I Know Nothing: The Autobiography

(Hardback)

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A few weeks before Kristallnacht inNovember 1938, Andrew Sachs looked on as Nazi officers arrested his fatherwhile the family was eating in a restaurant. The son of a Jewish father and alapsed Catholic mother, a few days later he watched as the Nazis burned andlooted Jewish shops on the streets of Berlin. The boy who witnessed theseevents before he and his family escaped to London would later become famous forbeing the butt of comic cruelties in Fawlty Towers. However, the journey toTorquay, where the iconic series was set, was a long and unexpected one.

I KnowNothing recounts anecdotes of a bizarre adolescence, the author's oftenhilarious struggle to come to terms with all things English, including thefood, the schools and the perils of the language (rude words especially!), hisearly days in rep, and later working with a galaxy of stars including RexHarrison, Norman Wisdom, Noel Coward, Alec Guinness, Richard Burton, PeterSellers and Dame Edith Evans. It tells of how he eventually came to team upwith John Cleese on the show that would make him famous as the hapless waiterfrom Barcelona, and tells the true story of how the classic series was made andthe personalities involved in its creation.

Reviews

"Those into celebrity autobiographies should watch out for offerings from Andrew Sachs - " The Press " There is, however, a lot more to the memoir than Manuel - as well as telling a jolly showbiz tale, he can also strike a more serious and insightful tone when the subject matter requires it." The Times "[T]his is an engaging and often touching account of someone who has gone through life hellbent on squeezing as much enjoyment out of it as he can." Mail On Sunday "The harrowing, inspiring life of Andrew Sachs." Roger Lewis, The Spectator "A feast of stories, funny and sad, name droppings par excellence, thoughtful opinions and a 54-year-old love story." Yours

Author Bio

Born in Germany in 1930, Andrew Sachs came to England in 1938 with his family. Following school and a stint of National Service, he began a career in theatre, touring Britain before joining the BBC Drama Repertory Company, where he achieved success on stage, television and the radio. He landed his career-defining role in 1975: the Spanish waiter Manuel in the hugely popular Fawlty Towers. Performing regularly on and off stage ever since, Sachs has recently appeared in Coronation Street and the acclaimed film Quartet. He lives in north London with his wife, Melody.