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  • Published: 25 July 2012
  • ISBN: 9780241958155
  • Imprint: Penguin General UK
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 240
  • RRP: $29.99

Peace Work




Reissued for the first time since publication, Volume Seven of Spike Milligan's outrageous, hilarious, legendary War Memoirs

'I had not informed my parents of my return, I wanted it to be a lovely surprise; it was, for me, they were away ...'

The seventh and last volume of Spike Milligan's memoirs sees our hero returning from war and Italy ... but to what? Aside from shooting large, inaccurate guns at Germans, all he has done for five long years is blow a trumpet, tell rude jokes and write and perform sketches for the entertainment of bored and murderous soldiers - who on earth is going to pay a civilian to do more of that? From the giddy heights of Hackney Empire to a Zurich Freak Show and beyond, Spike makes his way through the backwaters of showbiz, first as band musician then as one-man wild-act and eventually in the company of a group of like-minded comedians called Harry Secombe, Michael Bentine and Peter Sellers. They decide to call themselves The Goons...

  • Published: 25 July 2012
  • ISBN: 9780241958155
  • Imprint: Penguin General UK
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 240
  • RRP: $29.99

About the author

Spike Milligan

Spike Milligan (1918–2002) was a famous British comedian, poet, writer and musician. His wild imagination and madcap humour had a timeless appeal that continues to delight audiences of all ages to this day.
Spike (Terence Alan) was born to British parents in India, where his father, an army captain, was stationed in Poona (Pune). The family lived in India and Rangoon (Yangon) before returning to Britain when Spike was twelve.
When the Second World War (as Spike called it, the Adolf Hitler Show) began, he enlisted and served in the 56th Heavy Regiment as a signaller. During his time in the army he joined the Bill Hall Trio and performed for the troops.
He is perhaps best known for creating, writing and performing the popular 1950s BBC Radio show The Goon Show. He has written several story books and poetry for children. His novels include Puckoon, and he produced seven volumes of war memoirs.
Badjelly the Witch, which Spike wrote for his daughter Jane, was first published in 1973. It was performed on BBC radio in England, and later on Radio New Zealand’s Sunday morning children’s programme.
Spike was awarded an honorary knighthood and CBE for his services to entertainment, and also the British Comedy Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award. A BBC poll voted him as the ‘funniest person of the last 1000 years’. His poem ‘On the Ning Nang Nong’ was voted Britain’s funniest poem.
Spike died at the age of 83 and his tombstone inscription – ‘I told you I was ill’ – ensures that he will forever be remembered first and foremost as a comic genius.

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Praise for Peace Work

The most irreverent, hilarious book about the war that I have ever read

Sunday Express

Brilliant verbal pyrotechnics ... throwaway lines and marvelous anecdotes

Daily Mail

Desperately funny, vivid, vulgar

Sunday Times

Close in stature to Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear in his command of the profound art of nonsense

Guardian

Milligan is the Great God to all of us

John Cleese

The Godfather of Alternative Comedy

Eddie Izzard

That absolutely glorious way of looking at things differently. A great man

Stephen Fry

Manifestly a genius, a comic surrealist genius and had no equal

Terry Wogan

A totally original comedy writer

Michael Palin