God’s Fools
Review of a book linking eccentric saints to modern comedians
05/06/2026 … When making a list of saints and sinners few would put the likes of Richard Pryor, Dave Chappelle and Lenny Bruce in the first category.
Latest Books
Reviews of books about comedy, including biographies of comedians old and new, and (occasionally) books by comedians. To have a book considered for review, send a copy to Chortle, 112 Norman Road, London, E11 4RL.
Fri 05 June 2026
Wed 27 May 2026
© BBC/Passion Docs/Trevor Leighton Caroline Aherne: Rebel In Disguise by David Scott
27/05/2026 … Nearly a decade after her death at just 52, Caroline Aherne’s outsize talent receives glowing tribute in this unapologetic hagiography from BBC radio presenter…
Thu 07 May 2026
Thirst, by John Robins
07/05/2026 … With John Robins currently on hiatus from stand-up, this heartbreaking memoir of his relationship with drinking goes a long way towards bringing readers up to date…
Thu 30 April 2026
© Netflix Can We Laugh At That? by Jacques Berlinerblau
Review of a book about comedy in a conflicted age
30/04/2026 … You might be forgiven for not wanting to read another word about the intractable culture war debate raging over comedy.
Fri 23 January 2026
© Mirrorpix/Alamy The Cambridge Footlights: A Very British Comedy Institution by Robert Sellers
23/01/2026 … Probably the most illustrious and best known nursery for comedy in the UK, the Cambridge Footlights has a cultural legacy that’s unrivalled.
Mon 24 November 2025
The Cambridge Companion To Stand-Up Comedy
24/11/2025 … The Cambridge Companion To Stand-Up Comedy is a collection of essays on the history and state of the art from lecturers and professors around the world.
Wed 03 September 2025
You'll Like It When You Get There by Rhys James
03/09/2025 … There’s no point putting any jokes in this review.
Thu 12 June 2025
Running The Light by Sam Tallent
Review of a compelling portrait of a trainwreck of a stand-up
12/06/2025 … A macho mythology surrounds the hard-bitten, hard-living road comic, especially in the US, drawing on the romanticised nobility of the travelling troubadour/sage…