Kenneth Tynan: A Life [Hardcover]

Dr. Dominic Shellard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 11, 2003

Kenneth Tynan (1927-1980) lived one of the most intriguing theatre lives of his century. A brilliant writer, critic and agent provocateur, he made friends or enemies of nearly every major actor, playwright, impresario and movie mogul of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He wrote for the "Evening Standard", the "Observer", and the "New Yorker"; served 11 years as dramaturge for Britain's newly formed National Theatre, and spent his final years in Los Angeles. This biography, based on Tynan's own archive, offers an appraisal of Tynan's powerful contribution to post-war British theatre, set against the context of the fifties, sixties and seventies and his own turbulent life. Dominic Shellard probes beneath the celebrity myths surrounding Tynan to encounter the private man and theatre genius. He highlights Tynan's writings of 1952-1963, when the coruscating young critic came to prominence. He discusses how Tynan took his place at the vanguard of the new realist movement, helped to establish subsidised theatre, fought censorship, and assisted in the creation of such groundbreaking theatrical events as "Oh Calcutta!" in 1970. The volume seeks to reveal both the public and private Tynan, an outspoken, explicit and sometimes savage critic who became one of the most influential theatre figures of the 20th century.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Also available by Dominic Shellard: British Theatre Since the War

About the Author

Dominic Shellard is Reader in English Literature at the University of Sheffield. His previous book was British Theatre Since the War (ISBN 0 300 08737 3, paperback [pound]11.95*), also published by Yale University Press.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 1St Edition edition (July 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300099193
• ISBN-13: 978-0300099195
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,356,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Theatre lovers ahoy!, November 1, 2005

By 

Ian Muldoon (Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kenneth Tynan: A Life (Hardcover)

You need chutzpah to review a book about one of the greatest reviewers of all time, but what the hell! Let's get the grotty stuff out of the way - Mr Shellard does not resile from the personal as we learn this bastard Englishman Kenneth Peacock Tynan had an irritating stutter, developed a taste for sado-masochistic sex, was a wife beater, who smoked three packs a day and was a wildly attractive personality who was on a first name basis with Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams. The real interest in Mr Tynan was his influence in helping shape the emergence of some of the greatest theatre of the last century and his legacy of writing associated with that mission - and mission it was. He knew what moved him in the theatre and he was fearless in letting all and sundry know about it. This meticulously researched biography is naturally of special interest to drama teachers, theatre lovers etc but it also sets much of the action within the context of the post war malaise in Britain, the Suez crisis, Vietnam and so forth. It also illuminates the role of the Lord Chamberlain and the stifling censorship which shackled so much British theatre until the likes of Mr Tynan took up the cause. Well worth a read.