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Baroness Shirley Williams discusses her mother, the feminist and pacifist Vera Brittain. Read more
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Vera Brittain
Baroness Shirley Williams discusses her mother, the feminist and pacifist Vera Brittain.
Samira Ahmed on Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls Wilder: author Tracy Chevalier s Samira Ahmed
Russell Kane on Evelyn Waugh
Comedian Russell Kane nominates novelist Evelyn Waugh, with Ann Pasternak Slater helping
Tim Smit on Humphrey Jennings
Eden Project founder chooses documentary maker and artist Humphrey Jennings
Mark Steel on Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin wasn’t funny but a political rebel. Mark Steel nominates him as his hero.
Nikesh Shukla on the Great Gama
The Great Gama, the strongest man in the world, championed by author Nikesh Shukla.
Suzanne O'Sullivan on Oliver Sacks
Neurologist and author Oliver Sacks is Suzanne O'Sullivan's hero, she tells Matthew Parris
Rohan Silva on Colin Chapman
Matthew Parris profiles the inventor of the car that changed the face of Formula One
Matt Lucas on Freddie Mercury
Matt Lucas chooses Freddie Mercury
Shappi Khorsandi on Emma, Lady Hamilton
Shappi Khorsandi chooses Emma, Lady Hamilton Lord Nelson’s mistress.
Catherine de Medici nominated by Helen Lewis
Helen Lewis nominates the so-called 'Black Queen' of , Catherine de Medici.
Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, chosen by Tom Holland
Tom Holland chooses Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians
Malcolm Lowry, nominated by Ian McMillan
As a young man looking for a literary hero, poet Ian McMillan found writer Malcolm Lowry
Kirill Gerstein on Ferruccio Busoni
Kirill Gerstein chooses conductor, composer and virtuoso Ferruccio Busoni
Caroline Criado-Perez on Jane Austen
The feminist campaigner and writer Caroline Criado-Perez champions the life of Jane Austen
Jeremy Deller on The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein
Turner Prize artist Jeremy Deller chooses The Beatles manager Brian Epstein.
Shirley Collins on Alan Lomax
Shirley Collins and Billy Bragg on the legendary American song-hunter Alan Lomax.
Kamila Shamsie chooses Asma Jahangir
Kamila Shamsie champions the life of the human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir.
Robinson Crusoe
Real-life castaway Lucy Irvine nominates Robinson Crusoe. With Martin Popplewell.
Ed Balls nominates Herbert Howells
Ed Balls discusses the influence of 20th-century composer Herbert Howells on his life.
Laura Marling on Lou Andreas-Salome
Laura Marling on the first female psychoanalyst Lou Andreas-Salomé.
Caroline Quentin nominates Sir John Vanbrugh
Caroline Quentin nominates the 17th century dramatist and architect Sir John Vanbrugh
First Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay Macdonald, Labour's first Prime Minister, chosen by Shaun Ley.
Philippa Perry on the Italian educator Maria Montessori
Psychotherapist Philippa Perry on the Italian educator Maria Montessori.
Fiona Shaw nominates the actress Eleonora Duse
Eleonora Duse, pioneering 19th-century actress, is the choice of Fiona Shaw.
Comedian Sindhu Vee on Prince
The comedian Sindhu Vee nominates Prince, the musical superstar.
Constance Agatha Cummings-John
Author Chibundu Onuzo on the first elected female in Africa, Constance Cummings-John.
Just William / Richmal Crompton proposed by Peter Oborne with Martin Jarvis
William Brown, star of the Just William books, proposed by Peter Oborne.
Lee Miller, war photographer and model
Lindsey Hilsum on the extraordinary life of Lee Miller.
Jeremy Paxman nominates Lord Shaftesbury
Jeremy Paxman nominates the Victorian social reformer Lord Shaftesbury.
Novelist Enid Blyton
How can Enid Blyton not be a great life?
