Believe Me

April 24, 2017
Beloved comedian, actor, and writer Izzard, known partly for being an “out” transvestite who sometimes wears dresses, heels, and lipstick on stage, shares intimate details about his life and is emotionally transparent throughout this splendid memoir. Born in Yemen to English parents, Izzard moved with his family back to the U.K. when he was young. There he had a happy childhood until his beloved mother died of cancer when he was six. This trauma, Izzard explains, pushed him, with the magical thinking that it would somehow bring his mother back, relentlessly toward a successful career in show business. He writes about coming to terms with his gender identity and recognizing that he was transgender at a young age, but told no one for nearly two decades. As his star began to rise, Izzard grew confident enough to dress as a woman on stage. Whether recounting his boarding-school shenanigans, his struggles with dyslexia, or his work with Sports Relief U.K. over the years (including last year when he ran 27 marathons in 27 days), the book is both funny and painful, and ultimately uplifting.

May 1, 2017
The cross-dressing, multilingual comic speaks on matters from "the basic bloke-in-a-dress look" to international affairs.Born in the British protectorate of Aden in 1962, Izzard claims he is "a really boring person" who just happens to have swallowed several libraries' worth of books and lived a fairly interesting, if sometimes difficult, life. His mother died when he was very young, leaving it to a put-upon father and the English school system to raise him; he tends to divide the world into the time "before Mum died" and all the rest of it. One consequence: Izzard is an adamant atheist who holds that if there is anything like a god, then that deity has some explaining to do on matters such as "WWII, Hitler, bowel cancer, and Croc shoes." Croc shoes may be one thing, but the author's own garb of plastic trousers, frock or kimono, and black eyeliner was a choice that resulted from an effort to bring the glam aesthetic of David Bowie et al. to the comedy stage. Izzard charts a tough trajectory, from the first glimmers of a career at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 35-odd years ago to a kind of niche superstardom that has put him in concert films, dramatic and comedic movie roles, and other vehicles. Unusually, too, he has taken to performing comedy routines in several European languages, as a statement of universality and fraternity. Here, apart from recounting that path, he takes the opportunity to philosophize--earnestly and much less humorously than one might expect--on many issues of the day, from transgender rights to the struggle to replace pessimism with optimism in a time of hatred and fear. "Despair is the fuel of terrorism," he writes, "and hope is the fuel of civilization, so we have to put more hope into the world than despair." Izzard's many fans will enjoy his reflections, less outlandish than expected and more rueful than boastful.

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May 1, 2017

In this witty and honest memoir, performer Izzard (Dress To Kill) chronicles his life and career thus far. Izzard, age 55, knew at an early age that he wanted to be an actor and began doing plays and musicals in primary school. Izzard moved often, owing to his father's job at BP Oil. At the beginning of the book, he details one of the events that greatly affected his life: losing his mother to cancer when he was just six years old. Izzard developed a knack for comedy eventually leading to his success as a stand-up comic and actor. Throughout, he candidly discusses his experiences as a self-professed transvestite and his family's reaction. This account feels as if the author is having a conversation with the reader rather than simply sprouting information about himself. Readers will enjoy the diary-like aspect. VERDICT For Izzard's followers, this is definitely worth the read. Well written and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, it's recommended for fans of comedy and theater and those who appreciate wicked and honest repartee.--Holly Skir, York Coll., CUNY

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 31, 2017
British comedian and actor Izzard—whose numerous awards include two Emmys for the cable television special Dressed to Kill in 2000—brings his unique stream-of-consciousness performance style to the audio edition of his new autobiography. The narrative traces Izzard’s evolution from street performer to stand-up headliner and also his personal life; he explores his transgender identity, his dyslexia, and his transformation from carb addict to marathon runner. Izzard builds on the frequent footnotes and asides already in the text to also include “real-time” clarifications for the audio edition, adding impromptu updates to several of the book’s anecdotes. Izzard’s acting chops manage to shine through quite nicely in his characterizations and imitations, and he possesses a special gift for American accents. Those not previously immersed in Izzard’s comedic work may find themselves scratching their heads at the frequent interjections, but fans will appreciate his knack for defying convention to deliver a distinct listening experience. A Blue Rider hardcover.