Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review! Today, I’m sharing my review of The Little Book of Miriam by Miriam Margolyes.
The Little Book of Miriam was published by John Murray Press on 11 September 2025 and is 320 pages long.
What it’s About
The Little Book of Miriam is less a traditional memoir and more a pocket-sized series of musings; this book offers Margolyes’ unmistakable voice on everything from ageing disgracefully to political outrage, bodily functions, love, theatre, fame, and the ongoing joy of simply being Miriam.
Writing Style
Margolyes writes in the voice you will be familiar with if you’ve read her other books—and if you haven’t, where have you been? She says exactly what she thinks—with no filters. She’s bold, mischievous, and is as no-nonsense as ever.
The tone shifts from warm and affectionate to blunt and confrontational, often in the same paragraph. Miriam’s humour is earthy, sometimes bawdy, but always unafraid and tinged with just the right amount of dramatic flair.
The book’s structure is non-linear. There is no single narrative drive; chapters or entries follow an associative logic (A for Academia, B for Bacon, and so forth), which makes for easy reading.
She mixes memory, commentary, and aphorism, and her reflections on ageing, identity, fame, and loss are candid; she doesn’t shy away from the awkward, the embarrassing, or the raw. There are wry asides, sharp observations, confessionals, and tangents galore.
One slight drawback to this book is that there are a few instances of repeated anecdotes for those of us who have read This Much is True and Oh Miriam!. But you know what? It’s such a tiny thing, and some of those stories are so funny they bear repeating.
Final Thoughts
The Little Book of Miriam is not a standard life story. It is instead a carnival of moments, observations, and provocations — in short, an invitation into the mind and spirit of Miriam Margolyes. For fans of her personality and career, it offers a lot: laughter, a sharp edge, and surprise. For readers new to her, it may serve as an electrifying introduction.
If you’re in the mood for a memoir that’s less about chronology and more about voice, less about granular detail and more about the sparkle of personality, this is an excellent pick.
I am giving Miriam a full 10/10 here! I love this lady.
Have you read any of Miriam’s books? Let me know what you think of them.
Thank you, as ever, for reading my review!
Until next time,
George
© 2026 GLT
Categories: Book Reviews, Reading
GEORGE L THOMAS 
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