Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi

by Joseph Grimaldi

This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Classics, Literature, British Literature

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Ligaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me da mucha rabia tener que darle solo tres estrellas a este libro porque realmente me estaba gustando muchísimo. En mi opinión, el libro está mal estructurado. Son las memorias de Joseph Grimaldi(1778-1837), un payaso británico, que vivió poco antes que Dickens (1812-1870). Es decir se narra desde su nacimiento hasta su muerte.
¿Cual es el problema? Al terminar el capítulo 7 Dickens te ha narrado ya su muerte, casi al sesenta por ciento del libro, y es cuando se tendría que haber acabado el libro. Después hay alguna anécdota interesante, pero yo considero que las tendría que haber incluido previamente.
Si no fuera por el tema logístico, me ha parecido interesante la historia de Grimaldi y me gustaba como la contaba Dickens.

[Abigail Rieley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much the work of a young writer but there are still flashes of the familiar Dickens genius. I love the fact he has absolutely no problem dismissing the "boring" bits of Grimaldi's original autobiography (including the story of Grimaldi's first love) and announcing his intention to the reader. Maybe not up there with Bleak House or Great Expectations but a thoroughly entertaining account of a theatrical legend and a fascinating insight into the development of one of the greatest writers in the English language.

[Geoff Herschell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I have an interest in Grimaldi, I don't think it would be as interesting to someone who knows little about him.

An excellent insight into his life and family members. There are also lots of friends and theatre people that we know lots about by the end.

A great actor and a really nice bloke who would help anyone. Very trusting making him more than a little gullible.

[Erik Prime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fully expected to write a review along the lines of “For Dickens completists only.” I am happy to report that I could not have been more wrong.

Joseph Grimaldi was a famous pantomimist who graced the boards of various London stages in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. He is routinely credited with inventing the exaggerated face paint and colorful attire of the modern-day clown. He was so famous in his day that even now, “Joey” is a common nickname for a clown, especially in the UK.

Grimaldi died in 1837 leaving his memoirs unpublished. Up-and-coming author Charles Dickens, looking to cash in upon the publication of his first novel Oliver Twist, agreed to edit the deceased clown’s voluminous manuscript. The cultural significance of this biography amongst his other works was summarized thusly by editor Richard Findlater in a 1968 reprinting: “…although commonly cold-shouldered by Dickensians, it claims its own small, secure niche in the development of a great writer.”

Findlater’s edition includes footnotes that correct Grimaldi’s frequent exaggerations and obfuscations about everything from minor facts such as dates and names to larger matters such as the pedigree of his parentage and the degree of his theatrical success as a youth. In his preface, Findlater states that the only facts that Grimaldi never got wrong were his financial sums of earned wages.

The book is an entertaining read with many engrossing episodes, from Grimaldi’s adventures with his friend Jack Bologna and a mischievous publican named Mackintosh to an incident involving the poet Lord Byron and an apple tart with fish sauce. The most mysterious chapter of his life concerns his long-lost brother, who reappeared in London after 13 years abroad, only to disappear again a few minutes later, never to be seen or heard from again. The memoirs also provide an inside look at three of the most popular London venues of the era: Drury Lane, Sadler’s Wells and Covent Garden.

As much as Grimaldi’s theatrical life was full of mirth, his offstage life was filled with grief in equal measure: the death of his first wife during childbirth, his only son’s dissolution and early demise, the failed double suicide by poisoning of himself and his second wife, and his own premature enfeeblement from years of overexertion. Each of these tragic episodes is treated frankly and compassionately, and with a minimum of unnecessary sentiment. Grimaldi had such a unique and unequaled career that it is surprising his story has yet to be mounted as a film or television production.

[Ciaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit that I expected more discussion of Grimaldi's performances on the stage given his legacy. The bulk of the memoirs are dedicated to more common elements of his life, like his relationships with the other actors or trips out of London. Joe also gets a lot of facts about his life wrong, with an early footnote pointing out that the only thing he remembered with perfect clarity was his money.

Overall I'm glad I read it, and Dickens managed to abridge the content and make it more digestible (a phrase I never thought I'd say after hearing about the unabridged version of A Christmas Carol) and Grimaldi is a genuinely interesting and important person in the history of clowning. I'm not sure if I can recommend this particular book for anyone looking to learn more about clowns or pantomime specifically, but it does contain a few fun anecdotes that made me laugh.

[Dimitrii Ivanov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Мемуары одного из самых известных клоунов мира, который - под посмертным редакторским руководством Диккенса - рассказывает о смешных случаях, обстоятельствах личной жизни и о том, сколько с какого бенефиса он получил. Тот же мир, что описан в "The Making of the English Working Class" - бурный, жадный, весёлый, опасный; описание протестов зрителей после повышения цен особенно хорошее. Блестящее предисловие Ю. Кагарлицкого.

[Marcos Maganto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comencé este libro que llegó a mis manos de casualidad pensando que me resultaría tedioso, y que se me haría largo... pero nada de eso, lo leí del tirón.

Narra la vida de Joseph Grimaldi, famoso payaso y actor inglés de principios del siglo XIX. Su vida no tiene hazañas, ni da para una película, pero sin duda este libro está tan bien escrito y tan lleno de pequeñas anécdotas, que me ha gustado bastante. Un buen tipo Grimaldi, buena persona, confiada e inocente, que a pesar de su éxito, tuvo una vida difícil y muy triste en algunas épocas.

[Roxana Llacchua Huamani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cómo extrañaba el arte de Dickens, un maestro de las letras. A pesar de ser una de sus primeras obras no deja de ser un lujo de historia. Los payasos no me gustan pero como me hubiese encantado conocer a Joe, noble y carismático, encantador e ingenuo muchas veces.

[Geneva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dickens style helped this memoir, but couldn't completely save it. About 70 pages from the end I got tired of hearing how much money Grimaldi made and where he traveled to. Had to skim the last bit in order to finish and assure I didn't miss any good pieces.

[Ralf Papendick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ein wenig langatmig….

[Shug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually not written by Dickens but edited by Boz (his nom de plume). It was okay.

[Adri G.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* Que vida más triste 🤡😢

[Tizire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personalmente, me ha gustado mucho cómo Dickens ha narrado la historia de Joseph Grimaldi: a nivel de estilo no le pongo ningún pero a este libro, porque siempre es una delicia dejarse llevar por la prosa del autor. Sin embargo, como biografía, no me ha parecido demasiado apasionante.

- ¡Si quieres saber más, sigue el enlace para leer la reseña completa en mi blog!
http://www.elladofriodemialmohada.com...

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The life and death of Grimaldi told by someone who was there and saw him act the clown.