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scripsiThe rain is pouring down over Stockholm today, perfect weather for reading in a sofa, so that’s what I did and finished The Man Behind the Master, The Biography Over Anthony Ainley. I enjoyed it very much and if you are a fan of Classic Doctor Who, then I think you will too. It’s written by Karen Louise Hollis and you can buy it here.
It’s a rather slim volume, a little over 200 pages, but I thought it well-researched and the bibliography and footnotes covers several pages. It covers Ainley’s life, at least what is known about it as he was such a private person and there is also a discussion about his works. If you ever wondered what you can find with him on DVD or if it is worth seeing, this book can certainly offer guidance. All his Doctor Who episodes have their own semi-chapter with a short resumé and information about broadcast, director, producers et cetera. Also whatever quotes Ainley or other show members have said about that particular episode.
The book isn’t written strictly chronologically, which bothered me a little at first, because I started to wonder about his parents. It begins with the Actor’s Orphanage, where his mother placed him and his older brother when he was just four. But then comes a chapter about his famous father, Henry Ainley, and even later in the book a chapter about his mother and her family. At the end of the book there is a chapter that discusses his personality a bit more in-depth. So the book goes a little back and forth and some information is repeated, but it was still a rather fluid and easy read.
If your sole interest in the book are scandals, then you will most likely be disappointed. He was rumoured to have been homosexual, other people seems to have been dead sure he liked women. Obviously there is people who must know, but either the author declined asking those persons or they didn’t want to answer. Whatever the reason, I don’t mind. I love biographies, but I don’t like smutty speculations. Especially when talking about someone who went to great length to keep his private life private.
When reading I got a peculiar feeling that I actually knew Anthony Ainley, his personality felt so familiar. He seems to have been a rather shy and introverted person, which those who didn’t knew him tended to see as arrogance and haughtiness. He also comes across as smart, eccentric, vain, funny and even downright silly at times, but not mincing word when he didn’t like someone and with a definite temper. Then it struck me; no wonder it felt like I know him, I’m married to a man who is just like that.
It’s a rather slim volume, a little over 200 pages, but I thought it well-researched and the bibliography and footnotes covers several pages. It covers Ainley’s life, at least what is known about it as he was such a private person and there is also a discussion about his works. If you ever wondered what you can find with him on DVD or if it is worth seeing, this book can certainly offer guidance. All his Doctor Who episodes have their own semi-chapter with a short resumé and information about broadcast, director, producers et cetera. Also whatever quotes Ainley or other show members have said about that particular episode.
The book isn’t written strictly chronologically, which bothered me a little at first, because I started to wonder about his parents. It begins with the Actor’s Orphanage, where his mother placed him and his older brother when he was just four. But then comes a chapter about his famous father, Henry Ainley, and even later in the book a chapter about his mother and her family. At the end of the book there is a chapter that discusses his personality a bit more in-depth. So the book goes a little back and forth and some information is repeated, but it was still a rather fluid and easy read.
If your sole interest in the book are scandals, then you will most likely be disappointed. He was rumoured to have been homosexual, other people seems to have been dead sure he liked women. Obviously there is people who must know, but either the author declined asking those persons or they didn’t want to answer. Whatever the reason, I don’t mind. I love biographies, but I don’t like smutty speculations. Especially when talking about someone who went to great length to keep his private life private.
When reading I got a peculiar feeling that I actually knew Anthony Ainley, his personality felt so familiar. He seems to have been a rather shy and introverted person, which those who didn’t knew him tended to see as arrogance and haughtiness. He also comes across as smart, eccentric, vain, funny and even downright silly at times, but not mincing word when he didn’t like someone and with a definite temper. Then it struck me; no wonder it felt like I know him, I’m married to a man who is just like that.
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Date: 2015-05-30 05:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-05-30 08:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-05-31 01:19 am (UTC)*HUGS*
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Date: 2015-06-02 02:12 pm (UTC)It's obvious that you have done a lot of research and have approached it with respect. :)
He was not homosexual
Date: 2015-06-06 01:13 am (UTC)Re: He was not homosexual
Date: 2015-06-06 11:34 am (UTC)