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The "League of Gentlemen"'s Book of Precious Things
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A Literary Sampler of the Influences on the Gentlemen
Review date: 2008-09-27 Rating: 8 out of 10
I enjoyed this book mainly because I already love classic Doctor Who, John Shuttleworth and Alan Bennett. But this book has introduced me to new authors who have inspired the kings of Vasey.
I do rather wonder if anyone outside fandom will be that interested though and, it must be said, the chosen passages are very short so as to leave the reader with "Chinese buffet" syndrome - small very different dishes but not a feeling of satisfaction. For example, you don't really get a full feeling of the majesty of "The Talons of Weng Chiang" in reading a couple of pages of the script.
A bit of an odd pick and mix but still a good read ....... but any chance of another movie or series Gentlemen?
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Reviews
(The League of) Gentlemen's relish
Review date: 2008-03-25 Rating: 10 out of 10
`The League of Gentlemen's Book of Precious Things' is an entertainingly eclectic anthology, which brings together the singularly individual choices of Messrs Dyson, Gatiss, Pemberton and Shearsmith (assembled under `Dyson's Choices', `Gatiss' Greatest', `Pemberton's Picks' & `Reece's Pieces') whilst being, at the same time, a communal compendium reflecting the unique collective sensibility of The League of Gentlemen and their extraordinary wide ranging influences and inspirations.
The collection is a fascinating one and the material is a mixture of the intelligent, the ribald, the theatrical, the bizarre, the dramatic, the accessible and the obscure. A love of language, the macabre, the gothic and a touch of the melancholic are unifying factors linking many of the choices. The range of sources show The League's respect for and love of writers who have forged their own vision & articulated a distinctive individuality.
The `precious things' found within the pages range from the Coen Brothers to Noel Coward by way of `Exorcist III' and 1970s BBC documentaries, from Aickman to Wood, `Doctor Who' to Rumpelstiltskin, `Porridge' to `Dead Babies' and many things in between.
Surely the four Gents were somehow destined to collaborate , so attuned along the same creative wavelength as they seem to be - was it just fate that they all happened to watch a bonfire night screening of `Carry on Screaming' on BBC1 in 1976?
Although maybe not as an essential `must have' for fans as `A Local Book for Local People', `Scripts and That' or the brilliant books by Jeremy and Mark, `Book of Precious Things' is nevertheless a very interesting and worthwhile addition to The League's literary works.
It puts you onto their wavelength (if their fans weren't there already) placing their own leap of collective creativity into context. The wide variety of choices on display in turn helps you to understand their own originality and uniqueness.
It certainly inspired me to seek out several of the pieces featured within its pages - which is what any decent anthology should do.
In itself `The League of Gentlemen's Book of Precious Things' is an uniquely expansive and original literary/tv/comedy collection as you'd hope to find, as extraordinary as The League of Gentlemen themselves.
Another disappointment from The League
Review date: 2008-01-08 Rating: 4 out of 10
Dear, oh dear. Any initial interest in the new League Of Gents book was quickly dispelled upon discovery that it's an 'influences' compendium, and more akin to a literary mix-tape. "Still, I'm sure they include some hilarious, dramatically inspiring material, right?". Alas, no.
I'm sure there are many fans like me who were shocked by the often banal, slight and pointless excerpts included here. Don't get me wrong, the League have included some excellent and disparate writers; Alan Bennett, Hubert Selby Jnr, Victoria Wood, Shirley Jackson, Monty Python, Edgar Allen Poe and so on. You certainly can't fault their taste. Yet the excerpts are usually either too brief to leave you with any impression, or are curiously weak and misleading examples of the authors work.
Despite a very pretty cover, the book also looks like it has been thrown together quickly and carelessly; Why include the indulgent 'I, An Actor' twice in one volume? Most fans reading this book are likely well aware of the 'Wicker Man' influences, so why include a chapter when you can't get the rights to include an excerpt? Song lyrics... are you kidding? A transcript of the documentary 'Change of Sex' seems pointless and was already addressed far more convincingly on one of their own docs.
Most surprisingly from these clearly talented individuals, the introductory passages are usually brief, 'informal' and alarmingly humourless affairs. The editorial is just as poor: Dyson's contents listing is incorrectly numbered, while Woody Allen's 'Hannah and Her Sisters' in Sheersmith's section isn't listed at all.
The recent novels by Gents Jeremy Dyson and Mark Gatiss are excellent, and I'd highly recommend 'What Happens Now' and 'Devil In Amber' in particular. While the 'Scripts And That' and 'Local Book' hardbacks are indispensable, this latest book is an unnecessary addition to the League catalogue. Avoid it like 'special stuff'.
a very precious thing
Review date: 2007-09-24 Rating: 10 out of 10
any hardcore gent fan needs to get this. its a nice little collection of stuff that has inspired/influenced the league. in a weird way it makes you feel closer to them (not meaning to sound creepy)
Product Details/Specifications
Authors:
League of Gentlemen
Recording label: Prion Books Ltd
Manufacturer: Prion Books Ltd
EAN: 9781853756214
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN: 1853756210
Number of pages: 240
Publication date: 2007-09-03
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Unknown)