Product Description

Stand-Up! is the first book to both analyse the background of stand-up comedy and take us inside the world of being a solo comedian Oliver Double writes a lively history of the traditions of British stand-up comedy - from its roots in music hall and variety to today's club and alternative comedy scene - and also engages in a serious exploration of what it is like to be a comedian onstage in front of a sometimes adoring and sometimes hostile audience. He looks critically at the work of such stand-up stars as Frankie Howerd, Les Dawson, Billy Connolly, Victoria Wood, Ben Elton and Eddie Izzard. And he looks at himself as a performer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #403214 in Books
• Published on: 1997-10-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 276 pages

Customer Reviews

A worthwhile read
This is a book on the social history, the economics and the nitty-gritty of stand-up comedy. It's written by a working comic (and lecturer on comedy) and so its guaranteed to be interesting to anybody who's enjoyed a chuckle at a comedian. I particularly liked the treatment of, the reasons for and the grim reality of, racist commedy (Double isn't afraid to tell it like it is and some of the things he recounts make you shudder).

But if you even half-liked this book, then you must read Tony Allen's "Attitude".

EXCELLENT NON-STOP BELLY RIPPLES
THE BOOK FOCUSSES ON THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF 'Olly Double', and takes a wry look at life from the comedians' own eyes. The book was assigned to be read as part of a comedy course at University and so although obligated to read it, I found myself compelled to not put it down. The book made enjoyable reading, and I would advise anyone that enjoys looking at the lighter side of Real Life to invest in this. This is a must for the bookshelf if you have the courage to put it down!

Excellent! I couldn't put it down
The subject of this book is not one that would normally have attracted me: I had to read it, because the author is my brother. However, I found it an excellent and enjoyable read: in fact I couldn't put it down.

The book is a history and analysis of stand-up comedy in Britain, enlivened and illustrated by the author's own experiences of performing as a stand-up comedian. You might expect a book of history and analysis to be dry and uninteresting, but the style is easy and informal, so it kept my interest throughout.

The personal reminiscences are used to shed light on the story of the development of stand-up. They give another perspective to the historical facts, and add an extra dimension to the analyses.

To conclude, I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend anyone to read it.