'I'll put you in my diary!' comedian Kenneth Williams was known to threaten on occasion, although tantalisingly he kept the journal to himself during his lifetime. Here at last, in one spellbinding volume, are four million words of it. For more than forty years, from his sixteenth birthday until the eve of his unexpected death in 1988, the beloved actor and outrageous 'Carry On' star Kenneth Williams kept a candid diary. Devastatingly honest about himself, he is equally unsparing in his verdicts on his fellow man. In his descriptions of Tony Hancock, Maggie Smith, Joe Orton and countless others, his waspish sense of humour, love of anecdote and ear for dialogue are given full rein. Malicious, hilarious and harrowing, 'The Kenneth Williams Diaries' are a unique portrait of one of Britain's most popular -- and most misunderstood -- performers.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
'Annihilatingly honest!fascinating!these diaries cast a bizarre spell. They appeal, they delight, and now and then do both at once.' Independent 'Caustically compelling.' Time Out 'Unputdownable!with the appeal of eavesdropping on the conversation of a unique personality.' Financial Times 'Hilarious anecdotes abound.' What's On
About the Author
Russell Davies, editor of 'The Kenneth Williams Diaries', is a journalist and broadcaster who has worked as a newspaper columnist and critic and presented numerous programmes on BBC Radio. He is also the editor of 'The Kenneth Williams Letters'.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I find this book unputdownable, even though it fills me at times with despair, disgust and irritation. Kenneth Williams was a British actor and comedian of the 50s, 60s and 70s with an acute intelligence and a unique gift for comedy. He was gay, and for many years of his working life homosexuality was illegal. His comic persona used the "camp" stereotype and private language in a way that was far funnier than others in the same (small) field, or anyone since (Julian Clary, Graham Norton). He was widely read, inventive and gifted at ad libbing and eventually earned a living on chat shows and panel games. He had many friends in the theatre who obviously enjoyed his company. He was an excellent writer, one of the things that makes this diary worth reading. His writing is often as funny and perceptive as you'd expect from his public persona, revealing the surreal in the ordinary. But the diary also reveals a man with a dark side, someone who never found a way of living that made him happy. You long to say "Kenneth! Get some therapy!" His self analysis too often turns into navel gazing. He was tortured by guilt over his sexual feelings, constantly making contradictory statements and apparently trying to persuade himself he was above all that. He could also behave appallingly to people -- all faithfully recorded. He clearly came home and wrote the diary, justifying what he'd done. He certainly brooded over wrongs, but he often records apologising and making up. He has flashes of self-insight - that he really only feels at home among people outside his theatrical set. He really was extremely talented - and bigheaded with it. He must have been a nightmare to have in a cast, constantly thinking he knew better and trying to take over. Particularly in the early entries, he sometimes waffles on pretentiously, using long words you feel he doesn't quite understand, and giving an imitation of someone being profound. Then he'll follow the pomposity with a hilarious bit of observation written in a direct and slangy way. As a warts and all portrait, this is unequalled. And incidentally gives a fascinating insight into the stage/screen/radio/TV of the period. Sadly, he took his own life.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This huge volume contains a shatteringly witty man, day in and day out, for decades. If you're a fan of London theatre and film, it's a must. But even if you're unfamiliar with the subjects, his withering wit and self-deprecation transcends the need for total familiarity. It can be read in any order and is a great book to keep in the car to read while in long lines, etc. On top of its hilarity, it's a genuinely intimate portrait. Considering how cheaply it can be had through the Amazon Marketplace, this book is a steal!
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