You can also find more information about peoples’ lives in newspaper obituaries and though Lewisham local records.
The link to the digital copy can be found below the description and most of these can be found in our book catalogue or in branches.
This post is part of a series for National Non Fiction November.
19th Century British Library Newspapers
You can find many obituaries on prominent people which give biographical information. Contains full runs of influential national and regional newspapers representing different political and cultural segments of the 19th century British society.
You can find many obituaries on prominent people which give biographical information. Contains full runs of influential national and regional newspapers representing different political and cultural segments of the 19th century British society.
Access
British Library Newspapers
British Library Newspapers
Adele
By Sean Smith, 2017.
Adele touches the hearts of millions of people who love her for her music and share the real and honest emotion she brings to each and every song. In a cynical age, she is a phenomenon. Sean Smith talks to those close to her as he follows her astonishing journey to fame that began on the gritty streets of Tottenham.
By Sean Smith, 2017.
Adele touches the hearts of millions of people who love her for her music and share the real and honest emotion she brings to each and every song. In a cynical age, she is a phenomenon. Sean Smith talks to those close to her as he follows her astonishing journey to fame that began on the gritty streets of Tottenham.
Copies
OverDrive eAudio: Adele
OverDrive eAudio: Adele
Becoming Johnny Vegas
By Johnny Vegas, 2014.
Johnny Vegas became a household name as the unkempt sidekick of Monkey in the PG Tips adverts. But as his revelatory autobiography shows, Johnny's true genesis took place years before then. This is the story of how Michael Pennington achieved success and stardom as his alter-ego, Johnny Vegas.
Binge
by Tyler Oakley, 2015.
Pop culture phenomenon, social rights advocate, and the most prominent LGBTQ+ voice on YouTube, Tyler Oakley brings you his first collection of witty, personal, and hilarious essays written in the voice that's earned him more than twenty-one million followers across social media.
For someone who made a career out of over-sharing on the Internet, Tyler Oakley has a shocking number of personal mishaps and shenanigans to reveal in his first book: he experienced a legitimate rage blackout in a Cheesecake Factory; he had a fashion stand-off with the White House Secret Service; he crashed a car in front of his entire high school in an Arby's uniform; he projectile vomited while bartering with a grandmother. With millions of fans clamoring for more Tyler Oakley, he delivers his best untold, hilariously side-splitting moments with trademark flair in Binge.
by Tyler Oakley, 2015.
Pop culture phenomenon, social rights advocate, and the most prominent LGBTQ+ voice on YouTube, Tyler Oakley brings you his first collection of witty, personal, and hilarious essays written in the voice that's earned him more than twenty-one million followers across social media.
For someone who made a career out of over-sharing on the Internet, Tyler Oakley has a shocking number of personal mishaps and shenanigans to reveal in his first book: he experienced a legitimate rage blackout in a Cheesecake Factory; he had a fashion stand-off with the White House Secret Service; he crashed a car in front of his entire high school in an Arby's uniform; he projectile vomited while bartering with a grandmother. With millions of fans clamoring for more Tyler Oakley, he delivers his best untold, hilariously side-splitting moments with trademark flair in Binge.
Copies
Overdrive: Binge
Overdrive: Binge
Brave
by Rose McGowan, 2018.
"My life, as you will read, has taken me from one cult to another. BRAVE is the story of how I fought my way out of these cults and reclaimed my life. I want to help you do the same." -Rose McGowan
Rose McGowan was born in one cult and came of age in another, more visible cult: Hollywood.
In a strange world where she was continually on display, stardom soon became a personal nightmare of constant exposure and sexualization. Rose escaped into the world of her mind, something she had done as a child, and into high-profile relationships. Every detail of her personal life became public, and the realities of an inherently sexist industry emerged with every script, role, public appearance, and magazine cover. The Hollywood machine packaged her as a sexualized bombshell, hijacking her image and identity and marketing them for profit.
