Kirjahaku

This is the ultimate anthology of theatrical anecdotes, edited by lifelong theatre-lover Gyles Brandreth in the Oxford tradition, and covering every kind of theatrical story and experience from the age of Shakespeare and Marlowe to the age of Stoppard and Mamet, from Richard Burbage to Richard Briers, from Nell Gwynn to Daniel Day-Lewis, from Sarah Bernhardt to Judi Dench. Players, playwrights, prompters, producers--they all feature. The Oxford Book of Theatrical Anecdotes provides a comprehensive, revealing, and hugely entertaining portrait of the world of theatre across four hundred years. Many of the anecdotes are humorous: all have something pertinent and illuminating to say about an aspect of theatrical life--whether it is the art of playwriting, the craft of covering up missed cues, the drama of the First Night, the nightmare of touring, or the secret ingredients of star quality. Edmund Kean, Henry Irving, John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, Ellen Terry, Edith Evans, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren--the great 'names' are all here, of course, but there are tales of the unexpected, too--and the unknown. This is a book--presented in five acts, with a suitably anecdotal and personal prologue from Gyles Brandreth--where, once in a while, the understudy takes centre-stage and Gyles Brandreth treats triumph and disaster just the same, including stories from the tattiest touring companies as well as from Broadway, the West End and theatres, large and small, in Australia, India, and across Europe.

This is the ultimate anthology of theatrical anecdotes, edited by lifelong theatre-lover Gyles Brandreth in the Oxford tradition, and covering every kind of theatrical story and experience from the age of Shakespeare and Marlowe to the age of Stoppard and Mamet, from Richard Burbage to Richard Briers, from Nell Gwynn to Daniel Day-Lewis, from Sarah Bernhardt to Judi Dench. Players, playwrights, prompters, producers--they all feature. The Oxford Book of Theatrical Anecdotes provides a comprehensive, revealing, and hugely entertaining portrait of the world of theatre across four hundred years. Many of the anecdotes are humorous: all have something pertinent and illuminating to say about an aspect of theatrical life--whether it is the art of playwriting, the craft of covering up missed cues, the drama of the First Night, the nightmare of touring, or the secret ingredients of star quality. Edmund Kean, Henry Irving, John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, Ellen Terry, Edith Evans, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren--the great 'names' are all here, of course, but there are tales of the unexpected, too--and the unknown. This is a book--presented in five acts, with a suitably anecdotal and personal prologue from Gyles Brandreth--where, once in a while, the understudy takes centre-stage and Gyles Brandreth treats triumph and disaster just the same, including stories from the tattiest touring companies as well as from Broadway, the West End and theatres, large and small, in Australia, India, and across Europe.

The compelling, witty and remarkably honest autobiography from beloved star of Just a Minute, QI, Have I Got News For You and Celebrity GoggleboxTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Hilarious, ribald, eye-popping, unforgettable, will make you laugh out loud' DAILY MAIL'Warm, witty, charming. A moving and very affectionate family history. An enthusiast for life' THE TIMES________Enter the world of Gyles Brandreth - broadcaster, actor, writer, former politician - as he takes us on an extraordinary journey into his past.From growing up in an apparently well-to-do but strapped-for-cash middle-class English family to his adventures in swinging London, Gyles encounters princes, presidents, pop stars and prime ministers, gets involved in everything from setting up Scrabble championships to examining Danish sex shops, and thrills us with countless tales of family, friends and acquaintances, both famous and infamous.Filled with incredible and sometimes shocking stories, Odd Boy Out is the story of Gyles Brandreth's fascinating life told with his unique wit and charm.________'Staggeringly brilliant, funny and touching, I loved it' JOANNA LUMLEY 'Light-hearted and dark events alike are described with his customary jaunty style, making them funny, moving an sometimes deeply shocking ' Sheila Hancock

