Puckoon [Paperback]

Spike Milligan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0140023747 | ISBN-13: 978-0140023749 | Publication Date: June 24, 1976 | Edition: paperback / softback

Spike Milligan's first novel bursts at the seams with superb comic characters involved in unbelievably likely troubles on the Irish border.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Spike Milligan was born at Ahmednagar in India in 1918. He received his first education in a tent in the Hyderabad Sindh desert and graduated from there, through a series of Roman Catholic schools in India and England, to the Lewisham Polytechnic. He then plunged into the world of Show Business, seduced by his first stage appearance, at the age of eight, in the nativity play of his Poona convent school. He began his career as a band musician, but has since become famous as a humorous scriptwriter and actor in both films and broadcasting. Spike received an honorary CBE in 1992.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); paperback / softback edition (June 24, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140023747
• ISBN-13: 978-0140023749
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,128,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chortle, chuckle, snigger, snort., July 14, 2002

By 

S. Ellaway "welshphoto" (Cardiff, wales) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Puckoon (Paperback)

This is probably the funniest book i have ever read. Spike's surreal, zany homour didn't always hit the mark but when it did....pure genious! and "Puckoon" definately hits the mark.
e,g. Mrs. Doonan tried to get a divorce from her husband and the solicitor says..."But Mrs. Doonan, just because you don't like him, that's no grounds for separation."
"Well, make a few suggestions," she said.
"Has he ever struck you?"
"No. I'd kill him if he did."
"Has he ever been cruel to the children?"
"Never."
"Ever left you short of money, then?"
"No, every Friday on the nail."
"I see." The solicitor pondered. "Ah, wait, think hard now, Mrs. Doonan, has he ever been unfaithful to you?"
Her face lit up. "By God, i tink we got him there, I know for sure he wasn't the father of me last child!"
Spike manages to find humour and hillarious characterization set amongst the unlikely backdrop of the creation of the state of Northern Ireland, and "Any hostility to the Boundary Commissioners will be penalized with fines from a shilling up to death..."
The border just happens to fall right through the centre of "Puckoon"!
If you like wry, askew and slightly silly jokes...buy this book!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Milligan at his best, December 16, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Memphis, Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puckoon (Hardcover)

It has been many years since I last saw my well-thumbed copy of Puckoon. Now, exiled in the United States, I am searching Amazon.com for that perfect gift for my wife. She's one of those Americans who thinks she's Irish. Puckoon would be the perfect gift for her. I still remember laughing until I cried at the antics of the characters in Puckoon. There is no doubt that Spike Milligan has written one of the funnies books ever written about Ireland. I hope that my children will one day be able to both read and appreciate this book. Spike Milligan has written many books, all of them good, but Puckoon will always stand out in my mind. Reading Puckoon is like having your own personal Spike Milligan in the room with you. Rick Barnes.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laughed till I fell off my seat on to the floor..., February 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Puckoon (Paperback)

Puckoon is a book, so funny, that thirty years later, I still quote from the book. Unfortunately, I loaned it out and it was never returned. I first read it on a train between London, England and Edinburg, Scotland. After a short while I started gigling. This soon progressed to out-of-control laughter. Eventually, I fell off my seat in the train compartment, much to the horror of my fellow passengers. I writhed on the floor convulsed in pain and laughter, tears ran down my face. Eventually I half composed myself and regained my seat. I dared not read anymore; Puckoon was too funny to read in public. However, at regular intervals, while thinking about the book, I lost my composure and fell into uncontrolable laughter again, much to the discomfort of my fellow passengers. Eventually, I pointed to a passage and pushed the book into the hands of a fellow passenger. In a short while, he too was stricken with convulsive laughter. The book was passed around from passenger to passenger. Before long the entire members of the compartment were laughing and crying with glee. Between snorts, people would quote a passage and we would all break up into out-of-control laughter again. The train eventually rolled into Waverly staion. Quite weak, and still trying to control our luaghter; eyes red from crying we alighted onto the platform.

Puckoon is by far the funniest book I have ever read, or am likely to ever read in the future. This book is definitely not those prone to heart attacts. I must locate another copy.