The Little Book of Mornington Crescent [Paperback]

Tim Brooke-Taylor (Author), Graeme Garden (Author), Barry Cryer (Author), Humphrey Lyttelton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2001

Mornington Crescent is a game whose rules and history are shrouded in myth and legend. This book is a history of the game and a study of the great players who have graced it for nearly a century. It will include testimony from today's great exponents, and hints from the professionals on how to play the game more effectively. The game is a feature on I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, the most listened-to comedy program on British radio.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Barry Cryer, Willie Rushton, Humphrey Lyttelton. Barry Cryer's writing credits include material for Morecambe and Wise, Tommy Cooper, Les Dawson, Bruce Forsyth, Rory Bremner and Jasper Carrott, to name but a few. As if this was not enough, he has also collaboratively penned series like Hello Cheeky! and appears regularly on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, and Just a Minute. He delighted audience with his one-man show The First Farewell Tour. He was made an OBE for services to comedy in 2001. Doctor Graeme's Aberdonian roots are dyed a pleasing flesh colour. In 1968, while waiting in a queue for treatment at King's College Hospital, London, Graeme carelessly qualified as a doctor. Fame eluded him with The Goodies and the original idea for I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue was Graeme's, but he generously refuses to take all the blame.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752844229
• ISBN-13: 978-0752844220
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 4.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,798,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only Mornington Crescent Guide you'll ever need! Or get., December 15, 2000

By 

John DiBello (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Little Book of Mornington Crescent (Hardcover)

Well, I'll start out the game with a bold, unorthodox move: Lancaster Gate. Your turn, and please remember that choosing alternate Sunday-only stations are not valid in the Amazon.com championship versions of the game, that Aldwych Station, though closed, is still a valid choice when backed into one of Mr. Garden's patented cross-hatch ploys, and of course I shouldn't need to remind you that choosing Jubilee Line Extension stations is still regarded as hopelessly amateur; should you choose to counter with Canada Water, you will be met with derisive giggles. Your move.

If the above doesn't mean anything to you, you're not a fan of the bewildering game of Mornington Crescent, and this is not the book for you. Go pick up a Bill Oddie birding book instead. On the other hand, if the above inspired you to snap out "Gants Hill" with authority and a smirk, then sprint, don't crawl, to pick up the only *authorized* Mornington Crescent companion (all others are mere shadows).

Seriously (and at the risk of ruining the joke) this is a humor book based on the popular BBC radio quiz show "I'm Sorry, I Haven't A Clue." British quiz shows like these, far from being a challenge to ordinary citizens to answer tough trivia, are more frequently a showcase for celebrities to show off their comic skills (think "Whose Line is It Anyway" rather than "Who Want to Be a Millionaire"). By far the most cheer-eliciting segment of ISIHAC is "Mornington Crescent," a round-table game in which the panelists must name London Underground stations, and the first to name Mornington Crescent is the winner. Sound simple? Well, it would be...if there were truly any rules other than to be funny while doing so...

If you're a fan of BBC radio comedy and you're in on the joke, this book is a must have, with Mornington Crescent history, Q&As, recipes, profiles, short stories (Charles Dickens versus Lewis Carroll in an especially ruthless and deadly game of MC)--everything a serious player of the game needs to know.

Except the rules.

Well, you can't expect them to give away *all* the answers, can you?

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Stalingrad Move, May 21, 2008

By 

M. Limbert (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Little Book of Mornington Crescent (Paperback)

Whenever we play this game under the Trumpington Variation rule, my playing partners always insists on making the Stalingrad move. Thus rendering my next move a passive-attacking strategy play of offering 'Pimblico', which always results in the next vocalization of 'Mornington Crescent'. Little did I know, until reading this book, that my move of 'Pimblico' should not be utilised because that station does have staffing level of more than six on any weekday, other than the 3rd Tuesday after Whitsun-the abreached rule is the 24th Andrews Rule, which also allows the player to play out of bounds as long as the ball is square to the center of the station he/she is trying to traverse. I now stand enlightingly corrected and counter my playing partners call of 'Stalingrad' with the counter aggressive call of 'Baker Street'(see the Pollinger 3rd Movement). Which totally floors all my playing partners with its unachieveable brilliance-I can only think of two or three greater plays in the history of the game (Spitak v Tromlins 1925-of course was the true defining moment in the games history, as long as I live I will never forget the day Spitak called out 'Hillingdon' to Tromlins call of 'Aldgate'. Tromlins expression said it all and it was little surprise he was never the same player after that moment).