Diana Athill, born in 1917, made her reputation as a writer with the candour of her memoirs; through her commitment, in her words, ''to understand, to be aware, to touch the truth''. In a celebration of her life and writing, Life Class brings together four of her best-loved memoirs in one volume, spanning her very English childhood, her life and loves during the Second World War, her publishing career at Andr� Deutsch, and her reflections on old age. Introduced by Ian Jack, Diana Athill''s selected memoirs are a remarkable testament to an unusual and fully lived life.