Parcel Arrived Safely, Tied with String

But it is three very different roles that made Crawford's name and for which he will be best remembered: the classic comedy of idiotic Frank Spencer, black beret set jauntily at an angle as he finds himself caught up in yet another hair-raising adventure (it comes as no surprise that Crawford, a true professional, did all his own stunts), the unicycling showman of Barnum (another gruelling physical schedule), and the masked misfit who just wants to be loved in the phenomenally successful stage version of The Phantom of the Opera, which revealed Crawford's tireless energy as a performer and showcased his powerful singing voice. Parcel Arrived Safely is an unselfconscious, generous memoir, full of hilarious anecdotes and starstruck encounters. It provides an excellent overview of growing up in post-war suburbia and of British comedy in the 1960s and 70s, and above all Crawford shows that his stability and focus come from the support of his late mother and grandmother, his ex-wife and their two daughters. "My mother used to tell me I had St Vitus's dance" he writes, "the truth is I was hyperactive, always running, always busy, taking things apart, putting them together; always imagining and inventing; endlessly competing, challenging, and questioning." What better way to describe Michael Crawford. --Catherine Taylor

Parcel arrived safely; contained an autobiography...

My school friends used to find my impressions of Frank Spencer hilarious. Even now, I can still attract attention when I recount the yarns of Michael's life to fellow bus passengers. I once met Michael, but I don't think he would remember me now - I had a beard at the time. I loved this book. It's Michael telling us about his life and what he's done and all stuff that made us laugh and cry. I really like the way he spills the beans about being in showbiz. I think he's the British Sammy Davis Jr.


Shines with warmth, humour and nostalgia.   July 8, 2000
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I read "Parcel Arrived..." when it was first published, and now dip into its pages whenever I have run out of other reading material. It is written with so much warmth, humour (much of it throw-away), and reading it will cause any Brit born during or just after the War, to have a terrible attack of nostalgia! It takes you straight back to your childhood and those (difficult!) teenage years.

Michael has not had wall-to-wall success in his life and career and he writes of good times with pride and humility at the same time (if that is possible!) and the bad times with honesty; that mischievous sense of humour creeps in when least expected!

I confess to being a fan of the author, but even if I wasn't, I would enjoy this book for the wonderful style of writing; it is almost as if Michael is sitting talking to you. He's had a pretty interesting life as well! Can't wait for the next instalment!


Charming, Witty, and Touching.   May 11, 2000
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I absolutely loved the book! It gave a window never before seen by the public. It let us into Michael Crawford's heart and it gave us a glimpse of who the man is---not only as a performer. I strongly recommend this book to any Michael Crawford fans and perhaps to other people who have barely ever heard if the man. I thank him for writing this because now I can look at him in a different light. I give the book five stars---for an outstanding performance---just like the star himself!