The most entertaining bits are his stories about progressing from a very humble start in life, making it as an English stage actor, culminating in making it to the pinnacle as a regular in the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Less stories about TNG than I would have thought.
His relationships with women weren’t anything great though… Under the circumstances, about bang average.
I am about 80% through it as an audiobook (waiting for it to come back from the library) and I agree. Great to listen to him, tons of non Trek info I didn’t know that is still quite interesting.
Not the best husband to be sure, but I do like that he’s pretty up front about it. Seems like his first marriage was effectively over as soon as he found American success and his wife (understandably) didn’t want to abandon her own career in the UK. Hard to listen to Capt. Picard be unfaithful (with Vash no less!) but I felt for him more than most egomaniac rock stars who fuck anything that moves.
EDIT: Also loved how he hates Thatcher for demolishing all of the programs he used to get trained as an actor coming from a poor background. There was a lot of mutual aid in his early life that seems non-existent today.
(with Vash no less!)
Damn I had no idea. I would say I’m surprised to hear he’s owning up to it, but this is Patrick Stewart we’re talking about.
Hard to listen to Capt. Picard be unfaithful (with Vash no less!)
Wow, I guess their chemistry on screen was real. Sad to hear, but I respect that he’s willing to talk about it now.
I have almost finished the book, but after looking up his son Daniel online, I find it strange that Patrick claimed that their relationship is “non-existent” in an interview from November 2023 https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/patrick-stewart-children-relationship-b2442190.html
In the memoir, Daniel comes over to LA, Patrick gives Daniel much credit in developing his one man Christmas Carol show just before its run at the London Old Vic.
Granted this was some time ago, as the Old Vic run was in 1993.
And then they worked together again in the Starz show Blunt Talk from 2015-2016, so not super long ago.
Edit: Now I have actually finished the book. In the last chapter, Stewart says his relationships with his children Daniel and Sophie “remain a work in progress” due to the hurt caused by his divorce with their mother Sheila, whom he curiously doesn’t name in that paragraph.
Non-existent is probably hyperbole, but I think it’s pretty reasonable to feel that way after your kids have grown and you realize you never made the time to really focus on them. Even if you have a nominal relationship later, it’s as an adult, it’s only certain times a year, it’s focused on the grandkids etc.
Sounds like standard empty-nester then.
