Mussolini: His Part in My Downfall

Spike Milligan's fourth volume of war autobiography, Mussolini: His Part in My Downfall, spans from landing in Salarno, Italy, to his being invalided. While this is only four months, the text is nearly as long as the three earlier volumes together. Although the humorous writing is similar, there are no ersatz communiques and almost no sketches; the photographs are fewer and smaller. Jack Hobbs, editor of the two previous volumes is not mentioned.

Losing patience with criticism about his factuality, the preface reads, "I’ve spent a fortune on beer and dinners interviewing my old Battery mates, and phone calls to those overseas ran into over a hundred pounds." Also, "I wish the reader to know that he is not reading a tissue of lies and fancies, it all really happened." (However, following this book Milligan was even more upset by comments from the people he wrote about. His manager Norma Farnes commented she thought the next volume would never be written on their account.) Farnes wrote that Milligan's diary was kept daily except when the fighting was too fierce, however there are also days when he is too sick or bored to write.Spike Milligan, complied by Alexander Games. The Essential Spike Milligan Fourth Estate 2003 Sometimes the diaries of others supplement Milligan's in the text.

Summary

Critical reception

The Sunday Express reviewer wrote, "Hilarious, irreverent and laced with Milligan's unique brand of crazy humor".

References

Category: Memoirs Category: 1978 books