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Blessed
The son of a Yorkshire miner with strong left-wing sympathies, Brian Blessed was born in 1936 and grew up in the mining village of Goldthorpe. As well as roaming the railway tracks and the countryside as leader of a gang of small boys, he met Picasso, Paul Robeson and George VI, and disappeared from home to cycle 11 miles to see the famous boxer, Bruce Woodcock. The idyll evaporated when Blessed was forced to leave school long before his friends, as his family could not afford to keep him there. Unhappy and solitary, he worked for an undertaker and then as a plasterer, and joined the Theatre Guild at Mexborough Schofield Technical School. After suffering a nervous breakdown at 18 and recovering with the help of his speech teacher, he began his career as an actor. This is his first volume of autobiography, providing an evocation of wartime childhood in rural England.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 11, 2025
Brian Blessed 0-20 years was a trip into the past and overall Brian had a wonderful childhood. Funny, tragic, inspiring and a balm to read. I never knew he and Patrick Stewart were friends and that was interesting.
Growing up in a mining village with his father a communist and with a huge family of uncles was not fleshed out enough for me. Perhaps he didn’t remember those bits. However, I loved reading about his passion for acting and his depression as well and how he dealt with it.
The book has 16 chapters. The Toad starts with his birth and his early childhood. His first of many trips to the seaside to Newbiggin near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Mr Dynamite whereas a child he cycled to Doncaster to see the boxer Bruce Woodcock and forgot to get his autograph. The Flying Scotsman where he failed to see it but in 1992 or 48 years later did see it. Arcadian days where he went looking for frogs, toads and newts. Chapter 5 the Milk-top Baby and the birth of his brother Alan. Borstal boys where his friend escapes being sent to one. The Brick Pond where his friend Tank drowns. The Land where the Jumblies live is where he develops his love for acting
Dove of Peace where he meets Picasso and tragically while working at an undertakers sees the corpse of his friend Percy. The Man with the Sausage Fingers covers his introduction into amateur theatre and his mentor Harry Dobson. He also worked as a plasterer. He was 16 and met Michael Redgrave. The Speech Lesson where his speech teacher helps him get over himself s depression and insecurity. Hoober Stand in 1953 and go s love of listening with his father to radio theatre.
Chapter 13 Rite of Spring he went insect hunting with his brother and mer Patrick Stewart and attended together a drama course that made a huge impact on him. China his time in National Service. The Haunted House a visit to a teachers house. Finally, Big Bertha where he saw a hydrogen bomb and he gets into acting school in Bristol.
Growing up in a mining village with his father a communist and with a huge family of uncles was not fleshed out enough for me. Perhaps he didn’t remember those bits. However, I loved reading about his passion for acting and his depression as well and how he dealt with it.
The book has 16 chapters. The Toad starts with his birth and his early childhood. His first of many trips to the seaside to Newbiggin near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Mr Dynamite whereas a child he cycled to Doncaster to see the boxer Bruce Woodcock and forgot to get his autograph. The Flying Scotsman where he failed to see it but in 1992 or 48 years later did see it. Arcadian days where he went looking for frogs, toads and newts. Chapter 5 the Milk-top Baby and the birth of his brother Alan. Borstal boys where his friend escapes being sent to one. The Brick Pond where his friend Tank drowns. The Land where the Jumblies live is where he develops his love for acting
Dove of Peace where he meets Picasso and tragically while working at an undertakers sees the corpse of his friend Percy. The Man with the Sausage Fingers covers his introduction into amateur theatre and his mentor Harry Dobson. He also worked as a plasterer. He was 16 and met Michael Redgrave. The Speech Lesson where his speech teacher helps him get over himself s depression and insecurity. Hoober Stand in 1953 and go s love of listening with his father to radio theatre.
