Anthony Bunko

A perfectly serviceable biography; but, being a fan of Hugh Laurie in every incarnation, I hoped for more from this, somehow expecting a book with character and charm. It did begin reasonably well; Laurie’s childhood, schooling and parents were tackled with care, but on arriving at his subject’s launch – well, okay, meander – into stardom, there were great rolling passages of the book that felt more like a fleshed-out magazine article than a first-rate biography.

I have been left wondering what a flat and soulless mess Bunko might make of a biography of someone less engaging than Hugh Laurie. During the second half of the book, every time the author used a quote from the subject himself, or from someone who wasn’t just being used to get another friend’s assessment for padding, it was like a breath of oxygen in an airless room. It wasn’t so dull as to be unreadable, it just lacked a sense that the biographer was there to do anything more than stitch together a well-researched chronology with some opinions tacked on.

Bunko might have chosen the standard title for a celebrity history, but I contend that ‘The’ biography is still waiting to be written; along with the opportunity to channel more of Laurie’s character, more insight, more contextual anecdotes and, while I’m listing grievances, a better quality of writing, an altogether more comprehensive and perceptive insight into Hugh Laurie’s life and career.… (más)