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A Life in Lyrics

The Official Creative Legacy of Freddie Mercury, Based on His Unseen Personal Archives and Collections

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A Life in Lyrics

By: Freddie Mercury, Mary Austin
Narrated by: Mary Austin, Mandy Weston, Hugh Kermode
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THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Freddie Mercury’s story comes alive in this immersive audio production, featuring original Queen music throughout.

Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world.

But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse bands the world has ever seen.

When Freddie passed away in 1991, he left to his former fiancée and dearest friend Mary Austin not only his house and possessions but also a creative archive spanning almost two decades. From his earliest works before Queen was formed, right through to the end of his solo career, his notebooks and doodlings contain previously unpublished material including alternate lyrics and abandoned verses for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and multiple drafts of ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, as well as entire songs that were never recorded.

Accompanied by stories, memories, and anecdotes from his lifelong companion, and featuring original Queen music throughout, this immersive audio production of A Life in Lyrics is the definitive creative record of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

©2026 Mary Austin (Text) (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment & Celebrities Music
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Critic reviews

“Queen fans should be thanking Austin for showing them the real Mercury. A Life in Lyrics is not just a lovingly personal and often revealing account of a life spent in devotion to Mercury in both life and death, but a first-hand account of Mercury’s creative blossoming…”. The i Paper
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A wonderful glimpse into Freddie’s life and the way he worked so quietly and ferociously to conjure his spells.

I have always wanted to know what he was really like as a person - now I have a small shaft of light - a piercing insight into the real him, shared by his true love.

His legacy lives on today, a twenty-year creative span of making and creating, which inevitably crescendos at that moment we all remember.

As a lifelong fan of him and Queen, I was devastated, in a teenage boy’s way, crying to myself in my bed when he died so young. I feel a little selfish now; I lost my hero, those who truly loved him lost far, far more.

I pored over the auction catalogues hoping to purchase a small part of him or his life, something he had held - but it was so too much, but one thing I have is a lifetime of memories, much of which is tangled with Queen and Freddie.

A sincere thank you, Mary, for sharing your memories, you didn’t have to.

The book is truly wonderful - the epilogue stunning, the sense of connection underserved to me, but very much appreciated.

A unique insight

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would have been better if the pictures from the print were included as a pdf.

great

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Freddie Mercury hi-jacked my birthday, but l forgive him. l think especially for people fluttering around my age, Queen and Freddie run through our lives like an eve changing stick of rock. Almost every song is a landmark, from Killer Queen (summer Jon behind the bar the locals wouldn't believe it wasn't about me) to Live Aid. He was a spirit of the air sending his music out as our soundtrack - l could carry on this elemental thing. but won 't). Some (yes) you didn't like. You didn't have to. But for a short book, it's up there with Vagabond.

Inside Freddie's mind

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For Queen and Freddie Mercury fans, this is a must! Beautifully presented and narrated with a standout performance from Mandy Weston.

A beautiful and moving insight into the relationship between Mary and Freddie.

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This was a lovely listen. I had no idea how close Mary Austin and Freddie Mercury really were. It was fascinating to hear the tremendous amount of work Freddie put in to composing his songs. And personal details revealing Freddie’s character were very interesting. He was a lovely person.

Freddie was a genius

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