Chocolate and Cuckoo Clocks: The Essential Alan Coren

by Alan Coren, Giles Coren (Editor), Victoria Coren (Editor)

Overview

The Queen at a loose end playing I-Spy, QPR fans arguing at the cheese counter, prank phone calls to Mao Tse-Tung, the Roman tax collector Glutinus Sinus dealing with the mud-caked Britons, Gatling guns, an Italian driving school, herons, hearing aids, hosepipe bans, talking parrots . . . Welcome to the wonderful world of the late, great Alan Coren.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847673213
Publisher:	Canongate Books
Publication date:	06/04/2009
Edition description:	Main
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Alan Coren (27 June 1938 - 18 October 2007) was an English humourist, writer and satirist who was well known as a regular panellist on the BBC radio quiz The News Quiz and a team captain on BBC television's Call My Bluff. Coren was also a journalist, and for nine years was the editor of Punch magazine.

Editorial Reviews

If you ever wanted to find the Corens' funny bone, this is the best place to start.

The Shortlist - Matt Hussey

Anthologies of humorous writing are usually deadly, but this one collates Alan Coren's work into decades, each with an introduction by someone you've heard of, and tries to give it a purpose above that of the pursuit of cheap laughs. The upshot is that Coren's anarchic silliness has something to play against.

Daily Telegraph - Toby Clements

A comic genius.

The Times

His power of observation knows no bounds.

Daily Mail

Coruscating! A master humorist!

Daily Telegraph

An engaging collection . . . The warmth and wit of these pieces stand the test of time.

Independent on Sunday - Anita Sethi

Coren's extraordinary gift for seeing the funny side of everyday life is in abundant evidence throughout this book, which will have you chuckling out loud.

Good Book Guide

The field is led by Alan Coren.

Observer

This book brings together a well-chosen and quiveringly funny sample of [Coren's] comic writing . . . The humour in these columns isn't about one-liners and the best pieces take a fertile idea and run a mile with it, sparking a shower of bon mots in the process.

Observer - James Purdon

The funniest writer in Britain today.

Sunday Times

Accomplished.

Sunday Herald - Colin Waters

This ultimate collection of the writings of the much loved and sadly missed humorist, broadcaster and self styled 'sage of Cricklewood' has been selected by his children Giles and Victoria and contain pieces spanning a career of more than 40 years.

London Review of Books

Coren is our heavyweight champion humorist, over-powering as well as graceful, able to do everything, sometimes in the same short article.

Guardian

He has a comic imagination which can actually render your jaded scribe flabbergasted.

Observer - Clive James

A fitting testament to a man who gave millions joy.

Times - Richard Morrison

"Brings together a well-chosen and quiveringly funny sample of [Coren’s] comic writing . . . The humor in these columns isn't about one-liners and the best pieces take a fertile idea and run a mile with it, sparking a shower of bon mots in the process."  —Observer

"A comic genius."  —Times

"Coren is our heavyweight champion humorist, over-powering as well as graceful, able to do everything, sometimes in the same short article."  —Guardian

"Anthologies of humorous writing are usually deadly, but this one collates
Alan Corens's work into decades, each with an introduction by someone you've heard of . . . Coren's anarchic silliness has something to play against."  —Daily Telegraph

From the Publisher