Charles Hawtrey 1914-1988: The Man Who Was Private Widdle

[Pricey]

I was delighted to stumble across this book in my local library as I'm a great fan of Hawtrey (for his schoolboy turns in Will Hay films as much as the Carry Ons) and have begun to read it. However, when I looked at the reviews on Amazon, I was dismayed to see they were universally negative. Anyone read it?

[orpheum]

i have not purchased it because of the negative reviews,so would be interested to know what you think when you have read it.

[billy bentley]

I read it and really enjoyed it, but it is far from flattering. Someone I know claims that it is not accurate and more of an essay on Hawtrey, than an cuurate biography. It's a slender book and a very quick read, I suggest anyone intersted in Carry On films and/or Hawtrey read it.

[Automotivehistorian]

My mother's family knew Charles Hawtrey's mother, and consequently met him. The mother lived in South Ealing, possibly in Coningsby Road or one of the roads off it...Alacross Road/Coningsby Road [they met on the bend]and the Coningsby Off-Licence right on the opposite corner where the two roads met were featured in CARRY ON CONSTABLE when my Great-aunts lived at the last house in Alacross. My mum was born next door in # 1 Coningsby Road. It was quite a community pre-war then post-war, but now is very bijou..Neil Kinnock bought a house round the corner.

[Dame Starry]

My father went to school with him - in Hampton, I believe - and he reckoned that he was as daft then as he was in the Carry On films!



DS x.

[Elliot J Huntley]

I too have read this book and thought it was marvellous. I really like the work of Roger Lewis and I too am dismayed that it got negative reviews. It's quite a short book, if anything I would have preferred it to have been more in-depth.



EJH

[CaptainWaggett]

I liked it too - it's quite similar in tone to his Peter Sellers book. Though I could have done without the gratuitous jibes at Jonathan Coe.. Those who prefer biographies to be hagiographies might want to avoid it but I don't recall it being particularly unpleasant

[Charlie Croker]

Well i read it when it came out and have to say i thought it was very poorly researched with several errors. Lots of the stories re his "antics" do not seem to have any factual base i.. no credited source. All in all a diappointing read if facts are what you are after.

[Pricey]

OK I have finished reading it now - doesn't take long as it's more of an extended essay than a proper book plus there is a huge gap in coverage during the 1950s whilst Hawtrey was between his schoolboy and Carry On careers which Lewis either couldn't be bothered to cover or couldn't research. He fills this gap simply by printing a selection of the rejection letters Hawtrey received from agents and producers, which is a bit lazy.

I agree with Captain Waggett - the Johnathan Coe bating is boring and petty and very irritating. And why does Lewis have to pretend he hates his subjects all the time? He doesn't seem to like Carry On films, Hawtrey, Kenneth Williams or Will Hay. So possibly not the best writer to take on Hawtrey's biography!

[CaptainWaggett]

Well i read it when it came out and have to say i thought it was very poorly researched with several errors. Lots of the stories re his "antics" do not seem to have any factual base i.. no credited source. All in all a diappointing read if facts are what you are after.

What were the errors? It's ages since I've read it and I don't remember noticing any but it's true that most showbiz biographies have their fair share of them. Sadly, lack of credited sources is another regular feature of popular non-fiction.

[Windthrop]

Read it and liked it. Typical Roger Lewis drawing parallels with disparate sources to make his points. He nailed CH down pretty well I thought as a genuine comic character/personality as opposed to an actor.

[hoggers]

I've heard that there's a new Charles Hawtrey biog on its way. Does anyone have any further info?



Best



Hoggers

[Dandelion]

Wasn't there one a few years ago? I bought it and then sold it, can't remember how detailed itwas on his life. Maybe there is a more definitive one in the pipeline.

[billy bentley]

It was called something like "The Man Who Was Private Biddle" and like Hawtrey it's a slender book, which I enjoyed. But evidently it upset quite a few folks and there were allegations of heresay printed as fact. I'd look forward to another Hawtrey biog, provided it isn't 400 pages long.

[Hugo]

In fact Charles Hawtrey, 1914 - 1988, The Man Who Was Private Widdle by Roger Lewis published by Faber and Faber in 2001. 115 pages.

[Dandelion]

That's the one....

[Windthrop]

A thin book about a thin man. Good observations about the art of acting.

[SteveT]

Lewis is a very idiosyncratic biographer. His books (on Olivier and Peter Sellers, as well as Hawtry) are as much about him and the art of biography writing as they are about his subjects.

[scenesixty]

I've heard that there's a new Charles Hawtrey biog on its way. Does anyone have any further info?

Best

Hoggers

Don't know about this, but, saw the last interview on YouTube on Charlie (1987/98) Seems once the booze got a grip, he was frequently getting out of hand and was known locally for his reckless naughtiness..

[Windthrop]

Lewis is a very idiosyncratic biographer. His books (on Olivier and Peter Sellers, as well as Hawtry) are as much about him and the art of biography writing as they are about his subjects.

Agreed, but he is good in his assessing of acting styles. The Hawtry book isn't long enough for him to go on off on too many tangents