Humour Books
Ebury Publishing The Funniest Thing You Never Said
Book SynopsisWhether for the loo or bedside entertainment or as a work of reference or self-improvement The Funniest Thing You Never Said is the biggest and best humorous quotation book there is - a complete one-stop shop of witty one liners.Trade ReviewAn outstanding up-to-date anthology * Sunday Times *
£13.49
Ebury Publishing Fatherhood
Book SynopsisThere are lots of books about parenthood. But if you look closely most of them are about motherhood. Fathers get brief paragraphs about needing the odd cuddle themselves and being helpful for carrying the heavier elements of baby kit, but that''s it. Fatherhood - The Truth, on the other hand, is a shed-friendly man''s guide to the whole scary, life-changing business. One that looks beyond the happy-clappy cliches into the fiery hell of night feeds and projectile vomiting. ''Shit happens'' will suddenly start to make sense as a phrase. Providing crucial information and insight on every aspect of parenting with pitch-perfect humour, it takes the dad-to-be on a white-knuckle ride from conception to the first birthday that also considers the emotional truths and selfish imperatives that fathers are usually asked to bury out of sight. A personally informed journey, Fatherhood - The Truth also touches all the crucial practical bases to make it a one-stop, know-it-allTrade ReviewI laughed out loud and squirmed with awful recognition. Marcus Berkmann is one of our funniest writers, and he was sent by Heaven - or was it Hell? - to write Fatherhood -- Craig BrownBerkmann is a very funny writer ... the text is laugh out loud funny * Daily Express *Ambitious and substantial ... Berkmann is highly entertaining ... with an anarchic Monty Pythonesque sense of fun -- Alain de Botton * Sunday Times *The laughs come in every paragraph. A masterpiece about sad, neurotic British fathers * Sunday Telegraph *A man of infinite wisdom and experience when it comes to male parenting in the 21st century ... The daddy of baby guides ... quick-witted ... excellent * Mail on Sunday *
£15.29
Ebury Publishing Playing the Moldovans at Tennis
Book SynopsisTony Hawks lives in London. He leads a diverse life and has various 'jobs', such as performing stand up comedy, appearing as a panellist on TV and radio (Have I Got News For You, Just A Minute, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue), acting, writing, playing tennis, and making music.Trade ReviewEven if you hate tennis and couldn't find Moldova on the map, you'll be charmed. Utterly recommended * FHM *Surprisingly touching as well as incredibly funny * The Oxford Times *I expected to find this book funny, which it is; I didn't expect to find it illuminating and rather moving, which it is too * Daily Mail *This immensely readable account, enriched with moments of true hilarity is, quite honestly, a bit of a gem * Living Abroad Magazine *
£14.24
Ebury Publishing The Ultimate Cockney Geezers Guide to Rhyming
Book SynopsisFormer sports journalist Geoff Tibballs has written nearly 100 books, including the The Batsman's Holding, the Bowler's Willey for Ebury.
£9.49
Ebury Publishing Too Much Information
Book SynopsisIt's hard to imagine a world where anything you could possibly want to know about and everything you don't even know you want to know about isn''t accessible 24-hours a day, seven days a week, with just a few taps of our fingers. But that world once existed. And Dave Gorman remembers it. He remembers when there were only three channels on TV. He remembers when mobile phones were the preserve of arrogant estate agents and yuppie twonks. And he remembers when you had to unplug your phone to plug the computer into the landline in order to use the (crippling slow) internet.Nowadays of course, the world is full of people trying to tell us things. So much so that we have taught our brains not to pay much attention. After all, click the mouse, tap the screen, flick the channel and it''s on to the next thing. But Dave Gorman thinks it''s time to have a closer look, to find out how much nonsense we tacitly accept.Suspicious adverts, baffling newspaper headlines, fake twitteTrade ReviewIn the study of modern miscellany Dave Gorman is the equivalent of a professor emeritus * Independent *Dave Gorman is funny and brilliant in equal measure * The Times *Gorman turns his astute, observational wit on the rampant information age in which we live * Daily Mail *
£10.44
Ebury Publishing Keep Calm and Carry On
Book SynopsisKeep Calm and Carry On was a World War 2 government poster discovered in a dusty box nine years ago. Though it never saw the light of day in 1939 (it was only supposed to go up if Britain was invaded), it has suddenly struck a chord in our current difficult times, now we are in need of a stiff upper lip and optimistic energy once again. Gordon Brown had one up in 10 Downing Street and James May wears a Keep Calm T-shirt on the telly - it is suddenly everywhere. The book is packed full of similarly motivational and inspirational quotes, proverbs, mantras and wry truths to help us through the recession, from such wits as Churchill, Disraeli and George Bernard Shaw. Funny, wise and stirring - it is a perfect source of strength to get us all through the coming months.''A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain'' Mark Twain ''It''s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; itTrade ReviewThe best title on offer this year is Keep Calm and Carry On ... There isn't a single uninteresting entry and the range - Cicero, Shakespeare, George W. Bush. Impressive. * Daily Express *
£6.99
Ebury Publishing Jokes for Blokes The Ultimate Book of Jokes not
Book SynopsisLlewellyn Dowd and Phil McCracken met whilst serving in the French Foreign Legion. They were both dishonourably discharged on the same day, following an incident with the regimental camel. Llewellyn returned to live in the UK, where Who's Who lists his interests as: 'Camels; camel racing; painting pictures of camels'. He is married to wife Camilla. Phil currently lives in south-eastern Europe, where he presents a TV programme on farming: The Bulgarian Agrarian. He lives with his Moroccan partner, Keith.
