Stranger Than... – Stuart: A Life Backwards - Softcover

Masters, Alexander

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007241771 ISBN 13: 9780007241774

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2007

Synopsis

A highly original and captivating memoir which has captured the hearts of readers everywhere.

‘Stuart, A Life Backwards’, is the story of a remarkable friendship between a reclusive writer and illustrator (‘a middle class scum ponce, if you want to be honest about it, Alexander) and a chaotic, knife-wielding beggar whom he gets to know during a campaign to release two charity workers from prison.

Interwoven into this is Stuart’s confession: the story of his life, told backwards. With humour, compassion (and exasperation) Masters slowly works back through post-office heists, prison riots and the exact day Stuart discovered violence, to unfold the reasons why he changed from a happy-go-lucky little boy into a polydrug-addicted-alcoholic Jekyll and Hyde personality, with a fondness for what he called ‘little strips of silver’ (knives to you and me).

Funny, despairing, brilliantly written and full of surprises: this is the most original and moving biogrpahy of recent years.

About this title

Review:

From the reviews of ‘Stuart’:

'A remarkable biography. Unforgettably moving. A gripping read.' Tim Lott, Sunday Times

'With his first book, Alexander Masters...has achieved something remarkable. He has, without patronising, given a voice to the "underclass"; at the same time, without preaching, he shows us the value of even the most damaged of human lives...a powerful book, humane, instructive and entirely original.' Sunday Telegraph

'I feel so strongly about this strange, funny, sad book that I hardly know where to begin...My enthusiasm feels almost limitless. A page-turner.' Observer

‘Bollock brilliant. Possibly the best biography I have ever read. Just about perfect.’ Mark Haddon, author of ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’.

‘Unique and wonderful’ Daily Mail

‘This is a very rare and haunting book...A great first book.’ Andrew O'Hagan

'Good books like this appear about once every five years. It's been years since I've been so delighted by a book and so surprised by it...When I'd finished I felt bereft, as if I'd lost an old friend.' Zadie Smith

'Funny and original, a startling book ... By the end I was doubled up in tears, but throughout I was often doubled up with laughter. It is dazzling.' Vogue

About the Author:

Alexander Masters lives in Cambridge, where he has worked in a hostel for homeless people. This is his first book.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0007241771
• ISBN 13: 9780007241774
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304