Grace Maxwell – ‘Falling & Laughing – The Restoration of Edwyn Collins’

This is the story of two fights. Edwyn Collins’ fight to recover from two massive brain haemorrhages in 2005 and his wife’s fight to ensure that he had the best chance of doing so.

The fact that Collins survived his strokes is remarkable enough given their impact. That he should have been able to return to performing is pretty unbelievable.

Following his haemorrhages, Collins was left unable to walk and talk, let alone write and perform songs. Maxwell’s account of their battle to recover is honest, warming and by turns harrowing and funny.

Through the early days of his illness the helplessness and the desperation is palpable but even in those times, Collins’ stubborn determination is clearly evident and his wife goes on to describe his slow and often unsteady (set-backs included post-operative infections and contracting MRSA) recovery.

As he recovers, the Edwyn Collins we remember gradually emerges; articulate, eloquent, and possessed of a razor sharp wit. His return to playing music is documented in detail but most fascinating is his determination to follow his other passion in life, drawing. Unable to use his right hand, he painstakingly taught himself to use his left hand, the results of which have recently been exhibited in London and Glasgow.

An uplifting book, Grace Maxwell has in effect written a touching love letter to her husband.