Madly, Deeply

The Alan Rickman Diaries

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Madly, Deeply

By: Alan Rickman, Alan Taylor - editor, Emma Thompson - introduction

Narrated by: Alfred Enoch, Bonnie Wright, Rima Horton, Steven Crossley

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Summary

A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF 2022: ENTERTAINMENT
A MAIL ON SUNDAYS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022

Alan Rickman remains one of the most beloved actors of all time across almost every genre, from his breakout role as Die Hard’s villainous Hans Gruber to his heart-wrenching run as Professor Severus Snape, and beyond. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate new audiences today.

But Rickman’s artistry wasn’t confined to just his performances. Rickman’s writing details the extraordinary and the ordinary in a way that is anecdotal, indiscreet, witty, gossipy and utterly candid. He takes us behind the scenes on films and plays ranging from Sense & Sensibility, the Harry Potter series, Private Lives, My Name Is Rachel Corrie and many more.

The diaries run from 1993 to his death in 2016 and offer insight into both a public and private life. Here is Rickman the consummate professional actor, but also the friend, the traveller, the fan, the director, the enthusiast: in short, the real Alan Rickman. Here is a life fully lived, all detailed in intimate and characteristically plain-spoken prose. Reading the diaries is like listening to Rickman chatting to a close friend.

Madly, Deeply also includes a foreword by Emma Thompson and a selection of Rickman’s early diaries, dating from 1974 to 1982, when his acting life first began.

Alan RickmanAlan Taylor - editorEmma Thompson - introductionAlfred EnochBonnie WrightRima HortonSteven CrossleyCanongate Books

Diaries & Journals

Entertainment & Celebrities

Memoirs, Diaries & Correspondence

Celebrity

Heartfelt

Inspiring

Witty

Thought-Provoking

Funny

Diaries & Journals Entertainment & Celebrities Memoirs, Diaries & Correspondence Celebrity Heartfelt Inspiring Witty Thought-Provoking Funny

Critic reviews

"Mesmerising . . . Witty and debonair, caustic and fretful, for which some readers may like him less, others love him more. Madly, deeply and, better, truly he writes about what it is to be an actor"

"Fascinating . . . Mostly pithy, always frank"

"The star's thoughts reveal a man unwilling to suffer fools or mince his words – most of the time Alan Rickman's voice was a purr, but it masked sharp claws . . . I got the feeling he was wonderful company. These diaries confirm it" (Anthony Quinn)

"Insightful, moving and entertaining . . . The posthumously released diaries of Alan Rickman showcased both the late actor’s self-doubt and savage film criticism" (The Guide 2022)

"His merciless verdicts on showbiz idiocy are tempered by a deep loyalty and humanity . . . So much of Rickman’s character as it was preserved on screen cannot be captured in words – his unmistakable voice, his towering presence and charisma. But on the page, six years after his death, new parts of him can be found"

"Rickman’s diaries reveal the frenetic lifestyle and frequent fretting of an actor at the height of his fame . . . Just when you think Rickman might be becoming insufferable, he has a knack of bursting the actorly bubble and saying something profound"

"Astute and entertaining . . . [Rickman] offers a fascinating guide to life as an actor and what it’s like to be at the centre of fame. One distinct thrill is reading Rickman’s short, sharp film appraisals . . . These diaries are a reminder of a warm and witty man, one who could see the quirks of life and his own part in the absurd drama of existence"

"The reader gets a real sense of the rhythms of [Rickman's] working life. He is forever on the move. [. . . ] Fully, openly, joyfully - truly, madly and, yes, deeply - he put his energies into the present moment . . . For fans, these supplementary diaries are a pure delight from start to unforgivably early finish"

"Rickman belonged to that anointed group whose name alone would entice you to watch a film . . . His diaries look set to enthral us still"

"You feel he always wanted to do what was right, even if it was inconvenient to himself, and that is a rare character trait . . . There is true gold in [t]here"

Most relevant

I'll start by saying I never read diaries or autobiographies, they are just not my bag. However, Alan is/was my all time favourite actor and I just had to read this. I actually listened on audible (so I could listen at work), and it was just wonderful. The narrators were all very good, I love how they used two of the stars from Harry Potter! I guess I'm left wanting more ie more info on Potter and his other films especially,but these diaries are really snippets of his daily journal so were never going to be detailed like that. I've laughed, I've cried and I love him even more than I did. Yes he's a bit cantankerous and yes he's pretty opinionated but no, he's never rude or disrespectful. Quite frankly, he's such a loyal friend and partner, more fun loving than I ever realised, dealt with more tragedy than I knew and saw more of the world than can ever be put into a diary. Left me wanting more and more which will unfortunately never be. RIP Alan .