British Writer Dies - Keith Waterhouse
British Writer Dies - Keith Waterhouse
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Jimbeaux

Original Poster:

33,791 posts

247 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
quotequote all
This was carried in my local paper. Was he well known?

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obitu...

Eric Mc

124,034 posts

281 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
quotequote all
He was pretty well known over here. His most famous work was a book called "Billy Liar" which was made into a stage play and a film (starring Tom Courtenay). It was later made into a successful stage musical as well.

Eric Mc

124,034 posts

281 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
quotequote all
Billy Liar - not Billy Elliot.

Digga

43,729 posts

299 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Billy Liar - not Billy Elliot.
Although literary critics have drawn parallels between the two northern working class characters.

One of the books on the O level curriculum that I enjoyed and canv still remember.

Eric Mc

124,034 posts

281 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
quotequote all
In the early 1960s there was a sudden surge in interest in "Northern England" based stories, plays and films - often centered around working class anti-heroes. Billy Liar was a more whimsical take on this Northern "angry young man" theme. In this case instead of being angry, Billy was an escapist and a fantasiser.

Jimbeaux

Original Poster:

33,791 posts

247 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
quotequote all
Thanks guys; it was carried in our local obits as "world figures" who passed on.

gareth_r

6,315 posts

253 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
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Let's not forget that he was the founder of The Association for the Abolition of the Aberrant Apostrophe, which surely makes him the patron saint of those who try to raise the standard of "forum English". smile

whitechief

4,431 posts

211 months

Eric Mc

124,034 posts

281 months

Thursday 10th September 2009
quotequote all
Guam said:
Eric Mc said:
Billy Liar - not Billy Elliot.
Yeah I know I had an uncharacterisitc brain fart, thatll larn me smile

Dont be writing emails and be on the phone and post on PH smile

I will consider myself duly chastened.

Quite correct of course Billy liar DOH! smile


Cheers
At least you didn't say "Billy Whiz", or "Billy the Kid".

DWP

1,232 posts

231 months

Friday 11th September 2009
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Any man, whose Who's Who entry, listed his hobby as Lunch, is a PH hero.

spikeyhead

18,956 posts

213 months

Saturday 12th September 2009
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DWP said:
Any man, whose Who's Who entry, listed his hobby as Lunch, is a PH hero.
A lunch which would be washed down with a bottle of champagne.

A spendid fellow, sorely missed.