£13.49
Ebury Publishing Moranthology
Book SynopsisPossibly the only drawback about the bestselling How To Be A Woman was that its author, Caitlin Moran, was limited to pretty much one subject: being a woman.In MORANTHOLOGY Caitlin ''gets quite chatty' about many subjects, including cultural, social and political issues which are usually left to hot-shot wonks and not a woman who sometimes keeps a falafel in her handbag. These other subjects include...Caffeine Ghostbusters Being Poor Twitter Caravans Obama Wales Paul McCartney The Welfare State Sherlock David Cameron Looking Like Ham Amy Winehouse The Big Society' Big Hair Nutter-letters Michael Jackson''s funeral Failed Nicknames Wolverhampton Squirrels' Testicles Sexy Tax Binge-drinking Chivalry Rihanna's Cardigan Party Bags Hot People Transsexuals The Gay Moon LandingsTrade ReviewHilarious [and] sharply intelligent ... she is one of the most astute social commentators hitting a keyboard today ... guaranteed to brighten up anyone's life * Independent *As insightful and every bit as funny as her last book, but with broader range * Elle *She is a brilliant, brilliant writer * Glamour *Properly funny, naughty and admirably no-nonsense, it’s every bit as brilliant as you’d expect * Closer *I adore, admire and am addicted to Caitlin Moran's writing -- Nigella Lawson
£13.49
Ebury Publishing Fibber in the Heat
Book Synopsis** Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award **Fanatical about cricket since he was a boy, Miles Jupp would do anything to see his heroes play. But perhaps deciding to bluff his way into the press corps during England''s Test series in India wasn''t his best idea.By claiming to be the cricket correspondent for BBC Scotland and getting a job with the (Welsh) Western Mail, Miles lands the press pass that will surely be the ticket to his dreams. Soon, he finds himself in cricket heaven - drinking with David Gower and Beefy, sharing bar room banter with Nasser Hussain and swapping diarrhoea stories with the Test Match Special team. But struggling in the heat under the burden of his own fibs, reality soon catches up with Miles as he bumbles from one disaster to the next. A joyous, charming, yet cautionary tale, Fibber in the Heat is for anyone who''s ever dreamt about doing nothing but watching cricket all day long.Trade ReviewCrisply funny... Jupp is a genteel treat * Guardian *'[I]t's a tale of slavish fandom, the highs and lows of which are illustrated with dexterity... It's not only cricket fans and journalists who'll appreciate this yarn - it's a tale for lovers in the wider sense, and of the boundaries they'll cross * Independent *Jupp is intelligent, charismatic and one of the most established raconteurs around * Time Out *His tribute to the simple pleasures of fandom is a touching one * Guardian *A very funny book about a very silly plan -- Jonathan Agnew
£12.34
Ebury Publishing Moranifesto
Book SynopsisI've lived through ten iOS upgrades on my Mac and that's just something I use to muck about on Twitter. Surely capitalism is due an upgrade or two?'When Caitlin Moran sat down to choose her favourite pieces for her new book she realised that they all seemed to join up. Turns out, it's the same old problems and the same old ass-hats.Then she thought of the word Moranifesto', and she knew what she had to doThis is Caitlin's engaging and amusing rallying call for our times. Combining the best of her recent columns with lots of new writing unique to this book, Caitlin deals with topics as pressing and diverse as 1980s swearing, benefits, boarding schools, and why the internet is like a drunken toddler.And whilst never afraid to address the big issues of the day such as Benedict Cumberbatch and duffel coats Caitlin also makes a passionate effort to understand our 21st century society and presents us with her Moranifesto' for making the world a better place.The polite revolution starts here! Please.Trade ReviewShe is one of the most astute social commentators hitting a keyboard today ... guaranteed to brighten up anyone's life * Independent *the joy of Moran’s writing lies in how she combines thoughtfulness and intelligence with proper belly laughs. * Independent on Sunday *Spiky, funny and passionate * Guardian *
£14.24
Ebury Press Only When I Laugh My Autobiography
Book SynopsisKnown for his intelligent and often surreal humour, Paul Merton's weekly appearances on BBC1's Have I Got News For You as well as Radio 4's Just A Minute and his travel documentaries have seen him become an artfully rebellious fixture in our lives for over 25 years.He also has a real story to tell. In ONLY WHEN I LAUGH, his rich and beautifully-observed autobiography, Paul takes us on an evocative journey from his working-class Fulham childhood to the present day. Whether writing about school days, his run-ins with the nuns and other pupils; his disastrous first confession; his meatpacking job; taking acid; leaving home to live in bedsit; his early brushes with the opposite sex and not forgetting his repeated attempts to break into the world of comedy Paul's writing is always funny, poignant and revealing. And when his star finally ascends in the atmospherically drawn 1980s alternative cabaret scene there is a sense of excitement, energy, camaraTrade ReviewCrammed with laugh-out-loud moments * Daily Telegraph *A rollicking good read -- Bruce Dessau * Evening Standard *A thoughtful, understated memoir -- Joe Moran * Guardian *Witty and enjoyable -- Robert Elms * BBC Radio London *Compelling * Chortle *
£15.29
Ebury Publishing All I Ever Wrote
Book SynopsisOne of the greatest entertainers of his generation, Ronnie Barker was loved by millions for his roles in classic shows Open All Hours, Porridge and The Frost Report. Born in Bedford in 1929, Ronnie Barker began writing and performing in radio shows such as The Navy Lark. Barker met his comedy partner Ronnie Corbett while working on The Frost Report. Legend has it that they were signed up by the BBC after they impressed producers by filling in when a technical hitch occurred during the BAFTA awards. A gifted character actor as well as comedy writer, Barker went to star in classic sitcoms Open All Hours and Porridge.
