It made for a fascinating read.
After looking over the book I discovered that it was a re-issue of Patrick’s earlier book: The Avengers And Me published by
TV Books.
I was determined to get the original version and to my surprise I found it a couple years later at that same used bookstore.
I purchased it and to my surprise when I got it home and opened it to the front page I discovered it was autographed by Patrick himself!
He died not long ago and this book has become a special part of my The Avengers collection.
Of all the British TV series The Avengers has been and always be my favorite.
The Avengers And Me offers a unique and up close and personal appraisal of the TV series by one of the actors who starred in the series: Patrick Macnee.
Patrick made quite a career and name for himself on the series. Not bad for starting out in a second-tier British TV series that originally was about a doctor seeking revenge against those that killed his wife.
When the series star left the series Patrick was confronted with the opportunity to star in the show. His partner would be a woman. Her part was originally to be played by a man.
Instead of changing the dialogue and action to reflect that of a man, the producers decided to keep the original version. Honor Blackman played Cathy Gale.
She was tough, resourceful and deadly in her own right. She became one of television's first liberated women. Later Diana Rigg replaced her as Emma Peele. Originally another actress was to play Emma but producers replaced her because she didn’t seem to fit the role.
Later still another actress took over after Diana left the series.
While The Avengers offered a glamorized look at English life and the country, the book delves more into the people who made the show possible.
Patrick offers insights into the behind-the-scenes maneuverings of the show from its early concept as a simple revenge and bring to justice format to the super spy parody it later evolved into.
To be sure Patrick talks about his various leading ladies. I’ve always enjoyed Patrick's work. He genuinely seems to enjoy himself and he is very modest when it comes to his career.
No showboater, he gives other actors. actresses and production people their just due. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons he was so well l liked with cast and crew.
He truly appreciated the fact that he had steady work, a paycheck and was realistic about his acting talent and his styling power.
The book examines all of the various stages of The Avengers from its original concept to its re-introduction over ten years after the original series ended as The New Avengers-again starring Patrick Macnee as John Steed only this time with two fellow agents-one male, one female.
Pages are brimming with black and white and color archival photos both in front of and behind the cameras.
It’s a delightful insight into the quirky and trend-setting series from the actor who starred in each phase-Patrick Macnee.
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