Peter Sellers The Mask Behind the Mask Author:Peter Evans This book, written with the author’s full knowledge, is not a kind biography. Peter Sellers, herein, is not lavishly praised, nor is his private life kept private. — Instead, this is a sympathetic portrait of a difficult, nervous, creative genius who could be cruel and difficult in his search for artistic and domestic fulfillment. — Peter Ev... more »ans, who knew Sellers well, and who has sought the opinions of those who came into contact -- and conflict -- with the actor, has produced a balanced account of Sellers’ career. He analyses the failures and compliments the successes, revealing many of the little known behind-the-scenes stories.
The author also reveals much new information about Sellers’ private life and his varied love affairs, and explains how tormented and how beset by hidden fears the actor had been throughout his life. For years Sellers had dreaded a heart attack; for years after he had just survived the first one, Peter Sellers ignored medical advice and battled against the odds. He publicly denied the seriousness of his condition; yet in recent years his close friends and colleagues -- many of whom he alienated by his often drug-affected temperament -- knew each film could be his last.« less