{"product_id":"happiness-and-tears-the-ken-dodd-story","title":"Happiness and Tears: The Ken Dodd Story","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eKen Dodd was a legendary British comedian who adopted his trademark tickling stick in 1956 and enjoyed a sixty-year career. Louis Barfe's book \"Happiness and Tears: The Life and Times of Ken Dodd\" charts his life and career, revealing him to be the last of the great variety acts and a comic phenomenon who delighted his audiences across seven decades. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e                                                            \u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e                              \u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 336 pages\u003cbr\u003e                              \u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 14 November 2019\u003cbr\u003e                              \u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Head of Zeus\u003cbr\u003e                          \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI am afflicted with acute kleptomania, but when it becomes severe, I take medication to manage it. Ken Dodd, a legendary figure in British comedy, embarked on his career in 1954, two years after adopting his trademark tickling stick, and went on to enjoy a remarkable sixty-year career as the nation's jester. Dodd's act was frenzied and zany, capitalizing on his distinctive saucer-eyed, buck-toothed appearance and employing a vast repertoire of one-liners, whimsical and verbal inventions, and liberal doses of saucy but never dirty jokes. Louis Barfe has authored a comprehensive biography that delves into Dodd's life and extraordinary career, unveiling him as the last of the great variety acts and a comedic phenomenon that delighted audiences across seven decades. Reviews for Happiness and Tears: The definitive account. The Times. An industriously thorough, entertaining biography. The Spectator. Sure to delight Dodd's many admirers. TLS. Fascinatingly odd. Daily Express. An absolute joy. Choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e                            \u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 644g                            \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 235 x 127 x 33 (mm)                            \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9781788549530                                                      \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Louis Barfe","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44098358837498,"sku":"9781788549530","price":16.94,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/494dedb8a4f8df245b39e8756cc9f18e.jpg?v=1627870039","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/happiness-and-tears-the-ken-dodd-story","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}