A boring book about an interesting man
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William Donaldson was undoubtedly an interesting figure - dissolute posho, theatrical impresario, friend to the stars, lover of Carly Simon, successful humourous writer, pimp, crackhead... and there is undoubtedly a great book to be written about him. This, though, isn't it, being a dull, name-dropping trawl through Donaldson's life which tells you what he did, but never offers any real opinion or insight into why he did it. Disappointing.
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Avoid
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Jeez! I bought this book as it came up as similar to "Dandy In The Underworld".
It's nothing like it! It's boring, sycophantic, name dropping dirge. I'm not even sure that makes sense, but it's definitely a book to avoid!
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If you don't know of Willie Donaldson already then steer clear
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This proved a lesson for me: don't judge a book by its title. I'd never heard of Willie Donaldson, but was lured and intrigued by the wonderful title.
Terence Blacker, friend, collaborator and rare admirer moves the life story along briskly with plenty candid insights to ward off any allegation of favouritism. Ultimately, though, my not knowing the subject at all meant it was a biography of only limited enjoyment.
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Crazy guy
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I read this in two days so I suppose that makes it an "easy" read. Donaldson seems to have been one of those dissolute souls who had trouble coping with the realities of the world. Initially divorced from such reality through extreme wealth he later escaped through drugs and debauched living. Undoubtedly a witty and engaging man, he appears to have had little loyalty for his friends which makes it quite strange to find how much loyalty they had to him.
This is an engaging biography of someone who could have been much more famous than he was, and anyone who obviously upset the incalculably smug editors of Private Eye has to have had something going for him
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