What is the Polari Prize?
The Polari Prize is the UK’s only LGBTQ+ book prize. This year, I was delighted to be contacted to be offered books from the shortlist to review. There is a childrens and YA category as well as a first book prize along with the main prize. Founded in 2011, this year is the award’s eleventh year. Founded by author and activist Paul Burston, the awards celebrate LGBTQ+ books, fiction and non-fiction. This year, the awards will take place at the British Library on the 15th November.
This Much is True
One criticism I often make of the celebrity autobiography is that the celebrity in question hasn’t lived long enough to tell the reader much of their life. That cannot be said of Miriam Margolyes’ autobiography!
Suddenly I’m eighty. How can that possibly be? Eighty is OLD!
Straightaway, we can hear Miriam’s voice screaming off the page! But then we get to dive into some amazing anecdotes and stories from a life that has been full of adventure. There are stories of acting, of course, but I always love the personal stories, of where people begin.
And of course, the pictures. No celebrity autobiography would be complete without one or two glossy photos. And these add to the sense that, by the end of the book, we know a little bit about the lady behind the funny, rude and crude lady that we love on interviews.
Fun, funny and thoughtful
There is, of course, bucketloads of fun in this book. From being asked “Do you fuck?” by Warren Beatty to being told off by the Queen, Miriam’s life story is told in the way that we expect it to be told.
But we’re invited into Miriam’s Jewish roots, the anti-Jewish feelings that her grandparents felt and into the lockdown world of a scared Miriam, afraid to leave the home because of Covid.
Despite the loud, almost attention seeking behaviour, there are moments of real vulnerability in this book.
Would I read more?
Because of timings and editing work, I simply don’t have time to review, in depth, all of the books on the shortlist. Maybe, in time, I will but by reading a short section, I thought I would be able to ask myself if I would want to read more of this book.
I had, actually, read this one! But my copy has gone straight to Mum, who was desperate to read it!
This Much is True by Miriam Margolyes is published by John Murrray. It is shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize. Find out more about the books shortlisted for the Polari Prize and book your tickets for the award event.
Nick (he/him) is an experienced professional editor and proofreader, specialising in LGBTQ+ writing.
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