He Died with a Felafel in His Hand

This article is about the book by John Birmingham. For the film, see He Died with a Felafel in His Hand (film).
He Died with a Felafel in His Hand
Author John Birmingham
Country Australia
Language English
Genre Comedy, auto-Biographical novel
Publisher The Yellow Press
Publication date
 1994
Media type Print (hardcover and paperback)
ISBN 1-875989-21-8
OCLC 221745424
Followed by The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco

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).

Synopsis

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 Daves 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