£25.50
Ebury Publishing Doc Martin Mistletoe and Whine Doc Martin 2
Book SynopsisMeet the ultimate Scrooge...The festive season in the small Cornish village of Portwenn is going to be anything but easy for curmudgeonly Doc Martin. His idea of a perfect Christmas Day is to remain steadfastly alone and catch up with back issues of The Lancet.However, Portwenn is fighting off the cold and frost with a period of determined revelry before it heads into its deep winter sleep, and his patients are even more exasperating than usual. Not to mention his on-off relationship with local school teacher, Louisa.It will take all of Doc Martin's willpower to fend off the attentions of the Christmas spirit...
£13.49
Ebury Publishing The Book of Football Quotations
Book SynopsisThe greatest football quotations collection ever, now in its ninth edition.This compilation includes quotes from everyone Shakespeare to Suarez, Camus to Cantona, Busby to Beckham who has made an apt, pithy or comical comment about football. And not just footballers and managers either fans, pundits, groundsmen, directors and wives all get to have their say too. Every subject is covered, from tactical debates to changing lifestyles, to produce a sometimes hilarious and always thought-provoking commentary on the game.My players are always the best players in the world, even if they aren't' - José MourinhoHe was a quiet man, Eric Cantona, but he was a man of few words' - David BeckhamSometimes when you aim for the stars you hit the moon' - Ian HollowayTrade ReviewTruly a must... it can make you laugh or cry * Sunday Telegraph *It should be on the shelf of everyone who loves football * The Times *Shaw has drawn together a fine catalogue of comical observations for a book to which enthusiasts will return regularly for comical stimulation * Scotland on Sunday *Shaw has drawn together a fine catalogue of comical observations for a book to which enthusiasts will return regularly for comical stimulation * Scotland on Sunday *richly enjoyable -- Richard Williams * Guardian *
£21.25
Ebury Publishing He Who Dares
Book SynopsisJack-the-lad, wheeler-dealer and international playboy (just ask the manageress of El Sid''s, Torremolinos, 1978), this was a man destined for greatness. One day he would mature into an award-winning man of business*, thriving entrepreneur and glittering member of the jet-set. A force of nature, a man who beat the odds, if only for a bit. This is his story. The story of Derek ''Del Boy'' Trotter. Who else could tell the glorious tale of rags to riches to rags to rich(ish) but the man himself? You''ve heard of The Wolf of Wall Street, now meet the Pug of Peckham.*Trotter''s Independent Traders, employee of the year 1982 - 2003[He Who Dares has been written by the family of John Sullivan, creator and writer of Only Fools and Horses, who sadly died in 2011. Ebury Press have produced and published the book with full support and involvement of the family.]Trade Reviewsurprisingly poignant...an enjoyable read * Daily Express *His voice comes across effortlessly and it's hard not to warm to this poor man's Richard Branson as his charm wafts off the page. * Daily Express *serves as a fitting tribute to Only Fools writer John Sullivan * Daily Express *
£12.34
Vintage Publishing Straight Man
Book SynopsisRichard Russo won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for his fifth novel, Empire Falls. He is also the author of Mohawk, The Risk Pool, Nobody's Fool, Straight Man, Bridge of Sighs and That Old Cape Magic, as well as a collection of stories, The Whore's Child. His original screenplay is the basis for Rowan Atkinson's film Keeping Mum. He lives with his wife in Maine and in Boston.Trade ReviewAfter a while you begin to wish you lived in Richard Russo's world * Sunday Times *A funny and clever novel * Times Literary Supplement *The author has never been funnier. It is a testament to Russo's skill and originality that Straight Man often seems as fresh as if it were the first of its sort * Literary Review *Sentence by sentence Richard Russo shows that his is an eminently accomplished comic talent * The Times *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Do Not Pass Go
Book SynopsisTim Moore's books include French Revolutions, Do Not Pass Go, Spanish Steps and Nul Points and I Believe in Yesterday. He lives in London.Trade ReviewHe is a rare comic talent * The Times *A very funny writer, oozing with comic ideas... There are fantastic jokes here, some lovely observation and a wealth of delicious information * Daily Mail *Witty and ingenious * Guardian *An ideal balance of travel, anecdote and dry wit * Independent on Sunday *A brilliant book that sheds new light on our capital * Sunday Express *
£11.69
Cornerstone Reginald Perrin Omnibus
Book SynopsisDavid Nobbs was born in Kent. After university, he entered the army, then tried his hand at journalism and advertising before becoming a writer. A distinguished novelist and comedy writer best known for The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, David Nobbs was acknowledged by his peers as a comic genius. He died in August 2015.Trade Review"A delicious entertainment, as comic and as sharp as they come" Guardian "The funniest character ever to emerge from the world of the commuter" Daily Express "David Nobbs's The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is hilarious from start to finish and boasts an undercurrent of poignant seriousness. I would urge anyone who hasn't read it to do so." -- Nicholas Royle