Laugh yourself silly in this fantastic collection of jokes and riddles!WHAT'S BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?An embarrassed PenguinA sunburnt elephantA newspaper! Did those jokes make you laugh? Make you groan? Maybe a bit of both? There's a lot more where they came from. Collected here by jokesmith Gyles Brandreth are some of the best and worst jokes ever (plus a few riddles to keep you on your toes).From 'Knock, knock' to 'Waiter waiter', with some funny elephants and giraffes thrown in for good measure, there's also a bit of expert joke advice, so you can show others just how funny you can be!'Very funny, and often outright silly' Guardian on Have You Eaten Grandma by Gyles Brandreth

*A brand-new book of amazing, mind-boggling riddles, from the much-loved Gyles Brandreth, author of What's Black and White and Red All Over* When first I appear I seem mysterious,But when I am explained I am nothing serious.What am I?A RIDDLE!Was that too easy? How about what goes ninety-nine BONK (a centipede with a wooden leg)? Or which famous book was written by Charles Chickens (Great EGGspectations, of course!).In this book you'll find a whole host of amazing riddles. Some will get you head scratching, some will make you laugh, and all are a lot of fun.Plus find out some brilliant riddling facts, and top tips on how to solve the trickiest brain-teasers.Written by Master of Funny and Collector of Riddles Gyles Brandreth, this is the ultimate, riotous Book of Riddles!'Very funny and often outright silly' Guardian on Have You Eaten Grandma by Gyles Brandreth

*A brand-new book of amazing, mind-boggling riddles, from the much-loved Gyles Brandreth, author of What's Black and White and Red All Over* When first I appear I seem mysterious,But when I am explained I am nothing serious.What am I?A RIDDLE!Was that too easy? How about what goes ninety-nine BONK (a centipede with a wooden leg)? Or which famous book was written by Charles Chickens (Great EGGspectations, of course!).In this book you'll find a whole host of amazing riddles. Some will get you head scratching, some will make you laugh, and all are a lot of fun.Plus find out some brilliant riddling facts, and top tips on how to solve the trickiest brain-teasers.Written by Master of Funny and Collector of Riddles Gyles Brandreth, this is the ultimate, riotous Book of Riddles!'Very funny and often outright silly' Guardian on Have You Eaten Grandma by Gyles Brandreth

‘Whatever subject an author chooses or has chosen for him, he reveals no secret but the secret of himself’ A A MilneWhen Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in print on Christmas Eve 1925, his creator had no idea that this bear, and the fellow inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood, would go on to capture the imaginations of people of all ages all over the world for the next hundred years.In this new biography Gyles Brandreth tells the remarkable story of A A Milne – and of the ‘bear of very little brain’ who went on to become a global phenomenon.Drawing on his friendship with Milne’s son, the real Christopher Robin, Gyles Brandreth has produced a revealing and intimate portrait of a prolific author whose legacy came to be defined by his most famous creation, and of the divided Milne family who for many years had a conflicted relationship with the iconic bear.This is the story of a man, a boy and a bear – but it is also a gripping family drama, and a fascinating exploration of the complicated nature of growing up, and the impossible longing for a return to the enchanted places of childhood.‘Gyles Brandreth has a touching access to the secrets of the human heart’ The Times

THE NO 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA personal account of the life and character of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, from the writer who knew her family best'Compelling . . . Fascinating' DAILY MAIL'The writer who got closest to the human truth about our long-serving senior royals' THE TIMES'The book overflows with nuggets of insider knowledge' TELEGRAPHPaints a unique picture of the remarkable woman who reigned for seven decades. Fascinating insights' HELLO!__________Gyles Brandreth first met the Queen in 1968, when he was twenty.Over the next fifty years he met her many times, both at public and at private events. Through his friendship with the Duke of Edinburgh, he was given privileged access to Elizabeth II.He kept a record of all those encounters, and his conversations with the Queen over the years, his meetings with her family and friends, and his observations of her at close quarters are what make this very personal account of her extraordinary life uniquely fascinating.From her childhood in the 1920s to the era of Harry and Meghan in the 2020s, from her war years at Windsor Castle to her death at Balmoral, this is both a record of a tumultuous century of royal history and a truly intimate portrait of a remarkable woman.__________Praise for Gyles Brandreth's bestselling royal writing:'Beautifully written book. I have read many other books about Philip but this is the best' DAILY EXPRESS'Brilliant, totally inspiring . . . It's a joy to read a book that comes from a perspective of fondness' KIRSTIE ALLSOPP, THE TIMES'As a sparkling celebration of Prince Philip, the book will be hard to beat' TELEGRAPH'So readable and refreshing even after the millions of words that have been written about Prince Philip in the past couple of weeks' THE TIMES 'Brilliant . . . There is so much in this book you won't find anywhere else' LORRAINE

