Back Story (autobiography)

Back Story is an autobiography by British actor, comedian, and writer David Mitchell. The book was published in October 2012.[1] The book entails stories about Mitchell's childhood, schooling and career as a television personality, including personal anecdotes, rants, political commentary and pictures.

Back Story
First edition
AuthorDavid Mitchell
LanguageEnglish
SubjectBiography
PublisherHarperCollins
Publication date
11 October 2012
Media typeHardcover, paperback, audiobook
Pages326
ISBN978-0-00-735172-5 (first edition, hardcover)
OCLC794136103

Synopsis

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The book revolves around a walk in Kilburn, London, on which Mitchell reflects on his childhood, university experiences and career. The book title is also a play-on-words, as Mitchell talks about the problems with his back.

Contents

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  1. Introduction
  2. The Fawlty Towers Years
  3. Inventing Fleet Street
  4. Light-houses, My Boy!
  5. Summoning Servants
  6. The Pianist and the Fisherman
  7. Death of a Monster
  8. Civis Britannicus Sum
  9. The Mystery of the Unexplained Pole
  10. Beatings and Crisps
  11. The Smell of the Crowd
  12. Cross-Dressing, Cards and Cocaine
  13. Presidents of the Galaxy
  14. Badges
  15. Play It Nice and Cool, Son
  16. Teenage Thrills: First Love, and the Rotary Club Public Speaking Competition
  17. Where Did You Get That Hat?
  18. I Am Not a Cider Drinker
  19. Enthusiasm in Basements
  20. God Is Love
  21. The Cause of and Answer to All of Life's Problems
  22. Attention
  23. Mitchell and Webb
  24. We Said We Wouldn’t Look Back
  25. The Lager's Just Run Out
  26. Real Comic Talent
  27. Going Fishing
  28. Causes of Celebration
  29. The Magician
  30. Are You Sitting Down?
  31. Peep Show
  32. Being Myself
  33. Lovely Spam, Wonderful Spam
  34. The Work–Work Balance
  35. The End of the Beginning
  36. Centred

Reception

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The book received generally positive reviews. The Guardian stated that it was an honest memoir, different from other celebrity memoirs and one that would resonate greatly with readers.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "David Mitchell: Back Story". HarperCollinsPublishers. HarperCollinsPublishers. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  2. ^ Freeman, Hadley (2012-10-19). "David Mitchell: goodbye lonely nerd". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-11-07.