'As deft and devastating as a piece of non-fiction writing in miniature as you're ever likely to read ... A collection to be savoured, its urbanity, wisdom and humorous probing best digested at leisure' Daily TelegraphIn Facts and Fiction, Michael Holroyd reflects on the eccentricities of the art of writing about others. With characteristic playfulness and guilefulness, he considers the ways in which lives can be written about, with all the subtle differences of design and intention that this entails.From Rudyard Kipling to forgetfulness, the glories of Mary Norton's Borrowers books to fellow biographers like Richard Holmes and Alexander Masters, Holroyd tackles an eclectic range of topics with wit, warmth and humour. This is a unique insight into the mind of a master.
Michael Holroyd Poradie kníh
Michael Holroyd je oceňovaným autorom, ktorý sa venuje literárnym životopisom a pamätiam. Jeho diela sa vyznačujú hlbokým vhľadom do životov a diel svojich subjektov, odhaľujúc ich motivácie a umelecké procesy. Holroydov štýl je precízny a pútavý, čím oživuje historické postavy pre moderného čitateľa. Jeho záväzok k literatúre a schopnosť zachytiť podstatu ľudskej skúsenosti z neho robia významnú postavu v oblasti literatúry faktu.






- 2018
- 2017
It is a terrible ending to a terrible story. You might say that it was all Ida's fault. She was just a silly goose who mistook her grander for a phoenix. But that would not be true to the brave, witty, imaginative, sensitive, playful, talented woman who wrote these letters. It is right that, after more than one hundred years, she should have her say John Carey Sunday Times
- 2017
A stunning boxed set, celebrating a unique family history
- 2013
Focusing on the ethics and values inherent in nonfiction writing, this collection features essays that delve into the craft of contemporary biography. It includes reflections on the author's personal experiences and a thoughtful exploration of the interplay between fiction and nonfiction. The work invites readers to consider the moral implications of storytelling and the responsibilities of writers in portraying truth and creativity.
- 2012
Book of Secrets
- 288 stránok
- 11 hodin čítania
Recognized as a top nonfiction book of 2011, this work delves into compelling themes and offers insightful perspectives on its subject matter. It combines thorough research with engaging narratives, making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. The author presents a unique viewpoint that challenges conventional wisdom, encouraging readers to rethink their understanding of the topic. This thought-provoking exploration is both informative and engaging, appealing to those interested in deepening their knowledge of contemporary issues.
- 2011
A Book of Secrets
- 272 stránok
- 10 hodin čítania
A Book of Secrets is a masterfully atmospheric treasure-trove of hidden lives, uncelebrated achievements and family mysteries. Taking the reader on a journey of discovery from Ravello to Paris, from Kirkstall Grange in Yorkshire to Vita Sackville-West's home at Knole, A Book of Secrets lucidly gives voice to fragile human connections.
- 2011
Augustus John
- 752 stránok
- 27 hodin čítania
This 1997 revised and updated biography of the celebrated artist, using the mass of new material which has come to light since Holroyd's two-volume first edition in the mid 1970s, reveals the complete story of John and his circle, from one of our great biographers.
- 2011
Lytton Strachey
- 816 stránok
- 29 hodin čítania
Lytton Strachey, genius, wit, iconoclast, biographer, pacifist, and homosexual campaigner, was at the nexus of the literary and artistic life of Bloomsbury.
- 2010
A Strange Eventful History
The Dramatic Lives of Ellen Terry, Henry Irving, and Their Remarkable Families
- 666 stránok
- 24 hodin čítania
Focusing on a remarkable dynasty of influential performers, this biography explores their significant impact during the golden age of theater. The author, a celebrated biographer, delves into the lives and contributions of these key figures, revealing their unique stories and the cultural context of their era. Through engaging narrative, the book highlights their artistry and the legacy they left behind in the world of performance.
- 2010
Early in this gem of a book, Michael Holroyd points out that it marks the last volume in his confessions of an elusive biographer, a trilogy that began with his memoir Basil Street Blues and then, in Mosaic, moved sideways to explore two enigmatic women interlaced in the family tapestry. Here, the links with earlier volumes are all thematic and the elusiveness is hardly the biographer's alone. Life itself, this consummate writer of lives shows us, is slippery and mysterious. ... Reading this book is a little like walking through a hall of mirrors into the final party of Proust's great opus. -- Lisa Appignanesi, The Observer, 31 October 2010On a hill above the Italian village of Ravello stands the Villa Cimbrone a place of fantasy and make-believe. The characters that move through Michael Holroyd's book are destined never to meet as they lived through different eras and reside in different countries. Yet the Villa Cimbrone unites them all.
