Based on a True Story

(Paperback)

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From poker to poetry, poisoners to princes, opera to the Oscars, Shakespeare to Olivier, Mozart to Murdoch, Anthony Holden seems to have rolled many writers lives into one. Author of 35 books on a crazy range of subjects,this cocky Lancashire lad-turned-bohemian citizen of the world has led an apparently charmed life from Merseyside to Buckingham Palace, the White House and beyond. As he turns 70, the award-winning journalist and biographer grandson of an England footballer, son of a seaside shopkeeper, friend of the famous from Princess Diana to Peter O'Toole, Mick Jagger to Salman Rushdie spills the beans on showbiz names to literary sophisticates, rock stars to royals as he looks back whimsically and wittily on a richly varied, anecdote- and action-packed career concluding, in the words of Robert Louis Stevenson, that Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.

Reviews

'A writers life told by a born writer beautifully observed, brilliantly written, wonderfully evocative.Its a story of our time featuring some of the most remarkable characters of our time funny, moving and telling; a roller-coaster of a good read, at times hilarious, at times heart-breaking. My book of the year.' -- Gyles Brandreth
Unputdownable Everything Holden touches, whether Arsenal or Tchaikovsky, he lights up with a fresh eye and zest.I cant think of a more enjoyable memoir, which is also a portrait of a man of remarkable talents, expressing his own brilliance with politicians in Washington, with the literati in London watering-holes, and pursuing a never-ending affair with Shakespeare. -- Melvyn Bragg
An absolute page turner Alatter-day Laurence Sterne hurtling through apicaresque life of creative adventure. What is truly inspiring isthe way Anthony has nourished so many amazing friendshipswithextraordinary people. This should be read by every young personof ambition to remind them that what lasts isthe love of friends and family. -- Tina Brown
What a life! I admired and enjoyed the colossal range of Holden's interests, his energy and delight in the daily business of writing, along with his gift for friendship. And what a rich cast his life embraces, each player so vividly evoked. His prose isdeftly turned, with aclear smack of authority, intelligence and wit, of which his very opening sentence is a fine example.Hisgenerosity and sweetness of spirit in the face of a sudden, profound affliction touched me deeply. This isa lovely, varied, fizzy life, in which so much was achieved, so much pleasure rendered. -- Ian McEwan
'I read Holden's book pretty much in one sitting and enjoyed it so much. Those Sunday Times years are still of course the pinnacle of serious journalism, and remain so vivid and amazing in his chapters. But the whole story is so deftly told, and left me marvelling at his energy and multiple talents.The last few years have been tough for him, but even these he writes about with humour and grace. -- Alan Rusbridger

Author Bio

Anthony Holden is an award-winning journalist who has published more than thirty books, including He Played For His WifeAnd Other Stories and biographies of Laurence Olivier, Tchaikovsky, and Shakespeare. He has published translations of opera, ancient Greek plays, and poetry. He was director of European Film and Television at Exclusive Media, where he helped relaunch Britains most famous film production label, Hammer. Anthony Holden lives in London.