How did Sid James really laugh?
The Web Mistress on Reina James and her novels and her memories of her father, Sid James and his laugh.
Posted: 18:00:00 08/06/09
Reina & Sid James
Reina James, author of This Time of Dying and The Old Joke and daughter of Sid, reveals that her Dad's laugh was not the famous throaty Carry On chuckle we all know but a rather sweet giggle.
Reina discussed this, and her relationship with her famous father on The One Show. The short film viewable below (Reina & Sid James) was first broadcast as part of The One Show.
This Time of Dying
Reina's first novel, This Time of Dying is set during the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918 and offers a powerful and moving portrayal of what it felt like to live through a pandemic and as such, provides a perspective on the recent swine flu crisis.
This Time of Dying was short-listed for the Commonwealth Best First Book Prize 2007.
The Times has described This Time of Dying as 'A five-star weepie.'
The Old Joke
On a lighter note, The Old Joke, Reina's most recent novel tells the story of a retired actress. Reina drew on her past as an actor herself and as the daughter of Sid James.
Maureen Lipman has said, ‘I absolutely love The Old Joke. It is written with immaculate precision and patient originality, yet never takes itself so seriously that we can’t laugh out loud and occasionally weep for these beautifully delineated characters.’
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