What are your all time favourite autobiographies?

[GetOrfMo1Land]

I want to find something new to read, I love autobiogs.

Mine (off the top of my head, after not too much thought)

Biography of Gayatri Devi (last Maharani of Jaipur) - a brilliant story about a rich Maharani and her life pre war.

Chance Witness by Matthew Parris - I would not normally say I would rate the autobiography of a Tory boy but this is brilliant, he is really engaging and has lived a fascinating life.

Hons and Rebels by Jessica Mitford - it's just so funny. Also, whislt not strictly an autobiog, The Letters of Decca Mitford is brilliant as well.

Ricky by Ricky Tomlinson - not normally my cup of tea, would not choose a sleb autobiography, but he is very honest about his ups and downs and being imprisoned as a political prisoner in the 70s.

Oliver Postgate's 'Seeing Things' (he did the Clangers and Bagpuss), and I also really enjoyed Humphrey Littleton's memoir - more thoughts jotted down than a life story.

Might have to order the Decca letters and Kenneth Williams autobiogs now.

Mukiwa and When the Crocodile Eats the Sun
Zanzibar Chest
Shirley, Goodness and Mercy -

Mukiwa is brilliant.

My Traitor's Heart by Rian Malan.

Aristocrats by Stella Tilyard.

Emma's War although not really an autobiography.

The Past is Myself by Christabel Bielenberg. She married a German lawyer in 1934 and they lived in Nazi Germany. Both she and her husband were amazingly brave anti-Nazis and the book also gives a fascinating account of life in Nazi Germany and the people she knew. I never tire of this book and have given away many copies.

YY to Joyce Grenfell's books and Hons and Rebels.

Love anything Hollywood from the 40s-so echo David Niven, LAuren BAcall, Bette Davies.
Just bought Sue Johnston's.

I enjoyed one called Girls Like Us about Carole KIng, Carly Simon and Joni Mitchell.....life in Laurel CAnyon.

And Joe Orton's diaries are wonderful....ditto Kenneth Williams.

Ooh great thread. Have read Kenneth Williams diaries so many times and they always tickle me. I love the fact that if anyone pissed him off he apparently used to screech "I'll put you in my diaries!" Also Clive James Unreliable Memoirs.

I also have a weakness for the bad boy rock n roll stuff - loved Scar Tissue. Lots of unexpected romances there - Sinead O' Connor and Mel C??!!

Also Wilfred Thesiger - real old school adventure and exploration.

Oo William Thesiger- he did another Penguin travel book, slim volume- the Empty Quarter? I really liked that!

Other diaries I re-read addictively are Chris Mullin and Alan Clark - completely at opposing views politically but oh so beautifully written.

"Learning to Breathe" - Andy Cave, Yorkshire Miner turned mountaineer and academic.

YY to Roald Dahl and Clive James too.

Christabel Bielenberg also wrote a follow-up called "The Road Ahead". It was equally enjoyable.

Hollywood Rivals - Bette Davis v Joan Crawford was ACE - if you are into old fashioned Hollywood bitchfest glamour, like me! Unbelievable lifestyles, so unlike my own, which for me, is the whole point of bio reading...

I have just looked at Learning to Breathe bikerunski - that looks great, am going to order it.

Like BigTillyMint and MollyMawk, I'd recommend "Is that It" by Bob Geldof and 'Frank Skinner' by Frank Skinner.

Both of them can really write well. Bob Geldof is brilliant on putting together Band Aid and Live Aid, (and his observer status at the recording of 'We Are The World'), and I like the fact that Frank Skinner really loves and romanticises stand-up comedy, rather than treating it as easy or frivolous. Both, of course, discuss growing up in poverty and their relationship to Catholicism.

Stephen Fry's two volumes of autobiography are also rather well written - as you'd expect.

Home by Julie Andrews, it's a really lovely read if you can wade through the 1st few chapters. It follows her life up until she leaves for Hollywood to make Mary Poppins, and has some interesting stories about Broadway etc I love it

RufusFirefly
I read Christabel as non-fiction for English A Level - was a lazy teacher who wanted to align with the Dennis Potter TV Miniseries at the time starring none other than La Hurley before That Dress

@DeepLeafEverything

Can we get this thread moved to books? It's really full of useful stuff.

Oops. That was why I was here....
Yes, of course.

Motley Crue; The Dirt. I don't even like Motley Crue but the book is cracking .

Cybill Shepherd and Marc Almond are quite naughty too.

Have started Keith Richards ' Life' but he's done so much it's taking ages to get through.

Glad to read that so many others love David Niven's books. There's a bit in one of them about a funeral - possibly the funniest thing I've ever read.

Another vote for Toast, both of Paul O'Grady's volumes and also Frank Skinner's book. John MacEnroe's is fascinating and if you are up for some seriously searing stuff, Paul Gascoigne's two books are up there.

Have just finished Sue Johnston's autobiography - some parts of that really resonated with me and she comes across as such a lovely woman.

A place for everything and everything in its place.

My all time favorites for their wit, charisma and insight into the movie business:

'A Right Royal Bastard' - Sarah Miles
'The World is my Bond' - Roger Moore
'With Nails' - Richard E Grant
'Moons a Balloon' - David Niven