Hollywood expected Rose to be silent and cooperative and to stay the path. Instead, she rebelled and asserted her true identity and voice. She reemerged unscripted, courageous, victorious, angry, smart, fierce, unapologetic, controversial, and real as f*ck.
BRAVE is her raw, honest, and poignant memoir/manifesto-a no-holds-barred, pull-no-punches account of the rise of a millennial icon, fearless activist, and unstoppable force for change who is determined to expose the truth about the entertainment industry, dismantle the concept of fame, shine a light on a multibillion-dollar business built on systemic misogyny, and empower people everywhere to wake up and be BRAVE .
Copies
Overdrive: Brave
Overdrive: Brave
Gilliamesque - A Pre-posthumous Memoir
by Terry Gilliam, 2015.
From his no-frills childhood in the icy wastes of Minnesota, to some of the hottest water Hollywood had to offer, via the cutting edge of '60s and '70s counter-culture in New York, LA and London, Terry Gilliam's life has been as vivid and unorthodox as one of his films.
Telling his story for the first time, the director of Time Bandits, Brazil, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Fisher King, 12 Monkeys and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - not to mention co-founder of Monty Python's Flying Circus - recalls his life so far. Packed with never-before-seen artwork, photographs and commentary, Gilliamesque blends the visual and the verbal with scabrous wit and fascinating insights.
Gilliam's 'pre-posthumous memoir' also features a cast of amazing supporting characters - George Harrison, Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges, Robert De Niro, Brad Pitt, Uma Thurman, Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger and all of the fellow Pythons - as well as cameo appearances from some of the heaviest cultural hitters of modern times, from Woody Allen to Frank Zappa, Gloria Steinem to Robert Crumb, Richard Nixon to Hunter S. Thompson. Gilliam's encounters with the great and the not-so-good are revealing, funny and hugely entertaining.
This book is an unrestrained look into a unique creative mind and an incomparable portrait of late twentieth-century popular culture.
by Terry Gilliam, 2015.
From his no-frills childhood in the icy wastes of Minnesota, to some of the hottest water Hollywood had to offer, via the cutting edge of '60s and '70s counter-culture in New York, LA and London, Terry Gilliam's life has been as vivid and unorthodox as one of his films.
Telling his story for the first time, the director of Time Bandits, Brazil, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Fisher King, 12 Monkeys and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - not to mention co-founder of Monty Python's Flying Circus - recalls his life so far. Packed with never-before-seen artwork, photographs and commentary, Gilliamesque blends the visual and the verbal with scabrous wit and fascinating insights.
Gilliam's 'pre-posthumous memoir' also features a cast of amazing supporting characters - George Harrison, Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges, Robert De Niro, Brad Pitt, Uma Thurman, Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger and all of the fellow Pythons - as well as cameo appearances from some of the heaviest cultural hitters of modern times, from Woody Allen to Frank Zappa, Gloria Steinem to Robert Crumb, Richard Nixon to Hunter S. Thompson. Gilliam's encounters with the great and the not-so-good are revealing, funny and hugely entertaining.
This book is an unrestrained look into a unique creative mind and an incomparable portrait of late twentieth-century popular culture.
Copies
Overdrive: Gilliamesque
Overdrive: Gilliamesque
Illustrated London News Historical Archive 1842 to 2003
You can find many obituaries on prominent people which give biographical information. The publication presented a vivid picture of British and world events including news of war, disasters, royalty, social affairs, the arts and science. Containing over 260,000 full colour pages, fully searchable and browseable, the ILN Historical Archive 1842-2003 provides library users with unprecedented access to the entire run of this unique historical record.
You can find many obituaries on prominent people which give biographical information. The publication presented a vivid picture of British and world events including news of war, disasters, royalty, social affairs, the arts and science. Containing over 260,000 full colour pages, fully searchable and browseable, the ILN Historical Archive 1842-2003 provides library users with unprecedented access to the entire run of this unique historical record.
