Spike Milligan: The Family Album

by Spike Milligan

Spike Milligan has carefully selected scores of very personal photographs to illustrate his intriguing family history, from his birth in India in 1918, his childhood, Army life, and the story of his career to the arrival of his own family, creating a fascinating record of his amazing life.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Humor

224 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1999

About the author

Terence Alan Patrick Seán Milligan, known as Spike, was a comedian, writer and musician. He was of Irish descent, but spent most of his childhood in India and lived most of his later life in England, moving to Australia after retirement. He is famous for his work in The Goon Show, children's poetry and a series of comical autobiographical novels about his experiences serving in the British Army in WWII. Spike Milligan suffered from bipolar disorder, which led to depression and frequent breakdowns, but he will be remembered as a comic genius. His tombstone reads 'I told you I was ill' in Gaelic.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the last few years of Spike Milligan's life, 'The Family Album' is a light and enjoyable read that will appeal to anyone who loves the comedic genius's career and work. It doesn't quite serve as well as an introduction or deeply engaging autobiography, however that is not its purpose. If one wants more detailed information on Spike's life there are his own war autobiographies, as well as numerous biographies out there that are more apt.

Perhaps the most engaging parts of the book are Spike's recounting of his family history and early years in India during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. His love for his father and more ambivalent attitudes regarding his mother are front and centre in this section, however he also presents an historically valuable insight into what life could be like for the British during their rule over the subcontinent.

The segments of the book that cover Spike's war service and his Goon Show era are rather light, and in the former case a large part of 'Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall' is replicated for the text. It is when Spike turns away from the 40s and 50s and concentrates on his children and wives that 'The Family Album' becomes more 'alive'.

There are plenty of flashes of Spike's brilliant humour and a few intimations of his darker moments too. In summary 'The Family Album' is a must have for any avowed Spike Milligan addict.