Travelling hopefully
Aug. 22nd, 2022 07:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
qatsiBook Review: Moon Boots and Dinner Suits, by Jon Pertwee
The third in an occasional series, this is a rather tricky book to review. The fact is, the strapline "The early years of the man who was Doctor Who" is rather faint in the online artwork, and the title is rather suggestive of the Time Lord himself, so I did feel a little short-changed. On the other hand, it is written by the man himself.
Most autobiographies gloss over childhood in the first chapter; Pertwee makes rather more of his. Descended from the French Perthuis, his more recent ancestors were also theatrical; whilst he didn't rate his father's acting ability on the occasions he saw it, his father was a successful writer in the early years of Hollywood. A few patterns quickly emerge, and do grate a bit as the book goes on. Firstly, Pertwee failed at most things, and was variously expelled or otherwise removed from schools and early jobs. Secondly, everything was a great adventure (perhaps sometimes leading to the former); there are an awful lot of scurrilous anecdotes. Thirdly, he was fairly naïve and yet indestructible: various escapades, including motorbike accidents, caused no long-term harm, and did not change his behaviour.
The most interesting part of the book covers his war years. Again, there is a notable lack of success, but as he began to adapt to naval life, the book becomes more serious. Eventually stationed on HMS Hood, he had a lucky break in being reassigned shortly before it met its fate. The final chapter skips a dozen years or so after the war, to focus on The Navy Lark. Although it's an entertaining read, there isn't much scope for reflection, but it is more than superficial.
The third in an occasional series, this is a rather tricky book to review. The fact is, the strapline "The early years of the man who was Doctor Who" is rather faint in the online artwork, and the title is rather suggestive of the Time Lord himself, so I did feel a little short-changed. On the other hand, it is written by the man himself.
Most autobiographies gloss over childhood in the first chapter; Pertwee makes rather more of his. Descended from the French Perthuis, his more recent ancestors were also theatrical; whilst he didn't rate his father's acting ability on the occasions he saw it, his father was a successful writer in the early years of Hollywood. A few patterns quickly emerge, and do grate a bit as the book goes on. Firstly, Pertwee failed at most things, and was variously expelled or otherwise removed from schools and early jobs. Secondly, everything was a great adventure (perhaps sometimes leading to the former); there are an awful lot of scurrilous anecdotes. Thirdly, he was fairly naïve and yet indestructible: various escapades, including motorbike accidents, caused no long-term harm, and did not change his behaviour.
The most interesting part of the book covers his war years. Again, there is a notable lack of success, but as he began to adapt to naval life, the book becomes more serious. Eventually stationed on HMS Hood, he had a lucky break in being reassigned shortly before it met its fate. The final chapter skips a dozen years or so after the war, to focus on The Navy Lark. Although it's an entertaining read, there isn't much scope for reflection, but it is more than superficial.