Chapter 13 Rite of Spring he went insect hunting with his brother and mer Patrick Stewart and attended together a drama course that made a huge impact on him. China his time in National Service. The Haunted House a visit to a teachers house. Finally, Big Bertha where he saw a hydrogen bomb and he gets into acting school in Bristol.
April 13, 2023
Absolute Pandemonium is still my favourite Brian Blessed book but after this one I’ve ordered all of the ones that I haven’t read yet.
As entertaining as ever but this one was also the best description of what life was like in the 1940’s and 1950’s that I have read.
As entertaining as ever but this one was also the best description of what life was like in the 1940’s and 1950’s that I have read.
April 25, 2022
A powerful, heartfelt and stirring memoir from iconic actor and national treasure, Brian Blessed, The Dynamite Kid starts with his birth in a mining village of South Yorkshire, through the tumultuous War years, and into the author’s early twenties.
From a coal mining family in the north, Brian Blessed grow up at a time when people didn’t have much but the children had adventures that would start first thing in the morning and stretch right the way through to dinner time. His stories of great crested newts and bicycles, childhood tragedies and the BBC Light Programme reminded me sharply of my parents, who grew up around the same time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir, particularly the sections where young Brian discovered his love of acting, and those times when his stubbornness and sense of justice threatened to get him into trouble. I don’t think I’ve ever read such a well-described breakdown as I found in Chapter Eleven, and for that section alone, it’s well worth a read.
I only found this book because his daughter, Rosalind Blessed, and I follow each other on Twitter and she mentioned it once in an interview. Naturally, it went straight to the top of my TBR list, and I’m pleased it did. A delight of a memoir, filled with love, atmosphere and enthusiasm, much, I imagine, like the man himself.
From a coal mining family in the north, Brian Blessed grow up at a time when people didn’t have much but the children had adventures that would start first thing in the morning and stretch right the way through to dinner time. His stories of great crested newts and bicycles, childhood tragedies and the BBC Light Programme reminded me sharply of my parents, who grew up around the same time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir, particularly the sections where young Brian discovered his love of acting, and those times when his stubbornness and sense of justice threatened to get him into trouble. I don’t think I’ve ever read such a well-described breakdown as I found in Chapter Eleven, and for that section alone, it’s well worth a read.
I only found this book because his daughter, Rosalind Blessed, and I follow each other on Twitter and she mentioned it once in an interview. Naturally, it went straight to the top of my TBR list, and I’m pleased it did. A delight of a memoir, filled with love, atmosphere and enthusiasm, much, I imagine, like the man himself.
August 29, 2022
I wanted to give this four-stars because it's decently written and there is something joyously infectious about Blessed's passion for life and his heart-warming affection.
I enjoyed the book and genuinely laughed out loud at several points not merely at funny things but at his incredible passion and feeling for life. In fact, the chapters on his early years were positively a balm for the heart in today's world.
As such, I thoroughly recommend the book.
However, there were hints of a character which was (intentionally) lost in being a character rather than playing one. In this I do not judge but only wish to remark that I felt a great opportunity lost to gain insight on such a remarkable personality.
Secondly, there were implications of a boisterous personality that verged into bullying (sometimes though over-exuberance and force of personality, and other-times for somewhat less forgivable reasons). I therefore felt somewhat put-off on a personal level; not so much from a character laid-bare but from a seeming inability to truly repent and make-good wrongs.
Perhaps I am merely disappointed in reading about someone that I wanted to admire but whose story left me with as much admiration as I'd wanted but, unexpectedly, not as much as I'd needed. But, I don't think that can be the whole-story because the feeling of this book is more one of a tale being told than a story.
I enjoyed the book and genuinely laughed out loud at several points not merely at funny things but at his incredible passion and feeling for life. In fact, the chapters on his early years were positively a balm for the heart in today's world.
As such, I thoroughly recommend the book.
However, there were hints of a character which was (intentionally) lost in being a character rather than playing one. In this I do not judge but only wish to remark that I felt a great opportunity lost to gain insight on such a remarkable personality.
