Share in the childhood tales of A Girl Named Zippy. Hear Kenneth Branagh read Samuel Pepys' exuberant 17th-century diary. Be transformed by the extraordinary women of Half the Sky. You'll find these and other remarkable life stories under biography and memoir.
A historical tapestry of border-crossing travelers, of students, wanderers, martyrs and invaders, The White Mosque is a memoiristic, prismatic record of a journey through Uzbekistan and of the strange shifts, encounters, and accidents that combine to create an identity. Learn More
A moving account of raising, then freeing, an orphaned screech owl, whose lasting friendship with the author illuminates humanity's relationship with the world. Learn More
On the 150th anniversary of his birth comes this monumental biography of conductor Arturo Toscanini, whose dramatic life was unparalleled among twentieth-century musicians. Learn More
Called "a triumphant piece of reporting," Snowblind recounts the exploits of former cocaine smuggler Zachary Swan, chronicling his elaborate scams and outstanding success in the early 1970s. Learn More
Bill Russell with David Falkner; read by Rif Hutton
More than any other sports figure of the modern era, Bill Russell combined sheer athletic dominance with a depth of character that truly set him apart, both on and off the basketball court. Learn More
The Covent Garden Ladies tells the story of Samuel Derrick, Jack Harris, and Charlotte Hayes, whose complicated and colorful lives were brought together by the publication of Harris's List, an infamous guidebook of prostitutes which detailed addresses, physical characteristics, and "specialties." Learn More
It was the divorce that scandalized Georgian England . . . She was a spirited young heiress. He was a handsome baronet with a promising career in government. Their marriage had the makings of a fairy tale but ended as one of the most salacious and highly publicized divorces in history. Learn More
by Ingrid Rowland & Noah Charney; read by Jennifer M. Dixon
Lauded by Sarah Bakewell as "insightful, gripping, and thoroughly enjoyable," The Collector of Lives reveals how one Renaissance scholar completely redefined how we look at art. Learn More
An incisive biography of E. E. Cummings's early life, including his World War I ambulance service and subsequent imprisonment, inspirations for his inventive poetry. Learn More
From the author of the acclaimed biography Martin Luther: Renegade and Prophet, new perspectives on how Luther and others crafted his larger-than-life image. Learn More
Now back in print, a candid and insightful look at an era and a life through the eyes of one of the most remarkable Americans of the twentieth century, First Lady and humanitarian Eleanor Roosevelt. Learn More
A thrilling biography of the Indigenous Brazilian explorer, scientist, stateseman, and conservationist who guided Theodore Roosevelt on his journey down the River of Doubt. Learn More
In this Very Short Introduction Ritchie Robertson covers the life and work of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832): scientist, administrator, artist, art critic, and supreme literary writer in a vast variety of genres. Learn More
In this entry in the My Reading series, Michèle Roberts explores Colette's work and reflects on how Colette has inspired and encouraged her throughout her own writing life. Learn More
