Humphrey Lyttelton autobiography to be published in October
14/08/2008 01:00 GMT

Posted by lisa

"Last Chorus: An Autobiographical Medley" by Humphrey Lyttelton is scheduled to be published on October 25th. 

Amazon's listing for the book can be found at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Chorus-Autobiographical-Humphrey-Lyttelton/dp/1906217181/

An article at Bookseller.com gives more details about the book, including the fact that Humph's son Stephen has been involved in putting it together:

Encore for 'Humph'
14.08.08 Catherine Neilan

JR Books is publishing the "ultimate" Humphrey Lyttelton book, drawing on a collection of diaries, letters, caricatures, cartoons and photos spanning 50 years.

Last Chorus by Humphrey Lyttelton will be published in hardback in October priced £18.99. The book chronicles the life of the jazz musician and former chair of BBC Radio 4 comedy panel show "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue". Lyttelton died in April aged 86.

Jeremy Robson, publisher at JR Books, described the collection as "absolutely captivating and a real treasure trove". He added: "The diaries, beautifully written in his own fine hand and often very revealing, are a work of art in themselves."

The 400 to 500-page book takes readers from his childhood as the son of an Eton housemaster and his time in the Army, through to his life as a jazz musician playing with legendary figures such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, and his many years on the Radio 4 comedy quiz show.
As well as hosting "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue", Lyttelton was also the host of BBC Radio 2's "The Best of Jazz" for more than 40 years.

"He was an absolutely wonderful writer—not a comma needed changing," said Robson. "I have been working closely with Humph's son Stephen on a daily basis, sifting and organising the material into what we see as the ultimate Lyttelton book. It is a real privilege to be publishing it."

Robson said the book would offer a rare glimpse into Lyttelton's life."What has been touching since he died is that thousands of people have been sending messages to the website, many of them quite young. They all talk as if they knew him, and [Stephen] feels this book is a way of knowing him for more than just being on the radio."