Just Me

by Sheila Hancock

'Well now, prove it, Sheila. As John would say, "Put your money where your mouth is." Be a depressed widow boring the arse off everyone, or get on with life. Your choice.' In The Two of Us Sheila relived her life with John Thaw - years packed with love and family, delight and despair. And then she looked ahead. What next? Gardening, grannying and grumbling, while they all had their pleasures, weren't going to fill the aching void that John had left. 'Live adventurously', a Quaker advice, was hovering around her brain. Putting her and John's much loved house in France on the market she embarked on a series of journeys. She tried holidaying alone, contending with invisibility and budget flights. She tried travelling in a group, but the questions she wanted to ask were never the ones the guide wanted to answer. She tried relaxing - harder than you might think. Finally, heading out of her comfort zone, she found her travels, and the things she discovered, led her back to her past; to consi

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, Memoir, Audiobook

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 18, 2008

About the author

Sheila Hancock is one of Britain's most highly regarded and popular actors, and received an OBE for services to drama in 1974 and a CBE in 2011. Since the 1950s she has enjoyed a career across Film, Television, Theatre and Radio. Her first big television role was in the BBC sitcom The Rag Trade in the early 1960s. She has directed and acted for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

Following the death of her husband, John Thaw, she wrote a memoir of their marriage, The Two of Us, which was a no. 1 bestseller and won the British Book Award for Author of the Year. Her memoir of her widowhood, Just Me, also a bestseller, was published in 2007. She lives in London and France.

Reviews

[Dawn]

Interesting, informative, insightful, happy & sad. I love this woman.

[Gabi Coatsworth]

Sheila Hancock is a well-known British actress and comedienne in her own right, and was also the wife of John Thaw, the original 'Morse' on TV. This book is a memoir of how she coped with his loss, and it reflects the woman that I always hoped she was, gutsy, vulnerable and funny. It follows her previous memoir of life with Thaw, which I haven't read, but I didn't need to know about him to enjoy it. Her attempts to travel with singles (at a fairly advanced age) and other ways of distracting herself are both funny and touching.

[Susan in Perthshire]

Sheila writes with such honesty and direct emotion that she can be quite a difficult read on occasion. This book is an exploration of her journey to reclaim her life after the loss of her husband. It embraces her travels alone and in groups as well as other aspects of her life such as her family, her upbringing, her marriage, her Quakerism, her children, her profession and her pursuit of family history through the BBC programme 'Who do you think you are?'
. Her opinions and feelings about events and people are clear, unambiguous and often merciless but she is equally dispassionate about herself and her strengths and weaknesses. She wrote the book several years ago so in places it seems a little out of touch with today's reality, but the essential truths of her story remain.
Her writing is clear and involving and I did feel I was journeying with her. I found it an entertaining read and actually rather uplifting. I think we can all empathise with the loss of a beloved partner and also totally understand that marriage is a real mix of highs and lows and good and bad and that trying to cope without that person must be hell. Sheila shares her loss and pain but also shows that it is possible to create something new. Would definitely recommend this book.

[Sharon]

I so loved this book. Herein the story of how Sheila Hancock reclaimed her life after the death of her husband, John Thaw.

Sheila lost her first husband to cancer and in the way that you just can't make this stuff up, she lost John to cancer as well. They had a very full and loving life together, surrounded by their three daughters, grandchildren, home in England and another in France. John worked in TV while Sheila worked on the stage.

Her book chronicles life after, the difficulty of rediscovering yourself at 75, alone. By no means is this a sad story. Sheila reclaims the world with her inquiring and curious mind, thrashing her demons and making new friends worldwide.

A simple joy to read.

[Anne Pickering]

A sequel to ‘The Two Of Us’, Shelia Hancock travels both physically and emotionally, learning how to appreciate life without her husband. Moving, funny and wry, Shelia is not only a great actor but also a wonderful writer.

[Sahara]

wow! I really enjoyed this book. I learnt so much from Sheila's travels God bless you with health and happiness 😊.

[Karen]

Sheila Hancock writes with such honesty and insight. The book is funny and sad. This book is mainly about life after her husband John Thaw has died, but she also talks about her childhood as well. She tells of her grief and loneliness after John’s death. She was a widow as a young woman but she had 2 young children, but this time as an older widow she is alone and it is very different and she is struggling with her aloneness. She is a successful actress and is stil, working, but the work is intermittent. I could certainly relate to it, as I have been a young widow and recently had to face the possibility of becoming an older widow and certainly thought alot about what it would be like to be on my own in my sixties.

[Felicity]

This is a beautiful memoir about Sheila Hancock and how she dealt with losing her husband John Thaw.

