Product Description

This is Julian Clary's story, in his own words - the tale of an awkward schoolboy who became a huge worldwide success on stage and screen. After a sheltered suburban upbringing, Julian was sent to St Benedict's, where beatings from 'holy' men gave him some brutal life lessons, and other 'unholy' boys his first awakenings of sexuality. He had just one true friend and ally, Nick - to his other school peers, Julian's aloof demeanour made him an enigma or simply a figure of ridicule. In school, he was just another pained adolescent, but inside, Julian was a new Jean Genet or Quentin Crisp bursting to get out. Leaving St Benedict's thankfully behind him, Julian went on to college, where he found his true vocation as an entertainer with a peculiar comic brand of smut and glamour. At the same time, he was finding as much sex as he could, sometimes with remarkably less-than-glamorous characters. Periods in community theatre and the singing telegram industry followed before Julian hit the big time with cabaret co-star Fanny, the Wonder Dog, as The Joan Collins Fan Club. Soon, the world was his oyster. But fame came at a price, as Julian struggled not only with the reality of being a high-profile gay man in the 1980s, but also the pain of losing his lover to terminal illness. Far more than just another celebrity autobiography or 'funny book', this is a touching, beautifully written, and wryly witty account of a unique progression from shy child to comedy icon.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21797 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Sainsbury's Magazine
"Hilarious and poignant by turns, it's an honest and detailed account"

The Pink Paper
'more than a little dirty, but neverthless entirely engrossing,
clary's passage is worth exploring to the every end'

From the Publisher
Stunning debut from one of Britain’s most loved comic entertainers

Customer Reviews

A fantastic read
I loved this book. You get a real sense of Julian from this book which is written with real honesty and conviction.

I loved the whole passage from young boy to international star. Certainly puts events into context and leaves a feeling of sadness at points.

I don't normally read auto-biographies, but I'll certainly be looking out for more as a result of this book. I couldn't put it down.

Really great book :D
I'd been waiting for this book ever since it was announced, and it was well worth the wait. This is an incredibly honest, entertaining autobiography by a man whose private life has generally remained private (you know, because it hasn't been all over the tabloids, generally), so you really feel like you're finding out something new about Mr. Clary. It's very well written, humourous but still manages to remain remain sensitive and endearing. I would recommend this book to anybody, it is one of the best autobiographies I've read in a very long time.

Very very entertaining!!
I bought this book in Heathrow airport on a long haul flight to India, couldn't see anything else I was interested in reading and I am so glad I did. It is funny, sarcastic, moving and incredibly personal and I got a real sense of what Julian Clary is like beyond his stage persona. I would definitely reccommend this book to anyone who either likes or loathes him, it changed my perception of someone who I considered crass.