Stand-Up Or Die by Andy De La Tour
05/02/2013 … Andy De La Tour deserves a noble place in the history of stand-up.
Latest Books
Reviews of books about comedy, including biographies of comedians old and new, and (occasionally) books by comedians. To have a book considered for review, send a copy to Chortle, 112 Norman Road, London, E11 4RL.
Tue 05 February 2013
Tue 11 December 2012
2012 stocking-fillers
The best of this year's 'humour' books
11/12/2012 … It’s a brave reader who plunges into the ‘humour’ section of their local bookshop (if, indeed, such a thing still exists) in the hope of finding something…
Mon 19 November 2012
30 Years Of 'Allo 'Allo by Richard Webber
19/11/2012 … Though it’s hard to think it, two enduring British sitcoms celebrate their 30th anniversary this year: Blackadder and ’Allo ’ Allo.
Tue 06 November 2012
Britain Had Talent: A History Of Variety Theatre by Oliver Double
06/11/2012 … Variety has an image problem these days, seen in retrospect as a rather tacky collection of cheesy acts that passed for entertainment in a world before television.
Fri 26 October 2012
Eric Morecambe: Lost And Found, by Gary Morecambe
26/10/2012 … 'I wrote in an earlier book about my father that it would be my last written work about Eric Morecambe,' says Gary in the introduction to this, his fifth tome about…
Fri 05 October 2012
Mack The Life by Lee Mack
05/10/2012 … One thing that strikes you about reading Lee Mack’s autobiography is how ordinary he is.
Thu 20 September 2012
Stephen K Amos: I Used To Say My Mother Was Shirley Bassey
20/09/2012 … Stephen K Amos’s literary debut is, unsurprisingly, written with the same light touch as his crowd-pleasing stand-up.
Mon 30 July 2012
This Is A Book by Demetri Martin
30/07/2012 … If you’re already aware of Demetri Martin’s work as the hipsters’ favourite comedian, this is exactly the book you would expect him to write.