Simon: The Genius in my Basement
- 368 pages
- 13 hours of reading
From the author of `Stuart: A Life Backwards'; a warm and witty portrait of a harmless, eccentric, bona fide genius.
Alexander Masters Books
Alexander Masters is an author and screenwriter whose work often focuses on individuals overlooked by society. His writing is characterized by a deep insight into human psychology and an empathetic portrayal of his subjects. Masters endeavors to reveal the complexities of human lives, offering readers a fresh perspective on the world. His style is direct and engaging, drawing readers into the narrative.
Stuart
- 304 pages
- 11 hours of reading
The winner of the Guardian First Book Award that reinvented the biographic form. One of the ten books - novels, memoirs and one very unusual biography - that make up our Matchbook Classics' series, a stunningly redesigned collection of some of the best loved titles on our backlist.
A Life Discards
- 270 pages
- 10 hours of reading
The author invites readers to explore the life of an overlooked individual, shedding light on their significance and the broader implications of forgotten lives. Through a compelling narrative, the book aims to celebrate the contributions and stories of those who have been marginalized or discarded by society, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the richness of human experience.
Stuart. A life backwards
- 304 pages
- 11 hours of reading
'Stuart does not like the manuscript. He's after a bestseller, "like what Tom Clancy writes". "But you are not an assassin trying to frazzle the president with anthrax bombs," I point out. You are an ex-homeless, ex-junkie psychopath, I do not add.' This is the story of a remarkable friendship between a reclusive writer ('a middle-class scum ponce, if you want to be honest about it, Alexander'), and Stuart Shorter, a homeless, knife-wielding thief. Told backwards - Stuart's idea - it starts with a deeply troubled thirty-two-year-old and ends with a 'happy-go-lucky little boy' of twelve. This brilliant biography, winner of the Guardian First Book Award, presents a humbling portrait of homeless life, and is as extraordinary and unexpected as the man it describes.
Unique, transgressive and as funny as its subject, A Life Discarded has all the suspense of a murder mystery. Written with his characteristic warmth, respect and humour, Masters asks you to join him in celebrating an unknown and important life left on the scrap heap.
