Biographies that you've enjoyed

I have just been lent Clementine, a biography of Churchill's wife by her daughter, Mary Soames. It is huge, but so well written that it is absorbing reading and I can't put it down.

The Mountbattens - Their Lives and Loves.

An excellent biography - couldn't put it down!

Diplomatic Baggage: The Adventures of a Trailing Spouse
by Brigid Keenan
Wife of a Diplomat, very funny read.

I loved Being David Archer by Timothy Bentinck, but then I am a huge Archers fan. It was both funny and gave an insight into the making of the programme.

'First Light' by Geoffrey Wellum; a very young fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain and later in WW2. Originally crafted from his schoolboy-type diary entries for his grandchildren, it's a mesmerising read.

Roy Jenkins’ epic biography of Winston Churchill.

Alan Johnson’s books are great, and Don Black (songwriter) The Sanest Guy in the Room.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. A disturbing memoir of her childhood.

Also loved Houseful of Daughters by Juliet Nicholson, granddaughter of Vita Sackville West. She provides a detailed account of seven generations of women starting with an umpteen great grandmother a Spanish flamenco dancer way back in the 19th century born into poverty, but somehow or other ends up marrying into the Sackville West family. All the women that follow are very interesting particularly of course Vita.

Soroptimum Yes unfortunately I missed that too, if you are referring to the one in Ellesmere where she spoke about Eglantine Jebb and her sister who founded the Save The Children charity.

The Unequalled Self (Samuel Pepys) Claire Tomlin
Ungrateful Daughters - (Queen Anne and Queen Mary daughters of James II) Maureen Waller
Victoria - A N Wilson
Lady's Maid - Lady Ann Glenconner
Daphne Du Maurier - Margaret Forster
Educated (a memoir) Tara Westover

The Five by Hallie Rubenhold, about the women killed by Jack the Ripper is good. I think it counts a biography because it gives detailed accounts of the women's lives and very much proves they weren't sex workers on the whole and that they have been victim blamed all this time. It's not gruesome at all, just really interesting.

I also really enjoyed Paul O'Grady's autobiographies - literally cried laughing at some parts. Just cried at others.

Lexisgranny

Sorry started to speak about Dame Stephanie and then got interrupted ( must have words with him). She was an amazing lady who was educated in my neck of the woods, definitely second that NotaGran.

My mum was in the same year in school as Stephanie in Oswestry. We were meant to go and hear her speak last year, but sadly Covid got in the way.

Fanny she is a remarkable woman . I am an evangelist about the book , urging everyone I meet to read / listen to it . I’ve mentioned it a couple of times previously on book threads here .

NotaGran that looks amazing, thank you for the link

The second time she chose What a Fool Believes by the Doobie Brothers as her single disc, which delighted me as it's a favourite of mine. I must admit, I don't think that I'd heard of many of her other choices

Sorry started to speak about Dame Stephanie and then got interrupted ( must have words with him). She was an amazing lady who was educated in my neck of the woods, definitely second that NotaGran.

Have very recently listened to both VW Desert Island Disc episodes, well worth it.

Lexisgranny that definitely sounds like my cup of Darjeeling!
Thank you

Dame Stephanie Shirley

This is rather an old one - Spreading My Wings. by Diana Barnato Walker. This is the story of a pioneering woman aviator. She worked for the Air Transport Auxiliary during WW2, delivering Spitfires and in 1963 she became the first woman to break the sound barrier. She was a former debutante and her paternal grandfather was a co founder of De Beers. I came across her name after talking with one of my grandchildren about a school project, but I think the book is still in print,

Okey doke
I must tell you though that I have been toying with the idea of reading Samantha M*****'s book

Problem is remembering......

Excellent plan. With the proviso there must be no mention of any books to do with the current or recent Royal Family!

Lucca do you think that we should have a Terrible Book thread?