Peter O'Toole Books

Peter O'Toole's early years, growing up in Ireland, are a remarkable beginning for one of our grandest theatre artists. This story fascinating story is set against the back drop of the chaos of the 1930s, the rise of Hitler, and the lead up to World War II.

As enthralling as this story is, the writing in this book are every syllable as deliscious and enjoyable as the life in these stories. The biggest surprise is that the subject of these pages, Peter O'Toole, is also the author! As it turns out, Mr O'Toole is as superlative a writer as he is gifted on the stage and screen as an actor. Who knew?

The best news of all: this is volume one. Read it and then rush out and grab volume II, "Lotering With Intent: The Apprentice."

THE images PETER O'TOOLE creates in our mind reading the book are curiously picturesque; they are quite alike with the air of the Italian neorealism in CINEMA, as we can make a connection with it. A tone quie calm, epic,for the memories of his childhood, yet which becomes a bit agressive when he recalls that Adolf Hitler existed. A puzzle of thoughts narrative and expressionist at the same time, and surprisingly modern.

If you are remotely interested in Peter O'Toole, this is a great account of his childhood (most interestingly the three major influences in his life including Hitler) and how he first broke into acting (his jokes regarding Bernard Shaw are hilarious). There are some interesting annecdotes regarding the filming of `Rogue Male', his first film.

His narrative style can a times be a bit disjointed, but the overall picture is wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

This is a wacked memoir. O'Toole basically writes two parallel biographies, one of his childhood AND ONE OF ADOLPH HITLER'S adult life!!! Has this ever been done before? So you get to read about what O'Toole did and what Hitler was doing about the same time. It's amusing, and interesting. I did have trouble with some English slang. A weird book, I think. But I liked it. Peter O'Toole is my favorite actor. But I still think you'd enjoy it if you're not a big fan.

A charming book; somehow surprising, as the critics say too:'a new face of O'TOOLE': indeed, the tone of the story is a very warm one, with romantic overtones in the first part, without any trace of cynism or sophistication; therfore, it is contrary to his style maybe, or, a better word is to his type of characters he plays as an actor-usually being in a delicate psychological or emotional status. PETER is creating his book like a sort of collage of memories, keeping coherently the time which gives it a sense, a direction, yet somehow not enough as he needs a second link: Hitler's image(...). In the second part, still, a change of tone: more aggressive when it is about the war; a genuine atmosphere of the 40s, now in flashbacks in the 90s.Classic and modern at the same time as approaching, quite poetic.

I want Peter O'Toole to scrible my life story. One of our grandest actors turns out to be a remarkable writer. If he was writing about any other person than himself, this would be a great book; a most enjoyable reading experience; and a primer in how to tell the story of a larger than life person. As it happens, Peter O'Toole, the exceptional writer, is writing about Peter O'Toole, the peerless actor.

And this is Volume Two! Do grab the first book, "Loitering With Intent: The Child." It is not only a fascinating story of the very early years of O'Toole's boyhood in Ireland, it is also a personal account of the world plunging into the chaos of the 1930s that became World War II.

Read them both...preferasbly in order. And pray Mr O'Toole is with us long enough to craft volume three!

Peter O'Toole continues recounting his early years in the second volume of his biography. It has a slightly different style than the first volume (The Child), but is still extremely enjoyable. Highly recommended.

That O'Toole can write is no surprise to anyone who has seen him act, since--although he is saying others' lines on screen--a pulsing intelligence comes through in his performances. (Brando can't write in SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME, and neither could KATHERINE HEPBURN in her autobiography. As good as they are as actors, they don't suggest eloquence on the screen...despite the quality of the lines they say). But O'Toole is not one of the greatest writers alive. This volume shows that. His writing needs to be more linear. He IS one of the greatest actors alive, however. So I wish he would leave his desk and get in front of a movie camera or on stage instead. I don't believe there is such a thing as a genius actor. But if there is, O'Toole is it (and the only one). There has certainly never been an actor as charismatic (well, maybe Cary Grant. But could Grant have played serious drama as well as light comedy? He never played in a drama that I know of).

