Overview

The intimate, funny, unsettling autobiography by one of Britain's most talented and provocative artists, written in his own voice by a close friend. Every inch of Grayson's childhood bedroom was covered with pictures of aeroplanes, and every surface with models. Fantasy took over his life, in a world of battles ruled by his teddy bear, Alan Measles. He grew up. And in 2003, an acclaimed ceramic artist, he accepted the Turner Prize as his alter-ego Clare, wearing his best dress, with a bow in his hair. Now he tells his own story, his voice beautifully caught by his friend, the writer Wendy Jones. Early childhood in Chelmsford, Essex is a rural Eden that ends abruptly with the arrival of his stepfather, leading to constant swerving between his parents' houses, and between boys' and women's clothes. But as Grayson enters art college and discovers the world of London squats and New Romanticism, he starts to find himself. At last he steps out as a potter and transvestite.

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9780099485162

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Reviews

The most remarkable aspect of Grayson Perry's biography is the resilience of the human spirit to which it testifies... There are lovely moments in this book and what really comes across is what a lovely man Grayson Perry is * Literary Review * Gripping and splinter-sharp account of the Turner prize-winning potter's early life and artistic growth * Sunday Times * [A] delightful autobiography... this short charming book ought to be required reading for anyone with artistic ambitions. For everyone else, it can be enjoyed simply as one of those heartwarming tales of happiness and success wrested from the jaws of potential disaster * Mail on Sunday * One of the most gripping and intelligent accounts of an artist's growth I have ever read -- John Carey * Sunday Times * Charming... oddly reminiscent of Nigel Slater's recent book, Toast * Saturday Herald *

The most remarkable aspect of Grayson Perry's biography is the resilience of the human spirit to which it testifies... There are lovely moments in this book and what really comes across is what a lovely man Grayson Perry is Literary Review Gripping and splinter-sharp account of the Turner prize-winning potter's early life and artistic growth Sunday Times [A] delightful autobiography... this short charming book ought to be required reading for anyone with artistic ambitions. For everyone else, it can be enjoyed simply as one of those heartwarming tales of happiness and success wrested from the jaws of potential disaster Mail on Sunday Charming... oddly reminiscent of Nigel Slater's recent book, Toast Saturday Herald it is in its own right one of the most gripping and intelligent accounts of an artist's growth I have ever read. -- John Carey

Charming... oddly reminiscent of Nigel Slater's recent book, Toast * Saturday Herald * One of the most gripping and intelligent accounts of an artist's growth I have ever read -- John Carey * Sunday Times * [A] delightful autobiography... this short charming book ought to be required reading for anyone with artistic ambitions. For everyone else, it can be enjoyed simply as one of those heartwarming tales of happiness and success wrested from the jaws of potential disaster * Mail on Sunday * Gripping and splinter-sharp account of the Turner prize-winning potter's early life and artistic growth * Sunday Times * The most remarkable aspect of Grayson Perry's biography is the resilience of the human spirit to which it testifies... There are lovely moments in this book and what really comes across is what a lovely man Grayson Perry is * Literary Review *

Author Information

Grayson Perry, the controversial winner of the 2003 Turner Prize, is best known as a ceramic artist, but he also works with embroidery and photography. He lives in London and is married with a daughter. Wendy Jones is a teacher and a writer.

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