The King's Jester

The Life of Dan Leno, Victorian Comic Genius

Nonfiction, History, British, Art & Architecture, General Art, Biography & Memoir
Cover of the book The King's Jester by Barry Anthony, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Barry Anthony ISBN: 9780857731043
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: May 30, 2010
Imprint: I.B. Tauris Language: English
Author: Barry Anthony
ISBN: 9780857731043
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: May 30, 2010
Imprint: I.B. Tauris
Language: English

Who was Dan Leno? In 1901 everyone in Britain knew who he was. They had seen him live on the music hall stage, listened to his jokes on the new gramophone and watched his funny antics in some of the earliest moving pictures. Even King Edward VII was a fan and the popular press dubbed Dan Leno “The King's Jester”. But his path to fame was a hard one: he journeyed from being a child performer in the London and Liverpool slums to a chaotic career in hard-bitten northern variety theatres. Dan became the nation's favourite comedian, but as one of the first mass media stars he suffered from this continual exposure and died at the early age of forty three.

Drawing on many previously unused sources, this is first, authoritative, biography of Dan Leno. Only Charlie Chaplin, often compared to Dan in style and appearance, was to occupy a similar position in the hearts of the British public. In telling the full story of Dan's life and career on the stage and screen, Barry Anthony brings to life the everyday life of Victorian Britain, as well as Dan's unique brand of humour and its resonance with later comedians such as Spike Milligan and the Monty Python team.

'Barry Anthony has learned so much more than I about the great little clown who became the King's Jester. He has brought it all together in this fascinating and so well documented story of Dan Leno's life and times.' - Roy Hudd President of the British Music Hall Society

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Who was Dan Leno? In 1901 everyone in Britain knew who he was. They had seen him live on the music hall stage, listened to his jokes on the new gramophone and watched his funny antics in some of the earliest moving pictures. Even King Edward VII was a fan and the popular press dubbed Dan Leno “The King's Jester”. But his path to fame was a hard one: he journeyed from being a child performer in the London and Liverpool slums to a chaotic career in hard-bitten northern variety theatres. Dan became the nation's favourite comedian, but as one of the first mass media stars he suffered from this continual exposure and died at the early age of forty three.

Drawing on many previously unused sources, this is first, authoritative, biography of Dan Leno. Only Charlie Chaplin, often compared to Dan in style and appearance, was to occupy a similar position in the hearts of the British public. In telling the full story of Dan's life and career on the stage and screen, Barry Anthony brings to life the everyday life of Victorian Britain, as well as Dan's unique brand of humour and its resonance with later comedians such as Spike Milligan and the Monty Python team.

'Barry Anthony has learned so much more than I about the great little clown who became the King's Jester. He has brought it all together in this fascinating and so well documented story of Dan Leno's life and times.' - Roy Hudd President of the British Music Hall Society

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book Uncle Gobb And The Green Heads by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book The British Army 1939–45 (2) by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book How to Mend a Broken Heart by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book Persian Service by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book Death Before Breakfast by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book Stolen Car by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book Salamanca 1812 by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book The Purple Streak by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book The Architects of Ottoman Constantinople by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book Textile Technology and Design by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book The Ghost Runner by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers: Raising Boys' Achievement by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book An Equitable Framework for Humanitarian Intervention by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book The History of a Modern Millennial Movement by Barry Anthony
Cover of the book Hooray! It’s a New Royal Baby! by Barry Anthony
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy