Beyond a Joke, By Bruce Dessau

Tuesday 21 August 2012 11:24 BST

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Good stories, like good jokes, never tire. Miserable jester consults doctor. Medic: "Cheer yourself up! Go and see the hilarious clown Grock!" Funny man: "Doctor, I am Grock".

A salty melange of tabloid gossip and shrewd analysis, comedy critic Dessau's book about the dark side of stand-up plays many variations on its theme: "the excessive, depressive clown".

Buy this book from the Independent bookshop

His juiciest subjects do stick to the script, from Hancock and Cook to Brand. Its sporadic vulgarity leavened by wit and insight, the book mirrors the mood of a late-night gig.

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Beyond a Joke, By Bruce Dessau

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