Bruce Chatwin

I loved this book. I thought it was the best biography I have ever read. But, like shakespeare, I am biased, coming into the reading of it already captivated by Chatwin's writings and personality. Those who are of a similar disposition must read this book, each line is carefully researched and laid out to present the complex facets of Chatwin's life in all its glory. People who are not Chatwin fans will probably find this book so so, and may feel annoyed by the selfish, arrogant, insensitive and, at times, brutal attitude of Chatwin's personality - exemplified over issues such as his explotation of people in Patagonia and Australia to generate his own unique material for 'In Patagonia' and 'The Songlines' and his frequent betrayal of his devoted wife. Some people I know even think Chatwin deserved his premature death in 1989 from Aids. Although Shakespeare is obviously in the former category- in a review of Utz he calls Chatwin 'the greatest stylist writing in England today'. But he does consider all the sides of Chatwin's remarkable personality and left me at the end shaking my head at what a remarkable life he led, wishing I could have met him in the flesh.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. Shakespeare has constructed the finest biography I have ever read. At times, it even seems that Chatwin's merely a supporting cast member to Shakespeare's storytelling. I found mself limiting how many pages I could read a day so that I could drag it out as long as possible. It's not just for Chatwin fans either. I went into the bio with no knowledge of him.

Nicholas Shakespeare got to the very essence of the man in this superb portrait. Bruce Chatwin, complex to the extreme, could not have been an easy subject, yet Shakespeare managed, in a totally non judgemental way, to give the reader a revealing insight into the life and times of this late, great writer. The good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, he told it as it was, which is what will make this excellent biography endure. After satisfying my cravings for knowledge of all things Chatwin, and savouring every last powerful word that Shakespeare wrote, I was left with one overwhelming question: "Who is this Elizabeth woman - when are we going to hear her story?"...

Finally, a definitive Chatwin biography! I waited years for this -- and I wasn't disappointed. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating writer. The thing to remember about Chatwin is that he was a very English character and I think this may frustrate some non-English readers who -- forgive me for saying so -- may lack the taste or patience to appreciate him (as some of the petulant comments from previous reviewers suggest). He was such a difficult man to figure out even to his friends and I am not surprised that he ultimately comes across as unknowable in this otherwise thorough, valuable book.

This is a fascinating read that I could not put down. Shakespeare tackles a difficult subject in masterful way. There is a lot of detail here, and it takes a while to get the flow of the book. But I certainly felt I understood Chatwin's motivations and his complex personality. This book is a must for any fan of Chatwin and explains in depth the reasons behind his books. This is definitely a five star book. Those who love the lives of writers will love this book.