Biographies that you've enjoyed

Murray Walker and Mo Mowlam, both excellent.

•Lexisgranny• I am reading Spreading My Wing at the moment and really enjoying it

Keith Richards one is fascinating. How that man is still here is beyond me. I also enjoyed the Marianne Faithfull one, Pattie Boyd's and Cynthia Lennon's. I'm a child of the '60s.

I loved reading David Niven's The moon is a Balloon and the sequel Bring on the Empty Horses. Both were well written and extremely funny about A list Hollywood, his early life and the antics he got up to.

I'm currently reading Look Again by David Bailey. He swears a bit, but as he was born in the same year as my mother I'm finding it interesting to read about what life was like when he was growing up.

I have previously also enjoyed David Mitchells's Back Story, Stephen Fry's Moab is my Washpot and particularly liked Graham Chapman's A Liar's Autobiography.

I once tried to read James Mason's autobiography but he was coming across as such an awful person I couldn't finish it

I enjoyed reading "Educated" by Tara Westover and "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China" by Jung Chang.
These books impressed me a lot.

Educated by Tara Westover reads like a thriller:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07142R12X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_X5BKHC75D4H2F05YVK9M?tag=gransnetforum-21

I also really enjoyed Devorgilla Days by Kathleen Hart:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08WYSQLLL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_MRQRFXTWH70GWYA48XZA?tag=gransnetforum-21

My Life in Houses by Margaret Forster is a different kind of biography based around the houses she lived in throughout her life.

As a female youth I read a book from the school library which changed my life. I’ve never been able to track it down since. I think it was called Tchiffely’s ride and it was about a chap who rode a horse from Patagonia to the USA border. Being a horsey sort of girl I fancied doing this and enjoying the adventures. This book more than anything fired my imagination and desire to see as many wild parts of the world as possible in the most unconventional ways.

I enjoyed Toast by Nigel Slater - the chef.

They made into a TV film a few years ago.

During lockdown 1st time I read My name is Why by Lemm Sissay
Very harrowing but thought provoking autobiography. Couldn't stop thinking about it for days afterwards.

I thoroughly enjoyed “Faithfull: an autobiography”, written by Marianne Faithfull in collaboration with David Dalton.

Enjoy Framilode not my usual sort of read but I loved it.

Thans Trisher, I've just ordered A Woman of No Importance on kindle.

muse

Autobiography: Bring on the Empty Horses (David Niven)

Totally agree with you, I fell madly in love with David Niven after reading this a few years ago, he seems to have been such a lovely man and is never nasty about anyone. The follow up , "The Moon's a Balloon" is also good.

I really enjoyed "A Woman of No Importance" by Sonia Purcell. It's the story of Virginia Hall who worked as a spy in WW2 and later for the CIA. It's fascinating and moving. She did so much but no one has heard of her.

Born to Run, Bruce Sprinspgsteen is the best audible book I’ve listened to so far. I wasn’t a Bruce Springsteen fan until I found his book. It’s been a wonderful surprise.

Bruce reads it and his voice is magical. His writing is beautiful and I really don’t want it to finish.

Maggie I quite agree, in fact I think that the voice is more important than the book.
It certainly affects my purchasing choices more

Another vote here for Alan Johnson. I’m just “reading” This Boy as an audiobook from the library. It’s very good and a big plus is that he’s the narrator. It can be off putting if the voice isn’t right for the book.

No worries Soroptimum!
I love it when a thread meanders.
In fact, I’d forgotten that I’d started this thread, it’s been a pleasure to read the more recent replies.
Thank you all for your recommendations

Lexisgranny

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.

Yes, that’s the one! She is coming to Oswestry in August to unveil a Blue Plaque in her honour. (Sorry to hijack the post OP)

Apart from Florence Nightingale,whose biography I read years ago,
Simone Veil, a french politician and fighter for women's rights .
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Veil
She died not long ago.

Soroptimum

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 went to the same school as Dame Stephanie, in the same year. OGHS. They were born in the same year.

Here she is on Ted Talks

www.ted.com/talks/dame_stephanie_shirley_why_do_ambitious_women_have_flat_heads

"Below Stairs" by Margaret Powell. Circa 1921 aged 14 she was sent out into "service" as a kitchen maid. A real-life "Downton".

lovebeigecardigans1955

I enjoyed The Adventures of the Crumpsall Kid by Mike Harding - witty, funny and some sad stuff.

Reckless by Chrissie Hynd.

These are more modern autobiographies but worth a read.

I didn’t realise Mike Harding had written so many books. I looked them up to find the one book of his that I’d read and loved ( it mentioned something about Moses and constipation). And I saw a programme about Christie Hynd and really warmed to her.