Да бъдеш шотландец

by Sean Connery, Murray Grigor, Шон Конъри

Шон Конъри представя Шотландия – драматичната история на една малка страна, изпадала в зависимост и воювала през вековете за самоопределение, страна със забележителен принос към световната култура и световния технически прогрес. Шотландски писатели, поети, художници, философи и откриватели оставят паметни следи в световната история – както и немалко въпроси.

На какво се дължи “шотландската следа” в световната готическа традиция? Защо тази малка северна страна е дарила на света толкова откриватели, изобретатели и философи, за да бъде столицата й наречена “Атина на Севера”? Къде се крие романтичният й чар, вдъхновявал не само собствените й творци, но и композитори, писатели и художници от цял свят? Защо намираме тук корените на немалко популярни спортове? Какво поражда доста налудничавия шотландски хумор?

Къде се крие истината за Шотландия – в разказите за непреклонните планинци, шотландските воини, пленили въображението на хората по цял свят, в невероятния културен разцвет от епохата на Просвещението, в ерата на великите откриватели и индустриалния разцвет на страната?
Животът, кариерата, копнежите и амбициите на сър Шон Конъри са неразривно преплетени с живота и историята на родната му страна. Никой не би могъл да създаде по-достоверен портрет на Шотландия от бедното момче, разнасяло мляко с каруца по улиците на Единбург, което си остава една от най-големите легенди в света на киното.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Scotland

416 pages, Paperback

First published August 21, 2008

About the author

Sir Thomas Sean Connery was a Scottish actor and producer. He was best known as the first actor to portray the character James Bond in film, starring in seven Bond films, between 1962 and 1983. Connery had been in smaller theatre and television productions until he got his break with the Bond films. - Wikipedia

Reviews

[Ренета Кирова · Rating 3 out of 5]

Шон Конъри ми е симпатичен актьор и когато пуснаха книгата му, веднага я грабнах. Това е едно красиво издание с гланцирани страници и обилен снимков материал. Съдържанието е със справочен характер и разказва за културата, историята и народопсихологията на шотландците. Започва с биографични елементи, които преминават в събрани разкази за Шотландия. На моменти преживявах дежавю и правех паралели с нашата история и действителност. Май имаме доста прилики с шотландците.
Книгата е много обемна, форматът ѝ е подвеждащ. Информацията и снимките към нея бяха изобилни, но четивото ми се стори тежко за четене. Мислех, че бързо ще я прочета заради илюстрациите, но към тях имаше ситен текст, който донякъде повтаряше и съдържанието. На изкуствена светлина страниците блестяха и трудно се четеше. Очаквах сериозните моменти да са разказани по-интересно и шеговито, но ми идваха скучни с изброяванията на разни имена, описанията на архитектурата и картините. Тези неща следваха едно след друго в стила на историческите трудове. Хубаво щеше да е да е написана по-развлекателно или под формата на пътепис, за да се чете от повече хора. За мен тя представлява сбор от исторически пресъздаден текст с кратки биографии на известни шотландци.
Това е четиво, което има предимно изследователен характер. Може да се използва за справки при интерес към шотландците, тяхната страна, историята, културата и изкуството им.

[Horaz100 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich gestehe, dass ich beim Kauf dieses Buches vor ungefähr 10 Jahren Sean Connerys Autobiographie zu kaufen glaubte. Nachdem ich festgestellt hatte, dass dies nicht der Fall war, wanderte das Buch erstmal in eine dunkle Ecke meines Bücherregales. Trotzdem fand ich es dann anlässlich Connerys Tod in 2020 passend, mit der Lektüre zu beginnen.
Tatsächlich erfährt man über den Autor nur annekdotenweise ein paar Geschichten, die Hauptaufgabe des Buches ist es aber, dem Leser Connerys Heimat Schottland nahe zu bringen. Da ich von Schottland begeistert bin und es einige male bereiste, sollte mir das nun auch Recht sein.
Um es kurz zu machen: Connery und sein Coautor Murray Grigor erfüllen die Aufgabe, aber die rosarote Brille, die die beiden beim Verfassen getragen haben, hat mich gestört. Viele neue Dinge über Schottland habe ich gelernt.
Ich hatte noch nie von der mythischen Person Ossians geschweige denn von MacPhersons gleichnamigen Werk gehört. Umso überraschter war ich zu lesen, dass Thomas Jefferson Ossian (nicht MacPherson) „für den grössten Dichter aller Zeiten hielt“ (Seite 90) und halb Europa im 18.Jahrhundert den Ossian Epos anschmachtete.
Ebenso wusste ich nicht, dass James Hutton auf dem Gebiet der Geologie und Zeitrechnung so einflussreich wie Newton in der Physik war.
Oder wer hätte gedacht, dass die Forth Bridge in Glasgow das grösste Bauwunder ihrer Zeit ist und „verglichen mit den gewagten Trägern und den langgezogenen Auslegern…war der Eifelturm nichts weiter als ein Fahnenmast“ (Seite 113).
Diese patriotischen Verklärungen ziehen sich durch das Buch wie ein roter Faden und nach einiger Zeit fand ich es sehr ablenkend. Man könnte den Glauben gewinnen dass ohne John Law, John Napier, David Hume und James Watt es keine Finanzdienstleister, mathematische Logarithmen, moderne Philosophie oder gleich die ganze Industrialisierung gegeben hätte.
Wie gesagt, ich habe einiges gelernt und war positiv überrascht wie viele Beiträge zur Entwicklung der Welt das kleine Schottland geleistet hat. Allerdings muss man den Enthusiasmus der Autoren ein bisschen einbremsen und die Themen selber in den richtigen Kontext setzen.
Der Schreibstil in der deutschen Version ist angenehm, ich konnte das Buch entspannt geniessen. Ebenso ist die Anordnung der Themen in locker chronologischer Reihenfolge gelungen.
Für eine Autobiographie enthält das Buch zu wenig Informationen über Sean Connery und für ein Lehrbuch über Schottland ist es nicht wissenschaftlich genug, dafür ist es aber mit Herzblut geschrieben.

