The Guv'nor

by Lenny McLean

Lenny McLean was one of the deadliest bare-knuckle fighters Britain has ever seen. He had dear, powerful friends, but he also had terrible enemies. So much so that he has two bullet wounds in his back, and has been stabbed repeatedly—always from behind. Lenny, however, is also a warm, grizzly bear of a man, whose main weakness is an overwhelming desire to put the welfare of his mates ahead of his own well-being. In this autobiography he tells of how the mafia flew him to New York to take on their greatest bare-knuckle boxer in a multi-million pound illicit challenge 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. Lenny's 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. After deciding to retire from the violent life, Len turned his hand to acting, having parts in The Fifth Element and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, True Crime, Autobiography, Crime, Audiobook, Memoir

226 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Mike Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most phenomenal book I have ever read ! If Lenny's life journey doesn't have you captivated from the first few pages then you're a beige bastard with no sense of excitement. This remains the quickest book I have ever read, and without a doubt the most jaw-dropping. How they never finished making a film about him remains a mystery, but then again who could pull off the great man with such conviction. READ IT !!!!

[Keen Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars!

To be honest this was another book I picked up on a whim at a book sale, without reading too much about it. It is not the biography I thought it was. You can forget just how cynical and opportunistic the publishing game can really be, and this book is a reminder of that. Not only do we get the deliberately identical title, but they even extract passages from the book that it pretends to be. It is bustling with padding and repetition.

This gives a colourful and very much one-sided hagiography of the man and his relatively short life. I have to say I was astonished to learn that he was only 49 when he passed, anytime I saw pictures of him I always thought he was around 20 years older, but then no wonder, looking at the game he was involved in. But in spite of my complaining, and the many cliches and mythology in here amidst the facts. I did enjoy this and it certainly makes me want to read the actual biography I mistook this for.

[D.A. Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkable book. The phrase same planet, different world comes to mind. A thief and a thug who is a family guy with a strong moral code. he said he never assaulted any "straight" people, just underworld types: those who in his words "had it coming". I was a little shocked by the casual violence in this book and by The Guv'nor's attitude to it. Lenny McClean used a writer to help with this book, but it reads very authentically as the voice of The Guv'nor. It's full of slang, the understanding of which was only partially aided by the glossary at the front of the book. The style is very casual and conversational. It took me a while to get used to it, but I think it was very effective. A very engrossing "auto" biography. I'm still shaking my head about it, so I guess it was a good read. Hence the four star rating.

[Digit · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent read but falls into the usual cliche that only bad guys got hurt. His story and the violence was very honest and worth reading in between books

[Tomas Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great autobiography about a fascinating man. Funny and sad at the same time.

[Deyth Banger · Rating 5 out of 5]

"September 7, 2017 – page 222
98.23%
September 7, 2017 – page 221
97.79%
September 7, 2017 – page 213
94.25%
September 6, 2017 – page 209
92.48%
September 5, 2017 – page 204
90.27% "22 Pages More left to go"
September 5, 2017 – page 204
90.27%
September 4, 2017 – page 187
82.74%
September 4, 2017 – page 185
81.86%
September 4, 2017 – page 169
74.78% "Curious who is the most scary person?
..."
September 4, 2017 – page 169
74.78% "57 Pages More left to go"
September 4, 2017 – page 156
69.03% "Chapter 10"
September 4, 2017 – page 156
69.03%
August 11, 2017 – page 154
68.14%
August 11, 2017 – page 152
67.26% "74 Pages Left"
August 11, 2017 – page 141
62.39% "Page 141 - Oh, at least there are some pictures in this story,... it's not one of those dry stories which there isn't any pictures... just text and text.. it makes you tired.... this story is something more than dry story..."
August 11, 2017 – page 130
57.52% "134 - page
-Strange"
August 9, 2017 – page 130
57.52% "146 - This book is playing tricks with me"
August 9, 2017 – page 150
66.37% "128"
August 9, 2017 – page 146
64.6% "Lenny McLean isn't as big deal as we thing he is... it's just over exaggerating"
August 9, 2017 – page 146
64.6%
August 8, 2017 – page 130
57.52%
August 8, 2017 – page 127
56.19%
August 7, 2017 – page 121
53.54% "Page: 105"
August 7, 2017 – page 120
53.1%
August 7, 2017 – page 118
52.21%
August 7, 2017 – page 115
50.88%
August 7, 2017 – page 116
51.33%
August 4, 2017 – page 106
46.9% "The Sys. is fucking illegal"
August 4, 2017 – page 106
46.9% "A Real killer...

Bam... bam...

Top ... Left...

RIght....


