Biographies of the year " review
Heavyweight studies of Margaret Thatcher and Laurence Olivier were standouts but the real gem was a life of an Italian poet, showman and fantasist' See Viv Groskop's fiction books of the year hereThree kinds of biographies make ideal Christmas presents " the political or theatrical legend; the literary restoration; and the maverick life. This year has turned out to be a bumper one in all three of these categories. D…