THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world.

THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world.

But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse bands the world has ever seen.

When Freddie passed away in 1991, he left to his former fiancée and dearest friend Mary Austin not only his house and possessions but also a creative archive spanning almost two decades. From his earliest works before Queen was formed, right through to the end of his solo career, his notebooks and doodlings contain previously unpublished material including alternate lyrics and abandoned verses for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and multiple drafts of ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, as well as entire songs that were never recorded.

Accompanied by stories, memories, and anecdotes from his lifelong companion, and illustrated with photographs from Freddie’s personal collection, many of which have never been published before, A Life in Lyrics is the definitive creative record of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

Details

ISBN13: 9780008735388
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 320
Edition:
Publication Date: 13 Oct 2026
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 25.2(H)x19.5(L)x2.8(W)1220
Weight (gm): 1220

Author Biography

When Mary Austin first met Freddie Mercury in 1970, it marked the beginning of an enduring friendship that would shape the rest of each of their lives. She, aged 19, worked at the Biba store in Kensington, while he, aged 24, ran a stall selling his artworks in Kensington Market. They would become engaged four years later, on Christmas Day 1973, the same year that Queen released their debut album. After Mary and Freddie's relationship came to an end in the mid 1970s they would remain a central presence in each other's worlds for the next two decades. When Freddie passed away in 1991, he left his home, Garden Lodge, and his possessions to Mary, who has treasured and celebrated the memory of her beloved friend ever since. When Mary Austin first met Freddie Mercury in 1970, it marked the beginning of an enduring friendship that would shape the rest of each of their lives. She, aged 19, worked at the Biba store in Kensington, while he, aged 24, ran a stall selling his artworks in Kensington Market. They would become engaged four years later, on Christmas Day 1973, the same year that Queen released their debut album. After Mary and Freddie's relationship came to an end in the mid 1970s they would remain a central presence in each other's worlds for the next two decades. When Freddie passed away in 1991, he left his home, Garden Lodge, and his possessions to Mary, who has treasured and celebrated the memory of her beloved friend ever since.

Reviews

“Queen fans should be thanking Austin for showing them the real Mercury. A Life in Lyrics is not just a lovingly personal and often revealing account of a life spent in devotion to Mercury in both life and death, but a first-hand account of Mercury’s creative blossoming…” The i Paper
‘Compelling’ The Observer
‘An enduring love story … An honourable, deeply intimate book, part memoir, part tribute’ MOJO
‘Austin writes touchingly’ Uncut
‘Gloriously intimate photographs’ Attitude