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foresnakenace's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This book offers a brief overview of Isherwood's life from Lehmann's view, supplemented by a few letters from the two and excerpts from Lehmanns diary. The 70s and 80s are covered with a series of letters and diary entries only, without commentary to supplement them.
The biggest weakness of this book, I think, is its sparseness towards the end. Lehmann skips over almost the entire first half of the 40s, giving only a brief summary of some parts on a one or two pages which is a challenge to follow, even having read the first volume of Isherwood's diaries, as well as only skimming over the remainder of Isherwood's life from the 60s on and, as I said above, the 70s and 80s have no commentary beyond the few letters and diary entries from the time. It's a shame, since Lehmanns commentary throughout the book was very interesting and I thought he characterised Isherwood very poignantly. Lehmann passed away just a year after Isherwood himself, so I believe he didn't have time to finish the book, despite what the blurb, which claims after finishing the memoir, says.
A by-product of this skimming/skipping periods is that some of Isherwood's books get lost in them. For the books in the periods Lehmann covers, he offers his own opinion and critique of the books Isherwood publishes, as well as the general reception and his own opinion of his books, as well as sometimes his reaction to their reception. I found this some of the most interesting content of the memoir and was therefore especially disappointed to find that, although Lehmann mentions Christopher and his Kind several times, often as a point of reference when he talks of Isherwood's life in the 30s, this book offers nothing of Isherwood's prossess when writing the book, nor does it get into Lehmann's thoughts or Isherwood's or the public reception.
Lehmann also goes out of his way to stress how important shared sexual tastes were to the bonds Isherwood formed with many of his friends. Isherwood, like many of his closest friends, was gay and this was an important element of their friendship, however Lehmann doesn't stress, or even mention his own homosexuality (or bisexuality? I don't know enough about Lehmann to know details, I only know he wasn't straight) and the silence on this point is somewhat glaring and feels a little strange. Overall a little more information about Lehmann himself would have been nice, thought the book isn't about him.
The memoir offers an interesting look at Isherwood in the 20s and 30s, made relevant especially because it's filtered through the perspective of a man who knew him, grew up in the same era as Isherwood himself, grew up in similar circumstances and moved in the same circles. Even here Christopher and his Kind provides a good basis for following Lehmann's brisk pace. Later on, the commentary loses some of this, because too much is skimmed, though there are still some compelling passages, especially when it comes to Isherwood's novels, so far as they are covered.
The memoir contains some letters by Isherwood that were new to me and I really enjoyed, as well as a few paragraphs concerning the I am a camera play and movie and Cabaret musical and movie. I'm happy to hear Isherwood was as horrified by the romance between Sally and Isherwood's stand-in as I was, am and will always remain.
I was completely, but very pleasantly surprised to find some passages in this book about Forster's Maurice, mostly concerned with the novel's publication, though in retrospect it makes complete sense. As well as this, The other Boat is talked of, a short story of Forster's, also on a homosexual theme, which I had never heard of, so of course I'm ecstatic.
Despite a few disappointments, especially towards the end of the book, I think this memoir was well worth the read, offering some new insights and personal commentary from Lehmann on their friendship which I found both touching and compelling. He strikes a good balance between warmth towards his friend, and an honest assessment of Isherwood's works and actions. Short and very readable, with some unique snippets of information as well as a nice overview of especially the first half of Isherwood's life, though the latter half is a bit patchy.
The biggest weakness of this book, I think, is its sparseness towards the end. Lehmann skips over almost the entire first half of the 40s, giving only a brief summary of some parts on a one or two pages which is a challenge to follow, even having read the first volume of Isherwood's diaries, as well as only skimming over the remainder of Isherwood's life from the 60s on and, as I said above, the 70s and 80s have no commentary beyond the few letters and diary entries from the time. It's a shame, since Lehmanns commentary throughout the book was very interesting and I thought he characterised Isherwood very poignantly. Lehmann passed away just a year after Isherwood himself, so I believe he didn't have time to finish the book, despite what the blurb, which claims after finishing the memoir, says.
A by-product of this skimming/skipping periods is that some of Isherwood's books get lost in them. For the books in the periods Lehmann covers, he offers his own opinion and critique of the books Isherwood publishes, as well as the general reception and his own opinion of his books, as well as sometimes his reaction to their reception. I found this some of the most interesting content of the memoir and was therefore especially disappointed to find that, although Lehmann mentions Christopher and his Kind several times, often as a point of reference when he talks of Isherwood's life in the 30s, this book offers nothing of Isherwood's prossess when writing the book, nor does it get into Lehmann's thoughts or Isherwood's or the public reception.
Lehmann also goes out of his way to stress how important shared sexual tastes were to the bonds Isherwood formed with many of his friends. Isherwood, like many of his closest friends, was gay and this was an important element of their friendship, however Lehmann doesn't stress, or even mention his own homosexuality (or bisexuality? I don't know enough about Lehmann to know details, I only know he wasn't straight) and the silence on this point is somewhat glaring and feels a little strange. Overall a little more information about Lehmann himself would have been nice, thought the book isn't about him.
The memoir offers an interesting look at Isherwood in the 20s and 30s, made relevant especially because it's filtered through the perspective of a man who knew him, grew up in the same era as Isherwood himself, grew up in similar circumstances and moved in the same circles. Even here Christopher and his Kind provides a good basis for following Lehmann's brisk pace. Later on, the commentary loses some of this, because too much is skimmed, though there are still some compelling passages, especially when it comes to Isherwood's novels, so far as they are covered.
The memoir contains some letters by Isherwood that were new to me and I really enjoyed, as well as a few paragraphs concerning the I am a camera play and movie and Cabaret musical and movie. I'm happy to hear Isherwood was as horrified by the romance between Sally and Isherwood's stand-in as I was, am and will always remain.
I was completely, but very pleasantly surprised to find some passages in this book about Forster's Maurice, mostly concerned with the novel's publication, though in retrospect it makes complete sense. As well as this, The other Boat is talked of, a short story of Forster's, also on a homosexual theme, which I had never heard of, so of course I'm ecstatic.
Despite a few disappointments, especially towards the end of the book, I think this memoir was well worth the read, offering some new insights and personal commentary from Lehmann on their friendship which I found both touching and compelling. He strikes a good balance between warmth towards his friend, and an honest assessment of Isherwood's works and actions. Short and very readable, with some unique snippets of information as well as a nice overview of especially the first half of Isherwood's life, though the latter half is a bit patchy.
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