Biographer 'too harsh' on Spike

Spike Milligan's biographer has admitted he was too hard on the former Goon.

In his new book, Humphrey Carpenter portrays Milligan as an awkward, insensitive, arrogant man who alienated almost everyone he knew.

But speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival today, the author admitted: "My biography has probably erred on the side of the negative."

"I felt disappointed when I finished the book that I didn't like him more. I wanted to love him. But, ultimately, the work, does transcend the man."

His comments came as members of the audience recounted their memorable encounters with the comic genius, and found him not as difficult as the figure Carpenter paints.

Carpenter also admitted that his book suffered because he had no previously unseen material to draw upon - and he wasn't even allowed to quote passages from Spike's acclaimed war memoirs.

"There was no undertow of letters and dairies," he said. "Someday someone will write a better biography."

Book review
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Published: 18 Aug 2003