British Writer Dies - Keith Waterhouse

[Jimbeaux]

This was carried in my local paper. Was he well known?

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

[Eric Mc]

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]

Billy Liar - not Billy Elliot.

[Digga]

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]

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]

Thanks guys; it was carried in our local obits as "world figures" who passed on.

[gareth_r]

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".

[whitechief]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1211366/RI...

[Eric Mc]

Guam said:

Eric Mc said:

Billy Liar - not Billy Elliot.

Yeah I know I had an uncharacterisitc brain fart, thatll larn me

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

I will consider myself duly chastened.

Quite correct of course Billy liar DOH!


Cheers

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

[DWP]

Any man, whose Who's Who entry, listed his hobby as Lunch, is a PH hero.

[spikeyhead]

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.