The Essential Dave Allen

My husband and I would look forward to Sunday evenings in the 80's on PBS for Dave Allen at Large. It was a combination of great Irish stories told by Mr. Allen and also several hilarious skits ala Benny Hill. My favorite is musical chairs with clerics marching around in high ceremony and then frantically scrambling to land on a chair! These thoughts came to mind while reading The Essential Dave Allen. What a brilliant comic mind he had. I'd love to have a DVD of Allen's stories and skits from his show but this book is the closest thing in lieu of that. I recommend it to all fans of Dave Allen from the past and all young people of the present who would appreciate a really good laugh or two or three!!

I used to watch Dave Allen at Large years ago with my mom. Even though it hasn't been on tv for a long time we still talk about his many jokes. The book was a great way to go back in time and laugh again. The first day I had the book I opened it at random and read the first thing I saw. I laughed so hard I cried. I highly recommend this book to any fan of Dave.

I love Dave Allen, the funniest comedian ever and so happy to find him in a book.

Had to get this book for my husband for Christmas. We're both big Dave Allen fans and was really wanting to get him on DVD or blue ray but the only version available is not for our region. This book was the next best thing.

Dave Allen was ahead of his time in many ways. Lovely to have this book and be able to enjoy his wit and humor.

Having lived in the U.S. for sometime, I'd forgetten how good some British comedians are/were and Dave Allen was one of the best.

Great read.

Easy transaction and a good read.

I bought this because I remember Dave Allen being very funny in his TV program and wondered "what happened to him?" -this book gives the answers, and a whole lot more - a full picture of him and his life and how much he contributed to the scene of comedy and the lives of those around him, plus giving lots of his stories and sketches along the way.Only problem is that i'm now going to have to scour the internet to dig up all the video of him I can get ...

A very readable book indeed which matches detail of Dave Allen's upbringing alongside the manner in which this influenced the originality of his comic style.There are many laugh-out-loud moments, especially for those who appreciated his humour and his characteristic way of putting it across. It will not be difficult , for those, such as myself, who remember his television and stage appearances, to hear his voice in their head when reading the book, telling each gag in that familiar Irish brogue.

Dave Allen had a very laid- back, relaxed style of presentation of his craft of telling jokes /stories. He was an Irishman with a wicked sense of humour. Often appearing to take a pop at religion and roman catholic religion in particular. I do not believe he had a malice bone to his body. Just very funny he was. This book tells his tale beautifully. Thoroughly recommended.

Have enjoyed reading the genius of the man, just a shame it wasn't an autobiography of how he became 'Gods own Comedian ' But still well worth reading.

I always watched Dave Allen when he was on TV and loved his original sense of humour. This book brought back many enjoyable memories and even reading some of his sketches had me in fits of laughter. He was one of a kind and left us far too soon. I love this book.