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Billy Paperback – Special Edition, 8 July 2002

by Pamela Stephenson (Author)

4.4 1,538 ratings

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The inside story of the one of the most successful British stand-up comedians, as told by the person best qualified to reveal all about the man behind the comic, his wife of over 20 years – Pamela Stephenson.

Once in a lifetime, there strides upon the stage someone who can truly be called a legend. Such a person is the inimitable, timeless genius who is Billy Connolly. His effortlessly wicked whimsy has entranced, enthralled – and split the sides of – thousands upon thousands of adoring audiences.

And when he isn't doing that…he's turning in award-winning performances on film and television.

He's the man who needs no introduction, and yet he is the ultimate enigma. From a troubled and desperately poor childhood in the docklands of Glasgow he is now the intimate of household names the world over.

How did this happen, who is the real Billy Connolly? Only one person can answer that question: his wife, Pamela Stephenson. Pamela’s writing combines the very personal with a frank objectivity that makes for a compelling, moving and hugely entertaining biography. This is the real Billy Connolly.

This genre-defining book is now re-released for a new generation of comedy fans, with a stunning package and a new Foreword from the author. Pamela’s vision of Billy is as true now as it ever was – as groundbreaking, as moving and as laugh-out-loud funny – and here she brings the book fully into its context, as one of the most influential biographies ever written.

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Print length

383 pages
Language

English
Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., London
Publication date

8 July 2002
Dimensions

12.9 x 2.84 x 19.8 cm
ISBN-10

0007665458
ISBN-13

978-0007110926
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Review

‘Searingly honest, it’s an engrossing story told with all the winning warmth and insight we have come to expect from clinical psychologist and former comedian, Pamela.’ Woman’s Weekly

About the Author

An Australian born in New Zealand, Pamela Stephenson is famous for her starring role in’Not the Nine O’Clock News’ and other TV and film work.

She and Billy married in 1989 and currently live and work in Los Angeles, where she now practises as a clinical psychologist.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0007110928
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., London; Reprint edition (8 July 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 383 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0007665458
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007110926
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.9 x 2.84 x 19.8 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 364,777 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 525 in Stage Actor Biographies
- 845 in Humorous Essays (Books)

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4.4 1,538 ratings

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Magic Lemur

Unique in many ways...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 March 2010

Verified Purchase

It struck me. In a Flash. Half way through these CD's. Can you name any other wife or partner who has written a book about her husband/ boyfriend?
There are possibly some, though I'd suspect they were mostly poetry or books like The Two of Us: My Life with John Thaw (by Sheila Hancock) written as a eulogy.

Couple this with Dr Stephenson-Connolly's PhD in Psychology & you have something utterly unique, which must have been hellishly difficult to write without at least one argument with the man himself.

But it is this uniqueness that gets to the heart of what makes Billy tick. A man so complex requires many years of study & is very likely a degree subject in his own right, with a unique gift for making life funny & yet underlying quirks & tensions which would send lesser men crazy.

The thing I enjoyed most about this CD is it didn't over-bake its premise. Yes, it is very analytical, but not in a cruel, Freudian way or a doting schmaltzy way either. Primarily, it is a biography of Billy, with a lot of detail about his abusive childhood, coupled with excerpts from his modern life offering explanation for why he behaves in certain ways.

It moves through his meteoric rise from welder, to folk singer to plain stand-up comic & then goes through all the relationship difficulties & addictions he was facing at the time when he met Pamela Stephenson.

Happily, I didn't detect any self-righteousness, condescension or bitterness throughout the whole book. From appearances, Billy & the author were a good match & I suppose any cracks in the relationship would have made a book such as this impossible.

All this said, I do find myself agreeing with tinsoldier100550's review in criticizing the author's writing (or rather reading) style & her Pam-ism's. This book is hardly heavy-weight & is not really a very objective study of its subject, shying away from really thorough analysis.

Putting that aside, I think a balance is achieved between wanton Poetic fan-letter & dry psychological analysis & the book mostly steers a course down the middle, making for easy listening. It's always fascinating to learn about someone's rise from poverty to fame & this Biography achieves most of its aims.

Overall? Thoroughly recommended as something unusual to think about while commuting.

