Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #209974 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04-15
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Synopsis
In this autobiography Eric's son, Gary Morecambe, describes what it's like to grow up in the presence of one of the best-loved and most fondly remembered of all British comedy greats. It includes photographs from the Morecambe family archive and unseen extracts from his father's personal diaries. Frank and outspoken, this book provides an insight into the man behind the laughter, a man who was constantly worried that one day he would be "found out", who never lost his love of Long John Silver impressions, and who continued to work until disease finally killed him at only 58 years of age.

Customer Reviews

Mixed Blessing
This certainly fills a gap and is clearly written with unique insights and authority. That said, I found it a little self-indulgent. For me, it's too much Gary and too little Eric. It also seems to ramble at times, without much sense of order or focus. There is still enough to interest fans and as it's mainly well written we can still learn much from it. But Gary himself has written better books than this. I note the apparent absence from the venture of writing partner Martin Sterling and wonder if this would have been a sharper book with his input.

Very disapointing read. Avoid this biography.
I'm a big fan of the genius that was Eric Morecambe and was looking forward to reading about the life of the man we all watched and loved on TV. With that in mind, this book was a real disapointment. Not only was it very badly written (I think the talent gene must have missed Gary),but about 60/70% of the focus is a biography of Gary's life rather than 'EM' (as Gary refers to his dad throughout the book).
A book about growing up the son of a famous person does have its merit, but sadly Gary comes across as very self centered and not at all interesting. I learnt very little about Eric, but I do now know that Gary Morecambe appears to have done nothing with his life other than attempting (and generally failing) to make a name for himself on the back of his dad's success. I doubt he would have ever been published if it was not for fact that his dad was the late great Eric Morecambe.
On the plus side there are some nice pictures in the book and owing to the very short length (it's only 200 pages long) I managed to read it all in a couple of evenings. With that in mind however I now wish I had spent the time reading something else instead!

Disappointing
Very disappointing. This reader was looking forward to a biography of Eric Morecambe, but it doesn't take long to find that it's a book about the author. The photographs are very interesting, but unfortunately the text is self-indulgent. The reader is left in no doubt that the author is 'the son of Eric Morecambe' and eventually begins to wonder about the number of times that, and similar statements are written. The author annoyingly refers to his father throughout the book as 'EM' and overall, the text contains little warmth. I wouldn't recommend this book