Sean Connery: The Measure of a Man - Hardcover

Bray, Christopher

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0571238076 ISBN 13: 9780571238071

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2010

Synopsis

Sean Connery's personification of secret agent James Bond invigorated Britain and its cinema, allowing a cash-strapped, morale-sapped country in decline to fancy itself still a player on the world stage. But while Bond would make Connery the first actor to command a million dollar-plus fee, the man himself was forever pouring scorn on the fantasies audiences found it increasingly hard to separate him from.

Spirited, argumentative and sardonically celebratory, Christopher Bray's Sean Connery is both a biography of a star and an investigation of what can happen to a man when the images he creates take over his life. And it's an analysis of what it means to be star-struck - a critical tribute to a secular icon who has shaped so many dreams.

In this skillfully crafted biography, Christopher Bray challenges the assumptions and rumours prevelent in previous biographies with characteristic wit and skill. His previous book Michael Caine: A Class Act, was described by the Telegraph as 'an extremely enjoyable interpretation of a fascinating body of work.'

Apart from his notable performances as James Bond in seven Bond films including Dr. No, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger, Sean Connery won an Oscar for The Untouchables and appeared in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Highlander and The Rock. He has also starred in The Man Who Would Be King, Murder on the Orient Express and Zardoz.

About this title

Review:

'[An] insightful study.' --Independent on Sunday

'Bray, writing with the wit, skill and aplomb which made his recent biography of Connery s fellow 60s icon, Michael Caine, such a riveting read ... As should any biographer worth his salt, Bray takes particular delight in challenging the assumptions, apocrypha, received wisdom and PR nonsense which plagued previous biographies, and resolves to expose the roots of the false rumours of Connery s alleged propensity for off-screen violence, including towards women ... This may be the preeminent Connery biography even without the word auto in front.' -- Empire, 5-star review >> 'Christopher Bray's biography offers detail Sean's own book missed, and chronicles his journey from weightlifter to global icon with the enthusiasm of a lifelong fan.' -- Mail on Sunday >> 'Bray is an eloquent and inventive writer ... Bray has written a compelling study of stardom and what it signifies, both to the star and to his followers ... Bray - a witty, elegant writer ... His book amounts to an exceptionally vivid and searching account of what it is to be a fan.' -- Simon Callow, Guardian >> 'Bray valliantly tries to fill the gaps in our knowledge ... provides an entertaining resume of the man's career.' -- Sunday Telegraph >> 'This greatly entertaining book... a meditation on the weirdness of stardom and power of fantasy.' -- Frances Wilson, TLS >> ' Fascinating' -- --Total Film

Book Description:

Sean Connery by Christopher Bray asks why for almost fifty years, men around the world have measured themselves against our age's prime definition of masculinity: Sean Connery.

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0571238076
• ISBN 13: 9780571238071
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 358