Falling and Laughing
  • Published: 15 March 2010
  • ISBN: 9780091930004
  • Imprint: Ebury Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $44.99

Falling and Laughing

The Restoration of Edwyn Collins

Formats & editions
EBook
1 Dec 2010
Paperback
15 Mar 2010
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A remarkable and poignant memoir of being hit by the hurricane of a stroke and rebuilding your life in its wake

In February 2005, Edwyn Collins suffered two devastating brain haemorrhages. He should have died. Doctors advised that if he did survive, there would be little of him left. If that wasn't enough, he went on to contract MRSA as a result of an operation to his skull and spent six months in hospital. Initially, Edwyn couldn't speak, read, write, walk, sit up or feed himself. He had lost all movement in his right side and was suffering from aphasia - an inability to use or understand language. When he initially recovered consciousness the only words he could say were 'Grace', 'Maxwell', 'yes' and 'no'.

But with the help of his partner Grace and their son Will, Edwyn fought back. Slowly, and with monumental effort, he began to teach his brain to read and speak all over again - with some areas of his mind it was if he had been a slate wiped utterly clean. Through a long and arduous road of therapy he began to re-inhabit his body until he could walk again.

Grace's story is an intimate and inspiring account of what you do to survive when your husband is all but taken away without warning by a stroke.
  • Published: 15 March 2010
  • ISBN: 9780091930004
  • Imprint: Ebury Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $44.99
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About the author

Grace Maxwell

Grace Maxwell was born in Lanarkshire. She moved to London in 1980, where she met Edwyn Collins. Since 1984 she has been his manager and partner. They have a 19-year-old son, Will and live in London and East Sutherland.

Edwyn Collins sold his stamp collection at the age of 16 to buy a guitar and never looked back. In the early 80s his band, Orange Juice were the first act on the now legendary Postcard Records label. His wonderful songs, dandy looks and cultured wit made him an idol of the burgeoning indie scene. With Orange Juice and as a solo artist he has released a total of nine albums including Gorgeous George, that contained the worldwide hit 'A Girl Like You', and most recently Home Again.

Praise for Falling and Laughing

Maxwell is a transportive narrator, able to convey the there-but-for-the-grace-of-God aspect of this horrendous yet hopeful story with terrific evocation.

Johnny Davis, Q Magazine

Funny, full of love but refreshingly unsentimental

The London Paper

Maxwell narrates their remarkable story with barrels of rough-and ready Glaswegian drollery

London Lite

His spirited determination to overcome all that he's been through is humbling to witness

Guardian

A remarkable journey of rehabilitation... The story of Collins's catastrophic illness is horrific, but sometimes funny and, ultimately hopeful too

Sunday Herald

You'll finish this remarkable book with a lump in your throat and admiration for the courage of both writer and subject

Word

Beautifully penned...a heart warming and inspirational read

The List