Behind the Lens
On sale
3rd October 2019
Price: £25
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
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
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Reviews
Beautiful . . . revealing
An arresting photographic voyage through the life and loves of this enigmatic English star
David Suchet's book Behind the Lens reveals his considerable talent as a photographer and takes an interesting path, seeking to show us his life and experience through his eyes. The correspondence between his words and his pictures (the book is lavishly illustrated) is never less than interesting and often revealing. He has a seriously good eye for an image, which reflects back on his feeling for character and situation. He takes us through his career and life and world view
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
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
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
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
A beautiful and engaging read
A very unique autobiography . . . stunning . . . a beautiful book
Terrifically entertaining . . . Behind the Lens sees the real David Suchet step forward at last
A series of autobiographical sketches, written in an amiably informal style . . . generously illustrated
Beautifully packaged memoir