Ever, Dirk: The Bogarde Letters

by John Coldstream (Editor)

Dirk Bogarde was known as the star of more than 60 films and a critically acclaimed author. To a privileged few, however, he was also a prolific, stimulating, and treasured correspondent. Bogarde was a secretive man who destroyed many of his own papers and diaries. Fortunately, the recipients of his letters treasured them, enabling John Coldstream to bring together this fascinating collection of hitherto unpublished material. Bogarde's letters were invariably frank, gossipy, funny, and often malicious. The joy of writing, particularly as he grew older and chose to live in France, was never far away. The letters display the qualities familiar to those who knew the private Bogarde: acute observation, laser-like intelligence, impatience with the foolish, compassion for the needy, a relish for the witty metaphor, and a catastrophic disdain for correct spelling and punctuation. Above all, to read his letters is to hear him talk, and no conversation with Dirk Bogarde was dull.

Genres: Nonfiction

512 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book many months ago. At over 600 pages of letters written by Dirk Bogarde from 1969 to 1997, this is a book to dip into now and again. I had already read most of his autobiographies from "A Postillion Struck By Lightning" to "Cleared for Take-Off". I tried one of his novels ("Jericho") and gave up after only a few pages. One of the first films I can remember I saw at the cinema was "Campbell's Kingdom" where Dirk played the lead, having already starred in a number of the "Doctor" comedies which I may have seen but cannot recall.

So, having read his autobiographies, I was familiar with a lot of the stuff he includes in his letters to friends, family and colleagues at his publisher. The time he lived in France at Le Pigeonnier in Provence is vividly portrayed in his correspondence. I found the comparison of his writing about his time with the Rank Organisation before he left England, and the movies he made afterwards ("Victim", "Accident", "Death in Venice" etc) was quite enlightening.

It is in France that he begins to write those memoirs. About "Postillion" he writes "I'll really crumble when the critics bosh me this time". But of course it was a big success. He describes a trip back to the UK for a book signing at Hatchards as "probably the most important day of my life ...… to be still remembered ...... kindness shown ...... being thanked". As an actor he had no interaction with his public. But at his book readings and signings he came into personal contact with his fans and, mostly, revelled in the feedback he received from them all over the country.

There is one particular brilliant piece from 1981 about his return to making a movie for Hollywood. "The Patricia Neal Story" stars his great friend Glenda Jackson in the title role and Dirk plays her husband Roald Dahl.

We hear in May 1986 that the French Odyssey may be coming to an end due to the medical problems being suffered by his partner Anthony Forwood. By August Le Pigeonnier is sold and they are soon back in London. We are now in the territory of his memoir "A Short Walk from Harrods" which is one of my favourite books of all time. In letter form, the emotions of coming to terms with Forwood's eventual death are spelt out in raw script. Not only that, but at first Dirk feels like a stranger in a London with which he is not impressed.

Gradually he comes to terms with his lot, carries on writing and begins to submit to his fame and actually starts to enjoy it. Dirk comes across as not an easy man to get to know. Those with whom he makes friends are treated spectacularly well. Others not at all. Simon Callow in his review of this book describes him as an "egregious conundrum". I find him exceedingly opinionated, sometimes downright nasty, but underneath accepting that he has flaws like any other man or woman. He was never arrogant about his work, whether that be movies or books. He cared about his friends and (some) relations. His work in the cinema and literature made him a hugely important figure of his time.

[Nisha-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book you read if you don't already love Dirk Bogarde. And as John Coldstream says in the introduction, it works best as a companion to the authorised biography and to Dirk's own A Particular Friendship. I can vouch for the first bit --- there were so many times during the authorised biography that I wanted the whole text of a letter quoted.

That said, I had a pretty typical reaction to this collection of letters. As in typical to Dirk --- alternating between pure love and wanting to thump him and wanting to shake him and being very glad I've never had to talk face to face with him cos it's quite possible we'd piss each other right off, and then wanting to just hug him and hug him and hug him for being such a poor sad darling. That's Dirk for you --- a contradictory disarming clever snide bastard. And I say that with love.

Mind you, there were a few moments when I winced on his behalf, suddenly aware that he had written these letters for maybe just one person's eyes and maybe never wanted me as a total stranger knowing him only from his books and movies to read them. I felt a bit bad, then, yes.

And yet for all the roughness and ugliness and sadness, I felt a bit lost when I finished the book. Quite bereft and lonely because I no longer had Dirk's acidic voice in my head.

And then I remembered I still have more memoirs to read.

Poor lovely complicated wonderful Dirk.

[Tony Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of the actor Dirk Bogarde’s letters from the second half of his life is something of a companion piece to the editor’s biography of a few years earlier, though you don’t have to have read that book to get the essence of the man, whose personality, in all its facets, fairly bounces off the page.

Any reader of this book needs to show a fair bit of tolerance: Bogarde was born in 1921 and was very much an Englishman of his times in attitude and expression. All of these letters are between 20-50 years old and reflect their own times. As such they need to be read in almost historical terms, and without the often harsh, implacable judgement of our modern era.

Frankly, Bogarde is easy to dislike. Forthright and honest, he seldom holds back and often comes across as opinionated, snobbish, reactionary, intolerant and self-obsessed. A bit of a capricious Luvvy actor, you might say, with a naturally expressive writing style but quite appalling grammar and spelling which the editor wisely doesn’t airbrush.

