Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have remained, from 1927 to the present day, the screen's most famous and popular comedy double act, celebrated by legions of fans." "Simon Louvish has delved into the early lives of Stan and Ollie, bringing to life the British theatrical and music-hall background that bred young Stanley Jefferson of Ulverston, England; and the harsh childhood of young Norvell Hardy, in an American South scarred by racial division and living memories of the Civil War. Relating Stan's transition to America with the Fred Karno touring company - alongside his rival Chaplin - in 1910, and Ollie's movie debut in the pioneering days of cinema comedy, the book examines the rarely seen solo films of both of our heroes, as well as their serendipitous teaming at the Hal Roach Studios, their well-loved shorts and features, and their often tumultuous marriages, which found echoes in so many of their films.