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Let's Do It: The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood Hardcover – 29 December 2020
Jasper Rees (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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- Print length592 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherTrapeze
- Publication date29 December 2020
- Dimensions16 x 5.2 x 23.6 cm
- ISBN-101409184099
- ISBN-13978-1409184096
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Review
Let's Do It is a biography that feels as unflinching and true as it is entertaining and affectionate. Rees pulls off the trick of writing a brilliant tribute while also - somehow, almost - bringing Victoria Wood back to life in all her complicated glory. -- Viv Groskop ― GUARDIAN Published On: 2020-10-24
When I met Victoria I gushed at her and she told me to stop, which was sweet and kind and saved us both! I won't gush now as per her non gushing desires, except to say that I would love people to read this beautiful book about the woman I will be forever grateful for in leading the way for me and other women in comedy and for making my life a jollier one. ― Miranda Hart
There was none like her before and there's been none like her since - she was unique... I contributed to the book because I know that Jasper [Rees], who wrote it was a great friend of hers and she trusted him...and I knew that he would respect that... We weren't sitting down to be soft and fluffy about Vic, because Vic was quite spiky, quite demanding, and utterly hilarious. ― Dawn French on BBC RADIO 5 LIVE Published On: 2020-10-15
I remember first watching Victoria Wood when she was on Look North, when she would simply sing a song and play the piano, and knew then she was someone special. Decades later, I saw her show at the Albert Hall and not long after I bumped into her in our local M&S. I started to cry as I told her how amazing she was that night - I had no words for how wonderful she had been. Thankfully Jasper Rees has found the perfect words to convey Victoria's brilliance, in this meticulously researched, immersive and entertaining biography. It is a wonderful tribute to a pioneering entertainer who we all still miss so keenly. ― Alison Steadman
An extraordinary, wonderful, rich biography of Victoria Wood - every bit as fascinating, challenging, and brilliant as she was. It is evident that Jasper Rees loves his subject and has been given unprecedented access to Wood's personal and professional archives. He explores Victoria's inspirations and creative processes, celebrating her genius, and never shying away from the tricky stuff. ― Nina Stibbe
I love this book. I adored Victoria, and Jasper Rees has almost brought her back to life, so I highly recommend it to all her admirers who miss her desperately. Which is, of course, all of us. ― Dame Esther Rantzen
The authorised biography of Victoria Wood by Jasper Rees is great - wonderfully detailed on her creative process, the graft she put in and the mechanics of how she did what she did, but losing none of the warmth and joy of what ended up on screen. Recommended. ― Simon Blackwell, writer of VEEP and THE THICK OF IT
You can almost feel him riffling files, rewinding tapes, so carefully is it pieced together. Yet the reward is a 360-degree biography that transforms a beloved entertainer into a real human being, moving about a recognisable world: unhappy family home, provincial theatre, TV studio, celebrity's Highgate terrace, even, heartbreakingly, hospital room. It's a book for fans, of course, but it also documents 40 years of British entertainment, filtered through a life that stretched so much further than a few knackered bras. -- Victoria Segal ― SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE Published On: 2020-10-11
This biographer is the safest of hands, both for helpless fans like me, and to any outsiders who haven't paid attention... It does not feel intrusive because it is so richly fed with the memories of those who properly loved her, and those memories add to the store of lines to treasure... She kept us happy for years herself. I am thankful, for her and for this good biography. Might cry again now. -- Libby Purves ― THE TIMES Published On: 2020-10-24
A smashing biography. He gives a sense of what the real Victoria was like and conveys the unique qualities of her work - and provides a bridge between the two. At one point he says tactfully that the dreadful statue of Victoria in Bury shows "how hard it is to capture in bronze the bounce of her hair and the glow of her smile". At its best, this book does that in prose. -- Jake Kerridge ― SUNDAY EXPRESS S MAGAZINE Published On: 2020-10-18
Rees's biography is a must-read for her fans... This meticulously researched account of her life shows what a loss she is. -- Emma-Lee Potter ― DAILY MIRROR Published On: 2020-10-16
With meticulous thoroughness ... Let's Do It is nearly 600 pages long and copiously footnoted. Rees interviewed Wood frequently in her lifetime, spent two years on research, using Wood's own audio and written notes, and interviewed more than 200 people (from her children and perennial collaborators to occasional accompanists). It shows - this is an immersive, authoritative book... Do it, I urge you, while the mood is right. -- Emma Beddington ― THE SPECTATOR Published On: 2020-10-15
Joyous and revealing... If you're a diehard Wood fan (as I am) you'll find this account of her life wholly engrossing, and it also stands as a wonderful tribute to a pioneering entertainer and her exacting comic genius. -- Caroline Sanderson ― THE BOOKSELLER, Editor's Choice Published On: 2020-07-13
Packed with enlightening anecdotes and revealing interviews with her family and closest friends. A real treat. -- Martin Chilton ― INDEPENDENT Published On: 2020-10-14
This superb biography ensures we can't forget how revolutionary she was. -- Tanya Gold ― THE OLDIE Published On: 2020-10-13
For anyone who loves Victoria Wood, this biography - authorised by her literary estate - is a joy. It paints a rounded portrait of a genuinely nice and kind woman who could also be difficult, scathing, even ruthless. -- Christopher Stevens ― DAILY MAIL Published On: 2020-10-23
Rees is excellent on Wood's long struggle. -- Roger Lewis ― SUNDAY TELEGRAPH Published On: 2020-10-04
With exclusive access to Victoria's archive, Rees has produced this fascinating portrait of a comedy genius who became a national treasure. -- Zoe West ― WOMAN & HOME Published On: 2020-11-01
A joyous read. -- Julia Llewellyn Smith ― THE MAIL ON SUNDAY Published On: 2020-11-01
Written with the approval of family and friends this is a biography more than worthy of its much-missed subject. ― THE NEW EUROPEAN Published On: 2020-10-29
Rees's research is wide-ranging and detailed... his analysis is acute and often beautifully articulated. -- Fiona Sturges ― I NEWSPAPER Published On: 2020-11-14
This profile of the astute observer of domesticity is warm-hearted and full of detail. -- Hannah Jane Parkinson ― OBSERVER Published On: 2020-11-15
Impeccable -- Iona McLaren ― THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, Books of the Year Published On: 2020-11-28
A fascinating portrait of a comedy genius who became a national treasure. ― WOMAN'S WEEKLY Published On: 2021-01-05
Exemplary... Despite the memories of laughter it evoked, I was left saddened by the thought that Wood was really making strides into a brilliant second career as a screenwriter and director when illness took her away from us. ― Jonathan Coe
From the Publisher
About the Author
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Product details
- Publisher : Trapeze; 1st edition (29 December 2020)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 592 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1409184099
- ISBN-13 : 978-1409184096
- Dimensions : 16 x 5.2 x 23.6 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 446,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 825 in Comedy (Books)
- 2,013 in Biographies of Television Performers
- 2,707 in Biographies of Opera Performers
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

