Andrew Davies has written his way into British cultural history, from House of Cards to Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones to Bleak House. But his own life story is every bit as compelling and chaotic as the characters he has 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 New York 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Drawing upon personal correspondence, diaries and unpublished archive material, Andrew writes candidly about marriage and mischief, writer’s block and Broadway, literary obsession and love.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 difficult relationship with his mother, the enduring memory of his wife Diana and their long, happy and complicated marriage, as well as the family dynamics that continue to shape his storytelling.

Contains: three 8-page colour plate sections and ephemera, personal poetry, annotated scripts, behind-the-scenes snapshots, self-portraits and quirky items from decades of production and adaptation.

“Range, wit, heart, wisdom.” HUGH BONNEVILLE

“Andrew’s writing is alive with wit, compassion and delicious humanity. He makes us care deeply. This is his gift.” ALISON STEADMAN