Kenneth Williams Unseen: The Private Notes, Scripts and Photographs
by Wes Butters
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List Price: ££20.00
Our Price: ££8.67
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Manufacturer: HarperCollins Entertainment
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Average Customer Rating: 
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Binding: Hardcover
EAN: 9780007280858
ISBN: 0007280858
Label: HarperCollins Entertainment
Number Of Pages: 256
Publication Date: 2008-10-20
Publisher: HarperCollins Entertainment
Studio: HarperCollins Entertainment
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Worthy of its Subject. Authored by Friends' Impressions.
Comment: Much of the text of this magnificent book is the personal reminiscences of and the impressions left on the minds of Kenneth Williams' friends, and not another biographical attempt by someone un-known to its subject to present and explain his many intricacies of character, and is much the better for it.
The sense of deep loss lovers of his many personalities, joined with an ever-increasing dread of each passing moment that takes us further, comedically and dramatically, away from them and the British traditions from which they came, into an ever coarsening world, is so heartfelt, that the incidents of his loss are dealt with at the very beginning, rather than in the conventional chronological order; inasmuch that, so un-bearable is the event, the book deals afterwards with the life, as though we could somehow return him to ourselves, after the drowsy mistake with the tablets, in an otherwise un-observed, darkened bedroom, in the early hours of an April '88 morning. Once this event has been "Pluked out", and the life treated, we see the finale of the bulldozer's finishing stroke to his flat, and Kenneth's appearances in Osnaburugh Street, to prevent any further sentimental midnight explorations by fans of whatever fragments of the man may remain either in the flat or street itself, prompted by the love that many have, and may have because they never met him, and the abscence which I expect to become harder to bear each year.
But now that the diaries have been raided, the heart's thoughts revealed, the bottom drawers rummaged, and the friends and aquaintences have all spoken without reserve, the world, without all it's insulating barricades would be quite impossible for him; but by loving the imperfect we can at least console ourselves that the feeling's are probably real.
The groaningly familiar is avoided, and I like to believe that the embossed, faux-flock wallpaper that the book's cover resembles was used ironically, as the very last type of decoration you would have found, I believe, on Kenneth's walls; hopefully he'd have found being pictured on his Snide's character's likely choice of wallpaper, for all the world's remaining time, ironically funny.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The man gets what he finally deserves....
Comment: ...by that I mean finally Kenneth Williams, one of the real British cinematic and broadcasting legends of the last century, gets the book he has long deserved.
I know his diaries backwards and have watched/listened to the many tributes on TV/radio since his death in 1988. However this book, with its unprecedented access to the key people in Kenneth's life, introduces so many new facts, photos, anecdotes and revelations.
It's a real joy for the Williams/Carry On fan, beautifully written and wonderfully researched. I initially approached with caution fearing a re-hash - it's actually the opposite. The book lets us look at an icon with new eyes. I cannot recommend it enough.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Real Treasure Trove Of A Book
Comment: This new book is a fascinating personal insight into the life of the late Kenneth Williams, with many private photos, scripts and reminisces making it a `must have' item for any discerning fan.
Authored by Wes Butters and Russell Davies (editor of the Williams Diaries and Letters), we have section-by-section the key parts of the life and career of Kenneth Williams lavishly illustrated with photographs drawn from personal collections and coupled with quotes from those who knew and worked with the great man.
The book really comes into its own with the personal touches, such as images of Kenneth's passports, annotated scripts from television specials, scans of the handwritten notes from his first attempt at an autobiography and rare pictures from his theatrical ventures.
The good thing is that this book doesn't just rehash all the same Carry On type anecdotes and publicity shots that are used in many other books, instead it illuminates many facets of his life and career from childhood, theatre, radio, television and film in a multi-faceted way.
I would highly recommend this book as being one of the best on Kenneth Williams for years, and with so many personal and private moments featured it is one that brings out the humanity and warmth of the man in many ways also.
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