The cast list of distinguished actors who have become distinguished authors is short, and indeed as far as my own reading goes, I can't think of anyone who rivals Sir Alec Guinness as both an actor of the utmost distinction and a writer of uncommon literary achievement.

'Blessings in Disguise', which was originally published in 1986, is Sir Alec s autobiography. It is a profoundly rich, subtly delineated series of sketches of self and others (among the latter, internationally famous British actors such as Gielgud and Richardson).