1. Biographies
 
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Valiant Minstrel (1943)

Author: Gladys Malvern

Published by Julian Messner Inc., New York, 1943

254 pages, illustrations by Corinne Malvern (1905-1956) for which she won the Julia Ellsworth Ford prize.

A well written, easy-to-read biography complete with imagined "dialogue". Not surprisingly the bibliography points to several of Sir Harry's autobiographies as source material ("Between You And Me", "At Home And On Tour", "A Minstrel In France", etc.).  Interviews were also conducted with Eleanor Roosevelt, William Morris and Sir Harry's niece, Greta Lauder.

Availability: difficult to find, but occasionally available on-line at abebooks.com
 
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Great Scot! (1968)

 Author: Gordon Irving

Published by Leslie Frewin, London, 1968

176 pages, 18 photographs

A well-researched biography of Sir Harry Lauder.

Availability: difficult to find, but occasionally available on-line at ukbookworld.com or www.alibris.com
 
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Harry Lauder In The Limelight (1988)

 Author: William Wallace

Published by The Book Guild Ltd., Sussex, England, 1988

117 pages, with dozens of photographs and illustrations from the personal collection of Gregory Lauder-Frost

A meticulously researched biography that also includes detailed footnotes by Lauder historian Gregory Lauder-Frost, who also wrote the book's introduction.  This book is difficult to find, and Mr. Lauder-Frost was kind enough to provide me with a copy (he and I share a set of great-great-grandparents, James and Mary Vallance, whose two daughters, Annie and Catherine, married two brothers, Harry and Matt Lauder).

Availability: very rare, difficult to find
     
  2. Autobiographies
 
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Harry Lauder At Home And On Tour (1907)

 Author: Harry Lauder

Published by Greening & Co., Essex Street, Strand, W.C., London, 1907

120 pages, 15 photographs

A brief 1907 biography that mainly deals with Harry Lauder's early successes and failures in the entertainment business (his 1928 biography Roamin' In The Gloamin' covers the same material in much greater detail).  The photographs are excellent, most of them showing Lauder in various costumes from his comedy routines.

Availability: very rare, difficult to find
 
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The Scottish Joker At Home And Abroad (1908)

 Author: Harry Lauder

Published by J. S. Ogilvie Publishing Company, 57 Rose Street, New York, 1908, ISBN: 066598216X

126 pages

This is the American edition of "Harry Lauder At Home and on Tour" (the book mentioned directly above).  Instead of photographs, this edition has line drawings and caricatures. Unfortunately, my copy is in very poor condition ... the pages are brittle and the book's cover is missing altogether.

Availability: extremely rare, nearly impossible to find.
 
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Ten Tales (1908)

 Author: Harry Lauder

Published in New York (1908) and London (1908) by T. B. Harms and Francis, Day and Hunter; and in Toronto, Canada by McLeod & Allen (1909)

119 pages

After many years of searching I managed to find and purchase a copy in 2009. I'm aware of one other copy in the collection of the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, another copy at the University of Western Ontario, and two copies at the National Library of Canada in Ottawa (all Canadian editions, 1909).

The book is available for viewing on microfiche (record no. 98216) courtesy of the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. The University of New Brunswick will also loan their copy of the book to your local library, although I don't know if this applies outside of Canada. Try contacting docdel@unb.ca, or phone 506-453-4743.

Availability: extremely rare, nearly impossible to find. 
 
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My American Travels (1910)*

 Author: Harry Lauder

Published by George Newes Limited, London, 1910

I've been unable to find a copy of "My American Travels" to purchase.  The image (left) was provided by Bruce McCausland, from his personal "Harry Lauder" collection.

Availability: extremely rare, nearly impossible to find.
 
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Harry Lauder's Logic (1917)*

 Author: Harry Lauder

Published by Cecil Palmer & Hayward, Oakley House, Bloomsbury Street, London, 1917

127 pages

As with the two books above, I've been unable to find a copy of "Harry Lauder's Logic".  The image (left) was provided by Bruce McCausland.

Availability: extremely rare, nearly impossible to find.
 
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A Minstrel in France (1918)

 Author: Harry Lauder

Published by Andrew Melrose, London, 1918 and Hearst's International Library Company, New York, 1918 and Hearst Cosmopolitan, New York, 1918

UK edition - 338 pages;  American edition - 320 pages

A beautifully written, deeply emotional autobiography. Sir Harry bares his soul, telling of his love for his son and the great devastation that he and his wife endured after learning that John Lauder had been killed in battle on December 28, 1916.

Harry recounts his visits to the "front lines" in France where he performed for the troops, often with enemy aircraft overhead and the sound of artillery nearby.

The American edition in my possession is signed ... "To W. Sweeney, from the author, Harry Lauder"

Availability: on-line at biblio.com or abebooks.com
 
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Between You and Me (1919)
read this book online

Author: Harry Lauder

Published by The James A. McCann Company, New York, 1919 and McClelland and Stewart, Toronto, 1919

324 pages, no photographs or illustrations

A collection of anecdotes and reminiscences on Harry's early career set-backs and successes, and his thoughts concerning the Great War (1914-18) and its aftermath.  It's a difficult book to read as it's written in a simulated Scottish brogue, as follows: "There's no sadder sicht my een have ever seen than that of the maimed and wounded laddies that ha' come hame frae this was that is just over.  I ken that there's been a deal of talk aboot what we maun do for them that ha' done sae much for us."

