Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography
£9.00£10.40 (-13%)
WINNER OF THE 2023 LOCUS AWARD FOR NON-FICTION
WINNER OF THE BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR BEST NON-FICTION
FINALIST FOR THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST RELATED WORK
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH FANTASY AWARD FOR BEST NON-FICTION
‘Always readable, illuminating and honest. It made me miss the real Terry.’ – Neil Gaiman
‘Sometimes joyfully, sometimes painfully, intimate . . . it is wonderful to have this closeup picture of the writer’s working life.’ – Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Observer
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At the time of his death in 2015, award-winning and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett was working on his finest story yet – his own.
The creator of the phenomenally bestselling Discworld series, Terry Pratchett was known and loved around the world for his hugely popular books, his smart satirical humour and the humanity of his campaign work. But that’s only part of the picture.
Before his untimely death, Terry was writing a memoir: the story of a boy who aged six was told by his teacher that he would never amount to anything and spent the rest of his life proving him wrong. For Terry lived a life full of astonishing achievements: becoming one of the UK’s bestselling and most beloved writers, winning the prestigious Carnegie Medal and being awarded a knighthood.
Now, the book Terry sadly couldn’t finish has been written by Rob Wilkins, his former assistant, friend and now head of the Pratchett literary estate. Drawing on his own extensive memories, along with those of the author’s family, friends and colleagues, Rob unveils the full picture of Terry’s life – from childhood to his astonishing writing career, and how he met and coped with what he called the ‘Embuggerance’ of Alzheimer’s disease.
A deeply moving and personal portrait of the extraordinary life of Sir Terry Pratchett, written with unparalleled insight and filled with funny anecdotes, this is the only official biography of one of our finest authors.
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‘Spins magic from mundanity in precisely the way Pratchett himself did.’ – Telegraph
‘As frank, funny and unsentimental as anything its subject might have produced himself.’ – Mail on Sunday
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Additional information
| Publisher | Penguin (20 July 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 528 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1529176905 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1529176902 |
| Dimensions | 12.7 x 3.3 x 19.84 cm |
by C. J. Bewley
What a book! I’ve just finished reading it, I could not put it down. I was laughing all the way to the end then I lost track of the page numbers and tears were streaming down my face. I never read Pratchett while he was alive but he was always on my radar. I just knew in the back of my mind, all my life, I needed to read Discworld. And I needed to read this too. Thank you for writing it, Rob Wilikins! Definitely a must read for any Pratchett fan.
He did so much for the right to die with dignity in his final years. Most people would have given up on life after the diagnosis. What a heart warming story, for the most part. It’s quite a difficult read. Shame it had to end when it did.
by Sharron Joy Reads
Written by Sir Terry’s long time assistant with the consent and support of his family and the great man himself before his untimely demise.
This is an incredible biography, it shows the man as he was, brilliant, grumpy, decent, angry, it is so human and deeply moving. It is detailed and chronicles Terry’s whole life, that sounds heavy but this is a delight to read, it reads like a documentary on a remarkable life lived to the fullest.
I mark periods of my life by the publishing of his books and it was fascinating to see his process and the back catalogue of work speaks for itself. This also deals openly and honestly with his dementia diagnosis and how it affected him and those around him. Rob speaks with such love, he is transparent in his discussion on the good and the bad of being alongside Terry and it is obvious that he is deeply traumatised by his loss.
A deeply personal biography that is heartwarming, funny and heartbreaking. The stories Terry left us with are loved by millions and yet we all grieve for the tales untold, the presence of the best storyteller of a generation and the quirky, grumpy, brilliant man behind it all!
Give Binky my love Sir Terry, you are missed!
by Matty Dunn
Interesting insights into the great man,but slightly sad really as it’s not him anymore
by mr andrew j m davidson
A much welcomed gift for my son…. maybe I’ll get to read it one day…. maybe I’ll buy my own copy !
by Sharron Joy Reads
Obviously not much written by Terry as time ran out for him ????. Well worth reading but sit with a box of hankies.
by Mr T Smith
This is a great book about an even great author. I have been firmly following the antics of Discworld since the series started a few decades ago. From the wizzard (deliberate spelling there) to the watch and the witches to the gods. Everything is great about the series and the author and the book reveal some interesting perspectives.
The 3 stars are simply this book, the one I have, and no one else’s. I am no spring chicken, but I can’t abide by people who take a good dust cover and slice off the price. It seems this is a practice by older people who are not aware of the internet, who have every intention to take a first edition copy of a book and mutilate it with a pair of scissors. I would return it, but that is faff I can do without. It was advertised as ‘very good’ and clearly it is not. I am hoping that this is an oversight from the supplier. Anyway, I am not midway and I do not intend to share any spoilers.
Get the book, but be careful who sells it to you!
by L F Carter
I say it’s a hard life but considering Sir Terry had an aggressive form of Alzheimer’s he never gave up on his love for his family, friends and Orangutangs and for that I am deeply honoured to be a fan of his and his writing. Rob has captured his life in such a way that you know it must have been difficult for him. Well done.
by jenny
I have never cried over a celebrity passing, until Terry passed. I have only cried once reading a book and that was The Shepherds Crown…and now Rob has made it three Uncontrollable Pratchett blubbing episodes. Goes without saying, a must read for anyone who loved Terry, and seriously well done to Rob, clearly picked a thing or two up about this writing malarkey.