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  • The Guv'nor

  • The Autobiography of Lenny McLean
  • By: Lenny McLean
  • Narrated by: Karl Jenkinson
  • Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (3,189 ratings)

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The Guv'nor

By: Lenny McLean
Narrated by: Karl Jenkinson
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Summary

This is the classic book that started an entire genre - the story of the most iconic hardman of them all.

Lenny McLean was one of the deadliest bareknuckle fighters Britain has ever seen. He had dear, powerful friends, but he also had terrible enemies. So much so that he had two bullet wounds in his back - each from a different attack.

He was also stabbed repeatedly - always from behind. But Lenny was also a warm, big-hearted grizzly bear of a man, whose main weakness was an overwhelming desire to put the welfare of his mates ahead of his own wellbeing.

In his extraordinary autobiography, he tells of how the Mafia flew him to New York to take on their greatest bareknuckle boxer in a multimillion pound illicit bout.

The Mafia's man lasted less than three minutes. When the IRA fronted up a London gang in a money-laundering scam, Lenny was brought in to intimidate the terrorists. The IRA, not surprisingly, backed off.

His most serious trial came when he was accused of murder. Fighting to prove his innocence against a minimum sentence of 25 years, Lenny never gave up - and went on to be found not guilty.

This is a tale of one man's triumph against almost insurmountable odds, in a battle that Len fought every day for himself, and to 'put steam on the table' for his wife and kids.

©2020 Lenny McLean (P)2020 Bonnier Books Ltd
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What listeners say about The Guv'nor

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A great listen

Brilliant insight to life of the Guv'nor. A real hard man and a gentleman who was as straight as the day is long.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book

He may have been a villian but you will find yourself warming to him. He had an interesting life. It was difficult to put the book down.

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Brilliant.

Very entertaining. Weather you believe all that happened in this book or not, it’s a great read.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Astounding entertaining.

I listened to 100's of audiobooks. This one is in my top 5 easily.

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Compelling

The only thing that genuinely could've made this better is if the Guvnor spoke himself. The Epilogue hits hard. Amazing Biography

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    5 out of 5 stars
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What a book

What a book! Hard to believe everything in the book was about one man. So much happened in his life and so many great stories. Just when you thought you’d heard it all something else happened. The narration was spot on as well. Perfect narrator for this book, fit the story so well

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OMG

what a book this is by far my favorite listen so far had me in stitches the will be no one like lenny ever awsome

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Great book loved it

Great book I used it for train to and from work but find myself still listening to it when was home let alone getting of the train very interesting life story

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Wow

Just one amazing true story it had me rooted Being a cockney myself the narration was spot on I was living very near to Lenny
and just five years older than him so i could relate to a lot of the ares he spoke of and how life was actually lived in those days
What a man God bless him
This is a definite must read or listen to book

Eileen Reid
Tadcaster

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Awesome!

A wonderful story, narration really brought the whole thing to life! Highly recommended!, now to find the film!!

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