The Little Book of Miriam

by Miriam Margolyes

From ARNIE to DOLLY, BLACKADDER to SCORSESE; GRAHAM NORTON to HARRY POTTER; the VAGINA MONOLOGUES to ZOOM, welcome back to the irrepressible and unstoppable world of Miriam Margolyes.

Packed with her wit, wisdom and unfiltered stories, The Little Book of Miriam is a memory palace of Miriam's extraordinary life's standout moments, opinions and conclusions. Never forget that this is a woman who knocked back WARREN BEATTY, played to an audience of TWO THOUSAND NAKED LESBIANS, injected sex into the CADBURY'S CARAMEL BUNNY and was VOGUE'S COVER STAR AGED 83. Miriam is always full of surprises and this book is too.

Deliciously dip-in-able, thought-provoking and mirth-inducing, elegantly designed and always interesting -- whether sharing daring declarations, behind-the-scenes antics or talking about the indignities of ageing, this is a book as unique and extraordinary as Miriam herself.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Memoir, Biography, LGBT, Comedy, Humor

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2025

About the author

Born in Oxford, England in 1941 and educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, Miriam Margolyes is a veteran of stage and screen, an award-winning actress who achieved success on both sides of the Atlantic. Winner of the BAFTA Best Supporting Actress award in 1993 for The Age of Innocence, she also received Best Supporting Actress at the 1989 LA Critics Circle Awards for her role in Little Dorrit and a Sony Radio Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her unabridged recording of ‘Oliver Twist’. She was the voice of the Matchmaker in Mulan & Fly, the mother dog, in Babe.

Her voice work has been internationally acclaimed & she is regarded as the most accomplished female voice in Britain: she has recorded many audio books including Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Alice in Wonderland & Alice Through the Looking-Glass, Matilda, Pinnocchio, The Worst Witch series, The Queen & I (one of the best-selling audio books in the world) The Little White Horse, The Sea, Troy & Wise Child ).

Reviews

[Jo Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

She never disappoints, my friend, Miriam (we’re friends now, she told me so at the end of the book) sharp as a tack, hilariously funny, startlingly honest and I think I’d go as far as to say we should all be a bit more Miriam, let her tell you how in this little book of life skills!

Beautifully narrated by the woman herself.

All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting and funny book is the little book of Miriam

[Chanel Chapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

No filter. No apologies. So many handjobs…back to back 💦

4.5

[Jessica Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible book

Miriam will forever be an icon.

Hilarious, rude and political… a woman after my own heart!

My second audible book that I’ve listened to and I throughly enjoyed it 😊

[Cassandra Marie Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

She rambles on a bit but shes fecking hilarious so I dont care. Thoroughly enjoyed this naughty Miriam A to Z, listen to it don't read it, audio it...much funnier.

[Ian D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A for Arsehole - D for Dickens - F for Fart - J for Jew - L for Lesbian - M for Miriam - N for Naughty.
Κυρίως N for Naughty!

Ένα ασυγκράτητο, αθυρόστομο και απίστευτα γοητευτικό αλφαβητάρι ζωής, όπου κάθε γράμμα γίνεται αφορμή για μια ιστορία, μια καλοζυγισμένη βρισιά ή μια συγκινητική εξομολόγηση, δια χειρός μιας γυναίκας που έζησε τα πάντα στον υπερθετικό. Η Miriam Margolyes δεν γράφει για να σε εντυπωσιάσει. Γράφει για να γελάσεις, να κοκκινίσεις και κάπου κάπου να πεις μα είναι δυνατόν; Και φυσικά είναι.

Αναπολογητικά ειλικρινές, σκανδαλιάρικο και απροσδόκητα τρυφερό, δεν είναι ένα βιβλίο για όλους. Ευτυχώς.
Because N is also for No Regrets.

[Katie Loves Kitty cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love, love, love Miriam & have sat in the audience at one of her book tours but I felt this book was a rehash of stories and anecdotes from her previous two books. Best to listen to her reading this as an audiobook

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 / 4.75 ⭐️

Usually not an audiobook girly but I highly recommend reading this as an audiobook!

