In Two Minds: A Biography of Jonathan Miller: 1 - Tapa dura

"A remarkable portrait of a complex and Coleridgean figure, a man in two minds about himself for most of his life." (Five stars) Telegraph "Scrupulously researched, always fascinating As Bassett says in her admirably measured book, theres bile and bitterness here. As she demonstrates, theres also genius." - London Times "Compelling.. a dense, exhaustively well-researched portrait... a persuasive, ultimately rather sad portrait of a North London Jewish boy." Sunday Times "Bassett is herself a fine, fierce theatre critic her write-ups of Miller's productions have verve and perceptive grace thorough entertaining." Guardian "An admirably thorough job of a biography: sympathetic, deeply researched, informed by long conversations with Miller and dozens of friends, colleagues and, occasionally, enemies." Spectator "Kate Bassetts fascinating book draws together the many strands that combine to make this renaissance man." Jewish Chronicle "Sir Jonathan Miller is a remarkable man. As one of the great egocentrics of his generation, he would not question this judgment... Ms Bassetts first-class biography does not mask Sir Jonathans weaknesses, but she says that, in conversation, his flaws seem more tragicomic than intolerablethe bile and bitterness never quite obliterate the mans warmth.'" Economist "Absorbing, in-depth and erudite Bassett, who clearly likes and respects her subject but isn't overawed by him, sensibly marshals the arguments on both sides and leaves it up to the reader how posterity will regard Miller." Observer "Kate Bassetts brilliant, exhaustively researched biography reminds us what a truly astonishing man he is. Just try to imagine post-war British culture without him." Jewish Chronicle "Intensively researched Kate Bassett pays a fantastic tribute to a great, if sometimes irascible man Where Kate Bassett really scores is in painting a rounded portrait of a man who has changed his direction more often than a frisky dodgem car at a funfair Whatever their interests, readers will find much to entertain." British Theatre Guide "A remarkable portrait of a complex and Coleridgean figure, a man in two minds about himself for most of his life." (Five stars) Telegraph "Scrupulously researched, always fascinating As Bassett says in her admirably measured book, there's 'bile and bitterness' here. As she demonstrates, there's also genius." - London Times "Compelling.. a dense, exhaustively well-researched portrait... a persuasive, ultimately rather sad portrait of a North London Jewish boy." Sunday Times "Bassett is herself a fine, fierce theatre critic her write-ups of Miller's productions have verve and perceptive grace thorough entertaining." Guardian "An admirably thorough job of a biography: sympathetic, deeply researched, informed by long conversations with Miller and dozens of friends, colleagues and, occasionally, enemies." Spectator "Kate Bassett's fascinating book draws together the many strands that combine to make this renaissance man." Jewish Chronicle "Sir Jonathan Miller is a remarkable man. As one of the great egocentrics of his generation, he would not question this judgment... Ms Bassett's first-class biography does not mask Sir Jonathan's weaknesses, but she says that, "in conversation, his flaws seem more tragicomic than intolerable the bile and bitterness never quite obliterate the man's warmth.'" Economist "Absorbing, in-depth and erudite Bassett, who clearly likes and respects her subject but isn't overawed by him, sensibly marshals the arguments on both sides and leaves it up to the reader how posterity will regard Miller." Observer "Kate Bassett's brilliant, exhaustively researched biography reminds us what a truly astonishing man he is. Just try to imagine post-war British culture without him." Jewish Chronicle "Intensively researched Kate Bassett pays a fantastic tribute to a great, if sometimes irascible man Where Kate Bassett really scores is in painting a rounded portrait of a man who has changed his direction more often than a frisky dodgem car at a funfair Whatever their interests, readers will find much to entertain." British Theatre Guide

In Two Minds is the first comprehensive biography of Jonathan Miller - the story of one of post-war Britain's most intriguing polymaths. Descended from immigrants who fled Tsarist anti-Semitism to become shopkeepers in Ireland and London's East End, Miller was born into an intellectual milieu, between Bloomsbury and Harley Street - the son of a novelist and a leading child psychiatrist. Miller trained as adoctor but then forged a career as a stellar comedian and as a world-renowned theatre and opera director. He is a controversial humorist, public intellectual and TV personality. As a star in the groundbreaking satirical revue Beyond the Fringe, he shot to fame alongside Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Alan Bennett. His expertise and interests encompass many areas, from medicine (he wrote and presented the hugely acclaimed BBC documentary series The Body in Question) to the history of art, Mozart, atheism and the nature of laughter. Jonathan Miller is one of the most multi-talented Britons of his generation, celebrated for his dazzling intelligence and anti-establishmentarian wit. Drawing on in-depth interviews, this is an entertaining and illuminating portrait of a fascinatingly complex man. Shortlisted for the Theatre Book Prize, the Sheridan Morley Prize for Theatre Biography and the HW Fisher Prize for Best First Biography.