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Autobiography

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Autobiography

By: Morrissey
Narrated by: David Morrissey
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Summary

Steven Patrick Morrissey was born in Manchester on May 22nd 1959. Singer-songwriter and co-founder of the Smiths (1982-1987), Morrissey has been a solo artist for twenty-six years, during which time he has had three number 1 albums in England in three different decades. Achieving eleven Top 10 albums (plus nine with the Smiths), his songs have been recorded by David Bowie, Nancy Sinatra, Marianne Faithfull, Chrissie Hynde, Thelma Houston, My Chemical Romance and Christy Moore, amongst others.

An animal protectionist, in 2006 Morrissey was voted the second greatest living British icon by viewers of the BBC, losing out to Sir David Attenborough. In 2007 Morrissey was voted the greatest northern male, past or present, in a nationwide newspaper poll. In 2012, Morrissey was awarded the Keys to the City of Tel-Aviv. It has been said 'Most pop stars have to be dead before they reach the iconic status that Morrissey has reached in his lifetime.

David Morrissey is one of the most versatile actors of his generation. He is also a screenwriter and director.

©2013 Morrissey (P)2013 Penguin Audio Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Biography Witty Thought-Provoking Funny
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Critic reviews

"Five stars. With typical pretension, Morrissey's first book has been published as a Penguin Classic. It justifies such presentation with a beautifully measured prose style that combines a lilting, poetic turn of phrase and acute quality of observation, revelling in a kind of morbid glee at life's injustice with arch, understated humour ... It is recognisably the voice of the most distinctive British pop lyricist of his era." (Neil McCormack, Daily Telegraph)
"The Best Music Biog Ever ... In the world of rock autobiographies, Morrissey's is nigh-on perfect." (Ben Hewitt, NME)
"A brilliant and timely book ... What is so refreshing about Morrissey's Autobiography is its very messiness, its deliriously florid, overblown prose style, its unwillingness to kowtow to a culture of literary formula and commercial pigeon-holing ... Autobiography is a true baggy monster, a book in which a distinctive prose style is allowed to develop ... A rococo triumph ... Overwhelmingly this is a book to be thankful for ... In the ways that matter, Autobiography reads like a work of genuine literary class" (Alex Niven)
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What did you like most about Autobiography?

A real testament to what human spirit sometimes is, he tells us the stories of minor & major characters that came from or were projected through the Manchester streets, of an Irish immigrant roots and his nan, the stories and descriptions of 1960's and 1970;s Manchester, it's streets, schools, housing and swimming baths unearth a society still in many ways Victorian and bitterly austere. The humour and whit remind of some of Spike Milligan, the genuine spirit & humanity is visceral, This would be an excellent book even if the author was not a famous song writer, it is a indispensable work in it's own right. David Morrissey of "one Summer" (Icky & Billie) is brilliant. Savour & Enjoy

What was one of the most memorable moments of Autobiography?

Too many too mention in the class rooms.

Which character – as performed by David Morrissey – was your favourite?

The guy who manages them from Rough Trade.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

don't know just know

Any additional comments?

So thankful & glad he wrote this,

Smart, Tough & Rivetting Stuff

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I have to say I was really impressed with this book not only because Morrissey is a one off, but he leaves a detailed historical document and social commentary about state schools, teachers who seemed to loathe young people and pointless corporal punishment, a kind of ritual humiliation. One cannot help but feel for him as he waves goodbye to his grandmother who is being left behind as a result of all the social housing reorganisation that was going on in Manchester at the time.
I also love how he talks about buying discs from record shoos I have visited in the past. Iused to remember looking forward to release day of an eagerly awaited release of a new album from real musicians, the likes of which we don’t get to aee so often now.
I have to say I had tremendous sympathy for him when he was in the Smiths because he seemed to be surrounded by people on the make who did very little for their percentages, particularly rough trade.
Having looked into empath type personality profiles, I think Morrissee is the victim of being completely misunderstood and his generosity, quickly forgotten. Hated for loving.

Unfortunately even with generosity, people are fickle and I felt rather sorry for him with the court case as he was getting it from all sides.
If you get Morrissey, you’ll get this book.l I was laughing out loud with headphones on causing the odd funny look, because he’s a funny man sometimes too.

I have to say I’ve always been a fan from 13 but his press, presents him as that’ ‘truculent’, difficult man, as per a lonely high court judge with a grudge.

I really really really enjoyed this book. The last biography I enjoyed this much was Talullah! (Bankhead). Most are serialised these days, 200 pages, big writing.

This book was wonderful and I really picked up some of his character. He is actually a lot lovelier than he likes to admit.

Congratulations Mr Morrissey well done, you hit a home run.

A wonderfully descriptive, entertaining autobiography of a far more affable Mr Morrissey,

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I really enjoyed this book and having been a fan of The Smith's from their infancy enjoyed a deeper and profound insight into Morrissey's life both personally, as a founding member of The Smith's and an enigmatic solo artist. I particularly enjoyed how he reflects on his childhood and the nostalgia that was reignited for myself from ice cream van's, TV programmes of the 60's and 70's and his beloved Nan being the fulcrum of all things familial. A most joyous and superbly written book.

simply elegant

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A painfully truthful, honest and vivid account of a life lived too the full. It’s poetically rich in love, laughter and tears and has you gripped from beginning too end. A working class hero, an intellectual who won’t be cowed into silence by the many naysayers within the record industry and tawdry music press. A true living icon who pulls no punches in this superb heavyweight tome. David Morrissey as narrator is a master stroke, quite simply a perfect fit.

MORRISSEY’S MUSINGS

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nor someone who has anything ever good to say about mostly everybody.
I’m not personally a fan of his work but was intrigued and drawn into his character. A lot of his thoughts and musings are emotionless. A flaw of mental disorder hangs over his inability to participate in the here and now.
But does he tell a good story? Yes!. But flawed as one might expect leaving the listener all but rolling their eyes.

Not someone you’d like to meet...

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