Biography Books > A Biography Books > M

Advantages: Totally factual
Disadvantages: You already know the ending

...their goal was to produce a book that respected the memories of those involved while explaining the awful predicament they were placed in, then this achieves it and much, much more. Totally factual, fascinating, absorbing and sometimes shocking, we see the start of the great romance between Alexandra and Nicholas before their marriage. They corresponded daily and kept detailed diaries throughout their lives together which covered many events, both ...
...that he wouldn't die with a pinch of salt, believing them to be the fevered imaginings of of revolutionists, but I was wrong. And this book showed me how wrong I had been in my preconceptions about the time in history, the family, the revolutionists and their leaders. About Russia in general, really. The schools should find a way of introducing this book into the History lessons - there wouldn't be a better teacher. Detailed reviews are obviously ... Read review

Advantages: Difficult to determine
Disadvantages: Disturbing

Becoming Anna is an autobiographical account of a sixteen year old girl, born as Tiffany Blake in America’s Midwest. Tiffany’s Father physically abused her or showed her no love whatsoever, while her Mother and Grandmother who lived next doorwere emotionally cruel to her, and blamed her for all the family problems including her mother’s own illnesses and diabetes which had started after her younger brother was born. Her mother and grandmother labelled ...
...kids tried to cope by becoming friends with each other and becoming involved as girlfriends/boyfriends although they could not even enjoy physical comfort with one another in friendship as touching other patients was “against the rules” as was passing notes to one another, although sometimes these things went on. Being committed to a mental institution when you are not ill is bad enough for any child to endure but Tiffany’s parents went one step ... Read review

Advantages: Great story with factual accounts
Disadvantages: None

This book is a compelling read. It's a very well documented story. In my opinion it is an excellent read. Some have critisised it's sensationalism but I think that it is a great blend of action and factual content. If any of these ex services books gave details of missions verbatum, their books would be very long and boring. I think that in general the reader appreciates that the author is telling us the 'best or most interesting bits' and using ...
...keep us gripped. This book does exactly that, I for one couldn't put it down and can rate it as one of the fastest books I have ever read. This book was the one that got me into this semi factual SAS type books and I've been hooked ever since. ... Read review

Advantages: It's all true
Disadvantages: Might damage your opinions of the royals

This book could be called many things. Traitorous. Scandalous. Sensationalistic. Ruinous. Unfair. After having read the book when it first came out, I would like to add another. Necessary. This is the undeniably true account of Diana's life up until 1992 when the book was published. History now tells us that the vast majority of information came from the Princess herself, and that express permission had been granted for her friends to also verify ...
...it's all true regardless of the lack of quoted sources. Her life is laid out from her birth into an aristocratic family with a priveleged background; through her early years as a child damaged by her parent's divorce; on to her teens that sees her working as a char woman to pay her own way; the shy and vulnerable young woman who marries a prince; a physically and emotionally wrecked mother-to-be; a stoic actress in her later years, and because she ... Read review

Advantages: Entertaining, authorised biography, informative
Disadvantages: Lacking some warmth

...have been a fan of Hattie Jacques for as long as I can remember. I loved the Carry On films since I was a young child and I also watched her in Sykes on TV and live on the stage twice in Lincoln and Blackpool. So when I heard that there was a biography out on her, I bought it as soon as I could. Hattie by Andy Merriman is an authorized biography too, so this isn't some gossipy, muck-raking kind of life story. It has been written by Andy Merriman ...
...and private life, but reading Hattie really brought out her personality and character. She comes across as warm, funny, generous, loving, caring and willing to help as many people as she could - whether by fund-raising for charity or offering a bed, a meal or a friendly ear for any friend who needed one. Her career is also detailed from her early days to her work with the Player's Theatre to her more famous roles on radio, TV and the stage. Along ... Read review