Product Description

In these affectionate memoirs of 35 years as agent, close friend and sometime-foe, Norma Farnes portrays Spike Milligan in all his guises. Uncovering a great many personal anecdotes, "Spike" reveals his extraordinary sense of humour, his ongoing battle with a restless mind, his remarkable, life-long friendships with Peter Sellers and Eric Sykes, his relationship with his family and the industry, and his heartening struggles with society at large.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #844489 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-20
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 366 pages

Review
The premise for this biography is easily believable. Norma Farnes was Spike Milligan's long-time manager and the question she was most asked was 'What's he really like?' Her stock answer used to be 'interesting', or 'don't ask', but this is her attempt to tell the truth. Serialisation is inevitable so no manuscript is available. However, it has to be an enlightening read: any person who could deal with the comedian day after day for 35 years is not going to write the kind of book that would have had Spike reusing his description of Prince Charles - 'grovelling bastard'.

Humphrey Carpenter, Sunday Times
'Written with infectious verve... a cheery book.'

About the Author
Norma Farnes has been Spike Milligan's agent, manager and friend for over 35 years. She lives in Yorkshire and London.

Customer Reviews

Extra-ordinary
I'm writing this without reading any other review. Simply because this is a most extraordinary book about depression and, although I may repeat sentiments contributed by other review authors, I wanted this to be untainted by what I can only imagine is their (the reviews) just-worthy praise.
On one level the book is an extraordinary inisight into the machine of 50s-80s British comedy.
On another level the book is an extraordinary insight into the work and life of a genius.
On yet another level this is an extraordinary life story from a quite wonderful wonderful - the kind of woman that every good and creative man needs in his life. I a fortunate to have that woman in mine.
But on the most extraordinary level, this book paints the graphic, wild picture of uncontrollable depression that seems to be born to the best and most productive minds.
For all those who suffer from depression PLEASE READ THIS. There is no other book written on the subject - the disease or gift? - that comes close to explaining to others how one feels when life tumbles from the peaks and hits the troughs.
And unfortunately, still today we with depression must master the art of explanation first before trying to conquer the demon.
As Norma quotes Spike "if a man had a leg removed would you ask him to walk?"
Profound, deep, enlightening and - extra ordinary. Thank you Norma.

An interesting insight
Fans of Spike's earlier career (including the Goon Show years) may be disapointed by this book as it dwells primarily on the latter half of his life as told by his long-term manager Norma Farnes.

The initial chapters provide a brief overview of his earlier career plus some background to the author before continuing with some priceless insight into the man behind the legend. The book is easy to read and provides a highly personal account of what made Spike Milligan tick but if you want a more academic biography then you're probably better off getting hold of Humphrey Carpenter's offering.

However, 'An Intimate Memoir' should be on the bookshelf of any fan of british comedy. Spike was a pivotal character in the development of british humour from the post-war years unto the present day. It would be impossible to imagine where british comedy would be without him.

Heartwarming and funny
This book is written by Spike,s long term manager. It is an honest open account of Spike's career and personal life.Mrs Farnes does not shy away from mentioning and explaining the controversial aspects of Spike's character. One leaves this book remaining a huge fan of Spike's.He has brightened my life and so has this book.