Arguably one of Britain's greatest and most versatile actors of the past 50 years, John Hurt was unique in so many ways. His body of work, both eclectic and often brilliant, saw him play characters that few others would attempt, let alone portray on a regular basis.

From Quentin Crisp in the groundbreaking The Naked Civil Servant, to John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Hurt also gave stunning performances in classic films such as Midnight Express, Alien and 1984. But away from the cameras, he was a likeable but complicated character, haunted by shocking passages in his childhood and years of heavy drinking. His unmistakeable, gravelly voice hinted at high intelligence and also led to memorable voice parts in Watership Down and The Plague Dogs.

John Hurt: The Elephant in the Room is the first deep examination of this much-loved actor's life and work, published on the tenth anniversary of his death. Fascinating, sad and funny, John Hurt's tale is of a life well lived, with more highs than lows that kept his legion of admirers captivated to the last.