In My Wildest Dreams

by Leslie Thomas

This book covers from Barnardo boy to original virgin soldier; from apprentice journalist in London's Fleet Street to famous novelist...At times funny, at times sad, but always honest and utterly compulsive, Leslie Thomas' story is straight out of fiction. As an orphan, he picked his way through the rubble of post-war Britain and was sent on national service to the Far East. Later he became a Fleet Street reporter, with hilarious experiences to relate, and then became the bestselling author of "The Virgin Soldiers" - the novel that, although scandalous in its day, is now recognised as a classic of its kind. He is also the creator of "Dangerous The Last Detective", which has been adapted into a popular television series. In 2005, Leslie Thomas was awarded an OBE for services to literature. With a new introduction for this edition, this is an amazing story, and Leslie Thomas' magic touch brings it crackling to life with warmth, wit and laughter.

Genres: Autobiography

448 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2008

About the author

Born in Newport, Monmouthshire, 1931, Leslie Thomas is the son of a sailor who was lost at sea in 1943. His boyhood in an orphanage is evoked in This Time Next Week, published in 1964. At sixteen, he became a reporter, before going on to do his national service. He won worldwide acclaim with his bestselling novel The Virgin Soldiers, which has achieved international sales of over four million copies.

Reviews

[Tony Riches · Rating 5 out of 5]

The death of Welsh author Leslie Thomas recently prompted me to re-read his autobiography In My Wildest Dreams. My copy has an updated introduction written in 2006 where Leslie Thomas recalls how he met one of his childhood friends who said, 'I'm retiring next year and I'm going to finish my book then.' 'You're writing a book?' Leslie asked. 'No,' his friend replied, 'I'm reading one.'

Leslie's great sense of humour makes this a very readable book, even though I'm sure he makes light of his very challenging early life and years spent in children's homes. I was particularly interested in how his first novel (followed by twenty-nine more) became such a worldwide best seller. It seems he had several lucky breaks, starting with the title. Based on his far eastern national service in the Army Pay Corps, it was originally going to be called The Little Soldiers then someone suggested it should be changed to The Virgin Soldiers just before the books went to print. A nervous BBC review editor added 'Don't leave it around where children can pick it up.' An intrigued public rushed to buy it - and the rest is history.

Leslie modestly says of The Virgin Soldiers, 'It was a beginner's book, written from the heart.' The fact is he spent years learning his craft the hard way, writing for magazines and later as a reporter on the London Evening News. He also spotted an important niche when he realised no one had previously written a novel based on national service experiences.

I really enjoyed re-reading this life-affirming story of a resourceful but penniless orphan who, through his writing, became a much-loved celebrity, (dining with Princess Diana) and am sure I will return to it sometime. I should really leave the last word to Leslie: "I overheard two old ladies talking. 'This Leslie Thomas,' one said, 'They say he can write and he's funny and charming. I can't see it myself." Her friend replied: 'Nor can I.'"

[Sreedhar Pothukuchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing autobiography from a very gifted modern British writer. Written almost in third-personesque detachment and curious condescension to himself. That Leslie Thomas had probably as much mastery of witty English as, say, Wodehouse, was known for some time, but for him to have used it to lay himself threadbare to the reader, is truly remarkable.
A heavy book of nearly 500 pages, but well worth the read.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

An autobiography by the author of the Dangerous Davies detective series. Here he recounts his childhood up until age 12 when he was sent to an orphanage upon the death of his parents; his time in the orphanage; his time doing national service in the Far East; and his career as a reporter and author.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of disappointing. More a collection of anecdotes (some funny, a few poignant) than an autobiography. By the end, you don't feel you know him or his times very much.

[Sue Garwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and interesting, especially after reading others by the same author and recognizing the origin of tales that began here.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10

[Mike Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A window into another time and another culture. Born in Wales just before WWII, Thomas loses both parents at an early age and winds up in an orphanage in England where he stays until he enters the post-war British army. He does a stint of service in Singapore during a period of instability. He comes back to England and struggles to get a job as a newspaper reporter. Even when he is successful in attaining that goal, he finds that his dream job doesn't pay very well and turns to writing books as a way to pay his bills. Written with humor and insight, he tells the story of his life, replete with many interesting anecdotes and colorful descriptions. Though he appears to be quite famous in England, I'd never heard of him before seeing this book. I still enjoyed reading about his experiences.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writings of Leslie Thomas in his memoirs made me chuckle and then to laugh out loud. He had such a way with words. I had thought he was still "with us" until I checked online and sadly he died in 2014. I wish I had known of him earlier. What magnificent recall (of names, places, events) such a humorous spin on even obvious bad memories such as when he was separated from his brother and placed in a children's home. Barnardos was probably the apex of homes for children at the time, but of course it WAS an orphanage. Yet, the author knew how to make lemonade from lemons and so while in care he honed his story-telling talents and thus avoided being beaten up. He also sought out other ways to make himself useful and even began a start toward his ultimate career not only in writing books but journalism. A very highly recommended memoir.

[Jean Dunn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish guess I wasn't ready for it. Too boring.

[Wendy Paulizky]

I found it hard to get into this book