When Dave Allen passed away in March 2005, we lost a true comedy great. Sitting cross-legged on a high stool, whiskey in one hand, cigarette in the other, Dave Allen's exasperated commentaries on the absurdities of modern life struck a chord with millions of fans in Britain, Ireland and Australia for over four decades. He was a compelling storyteller - able to spin shaggy dog stories out of the almost any subject, including the missing tip of his fourth finger of his left hand, for which he provided various unlikely explanations. But his gentle, laconic wit could also give way to ferocious attacks on the media, the state and, most famously, the Catholic Church. He was a unique talent - a comic who could make his audiences laugh, cry, and be shocked, all in one. This official celebration of Dave Allen's comedy has been drawn together by Graham McCann - Britain's best-loved entertainment writer. It is a treasure trove of stories, stand-up routines, sketches, interviews and photos, which takes us on a journey from the cradle to the grave. It will delight Dave Allen's million of fans, old and new alike. 'Dave Allen was our greatest storyteller and nobody ever came close to his ability to spin a yarn. He was unique, right up there with the greats.' Jack Dee

The spotlight picked him out: the cool, calm, darkly handsome man sitting up smart and straight in his black leather chair, with a glass of the good stuff by his side and mischief in his eyes. He welcomed you in, and then started sharing stories - some of them short, many of them tall and one or two of them strange - that made you laugh and made you think. He was Dave Allen, and THE ESSENTIAL DAVE ALLEN is a celebration of his very special craft. The range of comic material in the collection covers every stage of life, from the cradle to the grave and beyond, as well as religion and politics, love and sex, food and drink, work and leisure and time and transience. All of Dave Allen's best-loved jokes, monologues and routines are reproduced just as the master storyteller told them. THE ESSENTIAL DAVE ALLEN is a wonderful souvenir for those who grew up loving the man and his humour. For those who are new to him, it is an engaging introduction to a comedian who won the admiration of millions of fans in Ireland, Britain, Australia and beyond.

The book Lifehack calls "The Bible of business and personal productivity." "A completely revised and updated edition of the blockbuster bestseller from 'the personal productivity guru'"—Fast Company Since it was first published almost fifteen years ago, David Allen’s Getting Things Done has become one of the most influential business books of its era, and the ultimate book on personal organization. “GTD” is now shorthand for an entire way of approaching professional and personal tasks, and has spawned an entire culture of websites, organizational tools, seminars, and offshoots. Allen has rewritten the book from start to finish, tweaking his classic text with important perspectives on the new workplace, and adding material that will make the book fresh and relevant for years to come. This new edition of Getting Things Done will be welcomed not only by its hundreds of thousands of existing fans but also by a whole new generation eager to adopt its proven principles.

The image of Dave Allen is seared into our minds. He sits on a tall chair with a glass of J&B, smoking his Gauloises, a fingertip missing as he tells the most hilarious, rambling stories. But what of the man behind the image?Having worked with him as his stage manager, Carolyn Soutar was able to see how he behaved both on and off screen. Here she discusses the Irish Catholic upbringing that brought him so much anger, which he was able to turn to humour, how he toured with the Beatles in the sixties, and became a huge TV star in the following decades.This biography is the most revealing account of the famously private comedian, whose career began in the sixties but who remained influential to a whole new generation of comics in the 21st century.

The image of Dave Allen is seared into our minds. He sits on a tall chair with a glass of Jack Daniels, smoking his Gauloises, a fingertip missing as he tells the most hilarious, rambling stories. But what of the man behind the image?Carolyn Soutar's biography is the most revealing account of the famously private comedian, whose career began in the sixties but who remained influential to a whole new generation of comics in the 21st century. Having worked with him as his stage manager, Soutar was able to see how he behaved both on and off screen. She discusses his Irish Catholic upbringing that brought him so much anger, which he was able to turn to humour. In the sixties, he toured with the Beatles, and became a huge TV star in the following decades.This fascinating account recaptures the essence of a much-loved figure and is a warm tribute to a brilliant comedian. It uncovers much new information about the man behind the jokes and will be a perfect gift for all of him millions of fans.