Down...."
August 4, 2017 – page 103
45.58%
August 4, 2017 – page 99
43.81%
August 3, 2017 – page 94
41.59% "Within few days this book can be read such terrific story is very enjoying people to walk through."
August 3, 2017 – page 94
41.59%
August 3, 2017 – page 80
35.4% "The story of real fighter... so the abuser is Uncle Jim, good to know."
August 3, 2017 – page 80
35.4% "Chapter 5"
August 3, 2017 – page 85
37.61%
August 3, 2017 – page 41
18.14%
August 3, 2017 – page 31
13.72%
August 2, 2017 – page 24
10.62% "Who is the guy from the Movie?


...

I am talking about the mad piece of shit."
August 2, 2017 – page 24
10.62% "Anger, agression, rage all this shit blinds you. It's time to change some daily routine habbits"
August 2, 2017 – page 24
10.62% ""I found a cockroach on the floor, nor of des species on the ceiling." I said

...

"but still is this part from the work?""
August 2, 2017 – page 24
10.62% "Still nothing inside this story... looks like a nice well written, well told story, but now question is where is the monster which we encountered in the movie "My Name Is Lenny"?"
August 2, 2017 – page 20
8.85%
July 31, 2017 – page 14
6.19%
July 31, 2017 – page 12
5.31% "A Real Monster"
July 31, 2017 – page 12
5.31% "It's time to meet the Street Fighter

Lenny McLean"
July 31, 2017 – page 12
5.31%
July 31, 2017 – Started Reading"

[DropOfOcean · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was brutal description of life of a man who had a very short temper. Minuses come from not mentioning any of his losses (he was far from unbeaten) and from the feeling that he was quite a bully. Reading the book was interesting but rather dark experience.

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story, but he's still an arrogant pr#÷k.

[Jonathan Corfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly classical literature, purely indulgent, but then classical literature is littered with blokes who wandered around cracking skulls, breaking jaws, shattering ribs and who got paid for it. What is thought-provoking is how much we love those people.
Why?
So much of Lenny McLean's story is stereotypically East End gangster:
Me Mum was an angel and now is an angel in heaven wif me old Dad.
Me stepfather was a slag what used to beat us. I'd've killed him but me Mum made me promise not to on 'er deathbed.
Today's villains are bastards who will attack women and children, not like 'villains' in the old days.
There's nothing wrong with breaking someone's jaw if they've got no manners. Manners don't cost nuthing.
But it makes for a riveting read. I only opened the book out of idle curiosity at 6.30pm. By 10pm I had finished it and was looking around wondering why I hadn't eaten dinner and why it was I had to be in bed when I was still taking in the details of his murder trial.
He lived a life that deserved a book though. I knew him only as Barry the Baptist from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and I was dimly aware of his bare-knuckle boxing career and nightclub minder. What surprised me was... ah... yeah... how much he enjoyed belting sixteen shades of shit out of ratbags, scoundrels, dickheads, grasses, slags, rapists, contenders, wankers, talkers and people who took liberties. He was pretty bloody good at it and I can't quite for the life of me work out why some of the people who poked the bear, knowing they were going to receive a beating, did. You'd have to have a screw loose.
People loved Lenny McLean, sorry, those people who weren't battered by Lenny McLean (and several who were) loved Lenny McLean. By the end of the book I loved Lenny McLean too and yet I can't work out why... yeeeeeew slaaaag!

[Cody Lasko · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have a life story to tell. Some are naturally more captivating than others. And of those there are the occasional few that are so spectacular they propel the subject straight into fame. Even if that fame is borne out of infamy.

Lenny McLean is the perfect example of this phenomenon.

I got my introduction to The Guv’nor through his now legendary role as Barry the Baptist in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. He portrayed a hard man on the screen and his presence on film conveyed perfectly the sort of life he led and the sort of character he was. Simultaneously oozing charisma and menace, charm and threat, love and hate, his power and allure was immediately apparent.

Now having read his autobiography I realize just how true that on screen presence actually was. Lenny was a real tough bloke, but also an extraverted, supremely entertaining and loving family man. His stories are incredible, and they leap directly into the reader’s imagination. They give insight into a world in which most of us will never step foot, and plenty of reminders why we wouldn’t want to.

As a character there will never be another like Lenny. He was truly one of a kind, and it is a great privilege that we have his story, in his words. Because this is one I will return to. It’s worth it.

[Rees Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic villain book.

The guvnor Lenny Mclean, Bare-knuckle boxer, and Doorman from Down South.

This book is a must-read if you have any interest in the criminal underworld or criminal activity.

I've watched videos of his fights and he was the king, he was like lightning when he fought.
For a big man, he was agile and powerful.

