The Kenneth Williams letters

by Russell Davies

Following the publication of "The Kenneth Williams Diaries", this is a collection of his letters. Corresponding with all manner of people, including Alec Guinness, Maggie Smith, Joe Orton, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, and the Stokers' Mess of "HMS Leverton", the letters call forth the performer in Williams - many are virtual comic monologues. They evoke the likeable and constructive nature of a man who remains, neverthless as outrageous and "difficult" as ever.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Comedy

556 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 1994

About the author

This is the disambiguation page for otherwise unseparated authors publishing as Russell Davies

Reviews

[William Connelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real insight into the hidden side of show business and fame - the loneliness, the exhausting nature of being publicly available, the strain of creativity and remaining fresh. Williams followed a familiar path of unfulfilled potential and changing public tastes to becoming frustrated and bitter in later years. He was a conservative (both large and small ‘c’) in life and this seemed in contrast to some of his lifestyle. But he is also very witty with sharp observations - his view of Sid James acting style being to spit the words out like he was desperate to get rid of them was my own favourite.

I doubt Williams would appreciate the ‘troubled Ken’ epithet. There is much to enjoy in the diaries but it is undoubtedly troubling at times. It is an honest account from Williams himself and a snapshot of a different time in British TV and film.

[Kelly Grice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The private correspondence of Kenneth Williams basically. He talks about his performances and whoever he has run across recently that the letter receiver knows. What amazes me is the fact he took the time to make a duplicate copy of letters he sent. He was obviously quite OCD.
Kenneth shows his intelligence with quotes from Coward, Wilde, Neitzche and others. He was definitely a learned man especially when it came to poetry.
The letters cover from the 50s until his death in 88 but the latter days the letters per year were few and far between. I feel that Kenneth never lived life to the full because he was a homosexual hypochondriac. His later years as work dried up left him as a recluse. No holidays, not many restaurant visits and just generally shopping day to day. It’s all rather sad seeing as he died alone in his bed.

[Ipswichblade · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok but I felt it was stretching the diaries which were excellent. The problem with letters is you only see one side of the correspondence

[Mikey James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read but not as good as his diaries, in my opinion. Some of the letters we funny, scathing, sad and sometimes gave you a sense of sympathy towards Kenneth. I’d only really recommend this to a real fan of his as it could be hard work sometimes.

[Jo Birkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still love it - intermittently hilarious, even within a letter touching on sober topics, a real pang when it/he suddenly ends. You have to wade through a fair amount of twaddle but the pearls are worth the sifting.

[Lesley Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am bit biased but I loved this book. He is so cleaver with his use of the English language and the way he uses them to scorn or praise. Loved it.

[eLwYcKe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant, witty, infuriating, intelligent man he was.
I've read The Diaries several times and find them endlessly fascinating, so i turned to The Letters with great interest.
Here i found some captivating missives and some serious, intellectual ones; demonstrating a man who delighted in a complex, abstract concept and poetry as much as a saucy joke.
In fact I think I've discovered more poetry through reading Mr Williams than anywhere else.
I recommend this book, especially if you're a fan. If you're not and only know of him as the one with the funny voice from the "Carry On" films, then DEFINITELY read this.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My version is actually a bloody great hardback and called the diaries not the letters. I got this pretty much as soon as it was released and it told a lot of his secrets. I loved at his comments on other celebrities-he could be very cutting indeed !

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot less harrowing than the diaries, very funny at times, occasionally needy but always a good read.

Russell Davies’ editing is a disgrace. Virtually every other footnote is misleading or an outright error.

[Richard Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth having, these show Kenneth Williams in a different light to his diaries. Erudite and pleasant in turn and rarely showing his camp stage persona.

[Zauberlehrling! · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book by Kenneth Williams within just 6 months. He was a great actor. He was much more than just Carry On. He also was very lonely, but withdrawn at the same time.