Tom Stoppard’s death hit me much harder than I would have thought possible. Perhaps the post-literate society needed him out of the way before it could really get going…
Wonderful to have such a rich, wide-ranging interview about so many wonderful writers. Loved Lee's bios of both Stoppard and Fitzgerald. Also loved the TV show Book 4, compulsory viewing when I was at university.
Like others, I am sadder than I expected about Stoppard. I saw R&GRD at the Criterion Theatre when I was 12, in 1976. I remember my mother telling me 'you won't understand it all, but that doesn't matter'. And she was right. I read and re-read it in my teens. But my favourite is Arcadia, which I've directed and taught as well as seen. Stoppard's script polishing of Shakespeare in Love made that film which could have been pure schmaltz.
I booked tickets to see Leopoldstadt during the Easter holidays of 2020. Ho hum.
What a BRILLIANT interview Henry -so wide-ranging, thought-provoking and interesting. I am hunting down my copies of various books mentioned as I type! Thank you for sharing!
I loved this interview so much. I’m inspired to read one of her biographies- I love all the writers she’s addressed. Are there any strong views on which biography is Lee’s best?
Fascinating, thank you. I'm interested she became Stoppard's friend, and how that shapes the biography, and is it right for a biographer to be a friend? Does it make it the resulting book more or less "trustworthy"? Does it constrain the way she wrote about him, even subconsciously - she remarks on his great charm. Or is every biography a particular take on somebody, so it doesn't matter? Especially interesting as her other subjects had all been "safely dead".
Very stimulating interview (on Stoppard particularly); though since Hermione Lee is sensitive to what she calls 'tropes', one might have hoped she'd avoid referring to Wyndham Lewis as a 'modernist fascist'.
Gosh. So deep..So long..So many typos .Surprised Mr S was influenced by anyone..I assumed his talent was pure. Although I am a fan, surprised Anita Brookner merits s biography.Surprised Mr S and Ms Kendal were an item..I thought it didn't work out..I would like to ask Ms Lee whether VW would have made it without Leonard, her devoted husband. This piece brings home to me just what a low brow I am..
Tom Stoppard’s death hit me much harder than I would have thought possible. Perhaps the post-literate society needed him out of the way before it could really get going…
Wonderful to have such a rich, wide-ranging interview about so many wonderful writers. Loved Lee's bios of both Stoppard and Fitzgerald. Also loved the TV show Book 4, compulsory viewing when I was at university.
Like others, I am sadder than I expected about Stoppard. I saw R&GRD at the Criterion Theatre when I was 12, in 1976. I remember my mother telling me 'you won't understand it all, but that doesn't matter'. And she was right. I read and re-read it in my teens. But my favourite is Arcadia, which I've directed and taught as well as seen. Stoppard's script polishing of Shakespeare in Love made that film which could have been pure schmaltz.
I booked tickets to see Leopoldstadt during the Easter holidays of 2020. Ho hum.
Thank you for a great read.
Brilliant interview fascinating about Stoppard and so interesting : more please
What a BRILLIANT interview Henry -so wide-ranging, thought-provoking and interesting. I am hunting down my copies of various books mentioned as I type! Thank you for sharing!
I loved this interview so much. I’m inspired to read one of her biographies- I love all the writers she’s addressed. Are there any strong views on which biography is Lee’s best?
This is what an interview should be!
A really brilliant interview. Thanks, Henry.
Thank you. Wonderful.
Fascinating, thank you. I'm interested she became Stoppard's friend, and how that shapes the biography, and is it right for a biographer to be a friend? Does it make it the resulting book more or less "trustworthy"? Does it constrain the way she wrote about him, even subconsciously - she remarks on his great charm. Or is every biography a particular take on somebody, so it doesn't matter? Especially interesting as her other subjects had all been "safely dead".
Lovely. I knew Hermione quite well in the Book 4 days because my then husband produced it. So good to hear from her at length.
Very stimulating interview (on Stoppard particularly); though since Hermione Lee is sensitive to what she calls 'tropes', one might have hoped she'd avoid referring to Wyndham Lewis as a 'modernist fascist'.
Gosh. So deep..So long..So many typos .Surprised Mr S was influenced by anyone..I assumed his talent was pure. Although I am a fan, surprised Anita Brookner merits s biography.Surprised Mr S and Ms Kendal were an item..I thought it didn't work out..I would like to ask Ms Lee whether VW would have made it without Leonard, her devoted husband. This piece brings home to me just what a low brow I am..
.
Which are the typos?
Now here's a funny thing. I read your piece on my Samsung Tablet. When I read it later on my PC , there were none. Gremlin in the machine? Mea Culpa!