Tragically I Was an Only Twin

Oct 5, 2024 10:34 PM

Author:Peter Cook,William Cook

For his many friends and fans, Peter Cook was quite simply the funniest man they'd ever encountered. And nearly eight years since his death, his status as one of Britain's greatest comedians shows no sign of shrinking. Despite his reputation for idleness, Peter Cook was a great comedy writer, who created countless outrageous sketches and articles and was famed for his prolific role in the satire boom of the 1960s. The very best, the most famous and some of the most unusual of his comic masterpieces are collected here. Some of these pieces have never been published before, others are out of print, a few only survive in print, and many have only ever been seen or heard - never read. This collection ranges from Cook's first writing, at school and university, via Beyond The Fringe, with Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Jonathan Miller, his dualogues with Moore as Pete & Dud and Derek & Clive, and their brilliant TV series, Not Only But Also, to transcripts of his late, great TV appearances, and a selection of his journalism for the Daily Mail, the Evening Standard and Private Eye.

Reviews

The Curious Room brims with life...Fear, desire and mischievous wonder blend to make her work irresistible.

—— Tom Adair , Scotland on Sunday

Carter knew all about making images work in theatre. The proof is here, on the printed page...One of the pleasures of this book is watching a writer's imagination translate itself into visual and aural effects. We're allowed backstage, to peep at the wonderous machines of illusion.

—— Michele Roberts , The Times

4 Stars

—— Heat

This book is hilarious, honest and entertaining! Highly recommended

—— Gary Lineker

Richly funny and entertaining..some of it reads like a big, gay Bond thriller; other bits are pure, pungent travelogue

—— Mojo

Given Napier-Bell's hedonistic life in Eighties London, his diverse circle of acquaintances and his pithy, lively writing style, this book could hardly fail to entertain

—— Observer

There [are] fascinating passages about the bands producers: Troy Tate, John Porter, Stephen Street. Pages on the members’ childhood add meaningful context, and there are some thrilling glimpses of the Smiths on tour.

—— Independent

The story itself is riveting and Fletcher tells it lucidly and fairly. The drive to continue reading is provided by Marr’s no-nonsense spirit and by Morrissey’s eminently quotable lyrics and interviews.

—— Irish Times

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