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Online book search for used, out of print & rare books by J R (illus Benson) Hartley
J R Hartley
Even though he never wrote a book, J R Hartley became a best-seller. He was a man of fiction, literally. He didn't exist, and neither did his book …until people wanted to buy it!
Back in 1983, ITV started screening BT'S 'Yellow Pages' adverts featuring our hero making enquiries for a copy of his [non-existent] fishing book 'Fly Fishing by J R Hartley'. In the sketch, Hartley enunciated his name so precisely over the phone, and so indelibly in the viewers minds. Soon thousands wanted to know where they could buy a copy.
Not since 1938, when Orson Welles created panic across America with his broadcast of H G Wells, 'War of the Worlds', did any commercial get such a massive audience reaction.
So BT found a publisher, Stanley Paul, who scrambled Michael Russell as 'ghost-writer' and Peter Lapsley as angling editor, and cobbled together an instant 'classic' volume of fishing anecdotes, with atmospheric illustrations by Patrick Benson.. The 1st edition hit the shops in 1991 just in time for Christmas, and sold out. Thereafter it ran through many reprints, and two spin-offs with 'J R Hartley Casts Again' and 'Golfing by J R Hartley' (the author/actor's true sport - he having never fished in his life!).
The real fame of this episode (it ranks 13th in Channel 4's top 100 television adverts) was unquestionably due to the pathos and exquisite delivery of Norman Lumsden, the actor who portrayed the character so engagingly. Lumsden had a distinguished career previously as an opera singer, was a favourite of Benjamin Britten and had played every cathedral in Britain. But it was the phoney, ageing fishing author, J R Hartley, that made him a celebrity. On his death, in 2001 at the age of 95, they screened the advert again in his memory, and both The Times and The Guardian printed an obituary.
Real jammy that, for an author who never wrote a book, on fishing which he never did!
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| Dustybooks.co.uk - Search for J R (illus Benson) Hartley books, used, out of print, rare J R (illus Benson) Hartley books and books online, especially children's books, entertainment books, old books, childrens books, book search and antique books. If you cannot find the rare used or out of print book that you are looking for then let us know and we'll do our best to find it for you - there is no charge for our book search facility. |
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[ Last updated 03 March 10 ]
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![Click for larger image of J R Hartley Casts Again. More Memories of Angling Days [sequel to his 'Fly Fishing by J R Hartley'],](http://www.dustybooks.co.uk/graphics/30998.jpg)