Shattered Love: A Memoir Paperback – 4 May 2004

I never knew for sure that Richard Chamberlain was gay until someone recently told me he was. I wasn't surprised by the memoir - it's a spiritual memoir as well as an autobiographical one. What did however surprise me was Richard Chamberlain's brief description of his brilliant film The Music Lovers directed by Ken Russell as 'bizarre'. It's a brilliant film and Richard Chamberlain will be remembered more for his role in that film than for anything else he ever did. I first saw the film The Music Lovers back in 1971 when I was a young man of 23. In the film Richard Chamberlain courageously played the part of the homosexual music composer Tchaikovsky during an era when gay character screen portrayals could ruin an actor's career. I'm gay and I fell in love with Richard Chamberlain way back then. He was an extremely brave man to portray a gay character and he seems never to have been acknowledged for his pioneering role in The Music Lovers. To describe the film as bizarre shocked me. It was certainly considered shocking at the time. But the film influenced my life and helped me accept my own homosexuality. I've been in a same sex partnership with my friend since 1977. I want people to acknowledge Richard Chamberlain's bravery in playing Tchaikovsky. It's a marvellous film full of love and finally tragedy. All of Ken Russell's films are brilliant. The Music Lovers isn't a bizarre film. It's open and honest and gloriously shows Richard Chamberlain in the full flush of his beauty. Thank you for playing Tchaikovsky Richard. So courageous. And it was like a beacon in my young life back in the 1970's.

An insight into a wonderful actor and a very private person. Contains a lot of 'spiritual enlightenment' stuff which some may struggle with. Interesting anecdotes about his career and the struggle he went through to accept himself for who he really was/is. One of life's genuine, sensitive and compassionate people and a true gentleman..a rarity these days. I would love to meet him and learn more.Dont buy the book if you are looking for titilating Hollywood gossip. His 'coming out' is only touched on and as he said in an interview... 'Thats the least interesting part about me.... its benign' It is simply a part of who he is and the book charts his discovery of that very thing

Well I'll give this book a few marks, if only for the fact that it seems totally self-written (i.e. no ghost writer or co-author), and has an original approach (i.e. not the usual boastful career history).It seems our Richard is very into the spiritual side of life, especially anything concerned with Mother Nature. All very well, but one soon gets the impression that he's living in some fantasy world. He's at pains to analyse his own (and in fact man's) thoughts and behaviour, saying what we should think about how humans feel and act, but come on! "Patting" water to show appreciation for nature? Having his house "blessed" by someone, because he thinks it "wise"? An intelligent 20th century person doesn't believe in such nonsense. Why? Because sooner or later one realises one DOES need 20th century technology, science, medicine, whatever.This is where his beliefs fall down - it seems to me that he's never had a real crisis or catastrophe in his life. How fortunate, you may think, but this does mean all his grief is going to come at once?Also, there is the occasional "giveaway" in the book which led me to think his own attitude is not 100% in line what he preaches. For example, the way he goes on about he and his partner enjoying moving house and making a home each time. A "home" is just four walls and a roof, mate! (Maybe he's a bit more materialistic than he'd like us to think!)I can understand why he took so long (well, maybe not quite THAT long) to "come out", and am glad that he's had his fair share of happiness. I just hope he hasn't had so much of it that "payback time" is looming!

A thought provoking and insightful book of one of my favourite actors

I felt honoured to read this Memoir. Richard Chamberlain was so honest about his life and and his loveJust such a wonderful man love his life story so moving Carole

Yes I certainly enjoyed this book; I never thought I will ever read Prince Charming's (The Slipper and The Rose) memoir. Its a spiritual/philosophical/delicate description of life story; for some reason it seems, that suffering makes person wiser, more tolerant, accepting and gives them strength to remain positive in hard, trying times and somehow during that journey of rapid ego transformation, higher levels of consciousness become more readily available that is reflected in art, acting or daily life.Yes definitely a good read

Very interesting autobiography by this fine American actor. I have always liked his work, consistently high standard whenever I've seen it.Richard speaks very openly and honestly about his sexuality that was difficult to disclose in his profession earlier in his life. It's moving to read of the difficulties this could cause him, and sad that there was such a bias then against gay persons. But fortunately it is easier now for him. It's good to read that he is now able to be open and is happy with his partner.If you like him, you would I hope enjoy this book very much.

This was a very disappointing book. I have been a fan of Richard Chamberlain since I was a young girl and I had expected something of a revelation about his life, considering the title Shattered Love. Instead of which, there were no photographs of his career and a mishmash of meandering about how love is the answer to life. I gave this book away as the title was misleading and the story of his life just not there in any way revealing. sorry Richard as I am still a fan but not of your book.