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The Moon's a Balloon

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About this listen

 When The Moon's a Balloon was first published in 1971, it received huge acclaim. The book became a classic and has gone on to sell over five million copies worldwide.

Rich in hilarious anecdote, it tells the story of Niven's school and Sandhurst days, his posting to Malta with the Highland Light Infantry, and how he escaped the army for a new life in the States. There he joined New York high society, before crossing the continent, lured by Hollywood. He returned to Britain to serve during the Second World War, but then made Hollywood his home.

A self-confessed name dropper, Niven's encounters range from garden walks with Churchill to finding Greta Garbo swimming naked in his pool.

©1971 Marulto Establishment; (P)2005 Headline Audiobooks Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Celebrity Funny Witty Entertainment Heartfelt Winston Churchill

Critic reviews

"An immensely enjoyable, witty and racy memoir." ( Sunday Times)
"Forthright, bawdy, and often hilarious, zany and zestful, his anecdotes should keep you entertained for hours." ( Sunday Express)
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Enjoyed hearing David Niven s narration but disappointed it wasn’t the whole book - feel I have slightly wasted a credit.

Moons a slightly deflated balloon😌

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Hollywood as it used to be written and narrated by one of its true stars

Great story and narrator

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really enjoyed his story and how he got into films and not too boring also funny and lovely to hear David Nivens voice again.

good listen

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fantastic I felt the times washing up though the times. A classic to be enjoyed

Pure class

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This is Niven's own abridged narration of his first autobiography, he even says as much in the reading. So you really only get half the story. I've never read the book so I don't know what is missing - it has a lot more about his early life than his movie career - but all the key bumps, both highs and lows, in David Niven's life are presented here with wit, aplom and a few tears. You even hear the great man choking up reading certain passages.

A brief two and a half hours, then, as it practically gallops by, but if you enjoy it, you may well get the itch to read the unabridged paperback. I wish he'd read all of it but this is still a good start.

Succinct but charming

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