This authorised and unique biography covers Jarman’s story from the bleakness of post-war Britain and his RAF childhood, to student life at The Slade and his work as a designer, painter and filmmaker. It tells how energetic home filmmaking with dazzling friends led to distinctive feature films including Sebastiane, The Tempest, and Caravaggio. There were collaborations with the likes of Sir John Gielgud and Tilda Swinton and Jarman was also at the forefront of popular culture, producing distinctive music videos for Pet Shop Boys and The Smiths.

Alongside his art and a significant body of writing, Jarman created a singular garden in the shingle surrounding Prospect Cottage at Dungeness in Kent, which has become a site of memorial, celebration and pilgrimage. He became known as an impassioned and provocative spokesperson not only for gay men, but for anyone oppressed by bigotry.

Derek Jarman died of AIDS-related causes in February 1994 and Peake describes his inimitable courage and grace in the face of painful death, and the legacies Jarman left behind. The biography explores his childhood, artistic journey, activism, and the impact of AIDS on his life and work. 

  • Early Life and Influences:

    The book delves into Jarman’s upbringing in post-war Britain, his RAF childhood, and his time at the Slade School of Art, highlighting the formative experiences that shaped his artistic vision. 

  • Artistic Career:

    It chronicles Jarman’s diverse career as a designer, painter, and filmmaker, showcasing his distinctive feature films like “Sebastiane,” “The Tempest,” and “Caravaggio,” as well as his collaborations with prominent figures like Sir John Gielgud and Tilda Swinton. 

  • Activism and AIDS:

    The biography addresses Jarman’s role as a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and his activism against homophobia and AIDS-related stigma. It also explores his courageous struggle with AIDS-related illness. 

  • Legacy and Influence:
    The book examines the enduring impact of Jarman’s work on popular culture, including his music videos and the iconic garden he created at Prospect Cottage in Dungeness. It also highlights his literary contributions, including his autobiography “Dancing Ledge” and his diarie

Tony Peake enjoyed unprecedented access to the visionary artist’s archives in order to bring the extraordinary life of Derek Jarman to the page. With new contributions from Olivia Laing and Jon Savage.

Available from Allison and Busby

Tony Peake is a novelist, short story writer, biographer and was a celebrated literary agent. He became friends with Derek Jarman, during the last eight years of Jarman’s life. He currently spends most of his time, when not travelling, in London and Essex, where he lives with his civil partner and enjoys being grandfather to his five grandchildren. Tony has written four novels (A Summer Tide (1993), Son to the Father (1995), North Facing (2017) and If It’s Tuesday (2025)) and a biography of Derek Jarman. He is a patron of the Jarman Award.

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.