£17.00
Cornerstone Murphys Law
Book SynopsisMurphy''s Law - popularly known as Sod''s Law - with acknowledgements to Parkinson''s Law and the Peter Principle - explains the truth of man''s existence: that if anything can go wrong, it will. In three volumes of murphology, Arthur Bloch has provided the only comfort possible - laughter - for all those who have ever been exasperated by things going wrong, with a set of rules offering a wise and witty view of the human predicament in the cosmos.Trade ReviewArthur Bloch holds up a rickety umbrella to defend himself against slates dislodged by tornadoes ... and is ... very funny * Punch *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Spanish Steps
Book SynopsisTim Moore's books include French Revolutions, Do Not Pass Go, Spanish Steps, Nul Points, I Believe in Yesterday and You Are Awful (But I Like You). He lives in London.Trade ReviewHe is a rare comic talent * The Times *A very funny writer, oozing with comic ideas * Daily Mail *An absolutely cracking idea for a book; it's got history, eccentric characters, personal growth - and plenty of really good jokes * Time Out *One of the classier writers of the humorous travel book... A very entertaining read * Observer *At last, a travel book that makes you think but also makes you laugh out loud * Guardian *
£11.69
Vintage Publishing French Women Dont Get Fat
Book SynopsisExperience the joie de vivre with this revolutionary non-diet book that is changing the way women eat and live everywhere How do French women do it? This is the book that unlocks the simple secrets of ''the French paradox'' - how to enjoy food and stay slim and healthy. Classy, chic and expertly well-written, this is the book that we have all been waiting for. It''s the ultimate non-diet book; instead, showing how to eat with balance, control and above all pleasure. Eat, like a French woman.Trade ReviewMireille's book is for the woman in search of a better, sexier, happier lifestyle * Scotsman *Guiliano's advice is practical and sane * New Statesman *A gentle and painless introduction to the French women's well-honed tricks to get your figure back - and then keep it * Living France *Slender, elegant, well-spoken, sensible and unembarrassed by the frank embrace of stratagems * Paris to the Moon *Reveals the secrets of French women's eating regimes. Reader, it all sounds pretty good to me * Daily Express *
£10.44
Cornerstone Travels With Boogie
Book SynopsisTravels with Boogie is the story of two city slickers - one an unattractive but streetwise mongrel from Stockwell, the other the long-suffering author - and how they came to terms with England''s countryside and waterways.First they had to survive against all odds as they embarked on a heroic journey up hill and down dale, with rucksacks full of Kennomeat, along Britain''s longest coastal footpath - from Somerset to Devon, from Cornwall to Dorset. And they did it. Then, undaunted, they took on the treacherous waters of the Thames. Not exactly as Mark had planned, however: this time his companion was to be the delectable Jennifer - but she was held up at the office, and when Boogie was dropped off at the kennels the other dogs complained.Travels with Boogie is a witty and fascinating account of a mismatched couple and of the people they meet and places they visit.Trade ReviewThe humorous travel book we've been waiting for * Daily Mail *
£10.44
Cornerstone Uncle Fred in the Springtime
Book SynopsisA Blandings novelUncle Fred is one of the hottest earls who ever donned a coronet. Or as he crisply puts it, ''There are no limits, literally none, to what I can achieve in the springtime.''Even so, his gifts are stretched to the limit when he is urged by Lord Emsworth to save his prize pig, the Empress of Blandings, from the enforced slimming cure of the haughty Duke of Dunstable. Pongo Twistleton knows his debonair but wild uncle shouldn''t really be allowed at large - especially when disguised as a brain surgeon. He fears the worst. And in yet another brilliant novel by the master of English comedy, Pongo will soon find his fears are amply justified.Trade ReviewIt's dangerous to use the word genius to describe a writer, but I'll risk it with him -- John HumphrysFor as long as I'm immersed in a P.G. Wodehouse book, it's possible to keep the real world at bay and live in a far, far nicer, funnier one where happy endings are the order of the day -- Marian KeyesWodehouse always lifts your spirits, no matter how high they happen to be already -- Lynne TrussThe incomparable and timeless genius - perfect for readers of all ages, shapes and sizes! -- Kate MosseNot only the funniest English novelist who ever wrote but one of our finest stylists -- Susan Hill
£9.49
Cornerstone Ring for Jeeves
Book SynopsisA Jeeves novelCaptain Biggar, big-game hunter and all round tough guy, should make short work of the two bookies who have absconded with his winnings after a freak double made him a fortune. But on this occasion Honest Patch Perkins and his clerk are not as they seem. In fact they''re not bookies at all, but the impoverished Bill Belfry, Ninth Earl of Rowcester and his temporary butler, Jeeves.Bertie Wooster has gone away to a special school teaching the aristocracy to fend for itself ''in case the social revolution sets in with even greater severity''. But Jeeves will prove just as resourceful without his young master, and brilliant brainwork may yet square the impossible circle for all concerned.Trade ReviewIt's dangerous to use the word genius to describe a writer, but I'll risk it with him -- John HumphrysFor as long as I'm immersed in a P.G. Wodehouse book, it's possible to keep the real world at bay and live in a far, far nicer, funnier one where happy endings are the order of the day -- Marian KeyesWodehouse always lifts your spirits, no matter how high they happen to be already -- Lynne TrussThe incomparable and timeless genius - perfect for readers of all ages, shapes and sizes! -- Kate MosseNot only the funniest English novelist who ever wrote but one of our finest stylists -- Susan Hill
