This is a captivatingly , warmly written ,fascinating biography of one of the theatrical greats of our times .The paperback version is of medium size and weight , divided into three parts and thirty eight chapters and includes a list of illustrations , a file of acknowledgements and a well researched and presented index at the back.
The author, Garry O’Connor, is a biographer and novelist, noted for his publications on theatrical and literary figures. He has written acclaimed biographies of Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, Paul Scofield, Peggy Ashcroft, and Alec Guinness – and now McKellen. O’Connor has written and presented programs for radio, including Campion’s Ghost for Radio 4, adapted from his novel about John Donne. O’Connor has directed for the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) , acted with McKellen at Cambridge and has known him since 1958 , directing McKellen in some of his early roles.
Some of the main themes of the book are : The loss of his mother when McKellen was twelve and the somewhat difficult relationship with his father. Other major themes include the influence of Cambridge University, his admiration and emulation of Sir Lawrence Olivier, McKellen’s friendly professional rivalry with Sir Derek Jacobi and also McKellen’s ‘coming out of the closet’ and campaigning for LGBTI rights.
The book is generally arranged chronologically but ‘bookended ‘ by descriptions of O’Connor visiting McKellen at home in preparation for writing the book.
In this intimate and affectionate biography , we learn how McKellen , who was born in Burnley, Lancashire England, to a civil engineer father Dennis and “traditional Lancashire housewife,” Margery .McKellen was devastated at age 12 when his mother died from breast cancer, a tragedy that “became a driver towards endless achievement and ambition.”
O’Connor follows and analyses the highs and lows of that ambition, from McKellen’s work in Cambridge plays to his long career in the theatre – eg the landmark RSC Trevor Nunn production of Macbeth with Judi Dench , Salieri in Amadeus , Richard 11 and 111 as well as Edward 11 , Waiting for Godot , Coriolanus and King Lear , and his Iago in Othello to name just a few – to his later-in-life success in films, most notably his portrayal of Gandalf in The Lord of The Rings films and Magneto in the X-Men series , but not forgetting Mr Holmes . And then there is his TV work ( eg Coronation Street and Vicious).
What makes McKellen such a great actor? The book details his drive ambition and total love of theatre and attempts to examine McKellen’s approach to his art with many discussions and anecdotes about his various interactions with assorted directors and actors.
The book also gives a glimpse into McKellen’s private life , acknowledging his long term relationships , two of them each spanning a decade.
What of the future ? The book ends with mention of the UK tour by McKellen of his one-man show Tolkien , Shakespeare Others and You which has just opened in the West End in London ( playing until January 2020 ) … perhaps more to come ? ( An Australian tour please ?)’
https://www.hachette.com.au/garry-oconnor/ian-mckellen-the-biography