Who says a great actor has to be a self-absorbed boor with no life or thoughts of his own offstage or off-camera? This second installment of noted actor O'Toole's autobiography brims over with vitality, quirky charm, and loving reminiscences of fellow drama school students, teachers, and a host of other fascinating souls. O'Toole is clearly one of those people who makes his own fun, and naturally finds kindred spirits wherever he goes in life. He doesn't choose his friends based on their status or what they can do for him, he just enjoys their company. And how! The myriad, unorthodox ways O'Toole and his pals devise to obtain lodgings, food, semi-clean laundry and other of life's necessities will have you laughing out loud. One of many highlights concerns the delightful, party given to celebrate the final hours of leaky old houseboat, where guests take turns pumping the sea back out even as it sloshes at their ankles. A rip-roaring good time was had by the artist as a young apprentice, and his mates!

O'Toole has a gift for the English language -- you just want to read whole chapters aloud, to enjoy the sound of the words. There are also scores of laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes sprinkled throughout, all told with wry joy. This isn't a typical actor's memoir -- this is way more fun.

However outdated this bio is (covers up to 1982), it makes for a fascinating reading about one of the all time great actors, not only because of the subject it covers, but also because it's very well written.
Additionally, there's plenty to look at as well:photos covering the whole spectrum (up to '82) of Peter 'O Toole's life and his illustrious and fascinating career.

As asways you get hooked when you read the smaltalks of the dayly life of the great Jeffrey Bernard.

After this book, one feels Sian Phillips deserves an award just for surviving her marriage to O'Toole (the man and an era of carouser-talent-industry it symbolized), with her sanity, talent, and will to trudge on INTACT. You have to admire a woman who sees O'Toole's bullying (among more redeeming acts) as valuable training for OTHER bullies in her professional life.

Between a tone of "I had The Life" and purge sessions by an anorexic depressive, Phillips opts for the Sensible Survivor tradition of celeb bios. The underlying theme is a willing but unhappy submissive to a talented but Jekyll-Hyde husband, and the tough sell of female, married professional in 60s England.

On a larger scale, this outlines the operations of a modest but robust creative force (Keep Films run by Jules Buck/O'Toole families) in 60s-70s, during the waning studio system and before the advent of 80s high-concept blockbuster swamped out the maverick, artsy tirades of the 70s.

I loved this book! First of all because I think that Sian Phillips is an amazing actress who is terribly underappreciated -at least in this country. (I can't help but wonder what she would have achieved had Peter O'Toole allowed her to work more often.) I think her book is an honest, insightful picture of what her life was like - being married to a superstar, trying to juggle a career and a family, with less than no support from a husband who felt her only place was in the home - or at his beck and call - all pretty standard views at that time. Certainly the frustration she felt comes through very clearly, as does the turmoil she felt when she had to make the choice whether to stay in the marriage and go on the way they had been, or leave and find her own life. Obviously the success she has had (in Britain, anyway) since the marriage ended would indicate she made the right choice. But the stories of their life and adventures make for a fascinating and enjoyable read.

As for the reviewer who complained that there was nothing about her childhood in Wales - the reason is simple. This is the second part of her autobiography. Her life in Wales and her early days in London - up to the time she met Peter O'Toole - was beautifully told in the first book - "Private Faces" which was never released in this country, but which you can get through amazon.co.uk. It too is a fascinating story, since I doubt very many of us can even imagine what it would be like growing up in a very rural part of Wales.

I can't recommend this book highly enough - if only for more people to discover this amazinglybeautiful and talented woman.

Having seen her perform in Pal Joey in London and again in My Old Lady in Hollywood, I was quite interested to read her story. I was not disappointed. The book tells HER story, not the story of O'Toole and others. For the lady who wanted gossip, I suggest getting the scandal sheets at your local super market when you check out.

The book covers not only her stage career and O'Toole relationship, but her thoughts and feelings about both and many other aspects over about a 40 year period.It is an intimate commentary on what she was going through from day, week, month and year onward.

For the comment that O'Toole wrote a good book... that is rubbish. He can't hold a candle to her as a writer. His "style" is awful. A poor man's James Joyce! And Joyce was bad enough himself.

