Review of 'Back Story: A Memoir'
Back Story: A Memoir by David Mitchell (Comedian)
In “Back Story” comedian David Mitchell (not to be confused with, he makes it clear, the AUTHOR David Mitchell) takes us on a walk around London with each chapter taking in a different area and bits of his life that he shares with the reader. He talks about having to always been interested in performing but feeling forced to take a “real degree” in Cambridge though finding himself completely ignoring his studies and instead getting more and more involved with the local theatre scene, specifically the famous Cambridge Footlights comedy group. It was from here we learn he honed his craft, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe as well as on the stage in both comedic and serious dramatic roles. He tells of his financial issues throughout this time, living a life consisting of simply performance, eat and sleep - A passion for performing that he has never questioned. He and his fellow performer Robert Webb then got their big break when cast for television, and he has not looked back since.
Reasonably funny but not much “laugh out loud”, I found “Back Story” a bit of a hard read. I suppose this is because there is a lot going on here with the walking around London and personal anecdotes sprinkled liberally with his dry humour. Sure, it is still entertaining but it is something I could only take in small doses, reading only a few chapters at a time despite them being only 8-10 pages long. It was interesting to read not only his unique perspectives on live but also of his deep-rooted self-deprecation that he freely acknowledges combined with his innate talent as an entertainer. Hearing how much he has done is amazing and what it has taken for him to get where he is today.
An interesting, and mostly funny, read but a bit of a slog (sorry David!).
Rating: “It is OK but I have some issues”
Review Date: 2025-11-08
Genre: Autobiography
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: 2012
ISBN: 9780007351749