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Grimaldi is dead and hath left no peer. We fear with him the spirit disappeared. --London Illustrated News
I think Dickens is one of the best friends mankind has ever had. He has held the mirror up to nature, (his character's) names should be in every child's mouth; they ought to be adopted members of every household. JORGE SANTAYANA, Dickens 1921 -- There is no writer, in my opinion, who is so much a painter and a black-and-white artist as Dickens. His figures are resurrections. --VINCENT VAN GOGH, letter to Anthon G. A. Ridder Van Rappard March 1883
There can be no question of the importance of Dickens as a human event in history; (...) a naked flame of mere natural genius (... ) revealing a light that never was on sea or land, if only in the long fantastic shadows that it threw from common things' G.K. Chesterton --"Charles Dickens: His Life" Encyclopedia Britannica 1929
I think Dickens is one of the best friends mankind has ever had. He has held the mirror up to nature, (his character's) names should be in every child's mouth; they ought to be adopted members of every household. JORGE SANTAYANA, Dickens 1921 -- There is no writer, in my opinion, who is so much a painter and a black-and-white artist as Dickens. His figures are resurrections. --VINCENT VAN GOGH, letter to Anthon G. A. Ridder Van Rappard March 1883
There can be no question of the importance of Dickens as a human event in history; (...) a naked flame of mere natural genius (... ) revealing a light that never was on sea or land, if only in the long fantastic shadows that it threw from common things' G.K. Chesterton --"Charles Dickens: His Life" Encyclopedia Britannica 1929
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Joseph Grimaldi (1778 - 1837), one of the greatest English clowns and pantomimes of all time, was born in London to an Italian ballet-master and a dancer in the theatre s corps-de-ballet. The death of Grimaldi s father when he was nine plunged the family into debt. He was introduced to the stage at the age of two and began performing at the Sadler s Wells theatre at the age of three. Grimaldi s fame as a pantomime clown was unequalled and he is credited as an innovator. He introduced the tradition of audience participation, of poking fun at spectators, and presented to the world in his performance as Joey, the modern clown as a central character. He was the original 'Clown Joey', the term 'Joey' being used to describe clowns since his day. Of his own name he punned 'I am grim all day - but I make you laugh at night!' Yet he died a poor and physically crippled man. A memorial service is held every year in Hackney on the first Sunday in February attended by hundreds of clowns from all over the world and followed by a show for children.
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First Sentence
THE paternal grandfather of Joseph Grimaldi was well known, both to the French and Italian public, as an eminent dancer, possessing a most extraordinary degree of strength and agility, -qualities which, being brought into full play by the constant exercise of his frame in his professional duties, acquired for him the distinguishing appellation of "Iron Legs." Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
THE paternal grandfather of Joseph Grimaldi was well known, both to the French and Italian public, as an eminent dancer, possessing a most extraordinary degree of strength and agility, -qualities which, being brought into full play by the constant exercise of his frame in his professional duties, acquired for him the distinguishing appellation of "Iron Legs." Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the real story of late 18th - 19th century clown/harlequin/comic actor Joseph 'Joe' Grimaldi.
It exists because of the combined efforts of not only the subject, but also writer Thomas Egerton Wilkes, and last but by no means least in great big italicised letters, Charles Dickens. What began as an autobiography, ended up being revised, honed and edited, initially by Wilkes, but finally by Dickens. One read of this, and you will realise that there is far more of Dickens' spirit in the pages than the great man ever wanted to admit, most probably because it was, as already stated, an autobiography at the outset, but consisting of a manuscript unsuitable for publication - until further and serious editing.
It doesn't take long before the reader is sucked into that most gracious - and sometimes not - world of late Georgian life, and in particular, the theatrical sub-world, which, if the subject and editors are not exaggerating, was so important a part of life for both the great and the great-unwashed.
It is a story of a highly skilled and dedicated entertainer, who fulfilled his duties through rain and shine and good and bad health; it is also a story of a simple man who was not in the least bit worldly, and was so often taken advantage of by friends, colleagues, strangers, commoners and even gentry.
In keeping with our perception of clowns - even now, there is much laughter and there are plenty of tears. It is also an insight into how poor Britain was not - for some. Amazingly for the time, the amounts of money being bandied about in theatrical life was not just groats, farthings and bits of brass, but Pounds and Guineas by the hundred. On his various benefit nights, which seemed to be an integral ( and regular ) part of a successful clown's life, Grimaldi walked away with amounts, 'though not staggering, a singer in your local pub' would be happy with even today, 170 years later.
I think this is enough of Grimaldi himself to whet your appetitite, I would like now to mention the style of the book. Forget for a second this is a biography, this book is pure Dickens. There are ghostly shades of 'Pickwick's Papers' speckled here and there - shooting parties, dinners with friends, vagabonds, Policemen, except this is all for real.
Please do read this book if you can get a copy, if you do, the mischievous but gentle people-loving spirit of Grimaldi will smile, and look down kindly upon you. God bless him.
It exists because of the combined efforts of not only the subject, but also writer Thomas Egerton Wilkes, and last but by no means least in great big italicised letters, Charles Dickens. What began as an autobiography, ended up being revised, honed and edited, initially by Wilkes, but finally by Dickens. One read of this, and you will realise that there is far more of Dickens' spirit in the pages than the great man ever wanted to admit, most probably because it was, as already stated, an autobiography at the outset, but consisting of a manuscript unsuitable for publication - until further and serious editing.
It doesn't take long before the reader is sucked into that most gracious - and sometimes not - world of late Georgian life, and in particular, the theatrical sub-world, which, if the subject and editors are not exaggerating, was so important a part of life for both the great and the great-unwashed.
It is a story of a highly skilled and dedicated entertainer, who fulfilled his duties through rain and shine and good and bad health; it is also a story of a simple man who was not in the least bit worldly, and was so often taken advantage of by friends, colleagues, strangers, commoners and even gentry.
In keeping with our perception of clowns - even now, there is much laughter and there are plenty of tears. It is also an insight into how poor Britain was not - for some. Amazingly for the time, the amounts of money being bandied about in theatrical life was not just groats, farthings and bits of brass, but Pounds and Guineas by the hundred. On his various benefit nights, which seemed to be an integral ( and regular ) part of a successful clown's life, Grimaldi walked away with amounts, 'though not staggering, a singer in your local pub' would be happy with even today, 170 years later.
I think this is enough of Grimaldi himself to whet your appetitite, I would like now to mention the style of the book. Forget for a second this is a biography, this book is pure Dickens. There are ghostly shades of 'Pickwick's Papers' speckled here and there - shooting parties, dinners with friends, vagabonds, Policemen, except this is all for real.
Please do read this book if you can get a copy, if you do, the mischievous but gentle people-loving spirit of Grimaldi will smile, and look down kindly upon you. God bless him.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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1 review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
This made a great gift
11 Jan 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book's condition was just as described. I gave it as a gift, and the reipient enjoyed it. It arrived promptly, even sooner than expected. If you are a Dickens fan, it's a great book to have, unusual for Dickens.
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