4 people found this helpful

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Cruise Queen

Not bad ... quite good actually.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 March 2021

Verified Purchase

I've read most of Billy's other books and to be honest I felt short changed with them.... This book is written by his wife Pamela and to me it is a far better account of his life , warts and all . There are a few jokes and sketches in the book and they come across quite funny . Well worth the money .

3 people found this helpful

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Ms Page

Who wouldn’t love this book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 January 2021

Verified Purchase

This was the most brilliant read. I have read previous autobiography’s on Billy Connelly but this had the added twist of being written by someone who knows him the best, his wife Pamela. Her insight into her husband’s past was very interesting and the anecdotes that Billy must have told her over the years were so funny. This is a laugh out loud book and emotional too, hearing stories from his childhood.
If you have seen Billy in concert and on TV, as I have done over the years, some of his sketches will be familiar to you but this only added to bringing back to your memory how hysterical he was performing these comedy classics. These memories will definitely stay with me. He is truly a master comedian and this book lived up to and beyond my expectations.

One person found this helpful

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Tricia Gabbitas

Insightful and entertaining

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 February 2022

Verified Purchase

When I first saw Billy Connolly on tv I thought "oh he swears a lot". I wasn't prepared for that but over the years I've watched him with tears streaming from laughter. Pamela Stephenson has written
a wonderful book about him full of insights and wonderfully entertaining. The number of times I've laughed out loud has been a joy. Thankyou!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2023

Verified Purchase

Always tended to think Billy Connolly was a tad overrated, nothing in the book changes that train of thought, though it was a interesting book and well written by his wife who has obviously analysed him very well.

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lavenderbof

Billy how could you not enjoy hearing about the bug yin

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 November 2022

Verified Purchase

Fantastic page turner couldn't put it down can't wait to see the next one shall be looking fir it at once

One person found this helpful

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Orchidroom

Good sketch of Billy’s life up to 2001

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 January 2018

Verified Purchase

I was looking for a book about Billy and this seemed the best from reviews. Everything you need to know about his life up to 2001. His wife, Pamela has done lots of research and has penned a good sketch of his upbringing, background and transitions and development. There’s nothing deeply personal and moving - I get that Billy’s a genius with a unique way of thinking and would love to read something more personal, where I could relate to emotional struggles, arguments, personal breakthroughs... maybe there will be an autobiography some time.

9 people found this helpful

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Rkell

Great!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 January 2015

Verified Purchase

Billys always been a part of my life, I can remember putting on his records as a child and hoping the parents couldn't hear (they probably did the same thing to us) and rolling about on the floor in tears of laughter. Not that Billys any sort of shrinking violet and lets us know exactly what's on his mind over time but it was nice to hear what made him what he is, especially from Pamela's view point as it is a very intelligent, sharp, warm, life affirming view point that also knows how to entertain. I loved the book when I first bought it and it was destroyed in a rain storm and loved it on the Kindle (which I keep waterproof). A great read about one of the finest comedians, ever.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

MARY T KEON

Been a fan for years….

Reviewed in Canada on 5 November 2023

Verified Purchase

…. but this made my enjoyment of my fellow Scot complete!
The total answer to why he is such a success because he didn’t really change. Bravo!

reya1333

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous

Reviewed in the United States on 28 March 2022

Verified Purchase

I'm usually not keen on biographies because they're usually written by someone who never even met the person, which tends to make them a bit dry. But I've always loved Billy so I thought I'd pick this book up. Not knowing much about his personal life,I had no idea that Pamela is his wife! Additionally, she is a wonderful writer. This is probably the most enjoyable biography I've ever read; I laughed, I cried, I understood. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Michael Cullen

Billy is very human

Reviewed in Germany on 27 January 2019

Verified Purchase

This book tells the story of his life. It compares with Charlie Chaplin and Walt Disney. The three of the started their lives as slum dwellers..

Jean Borg

Five Stars

Reviewed in Australia on 8 December 2015

Verified Purchase

Funny and easy to read

One person found this helpful

Cheryne H.

A Favourite of Mine

Reviewed in Canada on 8 March 2021

Verified Purchase

Have always loved Billy. He’s one of my favourite comedians and actors. Saw him live and he was a riot. Such a sad childhood but managed to survived it. Enjoyed reading about his life and rise to fame. So very sorry hear his talent is being cut short by such a hideous disease.

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