Copies
Illustrated London News
Illustrated London News
KP, The Autobiography
By Kevin Pietersen, 2015.
This is the autobiography of Kevin Pietersen, one of the most famous England Cricket players of the last decade.
By Kevin Pietersen, 2015.
This is the autobiography of Kevin Pietersen, one of the most famous England Cricket players of the last decade.
Copies
OverDrive eAudio: KP
OverDrive eAudio: KP
Oxford Art Online
In this database, you can find biographies on Artists, Architects, Designers, Patrons, Collectors, Dealers, Publishers, Printers, Writers and Scholars.
Oxford Art Online contains a comprehensive online reference resource for all aspects of the visual arts worldwide from prehistory to the present day.
In this database, you can find biographies on Artists, Architects, Designers, Patrons, Collectors, Dealers, Publishers, Printers, Writers and Scholars.
Oxford Art Online contains a comprehensive online reference resource for all aspects of the visual arts worldwide from prehistory to the present day.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The Oxford DNB contains over 50,000 biographies of people who shaped the history of the British Isles and beyond, from the earliest times to the year 2004.
The Oxford DNB contains over 50,000 biographies of people who shaped the history of the British Isles and beyond, from the earliest times to the year 2004.
Access
www.oxforddnb.com
www.oxforddnb.com
Oxford Music Online
In this database you can find biographies of Choreographers, Collectors, Curator, Composers, Arrangers, Critics, Journalists, Donors, Patrons, Instrument Makers, Librarians, Archivists, Music Educators, Music Managers, Administrators, Music Technologist, Audio Engineers, Performers, Publishers, Editors, Religious or Ritual Musicians and Scholars.
Oxford Music Online offers instant access to the world's premier authority on all aspects of music.
The authoritative resource for music research with over 52,000 articles written by nearly 9,000 scholars charting the diverse history and cultures of music around the globe.
In this database you can find biographies of Choreographers, Collectors, Curator, Composers, Arrangers, Critics, Journalists, Donors, Patrons, Instrument Makers, Librarians, Archivists, Music Educators, Music Managers, Administrators, Music Technologist, Audio Engineers, Performers, Publishers, Editors, Religious or Ritual Musicians and Scholars.
Oxford Music Online offers instant access to the world's premier authority on all aspects of music.
The authoritative resource for music research with over 52,000 articles written by nearly 9,000 scholars charting the diverse history and cultures of music around the globe.
Spectacles
by Sue Perkins, 2015.
Spectacles is the hilarious, creative and incredibly moving memoir from much loved comedian, writer and presenter Sue Perkins.
When I began writing this book, I went home to see if my mum had kept some of my stuff. What I found was that she hadn't kept some of it. She had kept all of it - every bus ticket, postcard, school report - from the moment I was born to the moment I finally had the confidence to turn round and say 'Why is our house full of this shit?'
Sadly, a recycling 'incident' destroyed the bulk of this archive. This has meant two things: firstly, Dear Reader, you will never get to see countless drawings of wizards, read a poem about corn on the cob, or marvel at the kilos of brown flowers I so lovingly pressed as a child. Secondly, it's left me with no choice but to actually write this thing myself.
This, my first ever book, will answer questions such as 'Is Mary Berry real?', 'Is it true you wear a surgical truss?' and 'Is a non-spherically symmetric gravitational pull from outside the observable universe responsible for some of the observed motion of large objects such as galactic clusters in the universe?'
Most of this book is true. I have, of course, amplified my more positive characteristics in an effort to make you like me.
Copies
Overdrive: Spectacles
Overdrive: Spectacles
The Diary of a Bookseller
By Shaun Bythell, 2017.
Shaun Bythell owns The Bookshop, Wigtown - Scotland's largest second-hand bookshop. It contains 100,000 books, spread over a mile of shelving, with twisting corridors and roaring fires, and all set in a beautiful, rural town by the edge of the sea. A book-lover's paradise? Well, almost!
