Kenneth Tynan : a Life / Dominic Shellard

Shellard, Dominic

ISBN 10: 0300099193 / ISBN 13: 9780300099195

Published by New Haven ; London : Yale University Press, 2003

About this Item

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. An exceptional copy; fine in an equally fine dw, now mylar-sleeved. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Literally as new.; 399 pages; Physical desc. : xii, 399 p., 8 leaves of plates : ill. ; 24 cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. Subjects: Tynan, Kenneth (1927-1980) --Theater critics --Great Britain --Biography 1 Kg.

Seller Inventory # 154811

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Kenneth Tynan : a Life / Dominic Shellard
• Publisher: New Haven ; London : Yale University Press
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0300099193
• ISBN 13: 9780300099195
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
• Weight: 1 kilogram

About this title

Synopsis

Kenneth Tynan (1927-1980) lived one of the most intriguing theatre lives of the twentieth 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. Working on each side of the Atlantic during various periods in his career, Tynan wrote for the Evening Standard, the Observer, and the New Yorker; was lured by Laurence Olivier in the early 1960s to become dramaturg of Britain's newly formed National Theatre; and spent his final years in Los Angeles. This biography offers the first complete appraisal of Tynan's powerful contribution to post-war British theatre, set against the context of the fifties, sixties and seventies of his own turbulent life.
Shellard proves beneath the celebrity myths to uncover Tynan the private man and theatre genius. He draws on Tynan's own extensive personal papers and diaries, taped interviews with theatre professionals who knew him and fascinating letters to such correspondents as Tennessee Williams, Marlene Dietrich, George Devine, Peter Brook, Alec Guiness and Terence Rattigan. Shellard highlights Tynan's early writings, when the brilliant young critic came to national prominence, and discusses how Tynan gained a left-wing readership, took his place at the vanguard of the new realist movement, and helped to establish subsidized theatre. He shows how, through indefatigable battles against theatre censorship and railings against the myopia of a politically and culturally insular Britain, Tynan helped create some of the most controversial theatrical events of the 1960s and 70s, including Oh Calcutta! Exploring the public and private sides of Tynan, Shellard reveals an outspoken, explicit and sometimes savage critic who ranks among the most influential theatre figures of the twentieth century.

About the Author

Dominic Shellard is Reader in English Literature at the University of Sheffield.