Alexander Masters

Alexander Masters is a British author best known for Stuart: A Life Backwards, which won the Guardian First Book Award. He is known for his unconventional, compassionate biographical writing that brings extraordinary people to vivid life. The Genius in My Basement is a biography of Simon Norton, a former child prodigy and mathematical genius who lives in Masters' basement. Norton was once considered one of the finest mathematicians of his generation but chose to retreat from academic life into a world of bus timetables, hoarding, and mathematical problems. Masters tells his story with characteristic warmth, humour, and intellectual curiosity. The audiobook version, narrated by Jot Davies, brings this remarkable portrait to life. Both versions offer listeners and readers a fascinating, deeply human biography. Masters' work appeals to fans of eccentric biography, mathematics, and anyone who appreciates stories about extraordinary minds.