{"product_id":"his-own-executioner-the-life-of-nigel-balchin-paperback","title":"His Own Executioner: The Life of Nigel Balchin - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eDerek Michael Collett\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHailed by John Betjeman as 'one of our dozen readable living writers of genius', Nigel Balchin was one of the best-known English novelists of the Second World War generation: few writers so tangibly convey the excitement and terror of Blitz-era Britain. Little wonder that Balchin's books, among them \u003cem\u003eMine Own Executioner\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Small Back Room\u003c\/em\u003e, were seized upon by film-makers of the calibre of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNever previously the subject of a biography, Balchin was not only a brilliant novelist and BAFTA-winning screenwriter: he was also largely responsible for the success of Black Magic chocolates. Yet his alcoholism and tormented love life ensured that his writing became increasingly uneven. Like Patrick Hamilton before him, Balchin drifted into obscurity but his compelling novels continue to be rediscovered by a new generation of fans, including Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes and best-selling author Philippa Gregory. Derek Collett's groundbreaking biography fills an important gap in the history of twentieth-century fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis revised and updated second edition of \u003cem\u003eHis Own Executioner\u003c\/em\u003e, published to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Balchin's death, includes a new preface and an expanded selection of photographs, some of which have never previously been published.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 408\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.91 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 11, 2020\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51787167007008,"sku":"9781914076008","price":29.14,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/2ef80e9b7f163edfa09a32e0dd73b89a.webp?v=1780645797","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/his-own-executioner-the-life-of-nigel-balchin-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}