In Two Minds: Jonathan Miller: A Biography - Hardcover

Bassett, Kate

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1849434514 ISBN 13: 9781849434515

Publisher: Oberon Books, 2013

Synopsis

The authoritative story of Jonathan Miller—one of post-war Britain's most intriguing polymaths, who forged a career as a leading actor, theatre-maker, self-taught opera director, satirist, humorist, public intellectual and TV personality. Drawing on in-depth interviews, it is an entertaining and illuminating portrait of a fascinatingly complex man. Shortlisted for the HW Fisher Best First Biography Prize.

About this title

About the Author

Kate Bassett is the theatre critic for the Independent on Sunday and has previously worked in that capacity for both the Times and the Daily Telegraph. She has also written features and reviews on film, literature, dance and comedy for the Guardian, Time Out, City Limits, TLS and the New Statesman.

Review

"A remarkable portrait of a complex and Coleridgean figure, a man in two minds about himself for most of his life." (Five stars) Telegraph

"Scrupulously researched, always fascinating As Bassett says in her admirably measured book, there’s bile and bitterness’ here. As she demonstrates, there’s also genius." - London Times

"Compelling.. a dense, exhaustively well-researched portrait... a persuasive, ultimately rather sad portrait of a North London Jewish boy." Sunday Times

"Bassett is herself a fine, fierce theatre critic her write-ups of Miller's productions have verve and perceptive grace thorough entertaining." Guardian

"An admirably thorough job of a biography: sympathetic, deeply researched, informed by long conversations with Miller and dozens of friends, colleagues and, occasionally, enemies." Spectator

"Kate Bassett’s fascinating book draws together the many strands that combine to make this renaissance man." Jewish Chronicle

"Sir Jonathan Miller is a remarkable man. As one of the great egocentrics of his generation, he would not question this judgment... Ms Bassett’s first-class biography does not mask Sir Jonathan’s weaknesses, but she says that, in conversation, his flaws seem more tragicomic than intolerable the bile and bitterness never quite obliterate the man’s warmth.'" Economist

"Absorbing, in-depth and erudite Bassett, who clearly likes and respects her subject but isn't overawed by him, sensibly marshals the arguments on both sides and leaves it up to the reader how posterity will regard Miller." Observer

"Kate Bassett’s brilliant, exhaustively researched biography reminds us what a truly astonishing man he is. Just try to imagine post-war British culture without him." Jewish Chronicle

"Intensively researched Kate Bassett pays a fantastic tribute to a great, if sometimes irascible man Where Kate Bassett really scores is in painting a rounded portrait of a man who has changed his direction more often than a frisky dodgem car at a funfair Whatever their interests, readers will find much to entertain." British Theatre Guide


"A remarkable portrait of a complex and Coleridgean figure, a man in two minds about himself for most of his life." (Five stars) – Telegraph

"Scrupulously researched, always fascinating... As Bassett says in her admirably measured book, there’s ‘bile and bitterness’ here. As she demonstrates, there’s also genius." - London Times

"Compelling.. a dense, exhaustively well-researched portrait... a persuasive, ultimately rather sad portrait of a North London Jewish boy." – Sunday Times

"Bassett is herself a fine, fierce theatre critic – her write-ups of Miller's productions have verve and perceptive grace... thorough... entertaining." – Guardian

"An admirably thorough job of a biography: sympathetic, deeply researched, informed by long conversations with Miller and dozens of friends, colleagues and, occasionally, enemies." Spectator

"Kate Bassett’s fascinating book draws together the many strands that combine to make this renaissance man." Jewish Chronicle

"Sir Jonathan Miller is a remarkable man. As one of the great egocentrics of his generation, he would not question this judgment... Ms Bassett’s first-class biography does not mask Sir Jonathan’s weaknesses, but she says that, “in conversation, his flaws seem more tragicomic than intolerable―the bile and bitterness never quite obliterate the man’s warmth.'" – Economist

"Absorbing, in-depth and erudite... Bassett, who clearly likes and respects her subject but isn't overawed by him, sensibly marshals the arguments on both sides and leaves it up to the reader how posterity will regard Miller." – Observer

"Kate Bassett’s brilliant, exhaustively researched biography... reminds us what a truly astonishing man he is. Just try to imagine post-war British culture without him." – Jewish Chronicle

"Intensively researched... Kate Bassett pays a fantastic tribute to a great, if sometimes irascible man... Where Kate Bassett really scores is in painting a rounded portrait of a man who has changed his direction more often than a frisky dodgem car at a funfair... Whatever their interests, readers will find much to entertain." – British Theatre Guide

Edition details

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1849434514
• ISBN 13: 9781849434515
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 479