When Kenneth Horne died in 1969 at the age of 61, he was described as 'the last of the truly great radio comics'. In a broadcasting career spanning more than 25 years he starred in three of the most popular radio comedy series of all time - "Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh", "Beyond Our Ken" and "Round the Horne". Born in 1907, Horne was the youngest of seven children of a Congregationalist preacher and MP. He won a half-blue for tennis at Cambridge but was sent down for failing his exams. In 1939 he joined the RAF and rose to the rank of Wing Commander before he broke into broadcasting after compeering a troop concert on the BBC. With his brother officer, Richard 'Dickie' Murdoch he created the hugely popular Much-Binding-in the-Marsh set on a remote RAF station 'somewhere in England' which ran for ten years. After leaving the RAF he successfully combined two careers, as a businessman and a broadcaster, until he suffered a stroke in 1958 and had to cut short his business career. During his convalescence he helped to devise the legendary radio series "Beyond Our Ken" in which he presided amiably over a cast of anarchic characters played by Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee. This was followed by "Round the Horne" which has been called 'the funniest comedy series in radio history'. In 1969 Kenneth Horne collapsed and died on stage while presenting a television awards programme.

本書は、英国ラジオ喜劇の黄金期を支えたケネス・ホーンという稀代の表現者の多層的な魅力を、単なる評伝を超えた情熱で描き出しています。空軍中佐であり実業家という「規律ある顔」を持ちながら、電波を通じてアナーキーな笑いを世に送り出した彼の二面性こそが、本作最大の文学的見所です。静かなる知性と、戦後の混乱をユーモアで包み込む包容力が交錯する様は、一人の人間の魂の深淵を覗くような興奮を読者に与えてやみません。 バリー・ジョンストンが綴る筆致からは、失われゆくラジオ文化への深い哀愁と、言葉だけで世界を構築する音声表現への敬意が溢れています。伝説的番組の背後にあった苦悩と、病を乗り越え舞台に立ち続けた再生の軌跡は、逆境に立ち向かう人間の気高さを教えてくれます。ケネス・ホーンという巨星が放つ知的な輝きと、彼が愛した「笑い」の本質に触れるとき、私たちは言葉という翼が持つ真の魔法を再発見することになるでしょう。