© MarkWSutton, CC BY 2.0 The History of Stand-Up by Wayne Federman
24/05/2021 … In 2015, showbiz historian Kilph Nesteroff wrote The Comedians, a near-definitive and thoroughly entertaining account of the evolution of American comedy, from…
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.
Mon 24 May 2021
© MarkWSutton, CC BY 2.0 Tue 11 May 2021
Delicacy, by Katy Wix
Review of her 'memoir about cake and death'
11/05/2021 … A comedian writing about cake might sound twee, or evoke the sort of defiant hedonism that defines much of Jo Brand’s work.
Mon 15 March 2021
One Night Stand by Simon Taylor
Review of novel about a comedian facing a paternity crisis
15/03/2021 … Simon Taylor was a young, jobbing comedian on the Melbourne stand-up scene when a one-night stand led to a paternity scare that forced him to confront a different…
Wed 17 February 2021
He Used Thought As A Wife by Tim Key
17/02/2021 … You never forget your first lockdown.
Thu 11 February 2021
The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter
11/02/2021 … Helen Rutter’s debut novel, about an 11-year-old boy with a stammer who wants to become a stand-up, was inspired by her own son’s difficulties with speech.
Wed 03 February 2021
How Did The Gig Go? A Day In The Life Of An Average Stand-Up Comic
Review of a choose-your-own adventure book by comedian Dave Longley
03/02/2021 … Britain’s comedy circuit has been gone for the best part of a year – but much of it hasn’t been missed by Dave Longley, judging by this acrid,…
Wed 27 January 2021
Contemplating Comedy by Jonathan Levitt
27/01/2021 … I’m not sure what’s the worst aspect of Contemplating Comedy: the fact that author Jonathan Levitt has simply lifted hundreds of jokes written by other…
Wed 09 December 2020
© Endemol Shine UK The Future Of Politics by Frankie Boyle
09/12/2020 … The Future Of Politics is not a full book, more like an extended version of one of Frankie Boyle’s newspaper columns – a throwback, perhaps, to…