Double Act: A Life of Tom Stoppard''The story of Stoppard's life is a compelling one and it is laid out with extraordinary detail in this first major biography' - Evening Standard. Double Act is the first major biography of one of the world's celebrated most writers, From his early theatrical success as the youngest playwright ever produced at the National Theatre, to his Academy Award for Shakespeare in Love, Tom Stoppard's work is renowned for its dazzling wit, invention and box-office appeal. But his real life is a more complicated affair still; and this acclaimed and authoritative book reveals the remarkable private story of a man who from childhood had to invent his own personality, and whose multi-layered dramas reflect the enduring contradictions of his life. 'An impressive biography . it makes a good story out of that most unpromising subject, an unqualified and extended triumph'. Spectator 'Appealingly embellished with Stoppard's shrewd witticisms about his work and full of keen perceptions of its own, Double Act offers an exhaustive and enlightening overview of a singular talent that is happiest when expressing itself in dual ways.' Sunday Times 'Nadel is excellent at providing an exposition of Stoppard's ideas and the wider social context in which he lives.' Independent on Sunday 'A searching biography of this mercurial writer . Nadel builds an engrossing picture of someone in continual self-reinvention.' Jewish Chronicle 'Stoppard's playwriting career, unsurprisingly, constitutes the largest component of the biography, and the production details, gossip and contractual facts make for fascinating reading.' Irish Times 'If the genius of Nadel's subject lies in paradox, it also needs genius to turn that paradox into an event. This book is one, and a palpable hit.' Good Book Guide 'Essential reading for all students of theatre.' Hampstead & Highgate'' |
From inside the book
1 page matching “I write plays because writing dialogue is the only respectable way of contradicting yourself. I’m the kind of person who embarks on an endless leapfrog down the great moral issues. I put a position, rebut it, refute the rebuttal, and rebut the refutation. Forever. Endlessly.” in this book
Page 168
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Contents
Deserts of Bohemia | 5 |
Lavender Street | 17 |
Et in Arcadia Ego | 39 |
Copyright | |
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actors Anthony Smith April Arcadia artist asked audience Bat'a became began Bristol British chaos characters comedy comic cricket critic Czech Czechoslovakia December dialogue director Dogg's drama Dunjohn early England English explained Faber February Felicity Kendal film Gussow Hamlet Hapgood Harold Pinter Havel Housman Ibid idea India Indian Ink interview Invention of Love Jewish Jews John Jose journalist Jumpers June later letter London Michael Billington Miriam National Theatre Night and Day novel November Nunn October Old Vic Olivier opening original performance Peter Wood Pinter playwright political Prague première production Professional Foul radio play Real Inspector Hound Real Thing rehearsal reporter role Rosencrantz and Guildenstern scene screenplay script Shakespeare Shakespeare in Love Singapore stage Stoppard to Smith Stoppard's play Stoppardian story Straüssler success television theatrical thought Tom Stoppard Travesties Trevor Nunn Tynan Václav Havel wanted West End writing wrote York Zlín