More Lives Than One: The Extraordinary Life of Felix Dennis

Dive into the captivating and turbulent world of Felix Dennis, the publishing titan and eccentric millionaire, in "More Lives Than One: The Extraordinary Life of Felix Dennis," the definitive and authorized biography penned by Fergus Byrne. This isn't just a rags-to-riches story; it's a rollercoaster of ambition, controversy, addiction, and ultimately, redemption. Felix Dennis was a true original, a man who defied categorization at every turn. From his rebellious beginnings dropping out of grammar school and finding himself embroiled in the infamous Oz magazine obscenity trial alongside Richard Neville and Jim Anderson (a case that rocked British society and challenged the boundaries of free expression), to his meteoric rise in the publishing world, Dennis lived life on his own terms, often pushing those terms to the absolute limit. Byrne, granted unparalleled access to Dennis's personal archives, including meticulously kept papers and a wealth of interviews with those who knew him best lovers, family, friends, and colleagues paints a comprehensive and unflinchingly honest portrait of this complex character. Discover how a chance encounter with a queue for a Bruce Lee film ignited the spark for Kung-Fu magazine, the publication that initially catapulted Dennis to success. Explore Dennis's ambitious expansion into the American market, where he added MacUser and Maxim to his burgeoning portfolio. But the allure of success came at a price. Byrne doesn't shy away from detailing Dennis's descent into the dark depths of crack addiction, encounters with prostitutes, and exploration of S&M. The biography candidly explores the self-destructive tendencies that threatened to derail everything he had built. But Dennis's story is not one of unremitting excess. Following a life-threatening health scare, he underwent a dramatic transformation, abandoning drugs overnight and embracing a new chapter focused on poetry and philanthropy. He acquired a sprawling estate in Warwickshire, embarked on an ambitious project to create the largest broadleaf forest in Britain, and even acquired a beloved home in Mustique from none other than David Bowie, adding another layer of intrigue to his already fascinating life. "More Lives Than One" sheds light on Dennis's lesser-known passion for poetry. He published several volumes of verse, captivating audiences with well-received readings across the nation. Byrne delves into the inspiration behind his poetic works, revealing a surprisingly introspective and sensitive side to the notoriously brash businessman. Fergus Byrne masterfully weaves together the threads of Dennis's multifaceted life, creating a biography that is both insightful and immensely readable. It's a compelling study of a man who lived multiple lives within a single lifetime, leaving an indelible mark on the worlds of publishing, poetry, and conservation. "More Lives Than One" is a must-read for anyone fascinated by unconventional success stories, complex personalities, and the enduring power of human transformation. Discover the man behind the myth, the millionaire poet, the forest-planting publisher Felix Dennis.