Slowing Down - Hardcover

Melly, George

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670914096 ISBN 13: 9780670914098

Publisher: Viking, 2005

Synopsis

George Melly is 79 nudging 80. You'll probably think, 'That's not old these days'. And it's true, George is still swinging and singing, fly-fishing, flirting, and for now just playing at senility. But it's not as if he were the Queen Mother. He walks very slowly nowadays. He's losing control over his bladder, and his bowels. He no longer, being quite deaf, enjoys noisy parties. He's been seriously ill once, and not quite well often. And he's constantly being probed and tinkered with at St Mary's Hospital: like an old car in and out of the garage. Sex has walked out on him, but Irish Whiskey, in only slightly diminished quantities, remains a good friend.

This remarkably cheerful book is his diary of it all. An extraordinary, darkly funny, frank, and larger-than-life account about how feels to be growing old and irresistibly Slowing Down.

About this title

About the Author

Wit, jazz institution, writer and raconteur, George Melly was born in 1928 and made his name in the trad scene of the late 40s and 50s, singing with Mick Mulligan's band. In the 60s he switched careers and became one of the UK's most ubiquitous critics, writers and TV personalities. He's published a great number of books, including his acclaimed three previous volumes of autobiography: Owning Up (1965), Rum, Bum and Concertina (1977) and Scouse Mouse (1984). In the early 70s he returned to music, and today he can be found singing with John Chilton's band, and with the trumpeter Digby Fairweather. In 2004 George Melly was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC's Jazz Awards.

Edition details

• Publisher: Viking
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0670914096
• ISBN 13: 9780670914098
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240