Peter Cook: A Biography

Peter Cook: A Biography

by HarryThompson (Author)

Synopsis

There are those who say - and Peter Cook himself was among them - that most of his humour was autobiographical. Others - and Peter Cook himself was among them -contend that this simply isn't the case. The truth, of course, lies somewhere in the middle. Peter Cook made President Kennedy wait in line to see him and visited Elizabeth Taylor in her dressing room. He befriended tramps and fundraised for CND. He was capable of extraordinary kindnesses and occasional cruelties. He helped define comedy and satire for a generation, but ended his life a recluse. Harry Thompson has produced the first ever comprehensive biography of this influential and fascinating subject who came up with some of the funniest sketches and greatest jokes of all time.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 528
Publisher: Sceptre
Published: 28 Dec 2006

ISBN 10: 0340936428
ISBN 13: 9780340936429

Media Reviews
'Lively and penetrating' * Independent on Sunday *
'At last, this book explains the mystery of Peter Cook - how someone so funny, so loveable, so handsome, could make such a total hash of his life. Harry Thompson's pedigree in television comedy makes him an authoritative commentator on Cook's performances' * Lynne Barber, Daily Telegraph *
'Unputdownable, level-headed and intelligent' * Nicholas Lezard, Guardian *
'This definitive biography...as heartbreaking as it is entertaining' * Jessica Berens, Times Literary Supplement *
Author Bio
Harry Thompson was the inventor and editor of many TV comedy series including Have I Got News For You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. He was the author of acclaimed bestsellers, including Peter Cook: A Biography. His most recent book was a historical novel, This Thing of Darkness. He worked as a producer at Talkback TV and in his spare time ran an infamous cricket team, the Captain Scott XI. He died in November 2005.