£9.49
Cornerstone Service with a Smile
Book SynopsisP. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) is widely regarded as the greatest comic writer of the 20th century. Wodehouse wrote more than 70 novels and 200 short stories, creating numerous much-loved characters - the inimitable Jeeves and Wooster, Lord Emsworth and his beloved Empress of Blandings, Mr Mulliner, Ukridge, and Psmith. His humorous articles were published in more than 80 magazines, including Punch, over six decades. He was also a highly successful music lyricist, once with over five musicals running on Broadway simultaneously. P.G. Wodehouse was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for 'an outstanding and lasting contribution to the happiness of the world'.Trade ReviewIt's dangerous to use the word genius to describe a writer, but I'll risk it with him -- John HumphrysFor as long as I'm immersed in a P.G. Wodehouse book, it's possible to keep the real world at bay and live in a far, far nicer, funnier one where happy endings are the order of the day -- Marian KeyesWodehouse always lifts your spirits, no matter how high they happen to be already -- Lynne TrussThe incomparable and timeless genius - perfect for readers of all ages, shapes and sizes! -- Kate MosseNot only the funniest English novelist who ever wrote but one of our finest stylists -- Susan Hill
£9.49
Cornerstone How to Talk Like a Local
Book SynopsisFrom dardledumdue, which means daydreamer in East Anglia, through forkin robbins, the Yorkshire term for earwigs, to clemt, a Lancashire word that means hungry, this title investigates an astonishingly rich variety of regional expressions, and provides insight into the history of the English language.Trade ReviewIt's an interesting and, at times, hilarious read. One for word-lovers * The Sun *A scattershot guide to regional British vocabulary, from "gutties" to "woollyback" and beyond * Big Issue Scotland *An amenable, approachable but intelligent look at regional idiom and slang * thebookbag.co.uk *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm
Book SynopsisStella Gibbons was born in London in 1902. She went to the North London Collegiate School and studied journalism at University College, London. She then worked for ten years on various papers, including the Evening Standard. Stella Gibbons is the author of twenty-five novels, three volumes of short stories, and four volumes of poetry. Her first publication was a book of poems, The Mountain Beast (1930) and her first novel Cold Comfort Farm (1932) won the Femina Vie Heuruse Prize for 1933. Among her works are Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm (1940) Westwood (1946), Conference at Cold Comfort Farm (1959) and Starlight (1967). She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1950. In 1933 she married the actor and singer Allan Webb. They had one daughter. Stella Gibbons died in 1989.Trade ReviewStella Gibbons is the Jane Austen of the 20th century -- Lynne TrussA biting, witty tale of inappropriate presents and family traditions that fans of the original Cold Comfort Farm will love * Good Housekeeping *Oddly comforting and amusing collection * Independent on Sunday *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing In His Own Write A Spaniard in the Works
Book SynopsisWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY SIR PAUL MCCARTNEYFirst published in 1964 and 1965, In His Own Write and A Spaniard in the Works are a brilliantly inventive and offbeat collection of John Lennon's stories, drawings and poems.Trade ReviewLunatic humour... it defies description. It owes something to Lear's nonsense books, but from there on in Lennon is on his own... Zany, offbeat, and illustrated by his grotesque spidery pen. It jolts the reader into gusts of laughter * Guardian *Very funny... beautifully designed * Times Literary Supplement *Irresistible...the drawings are marvellous * Sunday Telegraph *Fascinating.... It goes down like pure whimsy and then back-kicks like a sick mule. * Sunday Times *Very inventive... It's all in Lennon's favour that despite the adulation and soft soap, he has remained as tough, arrogant and uncompromising * Observer *
£13.49
Cornerstone The Good The Bad and The Multiplex
Book SynopsisOutspoken, opinionated, and never lost for words, Mark Kermode has carved out a career in print, radio and television based entirely on the belief that The Exorcist is the greatest movie ever made and that the Pirates of the Caribbean films should be buried in a very deep hole where they can never bother anyone ever again.Trade ReviewVery angry and very funny * Empire *Kermode has nutsy-boltsy knowledge, fierce and idiosyncratic enthusiasms ... and some very interesting things to say * Guardian *As impressive as it is entertaining ... Takes a wrecking ball to the studio chicanery * Word *Expertly written, funny and fascinating * Shortlist *Frankly alarming * Metro *
£10.44
Vintage Publishing The Almost Nearly Perfect People
