THE LEOPARD IN MY HOUSE

A deep personal clever and witty book Michael Rosen Funny moving wise and then very funny again John O Farrell clear eyed humane and engaging Observer inspiring GuardianI feel like there s a leopard in my house locked in a room I ve contacted the leopard authorities and they assure me they are used to dealing with leopards like this and they have a plan for removing the leopard It will take a while though and once in a while I can hear it growl And that s all very reassuring Even so several times a day I think to myself Hang on there s a leopard in my house One morning while shaving the comedian Mark Steel noticed that one side of his neck seemed larger than the other After a whistlestop tour of assorted medical professionals a consultant delivered the ominous words that would define the next months of his life I m afraid it s not good news Mr Steel And so began a journey into the heart of the NHS as he embarked on the long and uncertain road to cancer recovery via a range of mildly torturous and entirely miraculous treatments What if anything might he learn about himself and our capacity for coping with life when times get tough as he becomes part of a club that one in two British people will ultimately join A frank and