BOOK REVIEW: THE PEN IS MIGHTIER by Edward Tudor Pole

BOOK REVIEW: THE PEN IS MIGHTIER by Edward Tudor Pole
Old Castle Books
February 2026
By Shane Pinnegar
84%

Eddie Tudor Pole has lived quite the life, from Sex Pistol-adjacent punk rocker to armour-clad sword-waving popstar to star of stage and screens big and small to rocking troubadour.

He also had a very disturbing and abusive childhood thanks to his unstable mother, lived in a damp, unhealthy squat for years, went to RADA, ventured to Nicaragua to film Alex Cox’s Walker with Ed Harris and Joe Strummer, hosted the children’s game show The Crystal Maze, and much more. He tells his stories, name dropping with humble glee (Sid Vicious, Rex Harrison, Clint Eastwood and many more), with a matter-of-fact warmth that strikes the perfect tone: he’s not self-piteous about the bad stuff or gloating about the good stuff, merely relaying his anecdotes with the wit and eye for detail of a born raconteur and entertainer.

Consequently, The Pen Is Mightier is a fascinating and fun read, proof that you can be well known for one thing but have so much more to your story to tell. It’s testament to Tudor Pole’s charisma that although most will probably come to this book to read about his band Tenpole Tudor, all the other pieces of his personal jigsaw puzzle are just as riveting and recommended a read.

Category: Book Reviews