2008-08-28 Hilarious

This is a weighty tome incorporating all three of Melly's autobiographies from 1965 onwards. It is a wonderful book, beautifully written, with flashes of humour and perception in equal measure. The first book, Scouse Mouse, covers his school days, the second, Rum , Bum and Concertina covers his time in the Navy and the final, Owning Up, is all about life as a jazz musician in the 1950's and thereabouts. I preferred the first two sections - Melly's life growing up in 1930's Liverpool and the hilarious account of him doing absolutely nothing for a year on HMS Argus tied up in Chatham from 1945-6. Truly Melly was the King of the Skivvers but, importantly, he was not lazy. (He spent most of that year going up to London to visit jazz clubs and other dens of vice.) Melly is a superb conversationalist, raconteur, he has the ear for language and his memory is truly astonishing. (His memories of his penniless prep school headmaster are particularly amusing.) The book is a bit fruity at times, particularly in the middle section, but not so much as to cause offence. I certainly found all the tales of shenigans in the Navy more amusing than smutty. This book is probably for the older reader - not for your average adolescent - but you don't have to be a jazz fan to appreciate it. The world of jazz has lost a wonderful man.