Basil Street Blues

Basil Street Blues

by Michael Holroyd (Author)

Synopsis

Michael Holroyd - the most famous biographer in Britain - turns his attention upon himself and his own family in BASIL STREET BLUES (the title comes from the Basil Street Hotel where the author was conceived in the 1930s.) Born into a family rich in eccentricity, Holroyd was largely brought up by his grandparents in Maidenhead because his exotic Swedish mother and reserved English father couldn't stand living together. (His grandparents' marriage provided no better model - his grandfather having had a four year affair with a woman he met at a bus stop before coming back to his grandmother). Towards the end of Holroyd's parents lives he persuaded them to write their own stories and using the results, plus his own memories and researches he has written this moving and self-revealing book.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 320
Edition: 1st Abacus Edition
Publisher: Abacus
Published: 17 Aug 2000

ISBN 10: 0349111340
ISBN 13: 9780349111346
Book Overview: * Joint advertising campaign with IRIS AND THE FRIENDS and LETTERS BETWEEN A FATHER AND SON in the SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH and GUARDIAN (combined r/ship: 6,875,000) * Author media tour to include interviews and appearances at literary festivals *Review round-up coverage in the national press * Submitted for trade promotions * Reading copies available

Media Reviews
A subtle, courageous book... SUNDAY TELEGRAPH [Holroyd] has written an original, unforgettable book DAILY TELEGRAPH Tense, fraught, uneasy, but mining that unease to poignant effect, Basil Street Blues is an extraordinary piece of work TLS I have no hesitation in awarding BASIL STREET BLUES the full five stars. In the genre of autobiography, it is right up there in my personal pantheon...[a] haunting and beautifully understated tragi-comedy. MAIL ON SUNDAY
Author Bio
Michael Holroyd is the author of numerous biographies including Lytton Strachey, August John and George Bernard Shaw.