In these wry and hilarious diaries, Shaun provides an inside look at the trials and tribulations of life in the book trade, from struggles with eccentric customers to wrangles with his own staff, who include the ski-suit-wearing, bin-foraging Nicky. He takes us with him on buying trips to old estates and auction houses, recommends books (both lost classics and new discoveries), introduces us to the thrill of the unexpected find, and evokes the rhythms and charms of small-town life, always with a sharp and sympathetic eye.
By Shaun Bythell, 2017.
Shaun Bythell owns The Bookshop, Wigtown - Scotland's largest second-hand bookshop. It contains 100,000 books, spread over a mile of shelving, with twisting corridors and roaring fires, and all set in a beautiful, rural town by the edge of the sea. A book-lover's paradise? Well, almost!
In these wry and hilarious diaries, Shaun provides an inside look at the trials and tribulations of life in the book trade, from struggles with eccentric customers to wrangles with his own staff, who include the ski-suit-wearing, bin-foraging Nicky. He takes us with him on buying trips to old estates and auction houses, recommends books (both lost classics and new discoveries), introduces us to the thrill of the unexpected find, and evokes the rhythms and charms of small-town life, always with a sharp and sympathetic eye.
Copies
OverDrive eAudio: Bookseller
OverDrive eAudio: Bookseller
The Ravenmaster : My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London
by Christopher Skaife, 2018.
For centuries, the Tower of London has been home to a group of famous avian residents: the ravens. Each year they are seen by millions of visitors, and they have become as integral a part of the Tower as its ancient stones themselves.
But their role is even more important than that - legend has it that if the ravens should ever leave, the Tower will crumble into dust, and great harm will befall the kingdom.
One man is personally responsible for ensuring that such a disaster never comes to pass - the Ravenmaster. The current holder of the position is Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife, and in this fascinating, entertaining and touching book he memorably describes the ravens' formidable intelligence, their idiosyncrasies and their occasionally wicked sense of humour.
Copies
Overdrive: Ravenmaster
Overdrive: Ravenmaster
The Salt Path
by Raynor Winn, 2018.
The uplifting true tale of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey of salvation across the windswept South West coastline. Now a Top Ten Sunday Times Bestseller
'The landscape is magical: shape-shifting seas and smugglers' coves; myriads of sea birds and mauve skies. Raynor writes exquisitely . . . It's a tale of triumph: of hope over despair; of love over everything . . . home was no longer about bricks and mortar. It was a state of mind' The Sunday Times
Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, their home is taken away and they lose their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall.
Carrying only the essentials for survival on their backs, they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable journey.
The Salt Path is an honest and life-affirming true story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world. Ultimately, it is a portrayal of home, and how it can be lost, rebuilt and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways.
by Raynor Winn, 2018.
The uplifting true tale of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey of salvation across the windswept South West coastline. Now a Top Ten Sunday Times Bestseller
'The landscape is magical: shape-shifting seas and smugglers' coves; myriads of sea birds and mauve skies. Raynor writes exquisitely . . . It's a tale of triumph: of hope over despair; of love over everything . . . home was no longer about bricks and mortar. It was a state of mind' The Sunday Times
Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, their home is taken away and they lose their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall.
Carrying only the essentials for survival on their backs, they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable journey.
The Salt Path is an honest and life-affirming true story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world. Ultimately, it is a portrayal of home, and how it can be lost, rebuilt and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways.
Copies
Overdrive: Salt Path
Overdrive: Salt Path
The Sea Takes No Prisoners
By Peter Clutterbuck, 2018.
This is a classic real-life story of derring do on the high seas, complete with extreme risk, last-minute ingenuity and many near-misses. Beginning in the 1960s, this book tells of the real life adventures of the author as a boy - a time of boarding schools, long holidays and an unbelievable (to today's parents) amount of freedom and danger. Encouraged by his parents (who lived abroad) to become more independent and self-sufficient, Peter decided to see how far he could get in his family's small open dinghy Calypso.
