The book was defended by former Labour Party leader Michael Foot. (Links to press articles in the Bibliography below.) Some of O'Connor's works have been translated into other languages, including Polish and Swedish. Awards, honours French Government Scholarship for Drama; Oxford Experimental Theatre Club, Oxford, 1st Prize in 1974 for I Forget How Nelson Died; Arts Council bursaries for plays I Learnt In Ipswich How to Poison Flowers and Epitaph For a Militant; Arts Council Literature Award, 1979; often cited in Books of the Year by The Times, Sunday Times, Observer. Bibliography Biography and History Ian McKellen: The Biography (London: Orion Publishing, 2019 ; New York: St. Martin's Press, 2019 ) Paperback editions 2020 The Butcher of Poland: Hitler’s Lawyer Hans Frank (The History Press, 2013. Hardback ). Subdued Fires: An Intimate Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI (The History Press, 2013. Paperback ). The First Household Cavalry Regiment, 1943-44: In the Shadow of Monte Amaro (The History Press, 2013. Hardback ). ‘As told to Garry O’Connor’ – Derek Jacobi, As Luck Would Have It (London: HarperCollins, 2013. Hardback ). Holy Crosses and Nazi Flags: Benedict and the Roman Catholic Church (Amolibros, 2010). (Part re-published as Subdued Fires; part re-published as The Butcher of Poland). The Darlings of Downing Street: the psycho-sexual drama of power (London: Methuen Politicos, 2007. Hardback ). Universal Father: A Life of Pope John Paul II (London and New York: Bloomsbury, 2005; paperback 2006). Paul Scofield: The Biography (London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 2002; New York: Applause, 2003). Alec Guinness, the Unknown: A Life (London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 2002; New York: Applause, 2002). William Shakespeare: A Popular Life (new expanded edition) (New York: Applause, 1999). The Secret Woman: A Life of Peggy Ashcroft (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1997). Alec Guinness: Master of Disguise (London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1994; Sceptre, 1995). William Shakespeare: A Life (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1991; Sceptre, 1994). Sean O’Casey: A Life (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1988; New York: Atheneum, 1988; Paladin paperback, 1989). Darlings of the Gods: One Year in the Lives of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1984). Also serialised in The Observer and was filmed as a three-part mini-series in Australia by ABC and Thames Television. Ralph Richardson: An Actor’s Life (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1982 Hardback ; Coronet paperback 1982; reprinted by London: Methuen Publishing, 1999; and by USA: Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, 2000). The Pursuit