I read this book over 11 years ago.
The book itself talks mostly about his upbringing, very similar to Roy Shaws.
Petty villainy was the norm in those days and he certainly had some stories to tell about the council estates.

The majority of the book was overshadowed by his underlying issues with his stepfather and the loss of his father.
His stepfather was a drunk and was violent towards him, his brothers, and his mother and he claims it was the reason he could summon so much hate.

I would recommend this book to anybody because the book is very very very very well written and I'll be honest it is a heartbreaking book to read. This is not just for the criminal.


Highly recommend.

[Martin Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undoubtedly a hard man who had a crap start to life and became the Guv'nor.
Tough in the ring, on the doors and on the cobbles he says he would have fought anyone.

Some of the opinions and errors jar though.
He lost the first Roy Shaw fight but still claims to be unbeaten.
And his thoughts on a young man who, with friends, got in to a "tussle with a couple of black lads" and swung a knife "a bit too hard" killing him, are shocking. The case in question was correctly classed a racist attack and murder

Old school man with old school (and outdated) morals

[Gareth Mercer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have a shot every time he says "Diabolical Liberty" or "Val and the Kids". An interesting read, but like most criminals they don't think they are doing any wrong and see all Police as snakes who should just let them be criminals because they aren't hurting "straights". No doubt he was a toughy guy who had an even tougher childhood though. Also if you have to say "I'm not racist" twice in a book consisting of 226 pages you probably are a bit of a racist, especially when you say the persons skin colour followed by "c@#t".

[Prince John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got through the book fairly quickly which is always a good sign that I enjoyed it. I have read several books written by people involved with the criminal elements and find it interesting that many of them depict their associates in such a favorable light. No matter how heinous some of their crimes were they were always hard working decent guys who could be trusted to look after their own. I suppose given Lenny's upbringing he would have seen their nefarious schemes as just part of every day life so who am I to judge.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant no holds barred, down and gritty telling of the real life of The Guv'nor Lenny Mclean.
From the sweet easy life before his dad died to the hard harsh upbringing with his step father who beat him on a very regular basis to the man he became! Street fighter and boxer. Family man. The man who took no s**t from anybody but was the 1st to look out for you if you deserved it, a smack on the chin if you deserved that too!
Enthralling read 👍😀

[KylieAtkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immersed in this story. I listened to it on Audible with my husband as we traveled around Queensland and although it wasn’t read by Lenny McLean, the guy who read it (Karl Jenkinson) did a fantastic job.

What a colourful, crazy life he led and although he was a tough guy, he sounded like he had good morals (I guess it’s what you say when it’s your own book though 🤷‍♀️). There are plenty of stories, plenty of characters and definitely entertaining.

[Luke Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

coming from a similar environment to Lenny I really enjoyed this, he's surprisingly level headed for such a mad bastard.

reading this, it is painfully obvious McLean's childhood left him with some severe psychological scars, which he would wrestle with his entire life. ironically this also added virtually all of the fuel to his fire, giving him the reputation of the Guv'nor.

well worth a read/listen if this is your bag.

[Jules Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing life story


Loved this book I would recommend it to anyone who thought Len was a heartless animal who loved violence,instead you get to know a family man who would gladly put himself out to help friends and family despite his tough upbringing a caring man always the Governor.

[Daniella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, very well writen very sad childhood too.

Loved the bit in page 222 where he talks about visiting the krays in braudmoore prison and he asked to bring roger daughtry in, since he took money from the krays film 😂

Really well written, funny too and sad he has passed away.

[Dean HOCK1NG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found This book very interesting despite not particularly liking the whole underground / mob scene. I read it because of the high rating reviews and wasnt disappointed. It was a good story about the times in general and his life in these times gave you a sense of what life was like in this era. It was a sad ending which I thought was shame but I would recommend this fascinating book.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: 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

[angela mcmaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing could not put book down

It was very true to life and at the end when he was excepting his life would end sooner than he wanted it to he never got his pipe and slippers you could feel everything was from the heart

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off OK, but after a while, I got bored and couldn't finish it. After one or two chapters, I found that they seemed to be much the same as the last. There are only so many times you can say you were a minder, a burglar, hard man or bare knuckle fighter. Only the settings seemed to change.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good biography. Lenny McLean has been a man who always appeared larger than life to me so I jumped at the chance to hear his story, told his way. Entertaining and insightfully fun book.

Narrator, Karl Jenkinson, incredible voice talent!

[MR RP MCKEAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

A great insight into the life of the Guvnor. I enjoyed it immensely. The man was a legend, feared and respected.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It one of the best book I read its so sad and its really funny it was my first book I read and I loved it

[carlee loveday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book! Highly recommended

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good,

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decent, same old stories throughout but a good read

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in his own words, feels as real as you can get