Gang of Four – The History of the World

I am about half way through Patrick Stewart’s memoir. As someone who first became aware of him through watching reruns of Star Trek: The Next Generation, I am learning a lot about his early life. I am also learning about life in Yorkshire in the mid-20th century and am really pleased to see his humble roots make him a proud union supporter and hater of Margaret Thatcher and the havoc she wrought on unions and the arts. That reminded me of the Gang of Four, hailing from Leeds, very near Patrick Stewart’s hometown.

Back when I was watching those reruns in the early 90s, it felt like a real guilty pleasure. Once I found out Patrick Stewart had already had a successful career as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, I felt a little less guilty about it. I’d had an interview for a job at the Folger Shakespeare Library and was imagining being able to meet all of these famous actors when they would come through DC for some reason. The job wasn’t going to pay me enough though so I didn’t end up living that dream. In truth there probably would have been very few of those kind of chance encounters.

But I was smitten. I got the CD of his one-man performance of A Christmas Carol, which gave me a whole new appreciation for the book. Then my real moment of glory, for Christmas one year my Brooklyn sister and her husband took me to see him play Prospero in The Tempest on Broadway. We were so close, the second row I think, and he was fabulous.

When I think about it, I really have not seen much of his work. I think I will probably start chipping away at that once I finish the book.