The beloved and much-missed actor offers his legion of fans a window into Hollywood glamour and theatrical drama in his beautifully written, engaging and revealing diaries.
Shortlisted for The British Book Awards 2023 Non-Fiction Narrative Book of the Year
Alan Rickman remains one of the most beloved actors of all time across almost every genre, from his breakout role as Die Hard's villainous Hans Gruber to his heart-wrenching run as Professor Severus Snape, and beyond. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate new audiences today.
But Rickman's artistry wasn't confined to just his performances. Fans of memoirs at large will delight in the intimate experience of reading Rickman detailing the extraordinary and the ordinary in a way that is 'anecdotal, indiscreet, witty, gossipy and utterly candid'. He grants us access to his thoughts, not only on plays, films and the craft of acting, but also politics, friendships and life.
The Rickman Diaries was written with the intention to be shared, and reading it is like listening to Rickman chatting to a close friend.
Publisher: Canongate Books
ISBN: 9781838854799
Number of pages: 496
Weight: 758 g
Dimensions: 240 x 162 x 43 mm
Edition: Main
Mesmerising . . . Witty and debonair, caustic and fretful, for which some readers may like him less, others love him more. Madly, deeply and, better, truly he writes about what it is to be an actor - Telegraph
Fascinating . . . Mostly pithy, always frank - The Times
The star's thoughts reveal a man unwilling to suffer fools or mince his words - most of the time Alan Rickman's voice was a purr, but it masked sharp claws . . . I got the feeling he was wonderful company. These diaries confirm it - Anthony Quinn, Observer
Insightful, moving and entertaining . . . The posthumously released diaries of Alan Rickman showcased both the late actor's self-doubt and savage film criticism - The Guide 2022, Guardian
His merciless verdicts on showbiz idiocy are tempered by a deep loyalty and humanity . . . So much of Rickman's character as it was preserved on screen cannot be captured in words - his unmistakable voice, his towering presence and charisma. But on the page, six years after his death, new parts of him can be found - New Statesman
Rickman's diaries reveal the frenetic lifestyle and frequent fretting of an actor at the height of his fame . . . Just when you think Rickman might be becoming insufferable, he has a knack of bursting the actorly bubble and saying something profound - Guardian
Astute and entertaining . . . [Rickman] offers a fascinating guide to life as an actor and what it's like to be at the centre of fame. One distinct thrill is reading Rickman's short, sharp film appraisals . . . These diaries are a reminder of a warm and witty man, one who could see the quirks of life and his own part in the absurd drama of existence - Independent
The reader gets a real sense of the rhythms of [Rickman's] working life. He is forever on the move. [. . . ] Fully, openly, joyfully - truly, madly and, yes, deeply - he put his energies into the present moment . . . For fans, these supplementary diaries are a pure delight from start to unforgivably early finish - Times Literary Supplement
Rickman belonged to that anointed group whose name alone would entice you to watch a film . . . His diaries look set to enthral us still - Herald
You feel he always wanted to do what was right, even if it was inconvenient to himself, and that is a rare character trait . . . There is true gold in [t]here - i
Alan Rickman's diaries give a better insight into his life than a memoir ever would have done. Everything from the mundanities of everyday life to the heights of Hollywood stardom is documented in these pages and... More
An absolutely beautiful book, filled with wit and knowledge. Both filled and broke my heart!
I received a free copy from the publishers in return for an honest review.(thank you)
Having personally met Alan Rickman I could not put this book down. It was fascinating to get into the details of his life.
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