Terry Pratchett: A Life with Footnotes

The Official Biography

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Terry Pratchett: A Life with Footnotes

By: Rob Wilkins

Narrated by: Rob Wilkins

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

WINNER OF THE BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR BEST NON-FICTION

'PEOPLE THINK THAT STORIES ARE SHAPED BY PEOPLE. IN FACT, IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND.'

At the time of his death in 2015, award-winning and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett was working on his finest story yet - his own.

At six years old, Terry was told by his headteacher that he would never amount to anything. He spent the rest of his life proving that teacher wrong. At sixty-six, Terry had lived a life full of achievements: becoming one of the UK's bestselling writers, winning the Carnegie Medal and being awarded a knighthood for services to literature.

Following his untimely death from Alzheimer's disease, the mantle of completing Terry's memoir was passed to Rob Wilkins, his former assistant, friend and now head of the author's literary estate.

Drawing on his own extensive memories, along with those of Terry's family, friends, fans and colleagues, Rob recounts Terry's extraordinary story - from his early childhood to the literary phenomenon that his Discworld series became; and how he met and coped with the challenges that 'The Embuggerance' of Alzheimer's brought with it.

Alzheimer's & Dementia

Art & Literature

Authors

Friendship

Physical Illness & Disease

Relationships

Dementia

Feel-Good

Funny

Heartfelt

Inspiring

Witty

Thought-Provoking

Alzheimer's Disease

Biography

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Critic reviews

"Of all the dead authors in the world, Terry Pratchett is the most alive." (John Lloyd)

"Always readable, illuminating and honest. It made me miss the real Terry." (Neil Gaiman)

Most relevant

… because I’m writing this review whilst still sobbing with Rob at the description of Terry’s death. Particularly poignant because my own mother is currently alive but not well in the throes of Alzheimer’s.

This is a fond and respectful life but not a hagiography. There’s no hiding the warts here, but the portrait of this grumpy but basically very decent genius of a man is compelling. Whether you are a fan or not, I thoroughly recommend it.