This intimate, personal biography of our beloved Queen Elizabeth II tells the story of her remarkable life, reign and times, from a perspective unlike any other. Gyles Brandreth will write the Queen's tale candidly with grace and sensitivity from the view of someone so close to her, her husband Philip and the wider Royal family. Told with a refreshing dose of humour and moving honesty from a totally unique viewpoint, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait is the must-have biography of the longest-serving monarch in English history, of a woman who has represented not only her people but stood as an emblem of fortitude and resilience worldwide, throughout her long life.

THE NO 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER NOW FEATURING EXCLUSIVE MATERIAL ABOUT CHARLES III's CORONATION WITH ADDED PHOTOGRAPHSA personal account of the life and character of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, from the writer who knew her family best'Compelling . . . Fascinating' DAILY MAIL'The writer who got closest to the human truth about our long-serving senior royals' THE TIMES'The book overflows with nuggets of insider knowledge' TELEGRAPHPaints a unique picture of the remarkable woman who reigned for seven decades. Fascinating insights' HELLO!__________Gyles Brandreth first met the Queen in 1968, when he was twenty.Over the next fifty years he met her many times, both at public and at private events. Through his friendship with the Duke of Edinburgh, he was given privileged access to Elizabeth II.He kept a record of all those encounters, and his conversations with the Queen over the years, his meetings with her family and friends, and his observations of her at close quarters are what make this very personal account of her extraordinary life uniquely fascinating.From her childhood in the 1920s to the era of Harry and Meghan in the 2020s, from her war years at Windsor Castle to her death at Balmoral, this is both a record of a tumultuous century of royal history and a truly intimate portrait of a remarkable woman.Enjoy this special edition now featuring an exclusive postscript about King Charles III's Coronation with photographs. __________Praise for Gyles Brandreth's bestselling royal writing:'Beautifully written book. I have read many other books about Philip but this is the best' DAILY EXPRESS'Brilliant, totally inspiring . . . It's a joy to read a book that comes from a perspective of fondness' KIRSTIE ALLSOPP, THE TIMES'As a sparkling celebration of Prince Philip, the book will be hard to beat' TELEGRAPH'So readable and refreshing even after the millions of words that have been written about Prince Philip in the past couple of weeks' THE TIMES'Brilliant . . . There is so much in this book you won't find anywhere else' LORRAINE

This is the first major biography of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh both royal, both great-great-great grandchildren of Queen Victoria, but in temperament and upbringing very different people. Her childhood was loving and secure, his turbulent: the Duke's grandfather was assassinated, his father arrested, his family exiled, his parents separated by the time he was ten. For almost sixty years theirs have been among the most famous faces in the world yet the personalities behind the image remain elusive, and the nature of their marriage is an enigma. Gyles Brandreth has met all the principal players in the story. He quotes no anonymous sources; he has known the Duke of Edinburgh for twenty-five years and has interviewed him. This is a unique and revealing portrait of a remarkable partnership."

This is a diary packed with famous names and extraordinary stories. It is also rich in incidental detail and wonderful observation, providing both a compelling record of five remarkable decades and a revealing, often hilarious and sometimes moving account of Gyles Brandreth's unusual life - as a child living in London in the 'swinging' sixties, as a jumper-wearing TV presenter, as an MP and government whip, and as a royal biographer who has enjoyed unique access to the Queen and her family. Something Sensational to Read on the Train takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride from the era of Dixon of Dock Green to the age of The X Factor, from the end of the farthing to the arrival of the euro, from the Britain of Harold Macmillan and the Notting Hill race riots to the world of Barack Obama and Lewis Hamilton. With a cast list that runs from Richard Nixon and Richard Branson to Gordon Brown and David Cameron - and includes princes, presidents and pop stars, as well as three archbishops and any number of actresses - this is a book for anyone interested in contemporary history, politics and entertainment, royalty, gossip and life itself.

