Dirk Bogarde (1921–1999)

This is the third of Bogarde's autobiographical works. I am reading these in random order as I stumble upon each book in second-hand book stores. Yet there is a continuity in Bogarde's writing that seems to make it easy to piece together. Each work is a standalone wonder of personal stories that are somehow vividly interesting. I "discovered" Bogarde after reading Thomas Mann's Death in Venice and then watching the movie of the book. I also "discovered" Mahler. After watching the movie, I show more have become more aware of the name of Dirk Bogarde and this has sent me on a mission to read all of his works (15 I believe). An Orderly Man is of interest because it covers the period of Bogarde's portrayal of Gustave Aschenbach. The work brings to life Visconti and other famous Art House directors and screen writers and presents in sharp relief the life of an English actor of the period working on the Continent versus the excesses of fame and fortune in Hollywood. Bogarde's humility shines through and it is difficult not to admire the "underdog" and his trials and tribulations. Mind you, living in Provence and existing by acting and writing are hardly the banal stuff of most people's lot. Yet the stories are fascinating, Bogarde makes a wonderful success of writing about writing (and acting) and finishing each of his books so far leaves me calmly contented and eager for the next book. show less

I first 'discovered' Dirk Bogarde after reading Thomas Mann's Death in Venice and then watching the movie starring Bogarde as Gustave Aschenbach. The movie was rather true to the book and Bogarde's performance perfectly captured my mind's eye view of the story. An unusual but pleasing experience. So recently, when I 'discovered' a copy of Backcloth, I was impressed that Bogarde, after turning down Hollywood roles and refusing a 'marriage of convenience' to make American viewers happy, became show more a best-selling author. And no wonder. Backcloth is an autobiography, but it reads like A Year in Provence (Bogarde lived there, too). There are other volumes of his story and I cannot wait to 'discover' these, too. But after reading the story of his life from birth up until his honorary doctorate from St Andrews and the death of his life-long 'partner', Forwood, I can only imagine what else he must have done to fill more books on his life. Bogarde had a real talent for story-telling, and there is little self-aggrandisement, yet much reflection that makes one sad, yet nostalgic and happy at the same time. In essence, Bogarde captures the Portuguese feeling which escapes English translation - saudade. After feeling that I was running out of classics that were my 'cup of tea', 'discovering' Bogarde gives me hope that my reading journey still has a very long way to go. show less

William Caldicott's marriage is about to break up when he receives a letter informing him that his much younger brother James has walked away from his life in France in an attempt to find "oblivion" and wants William to take over his house. It's an unbelievable premise considering the pair have never communicated. William, conveniently in a position where he can abandon his wife and two children, sets off to France to try to find out where James has gone. He discovers a a sister-in-law and show more handicapped nephew as well as a startling story of S&M activity. Bogarde's words flow smoothly and the opening was good before getting bogged down in non-events. Some authors can get away with unlikeable characters, Bogarde did not. This was disappointing. show less

Another of Bogarde's biographical stories, this one of his childhood in England around the time of Hitler's rise. It reads like a novel, even though one knows it is more-or-less an account of Bogarde's childhood. There is nothing peculiar about the ending, but it left me with a tingling sensation that was hard to shake. Bogarde was writing of his childhood in the early 1930s, but recollecting his childhood some 60 years later. His ability to put his own story into a format that keeps the show more reader fascinated in the mundane activities of a boy living in the '30s is due in no small part to his excellent prose. show less