- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Harpercollins Trade Sales Dept; 1 edition (May 22 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0060087439
- ISBN-13: 978-0060087432
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 522 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #554,528 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Amazon.ca
In his much-anticipated memoir Shattered Love, TV actor Richard Chamberlain reveals he is gay and for decades lived a fictitious public life. "I was terrified that this news would alienate fans and topple my cherished career, robbing me of the work I loved and my only source of income," Chamberlain writes. But he pointedly adds, "I had to admit to myself that I was as homophobic as the public I sought to please." He reflects on his career with similar disarming ease, spinning tales about his many Tinseltown colleagues such as Paul Newman, Julie Christie, Raquel Welch, Sir John Geilgud, Steve McQueen, and the legendary Barbara Stanwyck, his co-star from the blockbuster TV mini-series The Thorn Birds. Stanwyck, he writes, flubbed her lines just once--when he stripped off his clothes on-camera. "After a stunned pause she murmured, 'Well, it's been a very long time since I've stood next to a naked man.'" Chapters about growing up in post-war California with his alcoholic father are written with the same breezy candour. Chamberlain also assesses his acting ability (he's "a character actor in leading-man clothing") and frankly deals with his onetime obsession with youth ("I was secretly certain that my success was almost entirely due to my youthful good looks"). Many of the later chapters explore Chamberlain's deep spirituality and lifelong quest for inner peace--Chamberlain's way of dealing with his double life all those years. "The important lesson in all this is not about revealing secrets," he says. "The real challenge is in daring to brave the silence." And in so doing Chamberlain has given readers a book that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. --Richard Burnett
From Publishers Weekly
Despite its fevered title, this is a courtly, ruminative life's accounting by the TV miniseries star and 1960s heartthrob. It relates Chamberlain's journey toward self-awareness and growoing capacity for love, through the scrim of an actor's career. Although the author, who's now 69, discusses his main television, movie and stage efforts, he dishes no dirt about his colleagues or directors. Raymond Massey, Chamberlain's Dr. Kildare co-star, was like a second father to him. The Thorn Birds' co-star Barbara Stanwyck was prepared down to her gestures when she hit the set. The Three Musketeers's bombshell Raquel Welch was beloved by all. As Chamberlain revisits his acting credits, he concentrates on what he gained from them as an artist, such as how he fought for the lead in Shogun or broke through the constraints of Rex Harrison's performance to carve his own characterization of Henry Higgins in a stage revival of My Fair Lady. Throughout, he centers his account on how he evolved as a spiritual being. He writes of his spiritual counselors, who showed him how to gain strength through dissociation and open his heart to forgive and love others, particularly his alcoholic father. He speaks intermittently about his homosexuality, but considers it a nonissue, rather than a political passion. His pantheistic theology is heartfelt, but might seem unfounded to orthodox believers. The book is most valuable as a portrait of a man who has made peace with his past. B&w photo insert not seen by PW.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
I was born in Los Angeles during the Great Depression and was quickly whisked off to Beverly Hills. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
I was born in Los Angeles during the Great Depression and was quickly whisked off to Beverly Hills. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Richard Chamberlain,
By
This review is from: Shattered Love: A Memoir (Hardcover)
Its always hard for someone who is gay to live his life secretly especially if he's in the entertainment world, where everything and anything he does is up for scrutiny by the public. I always admired Mr. Chamberlain for his acting ability and his looks. Thornbirds and Shogun were my favorite tv series, which I think were his most popular and best performances. But -- would he have gotten those parts if his sexual preference was common knowledge at the time?? Would he have been believable in those parts? Sadly, probably not.
Like other famous gay actors/entertainers, of that time, Rock Hudson, Danny Kaye, Randolph Scott etc. it was necessary to hide it while playing leading men. Had it been known, his career may have taken a different turn entirely. Keeping the secret probably made him more famous than he would have been otherwise. But I'm glad that he is now happy and fulfilled in his life and accepts it as his destiny.
3.0 out of 5 stars
"Just be.",
By
This review is from: Shattered Love: A Memoir (Hardcover)
In his memoir, Richard Chamberlain describes the early feelings of inadequacy and need for love that lead him into acting, his break-through role as "Dr. Kildare" and later success in Shogun and The Thorn Birds, but the book is mostly about his spiritual journey, especially his experience with transcendental meditation.
Chamberlain comes across as an intellectual and well-spoken man; unfortunately, I found his lengthy discourses on meditation and the essence of Truth and Love confusing and repetitive. I was hoping for more about his acting career. The book contains many professional and personal photos.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shattered Love moving Toward Love,
By
This review is from: Shattered Love: A Memoir (Hardcover)
Richard Chamberlain tells in this book of his poignant struggles of growing up in an alcoholic home, dealing with fame (and when it deals with him), as well as his spiritual search to live an authentic and truthful life.Many, I imagine will pick up this book with an eye for sensationalism and gossip over the revelation of his sexual preference. Yet they will be sorely disappointed that there is neither sensational and illicit tales, nor gossip to titillate. No, what the reader will find here is a book about a very thoughtful and spiritual man, who happened to act for a living, trying to navigate his way toward love and finding his true and openhearted self. Though, given the sometimes glossed over and fast-forwarded events in his life that take place in the book, one can't help but wonder if there is another book in the offing or if much was edited out of this one. Yet the spiritual and philosophical ponderings were delightful to read and filled the heart. I am glad that Mr. Chamberlain wrote it and allowed himself to be so vulnerable and open. On a personal note, I applaud Mr. Chamberlain's courage to write the truths revealed in the book but also wish to add that it makes no difference to me one way or another and it shouldn't to anyone who reads this book. He simply is what he is and approval is not required when reading. Acceptance however, is a bridge to understanding. You could learn a lot about not only Richard Chamberlain in this book, but yourself as well. Cheers to the years together, Martin and Richard!
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