Würde ich das Buch nochmal lesen? Definitiv nicht, aber es hat Spass gemacht.

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating read. Sean Connery (with Murray Grigor) focuses on different facets of Scottish achievement. Covering themes such as art; literature; engineering; architecture this is a truly remarkable and personal journey through the accomplishments of the Scottish nation. For me it felt like it was saying that we should take pride in the realities of history rather than a misplaced sense of identity. The wonders of the age of the Scottish enlightenment (and endarkment) really are truly amazing and I discovered so much new information it was astounding. I loved the irony that whilst English football fans can mock Scottish football; it was Scots that helped Brazil and Argentina improve their game  Sean Connery covers a bit of his early life in Edinburgh to start with and his voice resounds throughout as he expresses his personal opinions on subjects throughout. You may disagree with those opinions but the fact that he feels strongly about these subjects allows you to at least contemplate and accept the validity of those opinions. I’ve read reviews that state the point that why doesn’t he live there I think he makes his point clear in this book. Personally I think that he can use his money to causes he thinks worthwhile rather than have it taken off of him and squandered by the government. Illustrated throughout with great photos (although these can seem a little higgledy piggeldy at times) this is a fascinating and rewarding read. Highly recommended.

[Ola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jest to przede wszystkim książka o Szkocji, nie o Seanie Connerym. Skarbnica ciekawostek o kulturze i architekturze kraju, ale przedstawionych w taki sposób, który nie sprzyja zapamiętaniu poszczególnych historii. Na jednej stronie potrafi przewinąć się 5 wątków i masa nazwisk, przez co żadne nie zapada w pamięć. Myślę, że książka zyskałaby na jakości i przydatności, gdyby ograniczono liczbę historii co najmniej o połowę, za to opisano je w bardziej dokładny sposób

[Bill McFadyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A enjoyable read taking you on a voyage of the achievements of Scotland and maybe Scotland’s most successful actor. The route meanders through history, sport , art and comedy - it links Sean Connery’s life with changes in society , his attempts over the years to positively benefit Scotland and the people who look live and work here.
Scotland has a reputation of putting successful people down , to remind them of ‘ where they come from’ - Sean Connery knows where he comes from and the many attempts to belittle his generosity and support should be gives short shrift. He will be missed.

[Marie Zhuikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more details about Connery's life. I enjoyed the first part of the book, which is about his early years, but then the book turns into a history book with only a few self-congratulatory details scattered throughout. The history is interesting, though.

[John Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

A glorified tourism brochure for Scotland, but hey, it is fun to read.

[Janet Keeten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written love letter to Scotland. I feel smarter having read it.

[Janis · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Boring.

[Mark Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting an autobiography, however this was so much more than that. I didn't realise that Connery was such an accomplished writer. Granted, this book was co-authored with Murray Grigor, however it is Connery's voice you hear in your mind as you are reading this. His passion for Scotland is clearly and eloquently expressed. This book was an absolute joy to read and it is rich in history and detail. I learned things about Scotland that I had never even imagined, for example the Scots failed attempt at a colony in Panama. There was even some US history included for good measure. I would have liked a little bit more detail on Connery's own life, however this was a fascinating book to read.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was actually impressed. I knew I wasn't going to read about Bond 007 but I had no idea his love for the theater/plays and reading/writing. I mean, it makes sense. . . the way he speaks. . . it's so intriguing and inviting. But I had no idea how much he was involved in plays, in art, in Scottish culture. It is a lot to read at times with the amount of connections he makes with the scottish history and how much influence in the arts comes from Scotland but in the end he connects it so very well with his own personal life. It's good!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is perhaps more a biography of Scotland, one of my favorite places, than of Sean Connery, one of favorite actors, although it does offer a fair look at his life, especially the early years. A portrait of Scotland's history and achievements with Connery's personal observations and pictures. Not quite what I expected, but very enjoyable and informative, too. Some of the chapters held more interest for me than others, simply due to the subject matter (I'm more interested in architecture than invention). And I've got a whole new list of places to go on my next trip!

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry 'Uncle Sean' but it was nt as engaging as I hoped. A general collection of interesting facts and quotes on Scotland and her inhabitants, but there was an element of disjointed links and borders on jingoism in parts.

[Markku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, quirky book about Scotland and the Scots. It tells about Scottish arts, architecture, history, literature, engineering etc. besides Connery himself. My appreciation to the man rose exponentialy when I was reading this. What a guy!

[Peter Giordano · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book, by the coolest person ( other than Jesus ) to ever live !