'As good as Sherlock!!' Reader review ?????'Just so entertaining to read!' Reader review ?????'What joy! What a mystery! What a tale!' Reader review ?????As his eyes adjusted to the gloom of the attic, he saw by the light of guttering candles, stretched out on the floor before him, the body of a young man, his throat cut from ear to ear . . . London, 1889: Famous writer Oscar Wilde is the toast of London town. But when the body of a young man of his acquaintance is found in a dark attic room, surrounded by candles, he knows he can't rest until the killer is behind bars. Appealing to fellow author Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the great Sherlock Holmes, the pair set out to solve the crime.But unravelling a real-life plot is very different to writing one. Can Wilde and Doyle outsmart the murderer hiding in the shadows, before it's too late? A wonderfully witty and gripping cosy historical mystery to transport you to the grand drawing rooms and back alleys of London. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman. Readers love The Candlelight Murders: 'I devoured this book in mere days and immediately moved on to the second in the series' Reader review ?????'Exciting, fast paced, at times humorous and with a dramatic denouement at the finish just like any good murder mystery . . . A great read' Reader review ?????'Entertaining, charming and evocative' Reader review ?????'This series is just what I needed; immersive, funny, clever, educational, and easy to read in the best of ways' Reader review ?????'If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes and of Oscar Wilde, this is the book for you . . . Wonderful . . . The mystery itself is intriguing and the answer is shocking' Reader review ?????Previously published as Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders.

'So amazingly good, I could not put it down' Reader review ?????'An inventive and highly enjoyable murder mystery' Reader review ?????Will a game of Murder at a dinner party turn deadly?London 1892: Author Oscar Wilde has assembled friends and acquaintances for one of his Sunday Supper Clubs, among their number is his great friend and creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle. Mid-way through the evening, a game is proposed: each guest must write down the name of the person they would most like to kill.But soon, the fictional victims begin to die one-by-one in mysterious circumstances - in the order their names were drawn during the game.With growing horror, Wilde and Doyle realise that one of their guests must be the murderer. Trapped in a race against time, they must uncover the killer's identity before they can complete their final move . . .A wonderfully witty and addictive cosy historical mystery that presents the reader with an intricate puzzle to solve. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.Readers are gripped by The Ring of Death:'Crackles with wit, tension, mysteries, and is reminiscent (but dare I say better) than the Sherlock Holmes canon' Reader review ?????'Oscar Wilde is solving crimes while rubbing elbows with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle . . . What's not to like?' Reader review ?????'This book had everything I love in a story: historical detail, cleverness, wonderful conversational by-play . . . BRAVO!' Reader review ?????Previously published as Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death.

'Another amazing mystery that kept me turning the pages! . . . Wonderful!' Reader review ?????The City of Light is about to turn dark . . .Paris, 1883: The writer Oscar Wilde has come to the French capital to be inspired by fellow writers and artists, soon befriending a troupe of actors as they prepare for their opening night of Hamlet.But when a member of the theatre's crew is found dead, Wilde questions if this is in fact the accident it appears to be.He begins to realise that dark secrets are waiting in the wings . . . And as the killer takes yet more innocent victims, the clock is ticking to catch them before the final curtain . . . A wonderfully witty and gripping cosy historical mystery that uncovers the secrets lurking behind the glitz and glamour of Paris in the 1880s. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.Readers are gripped by The Dead Man's Smile:'Exciting and fast paced and full period detail this is another great novel' Reader review ?????'This series continues to amaze me in the incredible level of biographical and historical detail of the lives and times . . . An intriguing and satisfying murder mystery' Reader review ?????'I loved this book. If you admire a quick wit, a bit of history and a mystery, you might really enjoy this one' Reader review ?????'Really fascinating! It combines Oscar Wilde with murder mysteries. It combines true facts with fantastic ones, and beautiful places in a wonderful era!' Reader review ?????'Gyles Brandreth proves himself again to be an excellent historian and lover of mystery . . . With a cast of vibrant stage actors, death after death and a mystery all tied up in the final pages, this makes for an excellent read for general lovers of murder mysteries and literature fans alike' Reader review ?????Previously published as Oscar Wilde and the Dead Man's Smile.

