I seem to have been reading Samuel Beckett’s immense biography by James Knowlson on and off for most of the year. It is the only one to be officially authorised by Beckett and his estate, permission being granted by Beckett himself on condition that nothing be published until after his death. Knowlson was a friend of Beckett and an acknowledged authority of his works. The depth of understanding of the man and his writing is evident on every page. The sheer scale of research is awe inspiring but he is also able to organise this material to give a fully rounded portrait of one of the key artistic figures of the 20th century.