By Peter Clutterbuck, 2018.
This is a classic real-life story of derring do on the high seas, complete with extreme risk, last-minute ingenuity and many near-misses. Beginning in the 1960s, this book tells of the real life adventures of the author as a boy - a time of boarding schools, long holidays and an unbelievable (to today's parents) amount of freedom and danger. Encouraged by his parents (who lived abroad) to become more independent and self-sufficient, Peter decided to see how far he could get in his family's small open dinghy Calypso.
Times Digital Archive 1785 to 2012
You can find many obituaries of prominent people which give biographical information.
First published in 1785, The Times of London is widely considered to be the world's 'newspaper of record'. The Times Digital Archive allows users to search over 200 years of this invaluable historical source.
You can find many obituaries of prominent people which give biographical information.
First published in 1785, The Times of London is widely considered to be the world's 'newspaper of record'. The Times Digital Archive allows users to search over 200 years of this invaluable historical source.
Access
Times Digital Archive
Times Digital Archive
To Siri, With Love
By Judith Newman, 2017.
Writer Judith Newman never had any illusions that her family was 'normal'. She and her husband keep separate apartments - his filled with twin grand pianos as befits a former opera singer; hers filled with the clutter and chaos of twin adolescent boys conceived late in life. And one of those boys is Gus, her sweet, complicated, autistic 13-year-old.
With refreshing honesty, 'To Siri With Love' chronicles one year in the life of Gus and the family around him - a family with the same crazy ups and downs as any other. And at the heart of the book lies Gus's passionate friendship with Siri, Apple's 'intelligent personal assistant'.
By Judith Newman, 2017.
Writer Judith Newman never had any illusions that her family was 'normal'. She and her husband keep separate apartments - his filled with twin grand pianos as befits a former opera singer; hers filled with the clutter and chaos of twin adolescent boys conceived late in life. And one of those boys is Gus, her sweet, complicated, autistic 13-year-old.
With refreshing honesty, 'To Siri With Love' chronicles one year in the life of Gus and the family around him - a family with the same crazy ups and downs as any other. And at the heart of the book lies Gus's passionate friendship with Siri, Apple's 'intelligent personal assistant'.
Copies
OverDrive eAudio: From Siri
OverDrive eAudio: From Siri
What Happened
by Hillary Rodham Clinton, 2017.
In the past, for reasons I try to explain, I've often felt I had to be careful in public, like I was up on a wire without a net. Now I'm letting my guard down. –Hillary Rodham Clinton, from the introduction of What Happened For the first time, Hillary Rodham Clinton reveals what she was thinking and feeling during one of the most controversial and unpredictable presidential elections in history. Now free from the constraints of running, Hillary takes you inside the intense personal experience of becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major party in an election marked by rage, sexism, exhilarating highs and infuriating lows, stranger-than-fiction twists, Russian interference and an opponent who broke all the rules. This is her most personal memoir yet. In these pages, she describes what it was like to run, the mistakes she made, how she has coped with a shocking and devastating loss, and how she found the strength to pick herself back up afterwards.
With humour and candour, she tells readers what it took to get back on her feet – the rituals, relationships and reading that got her through, and what the experience has taught her about life. She speaks about the challenges of being a strong woman in the public eye, the criticism over her voice, age and appearance, and the double standard confronting women in politics. She lays out how the 2016 election was marked by an unprecedented assault on democracy by a foreign adversary. By analysing the evidence and connecting the dots, Hillary shows just how dangerous the forces are that shaped the outcome, and why Americans need to understand them to protect their values and democracy in the future. The election of 2016 was unprecedented and historic.
What Happened is the story of that campaign and its aftermath – both a deeply intimate account and a cautionary tale.
by Hillary Rodham Clinton, 2017.
