"Is There Any News of the Iceberg?": an Illustrated Autobiography

by Bill. Tidy

264 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 1995

Reviews

[Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill Tidy is most famous now, in my opinion, for the Fosdyke Saga cartoon strip which appeared in the Daily Mirror from 1971-1985 and his TV appearances drawing instant cartoons. His autobiography confirms what a wit he is and how speedily his mind works on witty one-liners. He sees the comedy in all situations. His early adventures with his family, his joining the forces and travelling to foreign climes are amazing to read. His marriage to a Neapolitan woman with the language barrier are so funny. Tidy outlines his career in single gag cartoons, cartoon strips and also TV. He appears to be a man who knows what he wants and believes in and here he shares his honesty without the bitterness of years.
A funny autobiography and for those who haven't seen the gag in the title, a man and polar bear follow the other people who are reading the "Titanic Survivors Lists" and ask "Is There Any News of the Iceberg?"

[Val Robson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bill Tidy's autobiography, Is There Any News Of The Iceberg, certainly reflects his sharp and quick witted personality. I found it hard to read as a book though as it is so dense in wit and detail. I am a little sceptical as to how he could remember such details decades after the event when he wrote this in the 1990s.

I found it best to take the book as a series of anecdotes and so take my time reading the book so I never quite got a sense of the sequential story as I read it fairly randomly. It's beautifully illustrated with his cartoons throughout.