Book SynopsisThe Danes are the happiest people in the world, and pay the highest taxes. 'Neutral' Sweden is one of the biggest arms manufacturers in the world. Finns have the largest per capita gun ownership after the US and Yemen. 54 per cent of Icelanders believe in elves. Norway is the richest country on earth. This book deals with Nordic countries.Trade ReviewComprehensive and occasionally downright hilarious... I was laughing out loud -- Mariella Frostrup * Observer *An affectionate and informative study of a region. -- Ian Critchley * Sunday Times *[An] entertaining, warts-and-all, English expat look at the Nordic miracle. * Daily Telegraph *A thoroughly entertaining read, written brilliantly -- Bernard Porter * Literary Review *A welcome rejoinder to those who cling to the idea of the Nordic region as a promised land...the substance, more often than not, is spot on. * Financial Times *
£10.44
Vintage Publishing You Are Awful But I Like You
Book SynopsisWould you cheer if they sent you to Coventry? Could you stick up for Stoke or big-up Bracknell?Can you handle the thrill of Rhyl, the heaven of Hull or the mirth of Tydfil? In You are Awful, Tim Moore drives his Austin Maestro round all the places on our beloved island that nobody wants to go to our most miserable towns, shonkiest hotels, scariest pubs, and silliest sea zoos... But as the soggy, decrepit quest unfolds he finds himself oddly smitten, and the result is a rousing, nostalgic celebration of mad, bad But I Like You Britain.Trade ReviewFunny and squirmingly vivid * Daily Telegraph *There aren’t many travel writers funnier than Tim Moore * Independent on Sunday *A fine piece of comic writing...by the end of the book he is, unlike his Maestro, firing on all cylinders -- Nick Lezard * Guardian *A pilgrimage to the most derelict, unlovable and forlorn parts of Britain * Independent *Hilarious * Sun *There's a true affection in the descriptions of bypasses, roundabouts and rainy caravan parks -- Tom Cox * Daily Mail *Moore is...a likeable guide and a witty turner of phrases, and his plunges into local history as he tootles around in his decrepit Austin Maestro demonstrate a gift for bathos and an eye for the poetry of dereliction -- Euan Ferguson * Time Out *Moore has a nice line in description...and is able to describe the many absurdities encountered on his travels with admirable detachment * Choice Magazine *Hilarious... This book will have you in stitches... What emerges is a nostalgic celebration of just how mad Britain can be (5 stars) -- Hannah Britt * Daily Express *Tim Moore's wry portraits of unfashionable British towns nicely combine knockabout humour, witty one-liners and an undertow of sadness -- Sally Cousins * Sunday Telegraph *
£10.44
Cornerstone Tommy Cooper All In One Joke Book
Book SynopsisJohn Fisher has enjoyed and long and distinguished career as a television producer and executive working for both the BBC and ITV. He worked with Tommy Cooper on several occasions and includes the bestselling biography Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing amongst his published works. He is the owner of Tommy's personal joke files.
£8.99
Cornerstone The True History of the Blackadder
Book Synopsis___________________They had a cunning plan.A few decades ago, three young grads from England''s greatest universities - Oxford, Cambridge, and Hull (actually, Manchester) - came up with a historical comedy series. Few thought it would live long in the memory.Today, Blackadder is a timeless comic masterpiece, and its stars have gone on to glittering careers. The True History of the Black Adder is the first ever history of one of Britain''s greatest and most unique sitcoms, from its medieval beginnings to its legendary tragic finale.Informed by exclusive - and hilarious - interviews with essential figures like Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Ben Elton, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed and many more, this the definitive account of how a British institution came to be, as well as a fascinating look into how this classic comedy was almost very different - and a compendium of brilliantly funny anecdotes from a team of Britain''s most celebrTrade Reviewa rather elegant overview of Eighties British TV comedy… If you have any interest in comedy, you will love this book … [Roberts’] research has been assiduous, his judgments are sound and his puppyish enthusiasm encouraged his interviewees to give their best. Unlike Baldrick’s cunning plans, this one seems to have worked -- Marcus Berkman * Daily Mail *This really is the full history… for true buffs, this is not to be missed * Press Association *lively, warm-hearted * TLS *The True History of the Black Adder is a brilliant read for any fan of Edmund Blackadder, as well as a great introduction into the history of the contemporary comedy scene * BookGeeks *An almost perfect history of the greatest British sitcom there has ever been * comedy.co.uk *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd How to be an Alien
Book SynopsisGeorge Mikes says, ''the English have no soul; they have the understatement instead.'' But they do have a sense of humour - they provide it by buying over three hundred thousand copies of a book that took them quietly and completely apart, a book that really took the Mikes out of them.Trade ReviewAn instant classic -- Francis Wheen
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Milligans War
Book SynopsisSpike 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.
