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Director and screenwriter Billy Wilder said, on his 92nd birthday, “Ithink I wasted my eighties.”Motivated by Wilder’s disclosure as he approached his own eighthdecade, actor, director, and writer Leigh Lawson embarked on a quest toassemble some of his previously unpublished poems, written during anastonishing 60-year career. This captivating first collection is accompanied by a background offascinating memories, intriguing stories, and anecdotes from around the time ofeach poem’s appearance. Sometimes very funny, sometimes alarmingly moving, Now and Then is the extraordinaryjourney of a life from poverty and abuse to achievement and fulfilment,throughout which poetry has played a major role.
Director and screenwriter Billy Wilder said, on his 92nd birthday, “Ithink I wasted my eighties.”Motivated by Wilder’s disclosure as he approached his own eighthdecade, actor, director, and writer Leigh Lawson embarked on a quest toassemble some of his previously unpublished poems, written during anastonishing 60-year career. This captivating first collection is accompanied by a background offascinating memories, intriguing stories, and anecdotes from around the time ofeach poem’s appearance. Sometimes very funny, sometimes alarmingly moving, Now and Then is the extraordinaryjourney of a life from poverty and abuse to achievement and fulfilment,throughout which poetry has played a major role.