Behind the Lens

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Audiobook Downloadable / ISBN-13: 9781405545976

Price: £19.99

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Daily Mail Showbiz Memoir of the Year

‘A beautiful book’ Chris Evans

‘Terrifically entertaining’ Mail on Sunday

‘An arresting photographic voyage through the life and loves of this enigmatic English star’ S magazine

‘Though not a conventional autobiography, we learn what makes the national treasure tick’ Daily Express

A Guardian pick for the ’10 biggest books of autumn 2019′


In the early days of my career, I didn’t think I stood a hope in hell. Look at me: I’m short, stocky, slightly overweight, deep of voice, passionate, dark haired, olive skinned, hardly your typical Englishman. What chance did I have, going into the world of British theatre?

David Suchet has been a stalwart of British stage and screen for fifty years. From Shakespeare to Oscar Wilde, Freud to Poirot, Edward Teller to Doctor Who, Harold Pinter to Terence Rattigan, Questions of Faith to Decline and Fall, right up to 2019’s The Price, David has done it all. Throughout this spectacular career, David has never been without a camera, enabling him to vividly document his life in photographs. Seamlessly combining photo and memoir, Behind the Lens is the story of David’s remarkable life, showcasing his wonderfully evocative photographs and accompanied by his insightful and engaging commentary.

In Behind the Lens, David discusses his London upbringing and love of the city, his Jewish roots and how they have influenced his career, the importance of his faith, how he really feels about fame, his love of photography and music, and his processes as an actor. He looks back on his fifty-year career, including reflections on how the industry has changed, his personal highs and lows, and how he wants to be remembered. And, of course, life after Poirot and why he’s still grieving for the eccentric Belgian detective.

An autobiography with a difference, this is David Suchet as you’ve never seen him before – from behind the lens.

‘The book offers more insight into the mind and philosophy of this remarkable man than a more conventional biographical approach could have achieved’ Country Life

Reviews

A beautiful and engaging read
Woman's Way
A clear impression of a man who knows exactly who he is . . . Suchet proves charming company . . . his reflections on life are gentle, good-natured and generous
TLS
A very unique autobiography . . . stunning . . . a beautiful book
Chris Evans, Virgin Radio
An arresting photographic voyage through the life and loves of this enigmatic English star
Sharon Wright, S magazine
Beautiful . . . revealing
Radio Times
Beautifully packaged memoir
Hannah Stephenson, Press Association
Bursts with images . . . with which any working photographer would be delighted . . . the book offers more insight into the mind and philosophy of this remarkable man than a more conventional biographical approach could have achieved
Jack Watkins, Country Life
His career is fascinating, with tales of mortifying sex scenes and obsessive perfectionism. This unconventional book still shows us what makes this national treasure tick
Sharon Wright, Daily Mirror
Most fascinating is his relationship with the Poirot role. This is a series of intense scenes from an extraordinary career. Though not a conventional autobiography, we learn what makes the national treasure tick
Daily Express
Terrifically entertaining . . . Behind the Lens sees the real David Suchet step forward at last
Cole Moreton, Mail on Sunday
A series of autobiographical sketches, written in an amiably informal style . . . generously illustrated
Spectator