In the past, for reasons I try to explain, I've often felt I had to be careful in public, like I was up on a wire without a net. Now I'm letting my guard down. –Hillary Rodham Clinton, from the introduction of What Happened For the first time, Hillary Rodham Clinton reveals what she was thinking and feeling during one of the most controversial and unpredictable presidential elections in history. Now free from the constraints of running, Hillary takes you inside the intense personal experience of becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major party in an election marked by rage, sexism, exhilarating highs and infuriating lows, stranger-than-fiction twists, Russian interference and an opponent who broke all the rules. This is her most personal memoir yet. In these pages, she describes what it was like to run, the mistakes she made, how she has coped with a shocking and devastating loss, and how she found the strength to pick herself back up afterwards.
With humour and candour, she tells readers what it took to get back on her feet – the rituals, relationships and reading that got her through, and what the experience has taught her about life. She speaks about the challenges of being a strong woman in the public eye, the criticism over her voice, age and appearance, and the double standard confronting women in politics. She lays out how the 2016 election was marked by an unprecedented assault on democracy by a foreign adversary. By analysing the evidence and connecting the dots, Hillary shows just how dangerous the forces are that shaped the outcome, and why Americans need to understand them to protect their values and democracy in the future. The election of 2016 was unprecedented and historic.
What Happened is the story of that campaign and its aftermath – both a deeply intimate account and a cautionary tale.
Copies
Overdrive: What Happened
Overdrive: What Happened
You Will Not Have My Hate
by Antoine Leiris, 2016.
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER What matters most in life? How do you build a happy life when terrible things happen? What is left behind when you lose the person you love the most? One night last winter, Antoine Leiris was at home looking after his son while his wife, Hélène was at a concert with friends. Suddenly he started receiving text messages asking if he was ok.
Turning on the TV, Antoine watched the terrorist attacks in Paris unfolding around him and tried to call Hélène She didn't answer. That night Hélène was killed, along with 88 other people, at the Bataclan Theatre. Three days later, Antoine wrote an open letter to his wife's killers on Facebook. He refused to be cowed or to let his 17-month-old son's life be defined by their acts. For as long as he lives, this little boy will insult you with his happiness and freedom,' he wrote. Instantly, that short post caught fire and was shared thousands of times around the world.
You Will Not Have My Hate is an extraordinary and heartbreaking memoir about how Antoine, and his baby son Melvil, endured after Hélène's murder. With courage, moral acuity, and absolute emotional honesty, he finds a way to answer the question, how can I go on? This is the rare and unforgettable testimony of a survivor, and a universal message of hope and resilience. This book is a guiding star for us all in perilous times.
by Antoine Leiris, 2016.
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER What matters most in life? How do you build a happy life when terrible things happen? What is left behind when you lose the person you love the most? One night last winter, Antoine Leiris was at home looking after his son while his wife, Hélène was at a concert with friends. Suddenly he started receiving text messages asking if he was ok.
Turning on the TV, Antoine watched the terrorist attacks in Paris unfolding around him and tried to call Hélène She didn't answer. That night Hélène was killed, along with 88 other people, at the Bataclan Theatre. Three days later, Antoine wrote an open letter to his wife's killers on Facebook. He refused to be cowed or to let his 17-month-old son's life be defined by their acts. For as long as he lives, this little boy will insult you with his happiness and freedom,' he wrote. Instantly, that short post caught fire and was shared thousands of times around the world.
You Will Not Have My Hate is an extraordinary and heartbreaking memoir about how Antoine, and his baby son Melvil, endured after Hélène's murder. With courage, moral acuity, and absolute emotional honesty, he finds a way to answer the question, how can I go on? This is the rare and unforgettable testimony of a survivor, and a universal message of hope and resilience. This book is a guiding star for us all in perilous times.
Copies
Overdrive: You Will Not Have
Overdrive: You Will Not Have
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