I loved reading this book. Sian Phillips took me places I wouldn't dream of venturing. One ride with O'Toole as driver and I would have said, "Enough already!" But she seems to adore a daring life -- and it takes her places. I was thrilled to go along, sinking ever deeper into my armchair. I'm reading to others at a Christmas party for booklovers the sequence that starts with her arrival in Cambodia in a "little girl" Mary Quant outfit that enrages her husband through the Hong Kong roaming in a neighborhood too dangerous for the police to enter.

If you want to hear droning stories about British theatre life, then this is your baby. However, if you're hoping for some juicy revelations about Peter O'Toole, look someplace else. What a crushing disappointment this is. Sian was married to O'Toole for 20 years and during the height of his world-wide fame. She was with him during his breakthrough role as Lawrence of Arabia, in Becket, Goodbye Mr. Chips, and all his other stellar 60's roles. I expected gobs of gossip on Taylor and Burton, but Sian merely relates Peter's drinking binges with Burton and the fact Kate Hepburn referred to Liz and Richard as "fat pigs."

And what about O'Toole's drinking? As one of the most famous drunk actors of all time, in the league of Lee Marvin, Burton, Oliver Reed and Richard Harris, I expected some fireworks in this area. Forget it. Sian clinically describes Peter's addictions, his out of control lifestyle and racing cars, but it's all told in a desperately dry manner. All very disappointing.

A disjoint account of a small part of the life of a talented man who has lived a very full life.

You should know going in to Peter O'Toole's "Loitering with Intent" that it is intended less as a full autobiography (it ends with his teenage years shortly after the end of WWII) and more as an impressionistic canvas of growing up in Europe during 20th century wartime. Bearing this in mind, you will find this both immensely enjoyable and hauntingly well-written.

O'Toole's recollections of his parents--a gorgeous, flirtatious mother and a handsome, ne'er-do-well father--are rich with detail and emotion. He remembers also their friends, their tribulations (and pet mouse!) during WWII, and perhaps most vividly of all, his enforced sojourn in the English countryside when city life was deemed too dangerous for children. His account of going to church and going to a Protestant school (O'Toole was reared a good Irish Catholic boy) are especially hilarious, from the fights with bullies to the strict teachers to the sad family with whom he lodged. One especially funny tale has to do with a school picnic. When the Protestant teacher instructs the class to pray for good weather for the picnic, they all promise to. Of course picnic day arrives and is rainy. The teacher disapprovingly sniffs, "Well, I see God didn't answer our prayers." O'Toole, eight years old and astounded by this non-Catholic outlook, cries out, "Yes, He did! He said no!"

Young O'Toole is obsessed with Adolf Hitler, who makes an appearance every several dozen pages. O'Toole gets at the maniacal dictator's fascination for a young, feverishly imaginative boy with some extraordinary stream-of-consciousness writing:

"Hitler had been poison-gassed [in WWI]. Daring despatch runner that he was, twice he was got. Shrapnel swept a bit of his shin away. After two years of carnage, fighting trench warfare at the front, he was got. Into beetroot fields. stream bottoms, slag heaps, pitheads, broken smoking juts of towns and villages, burning vanished woodlands, into downs and rides and hillsides, the trenches had been dug deep down into the mud and earth . . . hydra-headed, destroyed, constantly relocated, these barbarous earthworks moved and split the countrysides of France and Belgium. Six million soldiers hopped off sandbag parapets and were killed. Many miles of no man's lands ran between the Allied and the German trenchlines, they, too, dying and being reborn in other fields. Barbed-wire gardens to crouch in and be killed."

If only the book explored more of O'Toole's life as a world-renowned actor . . . but it doesn't. It stops shortly after the war and we must all hope that he soon writes a follow-up volume. Had he not been an actor, Peter O'Toole could have made a splendid career as a writer. Thoroughly enjoyable!

This is an informative book, but it is marred by a typically British, bitchy, gossipy tone that colors the text in many spots. So PETER O'TOOLE: A BIOGRAPHY is a mixed bag.