British Book Awards (The Nibbies)
Billy Connolly
Pamela Stephenson's biography of Billy Connolly combines intimacy with professional distance. It follows his rise in comedy and performance while also tracing the personal history that shaped him.
Work Information
The biography comes from the person who knew him best.
The book presents Billy Connolly as both a public figure and a private person, balancing affection with observation. Its appeal lies in the way it connects a star's stage persona to the life behind it.
Book Information
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2002-07-08
- Pages
- 432 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 12.9 x 2.84 x 19.8 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780007110926
- ISBN-10
- 0007665458
- Price
- 2459 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Biographies & Memoirs
The inside story of the one of the most successful British stand-up comedians, as told by the person best qualified to reveal all about the man behind the comic, his wife of over 20 years – Pamela Stephenson. Once in a lifetime, there strides upon the stage someone who can truly be called a legend. Such a person is the inimitable, timeless genius who is Billy Connolly. His effortlessly wicked whimsy has entranced, enthralled – and split the sides of – thousands upon thousands of adoring audiences. And when he isn't doing that…he's turning in award-winning performances on film and television. He's the man who needs no introduction, and yet he is the ultimate enigma. From a troubled and desperately poor childhood in the docklands of Glasgow he is now the intimate of household names the world over. How did this happen, who is the real Billy Connolly? Only one person can answer that question: his wife, Pamela Stephenson. Pamela’s writing combines the very personal with a frank objectivity that makes for a compelling, moving and hugely entertaining biography. This is the real Billy Connolly. This genre-defining book is now re-released for a new generation of comedy fans, with a stunning package and a new Foreword from the author. Pamela’s vision of Billy is as true now as it ever was – as groundbreaking, as moving and as laugh-out-loud funny – and here she brings the book fully into its context, as one of the most influential biographies ever written.
An Australian born in New Zealand, Pamela Stephenson is famous for her starring role in’Not the Nine O’Clock News’ and other TV and film work. She and Billy married in 1989 and currently live and work in Los Angeles, where she now practises as a clinical psychologist.
Reviews
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Five Stars
Funny and easy to read
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Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous
I'm usually not keen on biographies because they're usually written by someone who never even met the person, which tends to make them a bit dry. But I've always loved Billy so I thought I'd pick this book up. Not knowing much about his personal life,I had no idea that Pamela is his wife! Additionally, she is a wonderful writer. This is probably the most enjoyable biography I've ever read; I laughed, I cried, I understood. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
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Billy is very human
This book tells the story of his life. It compares with Charlie Chaplin and Walt Disney. The three of the started their lives as slum dwellers..
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Fun read
Fair bit of profanity in the book but once you get past that it's a very interesting read. Had no idea of the frustrations, abuse and tensions in this mans life. Would not want to be in his bad books, he would slice you to ribbons with his lightening wit and scathing remarks. It appears nothing will embarrass this man from his nudity to his drunken actions of years past. Incredible that he would often have no idea what he was going to do or say minutes before going on stage in front of his audience, and then ad-lib for hours keeping the audience in stitches. Would recommend reading this book.
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Who wouldn’t love this book
This was the most brilliant read. I have read previous autobiography’s on Billy Connelly but this had the added twist of being written by someone who knows him the best, his wife Pamela. Her insight into her husband’s past was very interesting and the anecdotes that Billy must have told her over the years were so funny. This is a laugh out loud book and emotional too, hearing stories from his childhood. If you have seen Billy in concert and on TV, as I have done over the years, some of his sketches will be familiar to you but this only added to bringing back to your memory how hysterical he was performing these comedy classics. These memories will definitely stay with me. He is truly a master comedian and this book lived up to and beyond my expectations.