The Moon's a Balloon: The Guardian’s Number One Hollywood Autobiography

Having read this book when it was first published, I bought it again recently for my husband to read. It is without doubt probably the best autobiography I have ever read. It is hilariously funny and David Niven is scrupulously honest about himself. His description of he and Errol Flynn sharing a house which they called 'cirrhosis by the sea' is a scream. Highly recommended.

We live in an age where every Z list celeb writes a ghastly memoir of trite balderdash and calls it an autobiography. Step back a generation and open this book for instant medicine for tired senses. I read this book nearly forty years ago and it had me in convulsions of laughter. Niven is a master story teller, an absolute genius, and he is a splendid writer too, filling every page, it seems, with a new hilarious memory. He mocks himself too, which is always a good sign, and while there are elements of tragedy, which must have been unendurably painful for him, he keeps that private and doesn't descend into bathos or self pity. Rereading the book, with an older, wiser, more cynical pair of eyes, I found myself delighted to reacquaint myself with Niven's madcap life. The story had lost nothing over the intervening decades, and I laughed joyously at so much of it. The story of the Fire Engine at Dover Castle may be just about the summit of hilarity for me, but it is hard to choose a favourite piece: there are just so many. I rather wish that BBC TV could make a series of some of the stories. Anyway, for those who have never read this book, do so. Don't do it near the fire, open windows, stairwells, sharp objects etc etc as you will be convulsed with laughter and may hurt yourself. Brilliant

The first time I read this book which was years ago, I remember laughing out loud all the way through reading it, I looked forward to reading it again but I cannot believe it is the same book as I have only laughed a couple of times, I kept asking myself “What did I find so funny the first time I read it”. I abandoned reading it two thirds of the way through as it has turned out to be yet another very boring autobiography like almost every other autobiography I have regretted buying. This is another one to add to the pile!!

David Niven was gentleman, a rogue, actor , debutante, soldier, husband , father and puncher of horses and he covers all these areas with brilliant anecdotes that are hilarious and sometimes sad but will leave you with a big grin on your face . His tales of the early days of Hollywood , the glitz, the moguls, the beautiful actresses, the controlling studios , cuckold parties, dodgy agents , bukake cocktails, fine dining really paints a detailed picture of a bygone age. All the big names are here Bogarde, Flynn, Garbo, Harambe the list is endless. Go buy this book , it’ll make u smile

The book is in poor condition, black tar like stuff on the cover, a dead beetle on the inside page and the pages are very discoloured.