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.
Review of a compelling portrait of a trainwreck of a stand-up
12/06/2025 … A macho mythology surrounds the hard-bitten, hard-living road comic, especially in the US, drawing on the romanticised nobility of the travelling troubadour/sage…
First volume of the TV icon's memoirs covers his time as a club comic
02/04/2025 … Here’s a peculiar bit of showbusiness trivia for you: Who compered the Rolling Stones’ first nationwide UK tour? The answer – as you’ll have…
Jay Richardson reviews the new novel about predators on the comedy circuit
13/02/2025 … Not a week goes by without revelations of showbusiness toxic male behaviour.
© Takahiro Kyono via Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0 Jay Richardson reviews Yvonne Innes's official biography of her husband
25/10/2024 … He is forever associated with The Beatles and often referred to as 'the seventh Python’.
16/10/2024 … Miranda Hart garnered plenty of headlines last week for her revelatory new memoir, disclosing her chronic illness and the news that she’s finally found love…
A comedian's guide to autism, reviewed by Fiona Barry
02/09/2024 … I stay away from books about medicine and neuroscience.
29/04/2024 … Helen Lederer has occupied a unique space in comedy for more than 40 years, working closely with some of its biggest stars but never quite making it to that big…
Review of Joel Morris' book about 'how comedy works and why it matters'
02/04/2024 … It’s an unwritten rule that any book about comedy starts with the EB White quote, refined by Barry Cryer, that analysing a joke is like dissecting a frog,…
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