This book was better than I expected it to be. Hancock's writing is lyrical and the way she phrases things is very identifiable. I loved the way she was honest about her own failings and the way she tried to overcome them. You get snapshots of her childhood but I will certainly be reading "The Two of us" now.

Warning: This book will make you want to travel which is obviously tricky during a pandemic... I would have read this much quicker if I hadn't have been moving house.

Highly recommended if you are a fan of Sheila Hancock or have recently lost someone.

[Liz Knott]

Being recently widowed I could understand the emotions and the changes in her life that she was going through. Her description of Christmas mirrored the way I felt. And her travelling is following a similar direction to mine thoughts about travelling thought I have fewer opportunities to do so. Enjoyed this book.

[philomena barron]

I just finished this & really enjoyed it. It is like Sheila was sitting with me at the kitchen table & telling me her story over a cup of tea. A wonderful lady whom I really admire, parts of her story I could really identify with. Quite recently I read The Two of Us again which I really enjoyed & shed a tear at times. Thank you Sheila & may God bless you. Regards Phil (Philomena).

[Maree]

I thought initially this would be a little boring but I was surprised by Sheila Hancock's account of her life after John Thaw had passed away and I guess it leaves you wondering how you would cope in the same situation. The last couple of paragraphs brings a tear to your eye.

[Ros]

Slightly muddled book verging between a memoir and a rant.

[Patricia]

Loss, poetry, travel and hope for the future. Timely.

[Andi Gaywood]

After reading The Two of Us, I had to read Just Me. Sheila writes about getting on with life after her husband John Thaw has passed away.

I absolutely adore Sheila's writing style, mainly because I would love to be able to write like her. Sheila talks about her travels to Germany, Budapest, France, Thailand and other places. Finding out about the people from those countries and the effects that war had on them . Meeting people along the way who could shed light on the history of the country or area she was visiting.

Some of the places she had spent with her late husband which brought up memories that she had to deal with. Some of the people she happened across were not so welcoming or even hospitable but others were amazing people willing to share their stories with Sheila. Finding out about people such as Imre Nagy and what they did was a bonus and just had me hooked to find out more.

It was a beautiful read and had me in tears at places , only because I miss my sister who dies a few years back and I am now all alone family wise. Going to places where herself and John went, maybe to have a meal or drink is special as I do that with regards to my sister, visit places that we once frequented brings a little slice of happiness.

Thanks for sharing these experiences and I will read more of your work.

[M-N]

Fabulous book on life Death Art grieving and countries not sure if I like her but she is full of life...

[Sharen]

Highly enjoyable. How travel affects Sheila Hancock's life as she tries to cope living on her own without her beloved John.

[Virginia]

A British actress I was unfamiliar with writes of her life, feelings and grief after her husband died. Poignant and how goes from fighting and avoiding her feelings to accepting.

[Jane]

Beautifully Read

[Angella Risager]

Read both of her books. Enjoyed every minute.

[Angie]

This is Hancock's 2nd book following 'the Two of Us' - in this she describes her life following the death of her husband. I found her very honest writing about how she felt about finding out she had German ancestry and having lived through the war with her family, she was very candid about her own prejudices in very open and frank way. Not as good as her first book but still a pleasant enough read.

[Sal Noel]

I decided to take a break from Radio news on the way to work and scoured the charity shops for more audio books. Just Me was interesting to a degree; I think her sister's story would have been more enthralling. I think I would have abandoned it if I'd have been reading it (only because I have so many other books to read) but as an audio book, was fine.

[Rosslyn]

Sheila Hancock is fiesty and I am glad. Although I doubt she is an easy travelling companion her determination to face the demons of grief and to analise her choices, views, prejudices has to be admired. I'm glad she kept the house in Provence.

[Nicki]

Enjoyable Memoir I did enjoy this follow up to The Two of US by Sheila Hancock. It was good to catch up with her since she'd been widowed and it was interesting to read her take on the world today.

[Eileen]

Very good. Shows there is life after losing a loved one.

[Pamala Hansford]

gave this to Mum,and read while at home on holiday! I like her writing, humour and observances of life as a widow and an OAP.

[Jackie]

I found it difficult to read not as interesting as her first book.

[Trina Hollis]

Excellent read.

[Eleanor Taylor]

Sorry but didn't enjoy it like The Two of us,some. The early life and the latter part of life was good and enjoyed it.Found who do you think you are parts very boring

[Jamie Masq]

A good read giving insight into her blunt, enquisitive persona while showing her emotions at times of stress that many hold secret.

[Katrina McCrea]

lovely book. Beautifully written with candor, honesty and an openness that I found refreshing.