Tragically I Was an Only Twin: The Complete Peter Cook

Peter Cook

Macmillan, Nov 19, 2003 - Humor - 412 pages

To his many friends as well as his legion of fans, Peter Cook was quite simply the funniest man ever. His unique gifts and the way he led the transformation of British comedy (from music hall to perverse absurdity) and his clear comic influence on Monty Python's Flying Circus and every show since, has been much written about. But never before has there been a collection of Cook's own writings.

Tragically, I Was an Only Twin gathers the treasures of Cook's comic career, from school and university via Beyond the Fringe alongside Alan Bennett, Jonathan Miller, and Dudley Moore, to his sureal, satirical journalism for Private Eye. It includes his monologues, the cream of his irreverent essays, and highlights from his much celebrated partnerships with Dudley Moore as Pete & Dud and Derek & Clive. Illustrated with his own drawings, this is the first, the only, and certainly the definitive collection of the transformative genius of comedy that was Peter Cook.

Contents

• BEFORE THE FRINGE: 1
• Last Laugh Cambridge Arts Theatre 1959 Balance of Trade: 21
• Theatre London 1961 The Ephemeral Triangle One Over: 32
• 1961 Black Equals White Fortune Theatre London 1961: 45
• Introduction The World Domination League On the Braden: 59
• 1964 Food For Thought On the Braden Beat ITV 1964: 73
• Introduction Tramponuns BBC2 1965 Facts of Life BBC2: 99
• PETE DUD: 107
• Introduction Film Stars Not Only But Also BBC2 1965 At: 128
• PRIVATE EYE: 141
• Introduction The Seductive Brethren 196465 The: 165
• Theatre London 1972 Hello Plymouth Theatre New York: 181
• Peach Plymouth Theatre New York 1973: 194
• Derbyshire Spectator 1976 The Worst Job I Ever Had Derek: 215
• Bottoms Up How I Avoided Success Square One Dud: 259
• Inalienable Rights An Evening At Court Theatre Royal Drury: 281
• SIR ARTHUR STREEBGREEBLING: 295
• Introduction A Partridge in a Pear Tree BBC2 199091 Two: 314
• Lords ALeaping BBC2 199091 Why Bother? BBC Radio: 349
• February 1968 Gods in His Heavenand Alls Well with: 364
• SMALL HOURS SVEN LBC: 377
• GOODBYEEE: 397

About the author

He is a founding member of Archigram, is the chair of the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London & a principal in the firm of Cook & Hawley Architects in London 010.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Tragically I Was an Only Twin: The Complete Peter Cook
• Author: Peter Cook
• Editor: William W. Cook
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Macmillan, 2003
• ISBN: 031231891X, 9780312318918
• Length: 412 pages
• Subjects: Humor / General