Just Ignore Him
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1 September 2020 |
| Founder | Alan Davies |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Autobiography |
Just Ignore Him is a 2020 autobiographical work by British comedian Alan Davies, recounting his formative years.
Background
Alan Davies is recognized for his role in Jonathan Creek and as a regular panelist on the television quiz show QI. Just Ignore Him marks his second publication, succeeding My Favourite People And Me, 1978–88 (2009), which was later reissued under the title Teenage Revolution. Davies reflected that his initial book lacked "all the things that mattered". The conception of Just Ignore Him began during his part-time MA course in creative writing at Goldsmiths, University of London starting in 2016. Initially, he composed short stories about his experiences from a third-person perspective; one of these pieces evolved with minimal revision into the chapter titled "Hands".[1] Davies has also expressed intentions to transform the memoir into a stand-up performance.[2]
When discussing the manuscript with friends, some questioned the decision to disclose such intimate details publicly. However, Davies considered the narrative to belong to both himself and his mother and felt compelled to share it. In an interview with The Observer, he stated: "I also wanted to tell people they could talk about their own stories, even if they had never talked about them before".[1] His goal was for the memoir to serve as "a record to last a long time," envisioning that his children would read it when they were older. He described the writing process as "very, very difficult" and emphasized that it did not provide catharsis.[2]
The book was announced in November 2019 and subsequently released in the United Kingdom by Little, Brown and Company on 1 September 2020.[1][3] Its publication coincided with a crowded autumn season, which faced disruptions due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Davies was hesitant to participate extensively in promotional activities, preferring that readers uncover the memoir’s themes on their own. He requested that any references to abuse be excluded from pre-publication publicity. Despite this, his publishers did not clearly convey these wishes; consequently, the Sydney Morning Herald published excerpts revealing sensitive aspects alongside Davies’s explanation of his preferences.[2]
Synopsis
The memoir explores Davies' early years, focusing on his mother's passing and the sexual abuse inflicted by his father, and examines how these experiences influenced his development.
Reception
Fiona Sturges of The Observer commended the book for its "fiercely honest" tone, noting its serious nature balanced with dark humour and describing it as "more sad than angry." She later included it among her top five celebrity memoirs of 2020, highlighting its "intimate" and "open-hearted" qualities. Additionally, The Sunday Times recognized it as the finest film and theatre book of 2020. Reviewer Jonathan Dean labelled it "surely the bravest memoir of the year."
Further reading
- Alan Davies: I didn't want my shack of feelings blown down, The Guardian, 23 August 2020
- Saturday Live - Alan Davies, BBC, 19 September 2020
External links
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