Availability: on-line at biblio.com or abebooks.com or civilbookstore.com
 
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Roamin' in the Gloamin' (1928)
Author: Harry Lauder

Published by Hutchinson, London, 1928, and J.P. Company, London & Philadelphia, 1928 and Grosset & Dunlap, New York 1928 and Wakefield E P Publishing, 1976 and T. B. Harms & Francis Day & Hunter

300 pages, 29 photographs and illustrations

Harry Lauder's gift for composing lyrics and melodies is matched by his gift for the written word.  This delightful biography details Sir Harry's rise from poverty (but never despair) to the pinnacle of success.  The young coalminer asks his employer for his daughter's hand in marriage, then applies the same fearless determination as he embarks upon a seemingly improbable career in comedy - and succeeds.  Henry Ford, Charlie Chaplin, presidents and royalty round out the cast of characters, but none more dear to Harry than his wife Nance and son John.  A wonderful "read".

Availability: on-line at biblio.com or abebooks.com or www.alibris.com or civilbookstore.com
 
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My Best Scotch Stories (1929)
Author: Harry Lauder

Published by Valentine & Sons, Ltd. Dundee and London, 1929

A selection of humorous stories collected and presented by Harry Lauder in a slim, soft-cover book.  The humour is somewhat lame by today's standards, and some of the stories are "politically incorrect" when referring to minorities. View sample pages by clicking here.

36 pages, 13 illustrations, 1 photograph

Availability: on-line at biblio.com or abebooks.com
 
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Wee Drappies (1931)
Author: Harry Lauder

Published by Hutchinson and Company Ltd, London, 1931 and Robert M. McBride & Company, New York, 1932 and The Laugh Club, New York, 1932

254 pages with illustrations by R. St. John Cooper.

A collection of random musings on a variety of topics, mostly autobiographical. The book is covered in tartan fabric with the title appearing on the spine. A small bottle of Scotch whisky is imbedded in the pages of the book, presumably providing readers with a "Wee Drappy" of their own. Chapters are titled "First Taste", "The Second Drap", The Third Drap", and so on ... 24 chapters in all.  Topics include "My Secrets Of Success", "The Language Of Laughter", "My Most Amazing Moments", and more.

Availability: on-line at abebooks.com or www.alibris.com
 
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Ticklin’ Talks (1934)
Author: Harry Lauder

Published by D.C. Thomson and Co. Ltd., London, Glasgow and Dundee, circa 1934

352 pages, no photographs or illustrations

More random musings (five or six pages each) on a variety of topics such as:  "People Who Have Helped Make Me Good", "Days I Will Never Forget", "The Happiest Hames I've Kent" and many more.

Availability: difficult to find, but occasionally available on-line at abebooks.com
     
  3. Discographies
 
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The Sir Harry Lauder Discography (1990)
Author: Darrell Baker and Larry F. Kiner, 1990

Published by The Scarecrow Press, Inc., Metuchen, N.J. and London, 1990

If you buy only one Harry Lauder book, let this be the one!  "The Sir Harry Lauder Discography" is an exhaustively researched, one-volume encyclopedia touching on every aspect of Lauder's career in film and audio.  It includes a detailed chronology of over 500 recordings, dozens of film and newsreel loggings, plus rare photographs and illustrations.  This book is a "must have" for any serious Lauder fan.

Availability: on-line at civilbookstore.com and alibris.com
     
  4. Song Books
 
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Francis and Day's 1st Album of Harry Lauder's Popular Songs
Published by Francis & Day, 1905

Sheet music transcriptions "with full words, music, tonic sol-fa and ukulele arrangement" for the following Harry Lauder songs: I Love A Lassie (Ma Scotch Bluebell), She's Ma Daisy, The Safest O' The Family, Stop Yer Tickling Jock, Wee Nelly McKie Frae Skye, Early In The Morning, Bonnie Hielan' Mary, The Last of the Sandies, Tobermory, Killiecrankie, If I Were In The L.C.C., Calligan - Call Again!, I'm The Man They Left Behind, Some Folks Do And Other People Don't, That's The Reason Noo I Wear The Kilt.
 
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Francis and Day's 2nd Album of Harry Lauder's Popular Songs
Published by Francis & Day, 1910?
 
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Francis and Day's 3rd Album of Harry Lauder's Popular Songs
Published by Francis & Day, 1912

Sheet music transcriptions "with full words, music, tonic sol-fa and ukulele arrangement" for the following Harry Lauder songs: Roamin' In The Gloamin', The Same As His Father Did Before Him, It's Nice When You Love A Wee Lassie, The Message Boy, Breakfast In My Bed On Sunday Morning, The Picnic Or Every Laddie Loves A Lassie, The Inverary Harriers, Sound Advice, Hey Donal, Charlie MacNeil, At The Sign Of The Bluebell Inn, I Love You, Jean M'Neil, I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me, He Was Very Kind To Me, Aye Wakin' O, The Auld Brig Of Ayr.
 
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Francis and Day's 4th Album of Harry Lauder's Popular Songs
Published by Francis & Day, date?
 
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Francis and Day's 5th Album of Harry Lauder's Popular Songs
Published by Francis & Day, 1924

Sheet music transcriptions "with full words, music, tonic sol-fa and ukulele arrangement" for the following Harry Lauder songs:  The End of the Road, It's A Fine Thing To Sing, I Like My Old Home Town, Oh! How I Weary Dearie, Boss O' Th' Hoose, Soosie MacLean, The Pirate, I'm Looking For A Bonnie Lass, Love Makes The World A Merry-Go-Round, O'er The Hill To Ardentinny, Sunshine O' A Bonnie Lass's Smile, When I Was Twenty One, Bella McGraw, There Is Somebody Waiting For Me, Id Love To Be A Sailor, We A' Go Hame The Same Way.