Blind in One Ear: The Avenger Returns

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Macnee was the star of the British TV series The Avengers , which aired for eight seasons and was popular in the U.S. His autobiography is interesting only in its early sections, which cover his childhood as the offspring of two upper-class English eccentrics. His mother took him to live with her lesbian lover, ``Uncle Evelyn,'' whose mansion housed a veritable harem. His father was an alcoholic horse trainer who lived in India until he was barred. ``Uncle Evelyn'' financed Macnee's schooling at Eton, but he was expelled for bookmaking and selling pornographic photos. The balance of the memoir is standard show biz fare, of difficult years and eventual success, failed marriages and drinking problems. Photos not seen by PW. (Sept.)

Library Journal

To the stereotypic British school boyhood of beatings and homosexual encounters, add a lesbian mother, an ``Uncle Evelyn,'' and an absent alcoholic racehorse trainer father, and you have Macnee's almost gothic horror of a childhood. British actor MacNee's most famous role was John Steed in the popular TV series The Avengers . Though MacNee's unusual childhood is the most interesting aspect of this memoir, Avengers' fans will enjoy the insider's tidbits, especially regarding The Avengers' leading ladies (Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, Linda Thorson, and Joanna Lumley). No shocking revelations here, just a nice, frothy bit of British humor: MacNee's tongue-in-cheek style saves this from being maudlin. With The Avengers on video, there could be demand; otherwise, for larger collections.-- Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Cty. Free Lib., Seaside, Cal.