At My Mother's Knee . . .: and Other Low Joints [Paperback]

Paul O'Grady (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2009

In his own uniquely acid tongue, Paul O'Grady traces the hilarious tales of life in Irish Catholic Birkenhead that took him from a virtuous altar-boy ("my first drag") to Britain's best loved entertainer. It's a life that includes, varyingly, stints in an abbatoir, as a social worker, in a high-class Mayfair brothel, and traipsing down to London to chase his dreams. By 23, Paul O'Grady had been a father, husband, drag queen, gay lover, divorcee, and degenerate. He did it all with a smile on his face, making a mental note to register the whip-smart one-liners that would later inform his star-studded path from the fringes of comedy to the heart of the British establishment, first as his own brilliant comic creation Lily Savage, then, triumphantly, as himself. Paul's remarkable childhood and early life is littered with a dizzying cast-list of rogues, rascals, lovers, fighters, saints, and sinners. Oh, and one iconic bus conductress. Told with pathos, love, empathy, and naturally, biting humor, the story of Paul O'Grady is that of everyman, everywoman, and inevitably, every drag act ever. He has been rich and poor, posh and common, straight and gay. He has mixed with stars and whores and all that's in between, slyly spotting the similarity between them all. His amazing and riveting life story reminds us that there is, when all is said and done, a bit of savage in all of us.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul O'Grady first came to fame in the guise of Lily Savage, and was nominated for a Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival in 1991. He currently hosts The New Paul O'Grady Show.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Transworld Publishers (August 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553819488
• ISBN-13: 978-0553819489
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1.1 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,417,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars from Lad to Lil x, March 25, 2010

By 

Lisa Keyver- El Teir (north yorkshire) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: At My Mother's Knee . . .: and Other Low Joints (Paperback)

Im sat in Germany visiting family and I have just finished the book I feel abandoned as I have no more books at hand ha ha. Usually I get bored when reading some autobiographies regarding the persons family but the book was written with such precise recollection you were there with Paul and all his memories just flowed and I part of Paul journey. I felt honoured that he chose to share his life whether it made me laugh or tug at my heart.I found myself reading out chapters to my dad who went to Wigan casino...and with a gasp I read out the last page too......................NO !!!!!!! Paul you best be bloody writing your pure evil leaving us like that but very very clever ha ha x

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where's Lily!, December 1, 2009

By 

okbye (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At My Mother's Knee . . .: and Other Low Joints (Paperback)

The only thing I didn't like about this book is that it ended before Lily Savage was born. I can't wait for the rest of the story! The book is at least half about the family before Paul, how his parents and grandparents lived in England and Ireland. The daily life stories and family characters were riveting. Paul has said Lily came from all of the strong women in his life and this book tells you all about them. Even if you don't know Paul the picture of life a couple generations ago is worth the read.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The man from Birkenhead.....!, October 5, 2008

By 

Jessica Lwin "Jessy" - See all my reviews

This review is from: At My Mother's Knee (Hardcover)

This book was so worth waiting for. I laughed, fought back the tears and cheered when Paul won his battles. I would have loved to have met his Mum, cos this is one lovable rogue who probably gave her more than the odd grey hair. Now I wait to see whether there will be a 2nd book, cos it just can't end there! I salute you Mr O'Grady MBE, you bring laughter, love and sunshine into this life we lead.