Relatively concise but definitely thrilling stories of the models of the famous literary characters. This book may make you want to read books you haven't read yet, and possibly re-read those you have, too. Actually, I quite appreciate the brevity of the chapters – each of the real-world person's life might be enough for a special book (and many really were, with mentions here). But Carreau's descriptions are not flat or boring, I never felt bothered, even with characters I "cared less" about :-)
Take this as a) as inspiration for further exporations and b) as some kind of revelation for the narrations you're already familiar with.