£15.29
Not Stated Winnie Ille Pu
Book SynopsisHappy 90th birthday (10/14/16) to one of the world''s most beloved icons of literature, Winnie-the-Pooh!“Pooh has been a classic for so long, it''s about time it showed up in a classical tongue.” —The New York Times Book ReviewThe publishing history of Winnie Ille Pu is among the most famous in all of publishing: how a privately printed Latin translation of A. A. Milne''s Winnie-the-Pooh, originally issued in a 300-copy edition, eventually became the only book in Latin ever to grace the New York Times bestseller list. Whether you''re calling on long-ago high school Latin lessons or are fully proficient in the language, you''ll delight in once again meeting Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Owl, Piglet, Kanga, tiny Roo, and, of course, Pooh himself.This is a revised edition with notes and a glossary.
£13.60
Penguin Random House Australia An Exaltation of Larks
Book SynopsisA delightfully unexpected, lovingly curated ode to the unique collective nouns that adorn our language, from “a leap of leopards” to “a murder of crows” and beyond, from the inimitable voice behind Inside the Actors Studio“I am madly in love with collective nouns! They make language so colorful and ticklish. . . . [An Exaltation of Larks] possess[es] an embarrassment of riches (wink wink!).” —Lupita Nyong’o, The New York TimesFor those who have wondered if the familiar “pride of lions” and “gaggle of geese” were merely the tip of a linguistic iceberg, James Lipton has provided a definitive answer: here are hundreds of equally pithy, often poetic terms he has unearthed and collected into one exhaustive volume. Over years of painstaking research, he embarked on an odyssey that has given us a “slouch o
£16.00
Penguin Books Ltd The Other Side of the Dale
Book SynopsisAs the newly appointed County Inspector of Schools in North Yorkshire, the author reveals in this warm and humorous account, the experiences of his first year in the job - and what an education it was! He quickly learns that he must slow his pace and appreciate the beautiful countryside.
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Jemima J.
Book SynopsisDiscover the addictive and uplifting story of reinvention, self-discovery and the meaning of true love from the bestselling author of Life Swap and The Friends We Keep''Inspirational, uplifting, made me laugh and left me feeling very happy'' 5***** Reader Review''Compulsively readable'' Sunday Times''Perfect if you want to feel uplifted . . . So relatable'' 5***** Reader Review_______Jemima Jones is overweight. About seven stone overweight.Treated like a slave by her thin and bitchy flatmates, lorded over at the Kilburn Herald by the beautiful Geraldine (less talented, but better paid), her only consolation is food.What with that and her passion for her charming, sexy colleague Ben, she knows her life needs changing.But can Jemima reinvent herself?And should she?_______''The kind of novel you''ll gobble up in a single sitting'' Cosmopolitan''Green writes with acerbic wit about the law of the dating jungle'' Sunday ExpressReaders ADORE Jemima J:''Truly uplifting and fun'' 5***** Reader Review''I was utterly engrossed'' 5***** Reader Review''A fantastic book that you can''t put down'' 5***** Reader Review''Beautiful and heartwarming'' 5***** Reader Review''Light hearted, warm and funny'' 5***** Reader ReviewTrade ReviewThe kind of novel you'll gobble up at a single sitting * Cosmopolitan *The ultimate makeover novel * Sunday Times *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Blackadder The Whole Damn Dynasty
Book SynopsisThe complete Blackadder scripts by Richard Curtis, Ben Elton, Rowan Atkinson and John Lloyd.Twenty-six years ago, Edmund Blackadder made his first appearance on our screens. Comedy has never been the same since (nor indeed has history). Gathered here - in this twenty-sixth anniversary commemorative edition - are the complete scripts of Blackadder''s adventures and, mostly, misadventures. Blackadder, Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third and Blackadder Goes Forth. Every word, every lie, every cunning plan and cock-up.From medieval nastiness, through Elizabethan and Regency glory, to the mud and sautéed rats of the First World War, Blackadder and his oafish underling Baldrick can be most definitely blamed for ruining England''s reputation as a country with a great history.This historical record has been set down by Mr Richard Curtis, Mr Ben Elton, Mr Rowan Atkinson and Mr John Lloyd.Richard Curtis is the writ
£17.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Complete Nonsense and Other Verse
Book Synopsis''Nonsense is the breath of my nostrils'', wrote Edward Lear (1812-88), and this collection demonstrates the wonderfully varied ways in which he pursued his philosophy of life. He created an extraordinary world filled with bizarre creatures - from the Dong with a luminous nose to the Pobble who has no toes - who misbehave with joyful abandon. Here can be found such exuberant and timeless verse as ''The Owl and the Pussy-cat'', ''The Quangle Wangle''s Hat'' and numerous comic limericks, along with stories, letters, alphabets and recipes, all accompanied throughout with his fantastical line drawings. Gently pointing out human follies and the absurdities of the conventional Victorian society in which he lived, Lear''s nonsense has enchanted children and adults alike for generations.
