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  • Published: 6 October 2016
  • ISBN: 9780241978573
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 184

The Bible According to Spike Milligan




The Old Testament: but more mad, more merry, more... Milligan!

"And God said, Let there be light; and there was light, but Eastern Electricity Board said He would have to wait until Thursday to be connected."

There have been many interpretations of the Old Testament over the centuries but never one quite like this. Spike Milligan has rewritten, in his own inimitable style, many of the best-known stories of the Old Testament, featuring characters like King "my brain hurts" Solomon, the great oaf of a giant Goliath and the lesser-known crossword clue, Hushai the Archite.

Believers and non-believers alike will enjoy this hilarious re-working, where the jokes, jests and jibes tumble over each other from Chapter One, Verse One until kingdom come.

  • Published: 6 October 2016
  • ISBN: 9780241978573
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 184

About the author

Spike Milligan

Spike Milligan (1918–2002) was a famous British comedian, poet, writer and musician. His wild imagination and madcap humour had a timeless appeal that continues to delight audiences of all ages to this day.
Spike (Terence Alan) was born to British parents in India, where his father, an army captain, was stationed in Poona (Pune). The family lived in India and Rangoon (Yangon) before returning to Britain when Spike was twelve.
When the Second World War (as Spike called it, the Adolf Hitler Show) began, he enlisted and served in the 56th Heavy Regiment as a signaller. During his time in the army he joined the Bill Hall Trio and performed for the troops.
He is perhaps best known for creating, writing and performing the popular 1950s BBC Radio show The Goon Show. He has written several story books and poetry for children. His novels include Puckoon, and he produced seven volumes of war memoirs.
Badjelly the Witch, which Spike wrote for his daughter Jane, was first published in 1973. It was performed on BBC radio in England, and later on Radio New Zealand’s Sunday morning children’s programme.
Spike was awarded an honorary knighthood and CBE for his services to entertainment, and also the British Comedy Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award. A BBC poll voted him as the ‘funniest person of the last 1000 years’. His poem ‘On the Ning Nang Nong’ was voted Britain’s funniest poem.
Spike died at the age of 83 and his tombstone inscription – ‘I told you I was ill’ – ensures that he will forever be remembered first and foremost as a comic genius.

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Praise for The Bible According to Spike Milligan

A totally original comedy writer

Michael Palin

Close in stature to Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear in his command of the profound art of nonsense

Guardian

Manifestly a genius, a comic surrealist genius and had no equal

Terry Wogan

That absolutely glorious way of looking at things differently. A great man

Stephen Fry