Margrave Of The Marshes<br>By John Peel and Sheila Ravenscroft | bookshelf

Margrave Of The Marshes
By John Peel and Sheila Ravenscroft

John Peel Margrave Of The Marshes Autobiography Cover

The autobiography of a legend - JOHN PEEL, completed by the woman who knew him best - Margrave Of The Marshes - is published by Bantam Press on October 17th 2005.

The book consists of the 50,000-plus words already penned by the legendary broadcaster alongside biographical material and personal reminiscences written by Sheila and their children, working in close collaboration with John's editor at Transworld, Doug Young.

Despite the number of claims in publishers blurbs, not many people actually achieve the status of legend in their own lifetime. Fewer still actually deserve that status. John Peel is the exception which proves that rule, a Great Briton whose contribution to British culture is undeniable, without whom popular culture would never have become popular.

Beloved by millions - whether for his unstinting championing of musical talent on Radio 1 or for his wildly popular Radio 4 show Home Truths - this is the astonishing book he began to write before his untimely death in October 2004, completed by the woman who knew him best, his wife Sheila. The first half of the book, written by John, describes with characteristic humour his early life, from child to man, including his school days and National Service.

You can hear the unique Peel voice in every sentence - rarely, if ever, before has a voice been so successfully transferred to paper. The second section, written by Peel's wife and soulmate of many years, Sheila Ravenscroft, gives us an intimate portrait of the man and his music, and the highs and the lows of everyday life at Peel Acres. The completion of this book has been a labour of love for John's family and their passion has paid off. It's every bit as extraordinary as the man himself and a fitting tribute to a bona fide legend.

Following close consultation with John's wife, Sheila, their children - Alexandra, William, Florence and Thomas - and his agent Cat Ledger, publication in Bantam Press hardcover is released in October 2005.

Larry Finlay, Transworld's Managing Director said: "Everyone at Transworld felt John's passing as a personal loss. As the many tributes have said, John was a rare man whom millions felt they knew personally. We all grew up with him and felt him to be a friend who was part of our lives. It is a privilege for us to be able to work with his family to publish the book that I know John himself would have wanted."