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

About the Author

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

Edition details

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