Hilariously funny but sometimes hard to follow due to the alphabetical nature of the book as opposed to linear.

This is the first of Miriam’s books I’ve actually read although I have been a fan of her, her manner, acting and political stance for sometime! Very interested in reading the two books she has previously published now!!

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her, or hate her, a book that ends with a cake recipe for my favourite cake gets 5 stars! I agree that life is about cake so long as it’s homemade with love.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically more Miriam so more of what you love honestly!

[Evelyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

You cannot but adore Miriam, made me laugh out loud 🙂🥰

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Miriam. By page 19 she'd condemned Isr*el's genocide 4 times. She's just fantastic. The way lovely old queer women should be. Supporting trans rights. Hating on the idiots. Not giving or taking any bull shit. She's entertaining and fun and brutally honest. And that is wonderful and inspiring. I must get both her other books and read them now.

[Georgina Bullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

she’s a legend

[Jasmine]

Definitely recommend this as an audiobook!

Lots of laughs were had, and I just HAD to replay certain sections to friends - whether this be because of Miriam’s humour or wise words.

I appreciated the discussion regarding global politics and international affairs; it was refreshing to hear such honest opinions.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and snippets of your life!

P.S. thank you for the cake recipe, George.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a funny book, written just the way she speaks. It was great just browsing a few pages each day over the month. There were many laugh out loud moments, things about her I never knew and lots of things you can contemplate over.

I’ve always loved Miriam and this didn’t disappoint.
Happy Reading 🩷📚🩷

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Miriam and her past books were very enjoyable. This one relies far too much on her proving how shocking she can be. I have no problem with Miriam's honesty about the things she has done but it is no longer shocking to tell us over and over how many times you have pleasured men. Not a prude, but don't enjoy reading the same thing over and over again and finding it shocking. Aside from that aspect of the book, it was a fun read. If you choose to read it, just be prepared to hear the same thing over and over again.

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sharp, self aware riot from start to finish. The Little Book of Miriam blends absurdity, petty brilliance, and chaotic charm into a narrative that is ridiculous and sincere. Listening to the audiobook, read by Miriam herself, amplifies the humor, her delivery leans into every outrageous beat and makes the already hilarious Escobar saga even funnier. What could've been a simple saga, becomes an utterly hysterical and wonderful read just by Miriam using her voice.

Thanks Miriam for another corker.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and some definite laugh out loud moments. I listened to it as an audiobook and I think hearing it read by the author gives it an extra layer of enjoyment.
This book covers a broad spectrum of topics, some of which are quite rude and some quite political.

[Mia Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

very cute, i love miriam

[Coral · Rating 5 out of 5]

All hail Queen Miriam! 💕

[Tracy Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glorious book, plenty of interesting and laugh out loud stories

[Karen Gallaher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, heartwarming and wise words. Pay heed!

[Erin Hamill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miriam never disappoints. An honest, witty icon with such fascinating (and of course, unfiltered) tales of her life and career. The book was great to read front to back but its alphabetic structure also allows for a good coffee table book. I look forward to dipping in and out of the stories again!

[Hayley Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

classic miriam. dependably honest, bold, fascinating and effortlessly funny. she’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she’s always the moment.

[Louise Larkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a woman - I love people are unknowingly worshipping her as a child actor who brought magic to the world when she spent half the book talking about giving magic to men in the form of blowies

[Alison Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little read, but for anyone who’s read her previous books, it was just a retelling of lots of the stories she covers in those. If I’d not read her other books it would be a 4*/5*.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite the same as her previous books, it's more about her thoughts on several subjects rather than her experiences of life or her career. Amusing in parts.

[Meghan Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

From henceforth I will also call boobs “globes of glory”

[Elin Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious while also touching on and acknowledging shit things going on in the world - really loved it

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three a half stars. Cute book of her funny insights to dip in and out of now and again. Just love her.