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  • What Fresh Lunacy Is This?

  • The Authorised Biography of Oliver Reed
  • By: Robert Sellers
  • Narrated by: Sean Barrett
  • Length: 17 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (604 ratings)
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What Fresh Lunacy Is This? cover art

What Fresh Lunacy Is This?

By: Robert Sellers
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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Summary

Oliver Reed may not have been Britain's biggest film star - for a period in the early 70s he came within a hairsbreadth of replacing Sean Connery as James Bond - but he is an august member of that small band of people, like George Best and Eric Morecambe, who transcended their chosen medium, became too big for it even, and grew into cultural icons.

For the first time Reed's close family has agreed to collaborate on a project about the man himself. The result is a fascinating new insight into a man seen by many as merely a brawling, boozing hellraiser. And yet he was so much more than this. For behind that image, which all too often he played up to in public, was a vastly complex individual, a man of deep passions and loyalty but also deep-rooted vulnerability and insecurities. Why was a proud, patriotic, intelligent, successful and erudite man so obsessed about proving himself to others, time and time again? Although the Reed myth is of Homeric proportions, he remains a national treasure and somewhat peculiar icon.

©2013 Robert Sellers (P)2013 Audible Ltd

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What listeners say about What Fresh Lunacy Is This?

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable!!

Would you consider the audio edition of What Fresh Lunacy Is This? to be better than the print version?

Have not read the print version....

What was one of the most memorable moments of What Fresh Lunacy Is This??

All of it!

What does Sean Barrett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Gives very amusing distinguishable impressions of each person, which bring real life to the incredible stories.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both....Oliver Reed's life was clearly a roller coaster from start to finish.

Any additional comments?

Reed's antics are truly unbelievable, an absolute must read and the narration is just brilliant...One of the best biographies I've ever read/heard....I strongly advise getting this book....it made my monotonous tube rides rip roaringly funny and the the time flew by!

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A Talent Wasted

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I love biographies and autobiographies but found this one of my least favourites, so wished I'd tried someone else, as I found myself disliking Mr Reed.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Didn't quite get to the very end, gave up.

Which character – as performed by Sean Barrett – was your favourite?

Didn't have one.

Was What Fresh Lunacy Is This? worth the listening time?

No, it annoyed me, not because it wasn't accurate I'm sure it was, I found Oliver Reed to be an overgrown school boy to whom life gave everything while he squandered it.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

just a drunk

Selfish drunk man, and to be honest boring, I tried really hard to find one thing that made me warm to him. boring drunk who just hurt people around him. wanker

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Such sad sweet fun

What did you like most about What Fresh Lunacy Is This??

A wonderfully read account of the life and times of the late great Mr Reed - the pace and depth of insight and speculation about his motives (and others) hits the right balance. To hear his exploits is heartening, amazing and sometimes very moving...by the time the story of his death is played out, tears were in my eyes.

What other book might you compare What Fresh Lunacy Is This? to, and why?

Red Carpets and other Banana Skins - Rupert Everett

What does Sean Barrett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

A lovely gift for voices and sccents

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Very moving - sometimes shocked by his behavior, sometimes amazed and in the end it felt like somebdy I knew had been taken too soon.

Any additional comments?

Better than other available biographies.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ollie Reed

loved it . Oliver Reed . this man lived his life to the full. excellent

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Tedious in the extreme.

An endless tale of p***-ups and questionable behaviour under the influence.
The author seems half in love with his subject, so expect very little objectivity here. The romantic view of the misunderstood hell raiser with a heart of gold is alive and well in this book.
You come away feeling like you've been stuck in a corner with the pub bore, reliving the antics he'd witnessed over the years... exhausted and glad it's over.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant...

If you could sum up What Fresh Lunacy Is This? in three words, what would they be?

Full of humour mixed with amazing pathos, I fell in love with Ollie all over again. This book has inspired me to seek out Ollie's films and watch them again. It brought his brilliance to the fore.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Boring reader and rubbish content

A totally boring, montoyone and useless reader. Content a complete load of nonsense and rubbish.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Depressing yet compelling

Very well read and compelling to listen to in spite of it coming over as a catalogue of self destruction of a superbly talented actor. In the end you realise that this was how he wanted to be when not working and although you might see it as a waste it was his choice. If only...
Now I must go watch 'Gladiator'.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is my first review. I loved this book from start to finish. Ollie's story is incredible and the narration is fantastic.

What about Sean Barrett’s performance did you like?

What a fantastic voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I didn't have to work or sleep; of course.

Any additional comments?

And I thought I could drink!

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4 people found this helpful