for bookmaking and selling pornographic photos. The balance of the memoir is standard show biz fare, of difficult years and eventual success, failed marriages and drinking problems. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

To the stereotypic British school boyhood of beatings and homosexual encounters, add a lesbian mother, an "Uncle Evelyn," and an absent alcoholic racehorse trainer father, and you have Macnee's almost gothic horror of a childhood. British actor MacNee's most famous role was John Steed in the popular TV series The Avengers . Though MacNee's unusual childhood is the most interesting aspect of this memoir, Avengers' fans will enjoy the insider's tidbits, especially regarding The Avengers' leading ladies (Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, Linda Thorson, and Joanna Lumley). No shocking revelations here, just a nice, frothy bit of British humor: MacNee's tongue-in-cheek style saves this from being maudlin. With The Avengers on video, there could be demand; otherwise, for larger collections.
- Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Cty. Free Lib., Seaside, Cal.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Mercury House (January 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916515850
• ISBN-13: 978-0916515850
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,519,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Autobiography of an avenger...and a most strange childhood, January 24, 2005

By 

Kaye Barlow (Vancouver Island, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blind In One Ear (Hardcover)

I have long been a fan of the Avengers series (particularly the episodes with Diana Rigg) and very much a fan of the dapper Mr. Steed aka Patrick Macnee.

His autobiography is fascinating in recounting his childhood with a drunken, horse-trainer father and a beautiful, lesbian mother. His mother soon after his birth leaves his father and moves in with her lover, Evelyn and the young Patrick is ordered to refer to her as "Uncle Evelyn" and instructed to wear kilts, never trousers. Evelyn's estate held a surfeit of women of her persuasion and young Patrick's life there was a delicious farce in the reading, although I'm sure it was not in the actually living it.

His story unfolds as he attends Eton and is, shortly before graduation, expelled after finally being caught in his book making and pornography endeavors. Once a young adult and working to become a successful performer the book loose some of its force.

He seems to spend an inordinate amount of time in pursuit of and in enjoyment of "wine, women and song" and the telling, although lighthearted and witty, becomes more sluggish.

The descriptions of the Avenger years is short and could have benefited by a little more length.

All in all, a testament to the resiliency of the human animal, that Macnee finally matures into a responsible, caring individual (it does take him a while, though) in spite of a very weird and slipshod childhood.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From the bizarre to the mundane, Steed rides again., April 7, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blind in One Ear: The Avenger Returns (Paperback)

Many years ago I read the works of J.P.Dunleavy and believed all of his characters to be fiction (excepting the Ginger Man of course). Patrick MacNee brings to life, a childhood filled with characters so outrageously bizarre that I must now reread Dunleavy. And that is the best compliment that I can give. As the remainder of his life is rather plodding, it pales in comparison to his early years. A little more detail on The Avengers would have been nice too. The language can at times be a little pretentious but then, so could MacNee.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Bold Admission, March 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Blind in One Ear: The Avenger Returns (Paperback)

Patrick Macnee has finally arrived at peace, in the autumn of his life. If he'd arrived sooner, perhaps we'd see a richer Patrick. Rich, in terms of fullness of having properly explored life as it was meant to be lived. As Patrick admits, much of his life was spent in a whirlwind of chasing loves that could not be, as he had no direction in life. A testament to us all to prepare and support our children well emotionally, to face the hurdles that inevitably will lie before them. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and wisdom, Patrick. Your insight into life is much appreciated.