... I'd long been an admirer of Thaw's work, dating back to his portrayal of tough copper Jack Regan in the seventies TV series, The Sweeney, through to his more erudite roles as Inspector Morse and Kavanagh QC, and when he died from cancer in February, 2002, I, along with many other members of ... Read review
Advantages: Straightforward, honest and deeply moving Disadvantages: Have some tissues to hand
...Hancock's diary, made shortly after the death of her husband, the actor John Thaw, perhaps sums up why I bought this book. I'd long been an admirer of Thaw's work, dating back to his portrayal of tough copper Jack Regan in the seventies TV series, The Sweeney, through to his more erudite roles as Inspector Morse and Kavanagh QC, and when he died from cancer in February, 2002, I, along with many other members of the ordinary public, felt a strangely ... ...met the man of course, yet it was as though I had lost an old acquaintance, as I'm sure it was for many people.
So yes, Sheila Hancock was right; we were, in all likelihood, mourning one of the familiar characters which Thaw personified on screen rather than the man himself and it's perfectly true that none of us really 'knew' him. In spite of his profession, John Thaw remained an essentially private person who for the most part, achieved ... more
"People didn't really know him, and what most of them are mourning is Morse, or Kavanagh, or Jack Regan."
That line, an entry from Sheila Hancock's diary, made shortly after the death of her husband, the actor John Thaw, perhaps sums up why I bought this book. I'd long been an admirer of Thaw's work, dating back to his portrayal of tough copper Jack Regan in the seventies TV series, The Sweeney, through to his more erudite roles as Inspector Morse and Kavanagh QC, and when he died from cancer in February, 2002, I, along with many other members of the ordinary public, felt a strangely personal sense of loss at his untimely passing. I'd never met the man of course, yet it was as though I had lost an old acquaintance, as I'm sure it was for many people.
So yes, Sheila Hancock was right; we were, in all likelihood, mourning one of the familiar characters which Thaw personified on screen rather than the man himself and it's perfectly true that none of us really 'knew' him. In spite of his profession, John Thaw remained an essentially private person who for the most part, achieved what many so-called celebrities find seemingly impossible, which was to keep his personal life out of the public eye. With that in mind, I confess that when Sheila Hancock decided to publish this book about their lives together, I was as intrigued as the next person to find out what he was really like.
The book is written in a slightly unusual fashion; the main text, which begins with individual accounts of their lives as children, is interspersed with extracts from Sheila's diary, those extracts commencing a little over a year before John's death, and before his illness was diagnosed. It was a little awkward initially to get used to this style, but the diary entries are fairly short and sparse to begin with, and so don't detract from the main story to a great extent.
Quite a large part of the book is dedicated to their early lives as children, she as an evacuee during the Second World War, and he, as one of two brothers abandoned by their mother and reared with the help of the close-knit community of the working-class district of Manchester in which they lived. There's also much about their early careers as actors, with colourful anecdotes about many famous colleagues, both past and present, and indeed, it isn't until around the middle of the book that the pair meet, and later form a relationship that was to last for almost thirty years.
Those hoping to leap straight in to read about John Thaw, the much-loved actor, will be a little frustrated perhaps at just how much of the book is devoted to both his and Sheila's early lives. It's essential reading, however, in order to understand how those early character-forming experiences were to shape their adult lives, and how they would react to the many traumas that were to befall them in the years ahead.
Sheila Hancock has written a very honest account of their lives together, detailing both the happy times and the dark days when John's drinking problem threatened to end their marriage. It was undoubtedly a harrowing time for the whole family, and I'm sure there's far more which she (quite rightly) hasn't told us, but at no stage did I sense that she was seeking sympathy for the pain she and their daughters suffered as a result. Indeed, she goes to great lengths to defend him, convinced that the drink problem was linked to his lack of self-esteem, and his lifelong fears of rejection and failure, which in turn, were a consequence of the problems he'd faced as a child. There's no doubt that she loved him deeply and far from denigrating his memory, I think she's successfully preserved his dignity, as well as earning added respect for them both.
