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Product Description
Product Description
IN RESPONSE TO POPULAR DEMAND, FOLKS.... THE FIFTH VOLUME OF SPIKE'S UNIQUELY AMAZING MILITARY MEMOIRS OF LIFE IN THE RANKS DURING WORLD WAR 2.
About the Author
Spike Milligan was born at Ahmednagar in India in 1918. He received his first education in a tent in the Hyderabad Sindh desert and graduated from there, through a series of Roman Catholic schools in India and England, to the Lewisham Polytechnic.
He then plunged into the world of Show Business, seduced by his first stage appearance, at the age of eight, in the nativity play of his Poona convent school. He began his career as a band musician, but has since become famous as a humorous scriptwriter and actor in both films and broadcasting. Spike received an honorary CBE in 1992.
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First Sentence
What is an Afragola? An Afragola is a small grotty suburb of Bella Napoli. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
What is an Afragola? An Afragola is a small grotty suburb of Bella Napoli. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette|Amazon Verified Purchase
A book of remembrance recounting a life full of soul. I have read all of Spike's books; and although in this book, I found some of the wit a little tedious at times I felt that his observations were genuine and true. The book is very moving. It is different. I felt that Spike was trying to communicate a loss of a past life, both his own and that of the nation in passing of British character and spirit.
The book is not as funny as the other war memoirs - but I enjoyed this book the most. It is full of recollections that are vivid and heartbreaking. Spike remembers his times in the entertainment division of the Army and first meetings with Secombe. I don't really like the Goons but this was different. It is a book about ordinary blokes who have found themselves thrown together and making the best job of it.
Naturally, there are the superior officers and NCO's who believe that they are the chosen ones and know better than the ordinary 'oike'. It is politically incorrect in many parts - not only from Spike's observations, but how this country has moved from the class structure that blighted young people for too long. Somehow, Spike had the last laugh and I hope sincerely that he has found peace. He was fortunate to observe humour where others saw the received idiosy of the times.
If you like Spike Milligan, then this is a must for the collection. It is a book for the experienced of life as it is written as a reminiscence and therefore written from a point of view holding experience of life after the events.
The book is a diamond and I only wish that he had written more like this one.
The book is not as funny as the other war memoirs - but I enjoyed this book the most. It is full of recollections that are vivid and heartbreaking. Spike remembers his times in the entertainment division of the Army and first meetings with Secombe. I don't really like the Goons but this was different. It is a book about ordinary blokes who have found themselves thrown together and making the best job of it.
Naturally, there are the superior officers and NCO's who believe that they are the chosen ones and know better than the ordinary 'oike'. It is politically incorrect in many parts - not only from Spike's observations, but how this country has moved from the class structure that blighted young people for too long. Somehow, Spike had the last laugh and I hope sincerely that he has found peace. He was fortunate to observe humour where others saw the received idiosy of the times.
If you like Spike Milligan, then this is a must for the collection. It is a book for the experienced of life as it is written as a reminiscence and therefore written from a point of view holding experience of life after the events.
The book is a diamond and I only wish that he had written more like this one.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Spike has produced another volume that will get the tears rolling down your cheeks!. How he managed to recall with such detail all the little asides that passed between him and his comrades-at-arms, is a source of great wonder to me. Here we are introduced to the manic Welshman, Secombe who went on to star with Spike in the Goon Show and on to greater things. All in all a wonderful mix of humour and pathos - well worth a look.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was too young to appreciate Spike Milligan in his hay day and only have vague recollections of his humour, and 'The Goon Show' was before my time.I picked this up on holiday in a second hand book store because I have been wanting to read more humour. I wasn't disappointed, it is a very funny book. But it's also a fascinating insight into one man's ( one funny man's !) experience of the latter part of World War 2. This is part of a collection of memoirs written by Spike but the fact that I haven't read any of the others is irrelevant. Anyone interested in the war years would probably like this book, especially if you have a sense of humour. For those of a more prudish constitution beware there is some lively language.
I really liked this book and it kept my interest all the way. It has made me want to learn more about Spike and his history and the history of the Goon Show ! The book is funny, eye opening and educational. Best book of the year so far, but it's only number three !
4/5
I really liked this book and it kept my interest all the way. It has made me want to learn more about Spike and his history and the history of the Goon Show ! The book is funny, eye opening and educational. Best book of the year so far, but it's only number three !
4/5
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