Discover Dancing by the Light of the Moon, a collection of poetry to last you a lifetime - poems that will bring you joy, solace, celebration and love for every occasion'Gyles has discovered the secret of finding happiness' DAME JUDI DENCHIncludes an updated chapter of poems to bring you hope and happiness this year _______ A POEM CAN . . . Comfort · Challenge · Be a friend Stretch your vocabulary Help you sleep · Break the ice Find you a lover · Be utter nonsense Console · Make you laugh - or cry For every moment in your life there is a poem.In Dancing by the Light of the Moon we have a remarkable collection of over 250 best-loved poems in the English-speaking world.Allow Gyles Brandreth to be your guide to not only the wonders of poetry - and there are many - but also its practical uses in everyday life. Whether seeking some words to reflect your mood, wanting to celebrate or mark an occasion or simply looking for lines of comfort and joy in difficult times, this collection has everything for readers of poetry both young and old, novices and old hands alike, will love and return to again and again._______ 'Over 400 pages of top-notch poems by everyone from Shakespeare to Simon Armitage' Daily Mail 'A collection of poems that will transform your memory and change your life' Dr Max Pemberton

Pedantic about punctuation or scrupulous about spelling? You'll love this hilarious and definitive guide to 21st century language from grammar-guru Gyles Brandreth'Brandreth excels . . . in all his linguistic joie de vivre' GuardianDon't know if it's, like, okay to say 'like'?Are your apostrophe's in the wrong place?Want to make fewer not less grammatical mistakes?Then do not despair, Have You Eaten Grandma? is the definitive (and hilarious) guide to punctuation, spelling, and good English for the twenty-first century.Self-confessed grammar guru Gyles Brandreth pokes fun at the linguistic foibles of our time, tells us where we've been going wrong (and how to put it right), and reveals his tips and tricks to make every one of us better, more confident users (not abusers) of the English language. End of.Is 'End of' alright? Wait, is 'alright' all right?You'll find out right here . . .This hilarious companion to 21st century language is perfect for anyone pedantic about punctuation or scrupulous about spelling.'A laugh-a-lot, spanning everything . . . great book, I'm loving this' Chris Evans, BBC Radio 2

A first installment of a new series finds controversial social figure Oscar Wilde enlisting the aid of friends Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Sherard in the investigation of a young artist model's murder, a case that eventually becomes the inspiration for The Picture of Dorian Gray. Simultaneous. 35,000 first printing.

The second witty novel in an astonishingly authentic historical mystery series featuring detective Oscar Wilde and his partner in crime, Arthur Conan Doyle. It's 1892, and Wilde is the toast of London, riding high on the success of his play Lady Windemere's Fan. While celebrating with friends at a dinner party he conjures up a game called "murder" that poses the question: Who would you most like to kill? Wilde and friends -- including Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, and poet Robert Sherard (the novel's narrator) -- write the names of their "victims" on pieces of paper and choose them one by one. After leaving the party, Wilde scoffs at the suggestion that he may have instigated a very dangerous game indeed.... The very next day, the game takes an all-too- sinister turn when the first "victim" turns up dead. Soon Wilde and his band of amateur detectives must travel through the realms of politics, theatre, and even boxing to unearth whose misguided passions have the potential to become deadly poisons...not only for the perpetrator of the seemingly perfect crimes but also for the trio of detectives investigating them. Richly atmospheric and as entertaining as Wilde himself, this book is the second in a series destined to delight mystery readers and fans of historical fiction alike.