With an introduction by Eimear McBride

A devastatingly powerful, moving and uplifting memoir - now a classic of its genre - that inspired others to tell their own true life stories.

When our stepfather staggered home reeking of whisky, ceramic hit the wall. We got used to the smash and the next-day stain, but eventually the wallpaper began to fade . . .

For Andrea Ashworth, home is not a place of comfort and solace, but of violence and fear. Her father died when she was five, leaving her close-knit, loving family to battle with poverty, abuse and the long shadow of depression. But from the ashes of 1970s Manchester and the hardships of her coming-of-age in the late 1980s, Andrea finds the courage to rise . . .

Written with eye-opening honesty, rare beauty and intense power, Once in a House on Fire is a ground-breaking memoir, endearing in its humour and compassion, and life-affirming in its portrait of terrible circumstances triumphantly overcome.

A ground-breaking memoir

About the Author
Andrea Ashworth was born in Manchester in 1969. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.

Reviews
This is a brilliant book. Brilliantly written, brilliantly thought, brilliantly remembered . . . Ashworth has written an extraordinary memoir; the only pity is that she had to live it to make it * Scotsman *
Enchanting and thrilling . . . As a chronicle of northern working-class life in the seventies and eighties . . . it would be hard to better this book. It is extremely moving . . . It is also at time surprisingly, and gratifyingly, very funny -- Tim Lott * The Times *
Full of energy, wit and a child's wide-open gaze . . . Andrea Ashworth escaped the fire to write a remarkable book -- Blake Morrison * Independent on Sunday *
One of the most extraordinary stories you will ever read of the triumph of the human spirit * Daily Mail *
It is strong and admirable; not a long book, but the reader lives a year or two in the telling -- Hilary Mantel


Awards
Winner of Somerset Maugham Award 1999 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9781447275121
Author Andrea Ashworth
Format Paperback
Page Count 368
Imprint Picador
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 250g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 129mm * 23mm