The wizard Saruman stands on a high tower, outstretched arms invoking darkness, white hair flowing. The imposing figure of Count Dooku proves more than a match for Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in a deadly light-sabre duel. And to yet another generation, Christopher Lee has become the face of cinema villainy -- with key roles in two of the most successful film series ever made.

From Bond baddie Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun to Count Dracula, Lee's remarkable career spanning 56 years has delighted and terrified fans young and old alike. But his life has proved just as strange as his films.

 Born into a family descended from papal nobility, Christopher Lee's childhood was full of ghosts and eccentric characters. Written with unforgettable, self-depracating wit, Lord of Misrule takes us through the ups and downs of a highly unusual home life counterbalanced by his education as a conventional English gentleman, as public school was duly followed by the RAF -- and dramatic wartime experiences.

But with the end of World War II, his yearning for something more led him into the bizarre world of British film. His success in Hamer's The Curse of Frankenstein proved to be the start of decades of cinematic triumphs, ranging from Sherlock Holmes to The Wicker Man and Sleepy Hollow.

With a cast list taking in everyone from Orson Wells to Muhammad Ali, locations across Europe, Hollywood and Africa, and packed with mesmerising anecdotes, Lord of Misrule is the perfect vehicle for the astonishing experiences of the man the Guardian describes simply as 'the coolest actor on the planet'.

Condition: Pre-loved book. Minor yellowing of pages. Otherwise in good condition.

Format: Hardcover
Year published: 2003
Pages: 344
Sub-genre: Autobiography; non-fiction.
Imprint: Orion