He was a very complex man, often hurtful to those close to him, but there was another side to him, the warm family man, who was devoted to his wife and daughters, and who went to great lengths to encourage aspiring young actors, mindful no doubt, of the difficulties he had himself faced whilst learning his craft. It's a side that would have been unknown to the general public, and being an acutely shy and modest man, that's undoubtedly the way he would have wanted it to be.
The book is deeply moving in places, and it was difficult to get through the passages leading up to, and immediately following John's death. Here, the diary entries are enormously effective, their spontaneity capturing the rawness of Sheila's grief, her anger at the unfairness of losing him so soon after getting their lives back on track, and the despair of knowing that she'll never see his face or hear his voice again. Her emotions are laid bare, and will be only too familiar to anybody who has experienced the loss of a loved one in similar circumstances.
Despite the heart-breaking moments, there are lots of happy memories, backed up by the many family photographs dotted throughout the book. I enjoyed reading the anecdotes relating to the war years, reminiscent as they are of my father's memories of being an evacuee, and there are some wonderful theatrical tales featuring the likes of Kenneth Williams, Tom Courtenay and Nicol Williamson, among others. Sheila Hancock has kept a diary for most of her life, and it's from those entries that she's able to recall the details of those early days, along with the social and political climates of the times.
She writes in a straightforward style which is immensely readable, and both her strong will and determination come through quite clearly, characteristics which doubtless helped her through the many tragic events she's had to face over the years. She isn't afraid to reveal her vulnerability, however, and the extraordinarily emotive diary extracts leave us in no doubt as to the anguish and pain which she endured during the dreadful days surrounding John's death.
This was a difficult and highly emotional read at times, but I'm glad I got through it, and I fully intend to read the book again some time in the future, such was its impact. Read it, and as they say, weep, but you'll laugh too, and like me, I'm sure you'll be filled with admiration and respect for this remarkable woman.
Paperback version currently available from Amazon, priced at £3.99.
Advantages: Book is now out in paperback Disadvantages: Can be hard reading at times
The inner sleeve of this book begins "When John Thaw, star of The Sweeney, Inspector Morse and Goodnight, Mr Tom, died from cancer in 2002, a nation lost one of its finest actors. Sheila Hancock lost a beloved husband".
That sums up what this is about. Actor Sheila Hancock opens her heart, her personal diary and family album to show us a little more about John Thaw and how she felt throughout his illness and subsequent death. There are some wonderful ... ...Alec died from cancer of the oesophagus, the muscular tube for the passage of food from the pharynx to the stomach. It was a condition that was also later to take the life of John. It has been linked to smoking.
As Sheila puts it "I needed a man" and she also says "I cannot remember a glad reunion with John....it did not feel like a betrayal so soon after Alec's death".
John knew that Alec had died of cancer but when he fell ill with the same condition, ...
Mel27 09.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Two of Us - Sheila Hancock
Advantages: Spares you the agony and full details of John's illness Disadvantages: Too "Theatrical" in places , a real "luvvie" book
" Just the two of us - we can make it if we try, just the two of us, you and I". I cannot help it but each time I reach for the cover of this book that darn song appears in my head. Don't let that start of my review fool you though, this is not a story to put a smile on your face.
It's a pity that the book isn't as cheery as the song as there is no happy ending. The book is a true story about John Thaw of The Sweeney and Morse fame written by his ... ...white picture of John on the front in what looks like it was taken in one of his Morse episodes. *******How does the story begin? *********
Sheila starts the book as talking about the main characters, her and john as "the girl" and "the boy". The girl was born on the Isle of Wight in 1933, nine years before John. Her mother was Ivy, was English but her father was from Milan, Enrico Hancock. Doesn't quite sound right does it? Even Sheila admits that ...
mrsmopples 16.01.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Two of Us - Sheila Hancock
Advantages: Great Actor, Great Book Disadvantages: Spent most of the time crying !!