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Customer reviews
Top reviews from other countries

This biography by Jasper Rees is everythingI’ve been looking forward to. It’s a compelling read, filled with insight into a complex individual and her, at times, odd personal story. There’s clearly been extensive access to a lot of original source material ( detailed at the end of the book). There are numerous photos and an extensive index. It’s clear that the author was working closely with Victoria Wood and that this biography was in progress with her blessing and endorsement. It’s written with sensitivity, honesty and compassion.
From an often lonely and isolated childhood, Victoria Wood was always her own person. Her determination to overcome often overwhelming odds was clearly part of her character and from the numerous stories about her writing and shows, it’s clear that she could be exacting to work with. This is a thorough and comprehensive overview, filled with life and it’s a lasting tribute. It’s sad that she died so young when she had so much more to do. I’ve really enjoyed the book and it’s one I’ll return to.



It’s longer than War and Peace and details pretty much everything she ever did in a dense chronological order. I’m sure that what she ate for dinner on a random Wednesday night in the spring of 1974 is interesting for some people, but not me.
Which is a shame because this book is full of wonderful insights, it just needs a good editor. Maybe Edward Scissorhands?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 October 2020
It’s longer than War and Peace and details pretty much everything she ever did in a dense chronological order. I’m sure that what she ate for dinner on a random Wednesday night in the spring of 1974 is interesting for some people, but not me.
Which is a shame because this book is full of wonderful insights, it just needs a good editor. Maybe Edward Scissorhands?

