synopsis:

This watershed biography, first published in 1978 to critical acclaim, reconstructs the life and death of one of Britain's most popular comic playwrights, joe orton (1933-1967), murdered by his lover in their London flat.joe orton was born John Kingsley Orton on January 1, 1933 to a working class couple in Leicester, England. He spent the first eighteen years of his short life in Leicester where he attended secretarial school, acted in plays, and lost several odd jobs. In 1950, Orton moved to London to attend the Royal Academy of Art. It was during these three years, that he met Kenneth Halliwell a man seven years his senior.

Halliwell and Orton became partners and moved into a small flat. Halliwell, who was living off an inheritance at the time, took Orton under his wing. He taught Orton Greek drama, and the English literary classics. The couple began writing novels together, but none of them were ever accepted for publication. In 1957, Orton's independent talent began to emerge and he started submitting his own work. But in 1962, before success hit, Joe Orton and Kenneth Halliwell spent six months in prison for stealing and defacing library books at an Islington library.

Not long after his release from prison, Orton's radio play Ruffian on the Stair was accepted by the BBC. In 1966, Orton's third play Loot was performed, which brought Orton even more recognition. The release of three other plays quickly followed, 'The Good and Faithful Servant' (1964), 'The Erpingham Camp' (1967), and 'Funeral Games' (1966).

Halliwell who was once Orton's literary guide had difficulties dealing with Orton's success. Failing at his own attempts at art, Halliwell became insecure and bitter about their relationship. On August 9, 1967 Halliwell acted upon these emotions, beating Orton to death with a hammer and then taking his own life.

on this book:

John Lahr is a prized dramatic critic who is often said to be the primary expert on Joe Orton. in this book He uses Orton's diaries, his clipping books, various drafts of his plays, and his once unpublished novels, to construct a detailed and intriguing biography. Lahr is also the editor of 'The Orton Diaries'. The award-winning author was praised by the "New York Times Book Review" as "probably the most intelligent and insightful writer on the theater today".in 1987 a film based on this book came out.