Castaway or Cast Away?
Neither! This is ...
Comfort for a Castaway
The previously unpublished, private writings of Gerald Kingsland
Journalist, editor, author and real life castaway.
Gerald Kingsland - the original castaway - was portrayed by the late Oliver Reed in the film 'Castaway', co-starring Amanda Donohoe. Now, his private writings have been published and the book is about to be unleashed on the unsuspecting public - until it possibly gets banned.
Mark my words, the release of 'Comfort for a Castaway' will certainly force Gerald Kingsland's name to resurface big time! From his worldwide travels stemmed many a best seller, TV series and film. As the original editor of Mayfair magazine and well known Fleet Street journalist, Gerald's name possibly became more famous for his advert in London's 'Time Out' magazine, looking for a wife, or 'girl-Friday', to accompany him on his travels to a remote desert island. From over 50 applicants, Gerald chose Lucy Irvine, 24 years his junior. Lucy later completed the book, 'Castaway', and, here in the UK, most viewers are familiar with the Channel Four series of similar name. After reading the personal works and true life stories of the late Gerald Kingsland, I'd redub the TV series - A Far Cry From the Truth!
I was honoured to be asked to read and review the previously unpublished, private works of Gerald Kingsland, a real 'Robinson Crusoe' character who virtually followed in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson. I certainly was not prepared for what I read!
As seen above, the book presents you with an idyllic desert island setting and even the name deceives the unsuspecting reader - 'Comfort for a Castaway'. (Unless, of course, it is a play on words and suggests you should simply cast away the book? The feint-hearted may well consider this option!) The front cover instantly lulls the reader into a false sense of security by stating that the contents are, "For the relief of the blues should you be marooned in reality or fantasy". Beneath the relaxing title is a taster, (it should have been a warning!) of what is in store - "The private, sensual, scategorical and irreligious writings of GERALD KINGSLAND - dubbed King of the Castaways by the Daily Mail and anti-hero of the untrue and crap film Castaway".
In the author's own words, "At first I could not believe what I was writing - pure lavatory humour; and it flowed from me effortlessly like verbal diarrhoea, mainly as poetry. I had never written anything like it before."
In my own words, "I have never read anything like it before!" In parts it is no more than pure and unadulterated filth, near blasphemy and, I'm ashamed to admit, tear-jerkingly, outrageously funny! As the author clearly states in the opening pages, (relating to certain events that I choose not to print here) "If this should happen DON'T WORRY. Without medical aid you'll soon be dead. But it is my sincere wish that this book will enable you to die laughing."
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