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Memoirs of a Private Man
by
Winston Graham’s career spanned more than forty novels, among them the celebrated Poldark series, which won him the hearts of millions of readers. When he eventually found the time to tell the story of his own life, he produced this lovely book, rich in charm and intelligence. Witty, eccentric, and intimate by turns, Memoirs of a Private Man offers a glimpse into the world
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Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
October 1st 2004
by Macmillan UK
(first published September 1st 2003)
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"I rely on hearsay for everything that has happened in the world before I was born, and the world as I know it, till end on the day I die. When I become part of ‘the dull, the indiscriminate dust’ there is nothing to prove to me that anything will still go on, any more than that anything existed before I opened my eyes and blinked up at my doting parents. Nothing can prove to me that the world and all it appears to contain has an objective reality. I know it has a subjective reality but no more
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The consensus always seems to have been that writers make the worst sort of fictional protagonists: they live in the mind, not in their actions. Personally I always felt this was a fallacy, but Winston Graham's autobiography, although not fiction, could serve as an argument for the majority view. Yet it's not the lack of action that lets the book down; when I try to put my finger on it, I think it's something like a lack of warmth. I was tempted to find an astrological reason for this until I re
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An interesting, if at time rambling memoir...more like sitting down and having chats with an older person. There are some wonderful insights into the writing process and also on how the Poldark novels as well as his others. There also lovely glimpses into his life in Cornwall. Over all an enchanting read (especially if you scan the bits about his various cars!)
An endearing memoir by a man, who, by sheer determination and hard work, became a skilled & successful writer, best known for his "Poldark Series" of historical novels, and "Marney" --- as well as a scriptwriter.
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My edition ISBN 978 1 4472 5675 5 does have this cover and it is published by Bello but it is a paperback not a Kindle edition. I'm discovering that memoirs are not written chronologically. Graham admits he has not: "This, I hope readers will have realized has not been intended as a chronological memoir." Nice to know on page 259, two pages from the end of the book! Yet, each memoir I've read this year has been this same way. I surmise two thoughts from Graham's statement and the reading of the
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Not one for autobiography usually
This was a really interesting insight into a man as nd his work - how the work lead the life in many directions which lead to the triggers for the books. Super.
This was a really interesting insight into a man as nd his work - how the work lead the life in many directions which lead to the triggers for the books. Super.
Graham documents his life story in semi-chronological order, but with his own witty observations, side anecdotes, and wonderful writing style. Not only does he share about his family members, he documents his entry into the world of television and film-making, famous actors, directors, writers, etc etc. Through it all he also -most satisfying!- he shares the development of some of his works, and the real life people from whom he drew to create his memorable characters in his novels. He even incl
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Autobiography of the writer Winston Graham, who was hugely popular from the 1960s to the 1980s, several of whose books were made into successful films.
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Winston Graham was the author of forty novels. His books have been widely translated and the Poldark series has been developed into two television series, shown in 22 countries. Six of Winston Graham's books have been filmed for the big screen, the most notable being Marnie, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Winston Graham was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) and in 1983 was invested
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