The Reluctant Jester

by Michael Bentine

Grandson of a vice-president of Peru, Old Etonian, RAF Intelligence officer, founder-member of "The Goon Show", creator of "It's a Square World", "The Bumblies" and "Potty Time", investigator of the paranormal, explorer, author and comedian, Michael Bentine describes the joys, absurdities and tragedies of a life of contrasts. A colourful array of characters play their part in the the larger-than-life Peruvian uncles, aunts and cousins who took prim, unsuspecting Folkestone by storm in the 1930s; the "bleddy" Poles in the wartime RAF who fought with great courage; the psychics who repeatedly offer evidence of extraordinary gifts; and the showbiz performers, from immobile Windmill nudes to seasoned old pros of the club circuit, stars such as Judy Garland, Danny Kaye and Julie Andrews, as well as the other Goons - and one minor star, the Bentine family's alcoholic parrot. The setting changes from Romney Marsh to London and Lincolnshire, and from the United States to Australia, and includes two visits to Peru - one of them for the first-ever Hovercraft expedition up the Amazon. Amidst the friendships and the travels, two themes predominate - the development of "my odd ability to make people laugh" and the love of family, which now includes a great-grandson.

Hardcover

First published July 1, 1992

About the author

Michael Bentine CBE (26 January 1922 – 26 November 1996) was a British comedian, comic actor and founding member of the Goons. He was Peruvian Briton as a result of his father's nationality. In 1971, Bentine received the Order of Merit of Peru following his fund-raising work for the 1970 Great Peruvian Earthquake.

Reviews

[Polly Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hilarious look at his life. I especially love his stories of the war and his early years with what would soon become The Goons. Highly recommend the read for anyone interested in The Goons or who just want a good laugh.

[Benedict Reid · Rating 2 out of 5]

The war sequences were the most interesting aspect of this book, and it reminded me of Spike Milligan's first few war autobiographies. I was disappointed by the rushed telling of his radio and TV career (no doubt due to his previous autobiography covering much of this). In all his ego was apparent and while it no doubt drove his showbusiness success, it also makes him an unreliable narrator in any of his explanation of his relationship and/or career missteps. Definitely an interesting read but perhaps one for those readers with a particular interest in the Goons (like me) or the paranormal (definitely not, like me).