The Man Who Became Sherlock Holmes: The Tortured Mind of Jeremy Brett

by Terry Manners

Jeremy Brett was, for millions of television viewers worldwide the quintessential Sherlock Holmes. However he became obsessed by the role and his body and soul were taken over in his quest to become the ultimate Sherlock Holmes, until his untimely death in 1995. Brett's earlier acting career spanned the greats of the English stage - Laurence Olivier was his mentor - as well as the trappings of Hollywood. Terry Manner's insightful biography considers Brett's contribution to the theatre, but concentrates on the turmoil of his life as Baker Street's world-famous sleuth, and his battle with manic depression.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 1997

Reviews

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jeremy Brett Fans, take it with a grain of salt...

I grew up on BBC Granada TV series Sherlock Holmes starring Jeremy Brett. So when I was at the library meandering around and spotted this, I thought it was fate. Instead of actually working, which was why I was at the library I spent my time reading this book. Was it time worth spent? Mostly not no...

I appreciate that Terry Manners, peppered this biography with Sherlock Holmes facts about the TV production. It was fascinating reading about Jeremy Brett's take on the character Sherlock Holmes, his career, and the cast and crew of the TV series that I love so much.

Unfortunately, it is shadowed due to the authors writing style. I understand that the author is closely correlating the actor with the role, but in my mind, this is supposed to be a biography, not screenplay of Jeremy Brett's life. Chapters start with "screenplay" like conversations with JB as the lead actor. While I can see that this might be a stylistic choice due to JB's profession, it turns me off from believing it to be factual (there aren't many references to primary sources, so I am not sure how factual it actually is). Also, Terry Manners emphasizes the challenges that JB had in order to interject his opinion on how it relates to Sherlock Holmes.

The 'oh so dramatic' tagline "the tortured mind of Jeremy Brett" would have you think that JB was locked up due to a psychotic breakdown because of the role of Sherlock Holmes. But all this book does is focus on JB struggles so that our perception of JB is a man who was tortured. Through my research of JB, I have learned that he was a man with struggles like everyone yet he was still a positive and generous person even in the dark times. Terry Manners emphasizes these struggles constantly in order to persuade the reader that like the character Sherlock Holmes, the man has deteriorated due to drugs and obsession.

Overall opinion, this book is worth a LIGHT skim if you are at the library. Jeremy Brett has a voice even though he has passed away, I don't want to hear someone else's opinions masked as Jeremy Brett.

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book starts like this:

"So many people have helped me to write this book. But to those who, for reasons best known to themselves, did not contribute to remembering Jeremy, I say thank you. You made me even more determined to tell his true story."

So the author is a bit insane, and it's nice that he told us so with the first paragraph that you read.

[W. Champion · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ostensibly a biography of the late British actor Jeremy Brett, this book exploits the memory of a fine and gifted man in a tone that is salacious, sleazy, demeaning, and defamatory, bordering on libelous were its subject still living. There are no references, no information about its author or of his intention, and no indication that it is really a fiction. Anyone who has actually researched the life of Brett will recognize some sources; it leans heavily on the memoir of Brett's friend Robert Stephens, for example. But most of the material is either tabloid nonsense or perhaps taken from Manners' own life story. The reader has no way of knowing, but as a journalist Manners must have had access to archival gossip columns. Most disturbing is that the author tries to sound sympathetic to Jeremy Brett, who was bisexual and bipolar, while at the same time degrading him unconscionably. The story of Jeremy Brett's life is compelling and merits a caring and respectful account. As it is not an open book, it invites a novelized version, but even fiction should be based on something verifiable. Readers and fans of Brett should avoid this unsourced, ugly fantasy.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review first appeared on one of Facebook pages on Nov. 30, 2013:

OK, hold on. A lot has been written slamming this biography but it's really not that bad. There are some big oopsies in facts (such as the date when "The Final Problem" first aired) and some glaring omissions, but on the whole, it shows JB in a good light. Since Bending the Willow is priced out of most fans' budgets (like mine) this is really the only alternative.

Since then, I have read Bending the Willow and it is MILES better than this book, which apparently was thrown together to the publishers' hurriedly to capitalize on Brett's death in 1995. Most people who worked or who were friends with Brett did not cooperate, which probably tells you all you need to know.

[Дарина Березіна · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книга, про яку я мріяла, відколи довідалася про її існування ще на початку 2000х, цілком виправдала сподівання.
Ні, це не "жовта" преса й не антологія "смажених" пікантних фактів - це цікава й глибока розвідка, яка дає змогу зрозуміти людину, що для всіх справжніх шерлокіанців є найкращим кіно-Голмсом ever.

[Jakob Zelinka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book, learned some new interesting facts about Jeremy Brett. I have to admit that there were couple of chuckles at the beginning but it stops when it gets to serious topics.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, beautiful look at the man who breathed new life into Sherlock Holmes and shed light on what it means to work and live with depression. A must read!