£13.49
Penguin Books Ltd Head Over Heels in the Dales
Book SynopsisGervase Phinn thinks he's heard just about everything in his two years as a school inspector, but a surprising enquiry from an angelic six-year-old reminds him never to take children for granted. His marriage to Christine Bentley, finding somewhere idyllic to live in the Yorkshire Dales, and chance of a promotion.
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Up and Down in the Dales
Book SynopsisEscape to the country with Gervase Phinn''s heartwarming tales of life as a school inspector in Yorkshire''Gervase Phinn''s memoirs have made him a hero in school staff-rooms'' Daily Telegraph______What''s your name? I asked the child.''Tequila,'' she replied. I''m named after a drink.''''Tequila Sunrise,'' I murmured.''No,'' pouted the child. ''Tequila Braithwaite.''Now in his fourth year as an Inspector for English in the Yorkshire Dales, Gervase Phinn still relishes visiting the schools - whether an inner-city comprehensive fraught with difficulties or a small Dales Primary school where the main danger is one of closure. With endless good humour, he copes with the little surprises that occur round every corner.Some things never change: Mrs Savage roars, Connie rants, and Gervase''s colleague in the office play verbal ping-pong. But all this can be put behind him each day when he retur
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Dining on Stones
Book SynopsisDining on Stones is Iain Sinclair''s sharp, edgy mystery of London and its environsAndrew Norton, poet, visionary and hack, is handed a mysterious package that sees him quit London and head out along the A13 on an as yet undefined quest. Holing up in a roadside hotel, unable to make sense of his search, he is haunted by ghosts: of the dead and the not-so dead; demanding wives and ex-wives; East End gangsters; even competing versions of himself. Shifting from Hackney to Hastings and all places in-between, while dissecting a man''s fractured psyche piece by piece, Dining on Stones is a puzzle and a quest - for both writer and reader.''Exhilarating, wonderfully funny, greatly unsettling - Sinclair on top form'' Daily Telegraph''Prose of almost incantatory power, cut with Chandleresque pithiness'' Sunday Times''Spectacular: the work of a man with the power to see things as they are, and magnify that vision with a clarity that
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Stupid White Men
Book SynopsisNow with more than three million copies sold, Oscar-winning filmmaker and political activist Michael Moore''s bestseller Stupid White Men tells you everything you need to know about how the great and the good screw us over. It reveals - among other things - how ''President'' Bush stole an election aided only by his brother, cousin and dad''s cronies, electoral fraud and tame judges; how the rich stay rich while forcing the rest of us to live in economic fear; and how politicians have whored themselves to big business. Whether he''s calling for United Nations action to overthrow the Bush Family Junta, calling on African-Americans to place whites-only signs over the entrances of unfriendly businesses, or praying that Jesse Helms will get kissed by a man, Stupid White Men is Michael Moore''s Manifesto on Malfeasance and Mediocrity. A hilarious must-read for anyone who wants to know what the con is and how ''they'' get away with it, Stu
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd How to be Free
Book SynopsisHow to be Free is Tom Hodgkinson''s manifesto for a liberated life.Modern life is absurd. How can we be free?If you''ve ever wondered why you bother to go to work, or why so much consumer culture is crap, then this book is for you. Looking to history, literature and philosophy for inspiration, Tom Hodgkinson provides a joyful blueprint for a simpler and freer way of life. Filled with practical tips as well as inspiring reflections, here you can learn how to throw off the shackles of anxiety, bureaucracy, debt, governments, housework, supermarkets, waste and much else besides.Are you ready to be free? Read this book and find out.''One of the most provocatively entertaining, creatively subversive and, frankly, essential manifestoes of this or any moment'' Time Out''Crammed with laugh-out-loud jokes and witty put-downs . . . acts as a survival guide for everything from the government to housework. Random
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Road to the Dales
Book SynopsisA unique look into the childhood experiences of Gervase Phinn in Road to the Dales. Gervase tells of a life full of happiness, conversation, music and books shared with his three siblings, mother and father. This book is a snapshot of growing up in Yorkshire in the 1950s - reminisce with Gervase, and share in his personal journey - of school days and holidays as well as his tentative steps into the adult world. Devour numerous uproarious stories including the incident involving a broken greenhouse, crashing his brother''s newly restored bike as well as secrets about his first dates, adventures at summer camp, family trips to Blackpool and many other captivating tales. With a wicked ear for the comical, and a sharp eye for detail, Road to the Dales visits poignant moments, significant events and precious memories from a boy called Gervase Phinn.Gervase Phinn is an author and educator from Rotherham who, after teaching for fourteen ye
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd Penguin Pocket Jokes
Book SynopsisHave you heard the one about the man who walked into a bar? (Ouch!)... Penguin Pocket Jokes is essential (and hilarious) reading for anyone searching for the perfect joke. Whether you want a snappy wisecrack or a longer rib-tickler when making a speech, this easy-to-use guide will provide the perfect witticism.
£9.49
