Overview
When John Osborne died at Christmas 1994,
his obituaries cited his autobiographical writings as perfect examples of
undiluted talent and acerbic wit. Now, Osborne's superb autobiographies, A
Better Class of Person: 1929-1956 and Almost a Gentleman:
1955-1966 (winner of the J. R. Ackerley Prize), are available for the
first time in one volume, Looking Back.
'A brilliant, funny, melancholy and
acrimonious book of memoirs . . . Almost every page confirms that his powers as
an elegist, definer of the Zeitgeist and master of unforgiving disgust remain
undimmed.' Observer
This volume also contains 'Bad John', a
review by Alan Bennett of A Better Class of Person, and David
Hare's eulogy for John Osborne at the memorial service for Osborne in 1995.