Taken decade by decade, Derek Jarman's life is a virtual encapsulation of the social and cultural history of the latter half of the twentieth century, from post-war austerity through the liberated sixties and the perplexing seventies to the eighties of Aids and Thatcherism. Jarman has grown in stature enormously over the past decade. Always influential in artistic and film-making terms, and within the gay community, he had attained before his death a figurehead status that is now very generally recognised, and can only increase with time. His extraordinary garden in Dungeness in Kent has become a major tourist attraction and his films still compel massive critical attention. Tony Peake was Derek Jarman's literary agent, and knew him well. His authorised biography is based on first-hand interviews and primary research and does immense justice to a brilliant - and singular - subject.

Remarkable man; remarkable book GQ ...Tony Peake's monumentally well-researched and fittingly respectful biography of this multifaceted personality SUNDAY TIMES The best kind of biographical writing- simple and transparent- so you see through to the life. INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY Warm, judicious and, unexpectedly, critical... [Peake] provides a sharp and colourful portrait not just of Jarman's own multi-faceted life but of the various personalities who played a part in it. EXPRESS ON SUNDAY

Born in South Africa in 1951, Tony Peake is a literary agent, novelist and anthologist (SEDUCTION, published by Serpents Tail).