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  1. Books
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  3. Literary biographies

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Word Monkey

This is the memoir Christopher Fowler always wanted to write about 'writing'.

It's the story of how a young bookworm growing up in a house where there was nothing to read but knitting pamphlets and motorcycle manuals became a writer - a 'word monkey' - and pursued a sort of career in popular fiction. And it's a book full of brilliant insights into the pleasures and pitfalls of his profession, dos and don'ts for would-be writers, and astute observations on favourite (and not-so-favourite) novelists.

But woven into this hugely entertaining and inspiring reflection on a literary life is an altogether darker thread. In Spring 2020, just as the world went into lockdown, Chris was diagnosed with terminal cancer. And yet there is nothing of the misery memoir about Word Monkey. Past and present intermingle as, in prose as light as air, he relates with wry humour and remarkable honesty what he knows will be the final chapter in his story.

Deeply moving, insightful and surprisingly funny, this is Christopher Fowler's life-affirming account of coming to terms with his own mortality.

'A delight . . . a glorious, witty and life-affirming ragbag of autobiography, cultural commentary and hard-won wisdom.' ANDREW TAYLOR, author of The Shadows of London

'Perceptive, wise and illuminating . . . an unmissable farewell.' Barry Forshaw, FINANCIAL TIMES

'The most hilarious, life-affirming book you’ll read this year.' SAGA magazine


Author:

  • Christopher Fowler

Narrator:

  • Sean Pertwee

Format:

  • Audiobook

Duration:

  • 13 h 28 min

Language:

English

Categories:

  • Biographies
  • Literary biographies

More by Christopher Fowler

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  1. Ink and Daggers

    Ann Cleeves, Chris Simms, Christine Poulson, Christopher Fowler, Conrad Williams, George Pelecanos, James Sallis, John Lawton, Ken Bruen, Kevin Wignall, Lavie Tidhar, Martyn Waites, Max Allan Collins, Maxim Jakubowski, Mickey Spillane, Neil Gaiman, Peter Robinson, Simon Brett, Stuart Neville, Val McDermid, Victoria Selman

    audiobook
  2. Ink and Daggers

    Maxim Jakubowski, George Pelecanos, Simon Brett, John Lawton, Ken Bruen, Mickey Spillane, Max Allan Collins, Peter Robinson, Kevin Wignall, Val McDermid, Victoria Selman, Ann Cleves, Chris Simms, Martyn Waites, Christopher Fowler, Lavie Tidhar, Christine Poulson, James Salis, Conrad Williams, Stuart Neville

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  3. The Foot on the Crown

    Christopher Fowler

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  4. Bryant & May’s Peculiar London

    Christopher Fowler

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  5. Bibliomysteries Volume 4

    Christopher Fowler, Joe R. Lansdale, Martin Edwards, Michael Koryta

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  6. Hot Water

    Christopher Fowler

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  7. Bryant & May - London Bridge is Falling Down

    Christopher Fowler

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  8. Fantastic Crimes : Four Bibliomysteries by Bestselling Authors

    Anne Perry, Christopher Fowler, F. Paul Wilson, Elizabeth George

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  9. Oranges and Lemons : Bryant & May Book 17

    Christopher Fowler

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  10. England's Finest

    Christopher Fowler

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  11. The Lonely Hour: Bryant & May, Book 16 : Bryant & May, Book 16

    Christopher Fowler

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