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Profiles Kenneth Tynan

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Profiles

by Kenneth Tynan

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1524 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	634 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

A Maverick Critic's Journey

Kenneth Tynan was one of the most influential theater critics of the 20th century. His writing was incisive, witty, and often controversial, and he helped to shape the course of theater history. Profiles Kenneth Tynan is a fascinating and revealing biography of this complex and enigmatic figure.

John Lahr, a renowned theater critic himself, has written a masterful account of Tynan's life and career. Lahr draws on extensive interviews with Tynan's friends, family, and colleagues, as well as on Tynan's own writings. The result is a nuanced and insightful portrait of a man who was both brilliant and flawed.

Profiles Kenneth Tynan is divided into three parts. The first part covers Tynan's early life and career, from his childhood in Birmingham, England, to his early days as a theater critic for The Observer. The second part focuses on Tynan's years as a television personality and author. The third part examines Tynan's later years, including his struggles with addiction and depression.

Lahr's writing is clear and engaging, and he provides a wealth of fascinating detail about Tynan's life and work. He also offers his own insights into Tynan's critical writings, and he helps to place Tynan's work in the context of the theater history of the 20th century.

Profiles Kenneth Tynan is a must-read for anyone interested in theater criticism or the history of the theater. Lahr's masterful biography provides a fascinating and revealing look at one of the most influential figures in the world of theater.

About the Author

John Lahr is a renowned theater critic and author. He has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Guardian. He is the author of several books, including Dame Edna Everage and the Rise of Western Civilization and Prick Up Your Ears: The Biography of Joe Orton.

Additional Information

Publisher: Knopf
Publication Date: 2009
: 978-0-307-26566-0
Pages: 464

## Description

In Profiles Kenneth Tynan, John Lahr provides a fascinating and revealing look at one of the most influential theater critics of the 20th century. This masterful biography draws on extensive interviews with Tynan's friends, family, and colleagues, as well as on Tynan's own writings. The result is a nuanced and insightful portrait of a man who was both brilliant and flawed.

Tynan was born in Birmingham, England, in 1927. He began his career as a theater critic for The Observer in 1954. He quickly gained a reputation for his incisive wit and his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. In 1963, he became the drama critic for The New York Times. He held that position for ten years, during which time he became one of the most influential theater critics in the world.

Tynan was also a successful television personality and author. He hosted the BBC television series "The Kenneth Tynan Show" from 1967 to 1969. He also wrote several books, including Curtains (1961),Tynan Right & Left (1967),and A View of the English Stage (1975).

Tynan struggled with addiction and depression throughout his life. He died in 1980 at the age of 53.

Profiles

by Kenneth Tynan

5 out of 5