Secondly, there were implications of a boisterous personality that verged into bullying (sometimes though over-exuberance and force of personality, and other-times for somewhat less forgivable reasons). I therefore felt somewhat put-off on a personal level; not so much from a character laid-bare but from a seeming inability to truly repent and make-good wrongs.
Perhaps I am merely disappointed in reading about someone that I wanted to admire but whose story left me with as much admiration as I'd wanted but, unexpectedly, not as much as I'd needed. But, I don't think that can be the whole-story because the feeling of this book is more one of a tale being told than a story.
February 14, 2025
This is one of the few first person accounts from World War 2 and beyond (in the UK) that does not smack of soul-destroying poverty. And so the author's account is happier than most. Refreshing. However, we need the sad accounts though, to remind us of what we have. Still, Blessed writes of his contentment and is obviously aware of being "blessed".
October 18, 2017
A fascinating read, I really enjoyed learning more about Brian Blessed. Highly entertaining, as you'd expect.
March 11, 2019
One of my favourite people writing with his characteristic exuberance. A wonderful story of growing up in rural England in the middle of the last century.
May 31, 2020
Fantastic book about the early life of Brian Blessed up to him joining drama school
January 17, 2021
Everything Brian Blessed says and does is amazing
July 19, 2008
Please see my detailed review at Amazon.com
Grace's "Dynamite Kid" Review"
Please click that the review was helpful to you at Amazon so that my rating continues to climb!
Brian Blessed is one of my favorite personalities - he's a big old bear of a man who always makes me giggle. I wish the memoir had had fewer problems (detailed in my Amazon review), but I'm still thrilled to have had the chance to read it. What a fun bloke!
Please click that the review was helpful to you at Amazon so that my rating continues to climb!
Brian Blessed is one of my favorite personalities - he's a big old bear of a man who always makes me giggle. I wish the memoir had had fewer problems (detailed in my Amazon review), but I'm still thrilled to have had the chance to read it. What a fun bloke!
July 22, 2016
An outstanding portrait of the industrial North of England in the 1940s and '50s, from a literate, somewhat radical working class community viewpoint. Actor author Blessed's father was a Yorkshire miner and trade unionist, which caused some harassment during mid-1950s RAF National Service. I noted the dynamic amateur theatre and literary groups in Northern towns and cities. Occasionally tragic, yet the easy going and respectful writing style contributes to a good read.
February 27, 2012
Perhaps a bit bias being a Yorkshire man born and bred myself, but this was a real insight into a hard life growing up in war time britain, Sometimes you find yourself thinking can all this be true but I really hope it was. There are some heart breaking moments and you really feel his love for friends, family and people in general.
January 6, 2020
Larger than life
I like Brian I think he's a lovely man and he's from my part of the world. This book starts from his birth to when he got a place in Drama school. It was a good read as I know most of the places in Yorkshire that he wrote about.
I like Brian I think he's a lovely man and he's from my part of the world. This book starts from his birth to when he got a place in Drama school. It was a good read as I know most of the places in Yorkshire that he wrote about.
June 19, 2022
Brian Blessed is a bit of a hero of mine, and this autobiography covers his life from birth, through school and his time in national service, up to entering drama school. After reading this, he is still a bit of a hero of mine
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April 13, 2017
I had very limited exposure and experience of Blessed until I watched a rather incredible interview he did on "In Confidence" and so I bought this within hours of seeing that and I wasn't disappointed.
What a man and what an incredibly wild, varied and interesting life he has lead. He paints a beautiful and vivid picture of his humble beginnings in a small Yorkshire village full of mystery, humour, death and making do. His descriptions of going off on wanders and meeting people like Joe Baksi and Pablo Picasso are utterly compelling and surreal.
This is a full on, full flavoured account of one man's passionate and infectiously positive attitude to the world around him. A genuinely inspiring and uplifting piece of work.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews