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DOONICAN, VAL: : THE SPECIAL YEARS: AN Autobiography. [Author SIGNED copy.]

LONDON.ELM TREE BOOKS/HAMISH HAMILTON,1980.

ISBN 241104998.

UK,slim 8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn. VG+/VG+.No owner inscrptn but author's/ subject's blue ink,handwritten warm dedication: 'To Vicki with love and good wishes Val Doonican 1980' to half-title page and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright, crisp,clean,glossy laminated,subject/ author portrait colour photographic illustrated dw/dj front+rear panels,with white lettering to front and inevitably but slightly sunned/faded spine/backstrip; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - no major nicks or tears present.Top edges slightly dulled/ darkened or toned,fore-edges brighter and clean too; contents bright,tight,clean, solid and sound - near pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners,appears unread - apart from my own collation.Bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered,publisher's original plain red cloth bds with bright,crisp,stamped gilt letters to spine/backstrip and immaculate plain white eps.UK,slim 8vo HB+dw/dj, SIGNED,1st edn,1-156pp [paginated] includes an introduction,11 chapters,16pp contemporary b/w auto+biographical photographs in 2 blocks of 8pp apiece, between pp50/1 and pp114/15 respectively, assorted b/w illustrations by Val Doonican himself,interspersed throughout the text and the book,plus [unpaginated] author SIGNED half-title page,title page,a dedication,acknowledgements and a contents list/table. The first of 2 volumes of autobiography by Doonican,preceding 'Walking Tall' the sequel. 'It took me seventeen years to become an overnight success.' And so it did.For seventeen years Val Doonican had played and sung all over Ireland,Britain,and Germany,in clubs,dance halls,theatres,Army and Air Force bases - even cinemas; it took just one major television show from the London Palladium in 1964 to turn him into a star,an overnight success. Val Doonican,whose gentle voice and Irish humour have charmed us ever since,now tells the story of those seventeen years and of his childhood in Ireland before World War II. From a poor but close-knit family,Val paints a vivid,humorous and touching picture of his early years; the many incidents he recounts,filled with fun and drama,recall the world of childhood with particular charm. Compelled to leave school because of his father's sudden tragic death,Val's first job was in the works where his brothers were employed.He describes how,on his first day,the boss handed him a hammer 'with which I became remarkably adept, knocking inch nails into wooden boxes with such speed and accuracy that I would have made a worthy interlude on 'The Generation Game'. About a year later he left the job,and from then on his story was one of a long hard grind (alleviated by much good humour and camaraderie) towards his goal of becoming a musical entertainer. His discovery by impressario Val Parnell marked the turning point of Val's career as a highly successful and much-loved artist,whose television programmes and recordings have made him a household name. Val's story,which reflects in its every line the warmth,sincerity and humour of the man who wrote it,will bring as much pleasure to its readers as his unmistakable brand of entertainment has to his millions of fans over the years. Born in Waterford,Ireland in 1927,Val Doonican is now celebrating his 33rd year in the entertainment business (then 1980). He has to his credit: 9 hit records,6 best -selling LPs,3 Television Personality of the Year Awards,box-office records for thatres all over the country and an annual series of television shows on BBC 1,in addition to a number of special programmes.His main hobby is golf and he lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife, Lynn,and his two daughters,Sarah and Fiona - (again,then 1980). Since April 2013,again in March 2015,and in this year too,the UK Post Office has altered it's Pricing in Proportion template,altering it's prices,weight allowances,dimensions and lowered it's qualifying compensation rates too! So,please contact seller,because of the lighter weight and the value of this item for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!

UK,slim 8vo HB+dw/dj,SIGNED,1st edn.
'To Vicki with love and good wishes Val Doonican 1980'

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