Our Booksellers' Best: Biography & Memoir
Do No Harm
Henry Marsh
"Marsh explores life in all its complex pain, humour and beauty, seen through his work as a brain surgeon." ~ Saskia, York
Stories of the Sahara
Sanmao
"Sanmao, a Taiwanese explorer, who lived in the Western Sahara territory in the 1970s. Her stories are straight from an adventure book, featuring everything from quicksand to cursed necklaces; they’re straight from an adventure book." ~ Saskia, York
A Heart That Works
Rob Delaney
"Comedian Rob Delaney beautifully describes the loss of his son, Henry. A powerful exploration of love, grief and the fear of swimming in ponds that will have you laughing and crying at once."~ Roxane, Bath
Inferno
Catherine Cho
"My favourite memoir ever, Inferno details Cho's experience with post-partum psychosis after the birth of her first child. She records her stay in a mental health facility in America and beautifully weaves in stories of her childhood, past relationships and Korean culture." ~ Roxane, Bath
The Year of Magical Thinking
Joan Didion
"A most devastating and healing reflection on grief - from one of the greatest writers of all time." ~ Toby, Edinburgh
Things I Don't Want to Know
Deborah Levy
"A gem of a book. The first in Levy's 'Living Autobiography' triptych. Sharp, brilliant writing & reflections on being a woman." ~ Saskia, York
Super-Infinite
Katherine Rundell
"An expansive, sparkling biography of 17th century poet John Donne. You don't have to know anything about Donne to fall in love with this book - Rundell's writing is entrancing." ~ Toby, Edinburgh
An Apartment on Uranus
Paul B. Preciado
"Electrifying, transformative; an extraordinary book." ~ Saskia, York
There's Always This Year
Hanif Abdurraqib
"Hanif Abdurraqib reflects on his life through his relationship with basketball. Lyrical, deeply moving, and incredibly stylish." ~ Toby, Edinburgh
Masquerade
Oliver Soden
"An expansive portrait of a remarkable man living through a remarkable age. Soden reconciles the contradictions at the heart of Coward with a characteristic sharpness of wit, warmth and intimacy. A joy to read." ~ Saskia, York
On Chapel Sands
Laura Cumming
Uncovering the mystery of her mother's disappearance as a child: Laura Cumming, prize-winning author and art critic, takes a closer look at her family story.
Who Killed My Father
Édouard Louis
In Who Killed My Father, Edouard Louis explores key moments in his father's life, and the tenderness and disconnects in their relationship.