Despite all that, it’s hard not to eventually rather admire him. This is an actor who could easily have spent his later years phoning in well-paid character parts and cameos, but instead stuck to his own stubborn artistic integrity, even though it cost him financially and made his life pretty tough as age and infirmity took hold.

Determined to live life entirely on his own terms, he never flinches and shows great strength, loyalty and fortitude when it’s most needed. Many of the most revealing letters in this collection are to people he seldom - if ever - met, which suggests a man comfortable with a degree of distance. Did he to some extent self-create his own persona in his letters? Possibly.

All of this complexity comes across engagingly in a unique writing style that you can see improving as he embraces a second career as an author. He is a natural writer in the best untutored sense, with a gift for descriptive detail and emotional honesty that make all his letters fascinatingly raw affairs. His letter to the widow of his old friend Joseph Losey is a lesson in objectivity, understanding, appraisal and affection. It shows Dirk at his very best.

You never see the correspondence from the other side, but some of them feel like ongoing duels or unexpected confessionals. When Dirk trusted you he held little back. He also, oddly, is capable of serious fawning and ass-licking towards people he holds in high regard. Some of the grovelling to John Osbourne, Dylis Powell and various European directors lays it on pretty thick. A real enigma of a man, I reckon.

A pretty unique, fascinating read. Not sure I would like to have met Bogarde, but I could read him forever.

[David Conway · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointment. It is perhaps unfair to expect too much of what, presumably, were private letters which the writer did not intend for publication. Unfair from the point of view of literary style and, more importantly, of what the correspondence reveals about the writer. Neither Bogarde's literary executors nor Mr. Coldstream have done their subject any favours by publishing this anthology. Many actors, if not most, are self-centered, possibly a symptom of insecurity, but in this correspondence Bogarde appears insufferably so. And before long it tries the reader's patience. From time to time a famous name crops up, briefly reviving one's interest, but then it's back to Mr. Bogarde. Even his moments of self-deprecation seem feeble and contrived. A pity. His acting is on the whole a kinder epitaph. Unlike this volume,it was seldom boring.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vast book covering the last thirty-odd years of Bogarde's life and his transition from actor to best-selling writer. Classy, witty and insightful, despite the often atrocious spelling and grammar.

[Jonathan Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and often dip into it now and again. It is very revealing and hugely enjoyable, but then I am a great fan of Dirk.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have almost but not quire finished "Ever, Dirk: The Bogarde Letters." I am reading it in Nook e-reader format. I have read the John Coldstream biography in the past so this book is a logical transition from it. From the outset the reader is told that the letters cover the period 1969 to the end of Mr. Bogarde's life as he destroyed some but not all of his own material while living in France. One wishes that he had not especially covering the earlier period of his life. Fortunately this set of materials was preserved and is accessible to those who wish to learn more about this wonderful actor from his letters.

His account of the lengthy health decline and passing of his companion Anthony Forwood (and ultimately that of Mr. Bogarde himself) is generally downplayed but still is very sad.

I have about 150+ pages left to read.

[Claire Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored it because I adore him. I'll miss his company now I've finished it.

[minnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever Dirk:The Bogarde Letters, is a collection of Dirk Bogarde's letters from 1969 until his death in 1999(he burned all letters and diaries before this time)Having read John Coldstreams excellent biography of Bogarde I kind of knew I should expect Bitchiness and egocentricity, but so much?
Dirk Bogarde was an intensely private man and when his career tailed off he started writing his many memoir books, and wrote letters prolifically to mostly women.The recipients of the letters are Norah Smallwood (his editor),Kathleen Tynan, Penelope Mortimer and Dilys Powell, theres also a few to writers/directors he worked with like John Osbourne, Fassbinder, Liliana Cavani, Tom Stoppard and Alain Resnais.
Dirks spelling is reprinted in this collection uncorrected, to show his "eccentric spelling".../ and puncuation. Theres a lot of footnotes too, these things didn't bother me. Its the Me, Me, Me, moaning, and sniping that is wearying after a while. One of the funniest parts in the book has Dirk griping about the At's (The Attenboroughs, Richard and his wife)coming to dinner and eating all the leek pie .In the backgound of all this is the mostly silent, almost sainty figure of Anthony Forwood, Dirk’s manager/companion for most of his life. When Tony develops Parkinsons and then cancer, they have to leave their beloved Clermont in Provence and move back to London. After Tony dies Dirk boasts in a letter to P. Mortimer how he has dropped all his old friends, from these letters its obvious as Dirk got older, he wanted to be left alone, and made a point of never attending functions at night, only in the afternoon. Underneath all that ego, it seems Dirk Bogarde was shy and had a chip on his shoulder about his education, but reading between the lines of this collection there is no doubt he loved Tony Forwood, theres a letter to a nephew getting married wherein Dirk gives his tips for a successful marriage, he also refers to himself as the sour to Tony’s sweet.This is an interesting collection, but I would reccommend it for serious Bogarde fans only as a lot of his opinions really annoyed me. I have Snakes and Ladders (his second volume of memoirs) on my to read list but I think I’ll stick to the films for now as I’ve had an overdose of D.B lately!

[Abul Kalam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of letters that were complied over the latter years of his carrer, he is a very witty and intelegent man although i think that as time went by life began to get him down. well worth a read.

[Sam Schulman · Rating 3 out of 5]

That there can be too much Dirk Bogarde

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was Looking forward to this, but had to abandon the read after getting about a third way in. I could only take so much of Mr Bogarde being snobby over other actors & directors.