Her autobiography as good as her biographies

Claire Tomalin’s strengths apparently come in industrial strength: a childhood steeped in culture (and parental disunity); a hugely developed intellect (her Cambridge First was inevitable); decades of success at a catalogue of high profile roles in literary journalism and editing; enormous energy and a capacity for prodigious and relentless hard work; five highly respected biographies (including Pepys & Mary Wollstonecraft)… And so it goes on.

These intellectual strengths have perhaps given her the dignified resilience in the face of tragedy. The death of her serially unfaithful husband Nicholas Tomalin when she was 40; the heart-breaking suicide of her exceptionally gifted golden daughter Susanna at the age of 22; a baby boy dead at 3 weeks (the coldest thing she’s ever touched); her only son disabled by spina bifida – just one of these would utterly destroy most of us. She describes the tragedies with elegance and not a shred of self-pity and her restrained treatment of bearing grief is extraordinarily moving.

But she does not want to be defined by these misfortunes. Work is her life-blood (‘Work Work Work’ is what drives her) and as she moves through her immensely successful career, her litany of friends and colleagues (and the frequent lists can be rather tedious) sounds like a Who’s Who of the literary world, sprung in large part from the inter-related network of high-flying Oxbridge graduates. But these names recreate the literary times.

Tomalin looks back on a working life spanning more than sixty years with all its social changes. That is interesting in itself, but her personal story (as in her biographies) makes the whole hugely involving. The story of her father coming to England and of the ultimately tragic marriage between him and Tomalin’s talented musician-composer mother would make a brilliant biography by itself. At 84 Tomalin says she’ll be beginning another book as soon as she’s finished this one. I’m sure she will – and I look forward to her finishing it.

Penelope Wilton is a highly appropriate reader with her perfect English voice, but I would have like a bit more vigour, a quality I imagine Tomalin possesses in spadefuls. The narration didn't need spadefuls, but just a little more vigour and variation.

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9 people found this helpful

Tremendous!

This book gave me so much joy. Fascinating account of a cultured and interesting life, beautifully narrated by Penelope Wilton. Claire Tomalin- you are wonderful!

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Penelope Wilton’s wonderful narration

A story of a well lived life. I cannot agree with her left leaning usual wealthy Remain attitude … but really enjoyed the book

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Lovely story well told

A wonderfully enjoyable story and a beautiful insight into an interesting life. Lots of encounters with well known cultural figures but I never felt as if names were being dropped for the sake of it. it has joy and tragedy along with gentle humour. I enjoyed the narration and the only observation I would make is that just occasionally the edits were a little obvious with pauses a bit too short or long interrupting the flow.

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Fantastic memoir!

Loved this autobiography,
What a full life this lady has had, a lot of sadness,
I much admire her as a person.

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Too much ‘and then’

I did enjoy the book but found the listing of names and diary appointments a little tedious. I’d hoped for more introspection … more on her relationship with herself.
While I enjoyed Penelope Wilton’s narration I wonder was her voice too familiar … the‘type of character she often plays intruded somehow.
That said I found the book compelling …

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Fascinating autobiography

I enjoyed this autobiography of Claire Tomalin, herself a biographer of other fascinating people. So interesting to hear about her rich life and her family.

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a real name-dropper! - in a good way

What made the experience of listening to A Life of My Own the most enjoyable?

the extraordinary cast of characters makes for a good read. There being so many famous people among the family's friends, it could all seem a bit show-off-y if it were not for Tomalin's straightforward and trustworthy style.

What did you like best about this story?

the author's steadfastness of propose in bring up a 'disabled' child.

How could the performance have been better?

the narrator's voice is frightfully posh. (I took the trouble to listen to the author herself; she isn't nearly so clipped!)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the author is remarkably un-self-pitying, indeed rather generous, especially to the dead!

Any additional comments?

I don't know of another excellent biographer who has such an absorbing autobiography to offer us.

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An essential addition

I’d had this recommended to me, and read other’s reviews before taking the plunge - and am so glad I did.
A fascinating life - eventful, ups and downs but this is no mis-lit - , and told by an expert in the field.
The writing is so economic, with much information and emotion conveyed beautifully.
Dame Penelope Wilton has been a lifelong favourite of mine, and her reading skills match those of her acting.

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Review of outstanding autobiography

I loved this book because of the fascinating life Claire led and her knowledge of literature, past and present.. The tragic events and drama of her life stuck in my mind. The quality of her writing was superior to most autobiographies. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in literature. Truly remarkable and compelling. The quality of narration was good.

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