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Lady don't fall backwards: A memoir
- GenresBiography
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 3, 2023
If you really want to know what Tony Hancock was like in real life, this is the book to read. Yes, you need to read "When the Wind Changed:" by Cliff Goodwin and "Hancock" by Freddie Hancock amongst a few others, but this account paints the truest portrait (I feel).
Joan Le Mesurier was the wife of the actor John Le Mesurier, who happened to have Tony Hancock as one of his closest friends. Joan and Tony fell in love, behaved disgracefully to John (who forgave them both) and embarked on a whirlwind affair of sex and fine living which ended in suicide for Hancock, who was by then a chronic and abusive alcoholic, and deep despair for Joan Le Mez.
Joan was a deeply selfish person but she pulls no punches here and is almost unapologetic, which makes for a shocking read, at the end of which you feel like applauding her for being so frank. She knew she was breaking John Le Mez's heart but did it anyway. She left her son to follow her lifestyle instead of growing up and being a parent. She threw caution to the wind again and again, and then when it had all gone horribly wrong and Hancock had died, she crept back to John knowing full well that she did not love him but secure in the knowledge that he would accept her back.
I thoroughly enjoyed this: I am obsessed with Hancock whether it be the charming comedy genius or the truly horrible monster he became after a few brandies, and this book was like peeping through the keyhole into his private life - warts and all. As for Joan Le Mesurier, I don't know what to say: brazen, selfish cow or victim of true, yet tragic love. Both are true. I think the reasonable attitude to take is to say 'well done for being so honest, Joan, and thank you for sharing'.
Joan Le Mesurier was the wife of the actor John Le Mesurier, who happened to have Tony Hancock as one of his closest friends. Joan and Tony fell in love, behaved disgracefully to John (who forgave them both) and embarked on a whirlwind affair of sex and fine living which ended in suicide for Hancock, who was by then a chronic and abusive alcoholic, and deep despair for Joan Le Mez.
Joan was a deeply selfish person but she pulls no punches here and is almost unapologetic, which makes for a shocking read, at the end of which you feel like applauding her for being so frank. She knew she was breaking John Le Mez's heart but did it anyway. She left her son to follow her lifestyle instead of growing up and being a parent. She threw caution to the wind again and again, and then when it had all gone horribly wrong and Hancock had died, she crept back to John knowing full well that she did not love him but secure in the knowledge that he would accept her back.
I thoroughly enjoyed this: I am obsessed with Hancock whether it be the charming comedy genius or the truly horrible monster he became after a few brandies, and this book was like peeping through the keyhole into his private life - warts and all. As for Joan Le Mesurier, I don't know what to say: brazen, selfish cow or victim of true, yet tragic love. Both are true. I think the reasonable attitude to take is to say 'well done for being so honest, Joan, and thank you for sharing'.
June 28, 2011
brilliant
Read
December 30, 2015great. Was my mothers but I read it anyway!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews