The Man Who Became Sherlock Holmes: The Tortured Mind of Jeremy Brett [Paperback]

Terry Manners (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2001

Jeremy Brett was, for millions of television viewers worldwide, the quintessential Sherlock Holmes. However he become obsessed by the role and his body and soul were taken over in his quest to become the ultimate Sherlock Holmes, until his untimely death in 1995. Brett's earlier acting career spanned the greats of the English stage -- Laurence Olivier was his mentor -- as well as the trappings of Hollywood. Terry Manners's insightful biography considers Brett's contribution to the theatre, but concentrates on the turmoil of his life as Baker Street's world-famous sleuth, and his battle with manic depression.

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Virgin Publishing (December 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753505363
• ISBN-13: 978-0753505366
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,062,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy, October 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Man Who Became Sherlock Holmes: The Tortured Mind of Jeremy Brett (Paperback)

The author of this book has taken a few facts in Jeremy Brett's life, and has let his imagination soar -- not good to do when writing a biograghy. Manner's depiction of Brett is inaccurate, misleading, and insulting. Not for someone who wants the real story behind the Holmesian actor. I recommend "Bending the Willow" by David Stuart Davies as a truer telling of Brett's story.

47 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Bad Manners, February 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Man Who Became Sherlock Holmes: The Tortured Mind of Jeremy Brett (Paperback)

If only I could rate this book less than one star ... very disappointing to anyone who is interested in learning more about Jeremy Brett. I put this book down before I half finished it, and feel he has been dishonored.

20 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Deeper than most actor bios and the better for it, January 26, 2002

By 

R. Riis "rriis" (NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Man Who Became Sherlock Holmes: The Tortured Mind of Jeremy Brett (Paperback)

Jeremy Brett was a brilliant actor and the best Sherlock Holmes ever, in my opinion. Knowing little of Mr. Brett other than his Holmes role and some films like "My Fair Lady", in which he played Freddy, there was much of interest here, from his childhood and youth, life as a young actor and with his wife and son, and his lifelong struggle with manic-depression and his own bisexuality. About half the book deals with his Holmes-era life and his love/hate relationship with the role that made him most famous. Well recommended for fans of Mr. Brett and Holmes afficionados.