Kathleen Tynan (1937–1995)

As close to perfect -- informed, balanced, thorough, complete -- as a biography by any spouse ever could be. In assessing a single one of Kenneth Tynan's prodigious, innovative, and highly original contributions to theater, the utmost skill in writing and wielding the written word is not only called for but a must; yet Kathleen Tynan's task is the even more daunting one of assessing them all! This she does impeccably with such masterful and astonishing ease from the book's first sentence to show more its last, that one cannot imagine how her feat could be equaled again by anyone -- let alone ever possibly be improved upon.

From the opening sentence in her prologue: "It is an odd business to turn sleuth on one's husband, to excavate and plunder a life, not just that married term to which a wife might lay claim, but the whole magnificent span. Yet it is a path I zealously wanted to pursue." To the last words she chose to close her book with: -- from the letter he wrote her a short time before dying of cancer -- "At the hour of my death, may You be the refuge of my astonished soul, and receive it into Your merciful breast. This comes to you from the desk of Your husband, Ken."

Hers is a work of tireless pursuit, fathomless human understanding, and surpassing merit! show less

I was disappointed with this biography as I didn’t feel that the author left me feeling as if I knew Agatha Christie any better than I did before I read it. However this was a family authorized biography and I am sure that this publicity shy family had many conditions and exceptions laid out before they allowed the author access to the author’s private papers. Agatha Christie, A Biography gives a surface overview of the author’s life, but leaves one with little or no information about show more the inner workings of this brilliant author’s mind.

I expect Miss Christie herself would have been pleased with this book as she consistently avoided the press. She disliked giving interviews and never agreed to appear on television. She did not discuss her writing process and saw no good reason why the public should expect a window into her life or mind. What does come across in this book is that she felt her writing was secondary to her roles of wife and mother. She strove to live a conventional and quiet life. The one incident that is often referred to is her strange disappearance when her car was found abandoned and she could not be located. Some said this was a publicity-stunt, which doesn’t ring true when she went out of her way to avoid any publicity, while others thought that she was suffering from amnesia. The author explains this incident as a time in her life when her marriage was going sour and her mother had recently died. Her husband had just announced that he was leaving her for another woman and she was suffering from depression.

I will always admire this author and love her mysteries but I think in the future I will honour her wish for privacy and not read anything more about her private life. Her wonderful characters, sparkling dialogue and intriguing mysteries are certainly enough for me. show less

If you are interested in how British theatre went through revolutinary changes in the 50s and 60s, then you would know how influential Kenneth Tynan was. His newspaper reviews were revelatory: he could describe cultural innovation as it happened and contribute to it at the same time.

But be warned, this book, written by his wife some years after his death describes his marital infidelity without censorship.
Yet paradoxically her love for him makes her able to both claim his rightful place as show more a major cultural force in the 60s while exposing his tortured sexuality that was also bound up in it. Its a compelling and often moving read and an uniquely intimate biography. Such a pity his books are out of print. show less

2023 movie #181. 1979. Totally made up story of how an American reporter (Hoffman) found Agatha Christie (Redgrave) during her mysterious 11-day disappearance in 1926, fell in love with her and saved her life. Good performances but an unconvincing love story.