Chocolate and Cuckoo Clocks

Edited by his children, Giles and Victoria, Chocolate and Cuckoo Clocks is an anthology of humorous writing from the former editor of Punch and Radio 4 national treasure Alan Coren, who died in October 2007.

In a prolific forty-year career Alan Coren wrote for The Times, Observer, Tatler, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Listener, Punch and the New Yorker, and published over 20 books including The Sanity Inspector, Golfing for Cats and The Collected Bulletins of Idi Amin (he turned down an invitation from Amin to visit Uganda saying, 'I'll probably end up as a sandwich'). Even twenty years ago he estimated that he had published six million words, or ten copies of War and Peace.

Coren was one of Britain's most prolific and now much-missed humourists, finding the comedy of life all around him and rendering it, hilariously and compellingly, in polished and witty prose which will be eagerly devoured by his loyal fanbase.

“"Coren is our heavyweight champion humorist, over-powering as well as graceful, able to do everything, sometimes in the same short article."”

A comic genius. The Times The field is led by Alan Coren. Observer Coren is our heavyweight champion humorist, over-powering as well as graceful, able to do everything, sometimes in the same short article. Guardian The funniest writer in Britain today. Sunday Times Coruscating! A master humorist! Daily Telegraph He has a comic imagination which can actually render your jaded scribe flabbergasted. -- Clive James Observer His power of observation knows no bounds. Daily Mail Coren's extraordinary gift for seeing the funny side of everyday life is in abundant evidence throughout this book, which will have you chuckling out loud. Good Book Guide 20090401 This book brings together a well-chosen and quiveringly funny sample of [Coren's] comic writing ... The humour in these columns isn't about one-liners and the best pieces take a fertile idea and run a mile with it, sparking a shower of bon mots in the process. -- James Purdon Observer 20090517 Accomplished. -- Colin Waters Sunday Herald 20090607 A fitting testament to a man who gave millions joy. -- Richard Morrison Times 20090606 Anthologies of humorous writing are usually deadly, but this one collates Alan Coren's work into decades, each with an introduction by someone you've heard of, and tries to give it a purpose above that of the pursuit of cheap laughs. The upshot is that Coren's anarchic silliness has something to play against. -- Toby Clements Daily Telegraph 20090621 An engaging collection ... The warmth and wit of these pieces stand the test of time. -- Anita Sethi Independent on Sunday 20090621 If you ever wanted to find the Corens' funny bone, this is the best place to start. -- Matt Hussey The Shortlist 20090716 * This ultimate collection of the writings of the much loved and sadly missed humorist, broadcaster and self styled 'sage of Cricklewood' has been selected by his children Giles and Victoria and contain pieces spanning a career of more than 40 years. London Review of Books 20090806

Alan Coren (27 June 1938 - 18 October 2007) was an English humourist, writer and satirist who was well known as a regular panellist on the BBC radio quiz The News Quiz and a team captain on BBC television's Call My Bluff. Coren was also a journalist, and for nine years was the editor of Punch magazine.

'Brilliant' Melvyn Bragg'Perfect' A.A. Gill'Wickedly good' Clive James'A master' Victoria WoodThe Queen at a loose end playing I-Spy, QPR fans arguing at the cheese counter, prank phone calls to Mao Tse-Tung, the Roman tax collector Glutinus Sinus dealing with the mud-caked Britons, Gatling guns, an Italian driving school, herons, hearing aids, hosepipe bans, talking parrots . . . Welcome to the wonderful world of the late, great Alan Coren.'Coren is not just a funny writer but a comic genius.'Observer'A master humorist!'Daily Telegraph

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