With an introduction by the author, this volume includes three memoirs. Scouse Mouse is a story of the author's 1930s childhood in a middle-class Liverpudlian household. Rum, Bum and Concertina describes Melly's National Service as one of the most unlikely naval ratings. Owning Up shows how he slipped into the world of the jazz revival.
The redoubtable George Melly (1926-2007): flamboyant jazz singer, sexually ambiguous raconteur, prodigiously gifted critic. This is his first-hand account of those turbulent and exciting years when all things creative - whether music, fashion, film, art or literature - were changed utterly.
George Melly was an unignorable figure in the more louche cultural circles in London between the 1950s and 90s. He first came to notice as a Jazz singer, notable for risque songs performed with verve rather than with great technical ability. This is a supplementary volume of autobiography which treats in more detail Melly's long-lasting attraction to Surrealism, and his friendship with the character who headed up the English Surrealist group: E.L.T. Mesens (their adventures form the core of this book - adventures which ELT was keen should not get back to Sybil, his wife).
Writing antiques have great charm and historic interest. When quill pens began to be superseded by steel nibs and penholders these were rapidly manufactured, in true Victorian fashion, in numerous shapes, sizes and materials. This book describes and illustrates many of the writing antiques, from the inkstands to simple penwipers and ink bottles.
A Speech (1869)
The book features a facsimile reprint that retains the original's unique characteristics, including potential imperfections like marks, notations, and marginalia. These elements offer a glimpse into the history and context of the text, providing readers with an authentic experience of the original publication.
Culturally significant, this work has been preserved to reflect its original form, complete with copyright references and library stamps. It serves as an important piece of civilization's knowledge base, providing insights into historical contexts and preserving the integrity of the original artifact. Readers can expect an authentic experience that connects them to the past through its careful reproduction.