| He Died with a Felafel in His Hand | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | John Birmingham |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, auto-Biographical novel |
| Publisher | The Yellow Press |
| Publication date | 1994 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | 1-875989-21-8 |
| OCLC Number | 221745424 |
He Died with a Felafel in His Hand is a novel by Australian author John Birmingham, first published in 1994 by The Yellow Press (ISBN 1-875989-21-8). The story consists of a collection of colourful anecdotes about living in share houses in Brisbane and other cities in Australia with variously dubious housemates. The title refers to a deceased heroin addict found in one such house. The book was subsequently adapted into a popular stage play and, in 2001, was made into a film by Richard Lowenstein, starring Noah Taylor, Emily Hamilton and Sophie Lee.
In 2004, to celebrate the book's ten-year anniversary, Birmingham approached comic artist Ryan Vella to produce a graphic novel of the book. The pair met in April of that year at Artspace Mackay, for the opening of the Headspace exhibition. The comic was published in September 2004 by Duffy & Snellgrove (ISBN 1-876631-95-3).
While the book is not written in a linear fashion the order of houses (and house mates) John lives in is as follows:
1st Place - The Boulevade
Tom moved out and is replaced by
2nd Place
3rd Place - King Street
Taylor at the time was having personal issues. He ambushed his fellow housemates with a toy gun after hiding for an hour. He told them if it was a real gun they would all be dead. John saw this as good reason to move out
4th Place - Duke Street (Brisbane)
John moves out for reasons not made clear
5th Place - Melbourne
John moves out when her loud sex sessions became too much to bear
6th Place - Fitzroy
As a result of the fallout from this new relationship Greg moves out and John follows suit
7th Place - Carlton
After trying to freeze out the Dave's from the house by cutting off the gas and electricity John gives in and moves to a loft in Fitzroy
8th Place - Fitzroy
After Wendell’s threats to kill him, John moves out and sleeps round friends
9th Place - Auchenflower in Brisbane
10th Place – Brisbane Goth House (not clear how this move came about)
All the goths run away after the bailiff came round to collect unpaid rent. John keeps the house on and in move
Nina move out to live with her friend Tanya
The whole house up sticks and moves
11th Place
The book then segues to
12th Place - Band house in Darlinghurst, Sydney
13th Place - Kippax street
Downstairs Ivan and Uptight Martin move out within 3 days of each other and are replaced by