A gripping whodoneit journey back in time, it begins with masters meeting a drunken stuart lying on a sidewalk in cambridge, england, and leads through layers of hellback through crimes and misdemeanors, prison and homelessness, suicide. Stuart was homeless, with many of the problems this subsection of english society. A life backwards by alexander masters harpercollins. Like an archeologist peeling back layer after layer of cultural sediment and fossilized civilizations, masters removes the grimy layers of stuart one anecdote at a time. A life backwards, by alexander masters, a portrait. It won masters critical praise and a television movie. I feel so strongly about this strange, funny, sad book that i hardly. Browse alexander masterss bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. So the book was created by the subject and the writer together and with. A life backwards by alexander masters books library. A gripping whodoneit journey back in time, it begins with masters meeting a drunken stuart lying on a sidewalk in cambridge, england, and.
In this extraordinary book, alexander masters has created a moving portrait of a troubled man, an unlikely friendship, and a. Racing through the proof copy, i took it at first to be a blackly comic novel. Alexander masters has been portrayed by benedict cumberbatch in stuart. A life backwards by alexander masters available from rakuten kobo. Id seen the film and absolutley loved it thanks to benedict cumberbatch and tom hardy.
A gripping whodoneit journey back in time, it begins. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlightingnotes, may not include cds or access codes. A life backwards is a writers quest to give voice to a man who, beneath his forbidding exterior, has a message for us all. A life backwards 1st harper perennial edition by alexander masters isbn. A whodunit journey back in time, it begins with masters meeting a drunken stuart lying on a sidewalk in cambridge, england, and leads through layers of hell. The first edition of the novel was published in 2005, and was written by alexander masters. A life backwards, published in 2005, masters set out to.
Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Books like these are eyeopeners and rattle consciences. I have rarely been so affected by a book and reading about the life of stuart shorter was a terrifying experience. Masters takes the reader backwards through stuarts life, exposing events as the occurred, then revealing events that laid the groundwork prior to them. In this extraordinary book, alexander masters has created a moving portrait of a. Here are some of the best resources you can use for blogging, global culture and philosophy. Stuart a life backwards by alexander masters world of books. In this remarkable book, a masterful act of biographical restoration, alexander masters retraces stuarts troubled journey.
Stuart is akin to a horrific train wreck that you can not tear your eyes away from. A life backwards by alexander masters 20070529 will be shipped from us. Masters, an advocate for the homeless, befriended stuartsomeone for whom cause. Pdf stuart a life backwards by alexander masters download. With a keen writers eye, a gift for narrative and a friendship that lasted only four years, masters recounts the life of stuart clive shorter whose untimely death in 2002 inspired this work. Alongside this alexander looks backwards over stuart s adult life and childhood to try and discover what went wrong with his life. A life backwards kindle edition by alexander masters. A life backwards in this extraordinary book, alexander masters has created a moving portrait of a troubled man, an unlikely friendship, and a desperate world few ever see. Alexander masters is an author and homeless worker. A life backwards by alexander masters and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
We only recommend classic and bestselling resources as well as educational links for you to study. Like an archeologist peeling back layer after layer of cultural sediment and fossilized civilizations, masters removes the grimy layers of. Masters is able to show us the real person behind the homeless and chaotic life and he does so in a way that the story reads somewhat like a thriller with clues being thrown out gradually until the whole picture becomes clear. Through the pale tesco stripes of his supermarket bag i can see the. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 300 pages and is available in hardcover format. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading stuart. A life backwards is a remarkable account of a free fall into the state that british social workers label chaotic homelessness. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. A life backwards is a remarkable account of a free fall into the state. A life backwards, by alexander masters the new york. A life backwards, the 2007 bbc dramatization of his biography of stuart shorter.