...think l could have watched the whole program just by using the expressions shown through his face and eyes ..... that's how good an actor he was. I don't usually read biographies, they're not really my kind of reading, But one day l was watching the telly when Sheila Hancock was being interviewed (John Thaws wife). She was explaining how someone else had written an unauthorised biography of John Thaw, where some of the facts were not entirely true. ... ...Life with John Thaw" the book is split into 20 chapters, each chapter alternating between Sheila and John's lives from the day each was born, leading on to their early careers, previous marriages to their own turbulant but always passionate relationship, and then finally ending with John's death and the year that followed for Sheila. Throughout the book there are some fabulous photos giving you that extra bit of insight into their lives. Amalgamted ...
Lynso1977 14.10.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Two of Us - Sheila Hancock
Advantages: Out In paperback, Double Biography Disadvantages: None
...are two reasons for this. The first is Hancock's writing...The second is John Thaw' Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times
This is the comment on the front cover of the book and I am not usually someone who buys biographies but I was interested in this one especially as it is written by his wife and details both their lives. It was only £3.73 in paperback in Tesco's so I thought why not?
I loved the way this was written, the first chapter is entitled The ... ...Every now and then in the chapters you have diary entries which are present day from Sheilas own diary starting in January 2001
I found this book to be compelling reading and the inclusion of the photos both public and personal made it an even better read. One diary entry 'I suggested we buy a couple of fold-up camp chairs and start sitting in lay-bys with our picnic. We really are becoming a couple of old farts. And it's lovely.' Sheila Hancocks ...
Danni1973 14.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Two of Us - Sheila Hancock
Advantages: Powerful autobiography Disadvantages: No hapy ending as it's real life
...was most famed as the wife of John Thaw, whose Inspector Morse character enthralled millions of TV viewers . When Thaw died seven years ago, the nation mourned the loss of one of its favourite actors. Sheila Hancock was mourning a husband she loved passionately. Unlike many autobiographies, this one isn't "ghosted" and Hancock is a natural writer with a powerful voice. She tells the story of her early childhood in London as the daughter of a publican, ... ...of cancer.
But it is the relationship with Thaw which, inevitably, dominates the book.
It wasn't a perfect marriage. They were together for many years but she describes with raw honesty how Thaw's alcoholism, and her own battle with breast cancer, brought them to the brink of divorce.
Volatile and moody, he clearly wasn't an easy man to live with but, despite it all, he conquered his drink problem and they were about to embark on a happy semi-retirement ...
bookaddict 18.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Two of Us - Sheila Hancock
Product Information for "The Two of Us - Sheila Hancock" »
Product details
EAN
9780747570202
Type
Non-Fiction
Genre
Biography
Publisher
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Title
The Two of Us
Author
Sheila Hancock, My Life With John Thaw
ISBN
0747570205, 0747570205; 0747577099; 1582344175
Manufacturer's product description
When John Thaw star of The Sweeney and Inspector Morse" died from cancer in 2002 a nation lost one of its finest actors. Sheila Hancock lost a beloved husband. In this unique double biography she chronicles their lives - personal and professional together and apart. John Thaw was born in Manchester the son of a lorry driver. When he arrived at RADA on a scholarship he felt an outsider. In fact his timing was perfect: it was the sixties and television was beginning to make its mark. With his roles in "Z-Cars" and "The Sweeney" fame came quickly. But it was John's role as Morse that made him an icon. In 1974 John married Sheila Hancock with whom he shared a working-class background and a RADA education. Sheila was already the star of the TV series "The Rag Trade" and went on to become the first woman artistic director at the RSC. Theirs was a sometimes turbulent always passionate relationship and Sheila describes their love - weathering overwork and the pressures of celebrity drink and cancer - with honesty and piercing intelligence. "The Two of Us" is a remarkable book - a biography of a born actor and a tender often heartbreaking memoir of a marriage.Full of insight and vivid memories it evokes two lives lived to the utmost."
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