The Kenneth Williams Diaries - Kenneth Williams, Russel Davies

Kenneth Williams kept a diary for more than forty years. In 1993, five years after his death, these diaries were published in an edited form. The diaries revealed a more complex figure than the comedian who became much loved through his Carry On roles and famous appearances on the chat show circuit. The private Kenneth Williams was a remarkably well read, religious man haunted by his homosexuality, sometimes outrageous behaviour and thoughts of suicide who lived an ascetic and often lonely life in a series of modest London flats. The diaries also reveal his real thoughts on the rest of the Carry On team and everyone from Joe Orton to Noel Coward to Peter Cook to Tony ...  Read the complete review

I have never read such a load of trivial,inconsequential tittle-tattle as that contained in "The Kenneth Williams Diaries". Yet, at the same time, I would never have imagined that I could become so intrigued and fascinated by the ramblings of an actor and comedian whom I had previously dismissed as being as funny and entertaining as a bout of chronic bronchitis. As is becoming somewhat of a habit nowadays, I have to thank Trevor15, who's dooyoo review so eloquently persuaded me to put aside my preconceived prejudices and actually buy this book. It is, as the title explains, a selection of extracts from the 4 million or so words written by the ...  Read the complete review

Truth is stranger than fiction! A cliche, I know, but applicable in this case. I'm nosey! I like to know what makes people tick. This is probably one of the reasons - no, let's be honest, this is the reason - I bought Kenneth Williams' (KW) diaries. It certainly wasn't out of admiration for the man: I'd always found him annoying. Sure, I liked the 'Carry On' saga, of which Williams was an integral component but I ignored him and just enjoyed the others. That isn't to take anything away from his abilities as a comedy actor, I believe he did have superb timing and equisite delivery, which is why he is still cherished by millions ...  Read the complete review

Take a week off work and read this. Believe me, once you start, you won't be able to help yourself. With the diaries of Kenneth Williams, you don't so much saunter down a glittering memory lane, as plunge into a private, squirming hell. Y'see, Kenneth wasn't what he looked, and let's face it, that was an already pretty strange image. Here was a man with blantant homosexual leanings, but he repulsed himself. He detested and loved the general public simultaneously. He was morbidly afraid of other people's germs, to the point of directing visitors to his flat to the local WC down near Baker Street Station, when their need arose. ...  Read the complete review