New Releases by Spike Milligan

This is the latest in Spike''s hilarious re-interpretations of classic works of literature, now available in paperback. This version of Robin Hood has Robin and his merry men when the King''s deer manage to evade their arrows, dining out at McDonald''s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and eating jam sandwiches. Nevertheless, they are still more than willing to do battle with Robin''s arch enemy Sir Guy de Custard Gisborne. The fair Maid Marion, of course, is the object of much of Robin''s attention, and his pursuit of the beautiful Marion leads him and his men into many adventures. Lucky for him that his band of outlaws include the immensely strong Big Dick and immensely insolent Groucho Marx. Paying Scant regrd to any previous versions of this age old folk tale, Spike thunders through his riotous story like a runaway horse through Sherwood.

For years Spike Milligan has lovingly collected and collated over a dozen volumes of family photographs and memorabilia, stretching from army life in India in 1869, through his birth in 1918 and his childhood, to his career as an entertainer and the arrival of his own family. Spike has carefully selected scores of these delightful photographs to illustrate the story of his life. Notes in diary form are expanded into anecdotes and reminiscences in Spike''s inevitably irreverent style, making light of the major emotional hurdle Spike had to overcome in writing this deeply intimate book. At times touching and sincerly personal, The Family Album includes details of how Spike was plagued by manic depression stemming from his war time experiences, his traumatic mental breakdown and the collapse of his first marriage, all of which let him to believe that he could never write an autobiography such as this. Also included, of course, are some of his adventures in showbusiness, from the early days with The Goons and his innovative work on television to his stage appearences and film work. Along the way there are famous friendships with famous friends as diverse as Barry Humphries and the Prince of Wales.

New absurdities for his devoted fans. Spike''s On the Ning Nag Nong was recently named the UK''s best-loved funny poem.

Humorous retelling of D.H. Lawrence''s classic L̀ady Chatterley''s lover''.

Spike Milligan reveals the dark side of his life in this book which is co-written with his psychiatrist Anthony Clare. He recalls the triumphs of his childhood, his highly-strung mother, his largely absent father, the cruelties of a colonial upbringing and of sadism towards animals, the break-up of his first marriage, the mortar bomb which blew him up in Italy and the overwork which gave him a mental breakdown during the Goon Show. This book charts the development of this depression and his strategies for dealing with this illness whether they were improvised, as in when he would get drunk with Peter Sellers, and clinically with his discussions with Clare. Spike Milligan''s previous books include Silly Verse for Kids and Where have all the Bullets Gone?. Anthony Clare is the author of Psychiatry and General Practice and presents the BBC Radio series, In the Psychiatrist''s Chair.

These are the best bits of the greatest war memoirs in the English language, collected in one book fat enough to throw at brass hats, featuring crabs, Harry Secombe, the Bill Hall Trio, the dreaded Cold Collation and Spike''s underwear collection.