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“Izzard is one of the funniest people alive, a talented actor, a sharp cross-dresser, an experienced marathon runner, and a great writer. You will have to read this if only to find out what a jazz chicken is.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
With his brand of keenly intelligent humor that ranges from world history to historical politics, sexual politics, mad ancient kings, and chickens with guns, Eddie Izzard has built an extraordinary fan base that transcends age, gender, and race. Writing with the same candor and insight evident in his comedy, he reflects on a childhood marked by the loss of his mother, boarding school, and alternative sexuality, as well as a life in comedy, film, politics, running and philanthropy.
Honest and generous, Believe Me is an inspired account of a very singular life thus far.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
June 13, 2017 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781101924952
- File size: 422166 KB
- Duration: 14:39:30
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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British comedian Eddie Izzard's autobiography is certainly not a linear affair. His narration incorporates his comedic style with whimsical, jumpy, frenetic asides and frequent lapses into semi-neurotic stream-of-consciousness monologues. Helpfully, he does bookend these frequent asides with comments like "end of long, windy footnote," but listening to the book requires a certain degree of attention to identify when Izzard is starting and ending these tangents. His pacing is relatively slow, helping to keep all the asides from becoming too distracting. Izzard describes his childhood, including losing his mother at an early age, attending boarding school, attempting to get into show business, and coming out as transvestite/transgender, providing insight into how he developed his stage persona. S.E.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine -
April 24, 2017
Beloved comedian, actor, and writer Izzard, known partly for being an “out” transvestite who sometimes wears dresses, heels, and lipstick on stage, shares intimate details about his life and is emotionally transparent throughout this splendid memoir. Born in Yemen to English parents, Izzard moved with his family back to the U.K. when he was young. There he had a happy childhood until his beloved mother died of cancer when he was six. This trauma, Izzard explains, pushed him, with the magical thinking that it would somehow bring his mother back, relentlessly toward a successful career in show business. He writes about coming to terms with his gender identity and recognizing that he was transgender at a young age, but told no one for nearly two decades. As his star began to rise, Izzard grew confident enough to dress as a woman on stage. Whether recounting his boarding-school shenanigans, his struggles with dyslexia, or his work with Sports Relief U.K. over the years (including last year when he ran 27 marathons in 27 days), the book is both funny and painful, and ultimately uplifting. -
July 31, 2017
British comedian and actor Izzard—whose numerous awards include two Emmys for the cable television special Dressed to Kill in 2000—brings his unique stream-of-consciousness performance style to the audio edition of his new autobiography. The narrative traces Izzard’s evolution from street performer to stand-up headliner and also his personal life; he explores his transgender identity, his dyslexia, and his transformation from carb addict to marathon runner. Izzard builds on the frequent footnotes and asides already in the text to also include “real-time” clarifications for the audio edition, adding impromptu updates to several of the book’s anecdotes. Izzard’s acting chops manage to shine through quite nicely in his characterizations and imitations, and he possesses a special gift for American accents. Those not previously immersed in Izzard’s comedic work may find themselves scratching their heads at the frequent interjections, but fans will appreciate his knack for defying convention to deliver a distinct listening experience. A Blue Rider hardcover.
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