Told backwards stuarts idea it starts with a deeply troubled thirtytwoyearold and ends with a happygolucky little boy of twelve. A life backwards, the new book by alexander masters, deserves every accolade that can be awarded. Soon after alexander masters got to know stuart shorter. In this extraordinary book, alexander masters has created a moving portrait of a troubled man, an unlikely friendship, a. There is a reason that masters introduces us to stuart now, rather than beginning at the childhood that spawned this creature. Terrifying because, written backwards as it is, i knew i was coming closer with every page to some kind of explanation for what happened to stuart in his early life. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. In this extraordinary book, alexander masters has created a moving portrait of a troubled man, an unlikely friendship, and a desperate world few ever see.
A life backwards is a biography by alexander masters of his friend stuart. Stuart was homeless, with many of the problems this subsection of english society display. A life backwards is a biography by alexander masters of his friend stuart clive shorter, formerly, at various times, a prisoner and a career criminal. Stuart, a life backwards, is the story of a remarkable friendship between a reclusive writer and illustrator a middle class scum ponce, if you want to be honest about it, alexander and a chaotic, knifewielding beggar whom he gets to know during a. In this extraordinary book, alexander masters has created a moving portrait. In this extraordinary book, alexander masters has created a moving portrait of a troubled man, an unlikely friendship. May 21, 2019 i have rarely been so affected by a book and reading about the life of stuart shorter was a terrifying experience. A life backwards, by alexander masters, a portrait of a homeless man stuart clive shorter, the subject of this remarkable biography, was a homeless man whom alexander masters, a former.
In a life backwards, stuart gradually takes the author alexander masters and the reader back in time and shows how his life experiences as a child and young adult shaped him into becoming the person that alexander sees which is an unstable adult who eventually looses his life. Alexander masters audio books, best sellers, author bio. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the stuart a life backwards, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. See all books authored by alexander masters, including stuart. Dec, 2015 enyearold boy who was stuart before his long, sprawling, dangerous fall.
World of books sells used books online to over 190 countries worldwide. Stuart, the focus of alexander masters book, is as enigmatic and polarizing as real people tend to get. A life backwards by alexander masters when i found out that this was one of the 25 books i had won from booka i was really excited. Shocking, inspiring, and hilarious by turns, stuart.
He is the son of authors dexter masters and joan brady. Stuart shorters brief life was one of turmoil and chaos. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. Jan 02, 2006 stuart, a life backwards, is the story of a remarkable friendship between a reclusive writer and illustrator a middle class scum ponce, if you want to be honest about it, alexander and a chaotic, knifewielding beggar whom he gets to know during a campaign to release two charity workers from prison. In this extraordinary book, alexander masters has created a. Stuart clive shorter, the subject of this remarkable biography, was a homeless man whom alexander masters, a former physics student, met in 1998 in cambridge, england. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us.
And a lot has gone wrong with stuarts life, from gluesniffing, to drug addiction and alcoholism, from minor crime to car theft, robbery, violence and possible charges of. Stuart life backwards by alexander masters abebooks. Your enthusiasm is contagious, and all sorts of great paths are just waiting to be. All of our paper waste is recycled within the uk and turned into corrugated cardboard. A life backwards, and the best american nonrequired reading 2018, and more on. A life backwards expanded the possibilities of what a biography could be.
A life backwards was universally loved by the reading groups stuart does not like the manuscript. Discover audiobooks audible originals best sellers. A life backwards, by alexander masters the independent. This is a used book there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. And a lot has gone wrong with stuart s life, from gluesniffing, to drug addiction and alcoholism, from minor crime to car theft, robbery, violence and possible charges of attempted murder. I feel so strongly about this strange, funny, sad book that i hardly know where to begin. The main characters of this non fiction, biography story are. Alongside this alexander looks backwards over stuarts adult life and childhood to try and discover what went wrong with his life. Through the pale tesco stripes of his supermarket bag i. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Stuart life backwards abebooks shop for books, art. This brilliant biography, winner of the guardian first book award, presents a humbling portrait of homeless life, and is as extraordinary and unexpected as the man it describes.
Masters, alexander 2011, the genius in my basement, harper collins ome, isbn 9780007445271. Stuart, a life backwards is both touching and funny. He led, as he said, a very controversial, unpleasant life. A life backwards by alexander masters librarything. In this remarkable book, a masterful act of biographical restoration, alexander masters retraces stuart s troubled journey. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
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