Books like Thomas Hardy by Claire Tomalin

Roald Dahl’s humorous memoir of his early years, from birth through his time at an English boarding school and his first job at Royal Dutch Shell.

A tribute to a lifelong obsession, Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby captures the fever pitch of fandom in Great Britain, from its agony and ecstasy to its defining role in young men's coming-of-age stories.

Agatha Christie’s posthumously published autobiography traces her life from early childhood through two marriages, two World Wars, her writing career and archaeological adventures with husband Max Mallowan.

"Witty, courageous and unconventional, Mary Wollstonecraft was one of the most controversial figures of her day. She published 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman'; travelled to revolutionary France and lived through the Terror and the destruction of the incipient French feminist movement; produced an illegitimate daughter; and married William Godwin before dying in childbed at the age of thirty-eight. Often embattled and bitterly disappointed, she never gave up her radical ideas or her belief that courage and honesty would triumph over convention."--Back cover.

"John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was a brilliant writer who continues to leave his imaginative imprint on the mind and hearts of readers. He was once called the "creative equivalent of a people," and for more than sixty years his Middle-earth tales have captivated and delighted readers of all ages from all over the world. The Hobbit has long been recognized as a children's fantasy classic, and the heroic romance the Lord of the Rings has been called the most influential story of all time. These stories have sold over 150 million copies worldwide and have been translated into over forty languages, and they, along with works such as the Silmarillion and the History of Middle-Earth, have convinced scores of readers and critics that Tolkien is the master writer of fantasy. Whether you've been a fan for years or you've just recently been hooked by the blockbuster Lord of the Rings movies, "I Am in Fact a Hobbit" is an excellent starting point into the life and work of J.R.R. Tolkien. Book jacket."--Jacket.

Alan Jacobs presents a carefully researched biography of C.S. Lewis, tracing his transition from a medieval literature scholar and Oxford don to the creator of the beloved Chronicles of Narnia. The book explores his early Irish childhood, wartime experiences, friendship with Tolkien, and late‑life marriage to Joy Davidman.

Elizabeth Gaskell’s unsentimental biography traces Charlotte Brontë’s rise from the rural parish of Thornton to becoming the celebrated author of *Jane Eyre*, highlighting her family life, school years, and characteristic kindness.

Lyndall Gordon defends Mary Wollstonecraft, 1759‑1797, founder of modern feminism, by painting her vibrant portrait and correcting her historical reputation.

Samuel Pepys, a naval administrator and diarist, kept a private diary that captures the turbulent world of Restoration London and explores his inner life of relations with women, fears and ambitions, and political shifts.

Linda Lear’s biography reveals the extraordinary life of Beatrix Potter, celebrated artist, illustrator, author, businesswoman, scientist, and Lakeland landowner.