An Unsuitable Boy: A Life in Scripts

The undisputed maestro of literary adaptation finally turns his razor-sharp pen on the most challenging subject of all: himself. Andrew Davies has written his way into British cultural history, from Pride and Prejudice to House of Cards, Bleak House to Bridget Jones. But his own life story is every bit as compelling and chaotic as the characters he’s brought to life. An Unsuitable Boy is a memoir that weaves together wit, irreverence and vulnerability to reflect on a life of writing, loving, adapting, collaborating and surviving. With scenes that stretch from post-war Cardiff to the BBC boardroom, from Broadway flops to French farmhouses with Robert Altman, this is a story about what happens behind the scripts. Drawing upon personal correspondence, diaries and unpublished archive material, Andrew writes candidly about marriage and mischief, writer’s block and Broadway, literary obsession and love. Along the way, with his trademark wit and warmth, he reflects on his complicated bond with his mother, the enduring memory of his wife Diana and their long, happy marriage, the affairs on both sides that complicated it, and the family dynamics that continue to shape his storytelling. Contains: Photographs and ephemera, personal poetry, annotated scripts, behind-the-scenes snapshots, self-portraits and quirky items from decades of production and adaptation.