Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure

by Joyce Grenfell

Joyce Grenfell was born Joyce Phipps, daughter of the youngest of the beautiful American Langhorne sisters, of whom the most celebrated was Nancy, Lady Astor.

Her girlhood, spent on the fringes of the famous Cliveden set among such men as George Bernard Shaw and Noel Coward, spanned the twenties, but it was not until 1938, at a dinner party, that she gave an impromptu imitation of a Women's Institute speaker and discovered her genius for dramatic monologue.

This book is the first part of her autobiography and takes the story from her childhood through the war, to the moment in 1954 when her own show, Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure, opened in London.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir

302 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Joyce Irene Grenfell, OBE (née Phipps; 10 February 1910 – 30 November 1979) was an English actress, comedienne and singer-songwriter.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been re-reading several Joyce Grenfell books recently and certainly found this book most enjoyable, in contrast to "Darling Ma" which was made up of a series of letters to her mother, expressing some distasteful (to me) opinions not meant for publication.

"Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure" is the first part of her autobiography which she wrote in later life, and was intended for publication. It tells of her early life, her work as a radio critic and learning the discipline of performing on stage as a professional, rather than as a talented, privileged amateur who knew many of the right people. She writes in a lively and amusing style and gives some interesting insights into the period.

I always find people's rise to fame more interesting than when they have "made it" and their story becomes a long list of successful appearances and meetings with other famous people, so this book is my favourite of all the Joyce Grenfell books I have re-read recently.

[Mike Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to which I go back again and again. It lovingly describes a bygone era in which I fervently wish I had lived.

[Kathleen Robson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was quite disappointed with this book. I had expected some funny anecdotes about filming the St Trinians films etc but for such a funny woman, I didn't find this book very funny at all. It was essentially a chronological journey through her life, which was surprisingly priviledged. Her family seem to have known almost everyone in politics or theatre and, as Nancy Astor was her aunt, she enjoyed stays at Cliveden and was gifted a grace and favour lodge at Cliveden during the Blitz. She went to parties with Noel Coward in attendance, she knew Walter de la Mare etc. Her stories of her entertainment work during the war are interesting but I felt that she was reluctant to discuss the more unpleasant elements of the war so the whole thing is described as a kind of jolly hockey sticks kind of endeavour. Plus everywhere she went she seemed to know the deputy ambassador of Libya etc. and therefore got preferential treatment. It was without a doubt an interesting life but the way it was written makes it all seem quite mundane unfortunately.

[Andra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite interesting. Lots of name dropping but in a natural way, she lived and moved in those circles so it came across as writing about friends and family rather than about famous people. I enjoyed the war part but it became a little tedious towards the end of the book. It took me a long time to read this and much as I enjoyed it I'm glad to finish it. I read To War with Whittaker, another similar person talking about her war experiences which I enjoyed more, her approach was lighter somehow. Worth a read if you like Joyce Grenfell, but I feel it has become more and more dated and out of time - much like all of us I suppose!!

[Reason Restored · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm, charming, interesting & amusing Joyce and her work was and remains all of the above. This half autobio (it finishes in the mid 1950s) also shows a little sharpness and a few surprising admissions that allow us to get a little closer to Joyce herself. Gone too soon.
If you ever chuckled at the nursery school teacher, without knowing much more of Joyce and her oevre, this is a wonderful introduction.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much I like Joyce in films and her monologues , I was soooo glad to finish this. It was so nice tooo nice and jolly I won’t say dull but it became a chore in the end. Now I feel I have to delve into some crime for my next book as I need a spot of murder to pick up he pace again.

[Melanie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first half of this book more than the second half, which was mostly about performances. That said, Joyce Grenfell writes about her early life with a disarming honesty and remains down to earth, despite coming from a privileged background.

[Alison Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed. This book needed a very thorough edit, it’s far too long and rather tedious especially in the early bits. Joyce was an interesting person but I found myself not really caring.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish it had been but sadly Not the best read in the world. Lots of referencing to Bernard Shaw, Noel Coward ect guess you need to be of the age which has passed around the war time,
She talks of my now home town Bournemouth as soggy but affable (not soggy this year)
And i have looked up Ruth Draper "The last time i saw her was playing at the St James's Theatre, just before it was pulled down. she gave us 'The Italian Lesson' and 'The Actress' and I wrote in my diary on that night, 28 July 1956' An astonishing performance of really virtuoso proportions.....When i went back stage after that final matinee I was seeing her for the last time ....Then i tried to tell her what the performance had meant to me. My diary records that I gave her a hug and said 'I don't know how any-one dares mention my name with yours' and she said: 'They don't!....

[Estara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It reads like Joyce Grenfell speaks. Since I own the audiobook - which was a Radio version the author taped herself - I think the additional view into her friendships and family were interesting, but truly the audiobook itself is excellent in length.

Comparing Janie Hampton's biography with JG's autobiographies shows that she just doesn't like to be as snarky in an official release. But that's human, I'd say ^^.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joyce Grenfell was a real character. They sure don't make 'em like her anymore! Loved her as the innkeeper in Genevieve, telling poor Dinah Sheridan the hours between which she could take a hot shower!

[Estara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Joyce's voice when reading her own autobiography, she can imitate people so well, especially in phrasing. Everything comes to life. Not much has been cut from the printed edition. This clocks in at roughly three hours. She recorded this in 1976, three years before her death.