James Herbert - This is your Life - Novelist - The Rats

Here's the late English Cockney novelist best known for his terrifying novel "The Rats" James Herbert getting the "This is your Life" Treatment from Michael Aspel circa 1995.
James John Herbert, OBE (8 April 1943 - 20 March 2013)[1] was a best-selling English horror writer who originally worked as the art director of an advertising agency. A full-time writer, he also designed his own book covers and publicity. His books have sold 54 million copies worldwide, and have been translated into 34 languages, including Chinese and Russian.
Born in London,[3] Herbert was the son of Herbert Herbert,[4] a stall-holder at London's Brick Lane Market. He attended a Catholic school in Bethnal Green called Our Lady of the Assumption, then aged 11 won a scholarship to St Aloysius Grammar School in Highgate. He left school at 15 and studied at Hornsey College of Art, joining the art department of John Collings, a small advertising agency.[5] He left the agency to join Charles Barker Advertising where he worked as art director and then group head.[4]
Herbert lived in Woodmancote, near Henfield in West Sussex,.[6] He had two brothers: Peter, a retired market trader and John, an insurance broker.[7] Herbert would write his drafts in longhand on "jumbo pads".[4] In 1979 Herbert had to pay damages when it was ruled that he had based part of his novel “The Spear” on the work of another writer (The Spear of Destiny),[8] Trevor Ravens­croft.[9] In 2010 Herbert was honoured with the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award, presented to him by Stephen King.[2] Later the same year he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours, presented by Prince Charles.[10][11]
On 20 March 2013, Herbert died at his home in Sussex at the age of 69.[9] He is survived by his wife, Eileen, and three daughters.[12][13] His biographer Craig Cabell updated his biography about the author and released a revised paperback in May 2013, publishing one of the last letters Herbert ever wrote.

[@tomhamilton5261]

Interesting what Betty Shine has to say about him. I think his books were becoming more spiritual as he developed as a writer. Great loss that he passed too soon from us but will not be forgotten. Very talented man who comes off as very unpretentious but greatly talented. Many thanks for your wonderful books, James.

[@mssaturn13]

Master of Horror - James is my favorite author - I love each and everyone of his books and have a dedicated shelf in my home library to all of his books - every read was an absolute treat - RIP James we miss you :(

[@kathleengordon9059]

Best author ever no one has or had a imagination like the late great James Herbert I was like a child on Christmas eve waiting for him to release another novel I miss his work tremendously R.I.P James may you're work read on x

[@Truegho]

Undeniably, the Master of Horror. Jim was a great influence on me in regard to taking up writing horror stories myself. Still miss to this day. Used to love looking forward to each new James Herbert book. All I have now, sadly, are the memories. Jim left a great legacy.

[@theposhenglishguy]

Only just started reading him, i'm surprised at the lack of interviews of him on youtube

[@bettedavis1409]

Coming from England he is my favourite horror author, been years since I read him, I've just ordered the rats trilogy, gonna start again :) I only just found out he died in 2013! Rest in peace james❤

[@asimghaffar8148]

"Cats in the background crying like children" - brilliant simile man. I like that.

[@maxinemckenzie6076]

"The Dark" was a brilliant Book. His was the name you would mention when you heard the name Stephen King, because I think Herbert had an edge on King. R.I.P James. 🦇 .

[@sonerali3047]

My favourite Herbert book to

[@florida4life]

I was a fan in the 70s as a teen. Life took over and 40 years later I'm a dog shelter volunteer and my niece is also a volunteer. She said "I wish there was a book from a dogs point of view, I wonder how THEY feel.." Memories flooded back and I said "actually.... There is.. I read it 40 years ago." I ordered a copy off ebay for her birthday and I'm slightly embarrassed to say I had to read it again before I gave it to her.

[@bettedavis1409]

Why be embarrassed! It's an awesome book😊

[@jasrust]

Re-reading Domain for about the tenth time. First was when I was eleven. Scared the living daylight shit out of me.

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

I read The Rats when I was 15, and yes, it scared me so much, I actually had very vivid nightmares

[@s.stewartstewart8892]

Fantastic author, lovely man, will always be grateful for the lettered reply he sent me and honoured his promise to name a character in one of his novel's after me, many thanks James.

[@Toosimoo]

What a great honour

[@mallacoda1]

Thanks for posting this dude. Have loved Herbert's work since I was about 9 years old (probably too young to be reading his work really!), this made me a little teary-eyed considering his death in 2013. His talent will be missed.

[@ggggg-h9s]

Read many of this wonderful authors books The Rats the Lair domain the fog the dark and many many more...

[@gavhinds8190]

R.i.p James a great author..I'm just reading yr book ONCE atm...class..

[@TheHorrorSection]

I'm a huge Herbert fan. Thanks so much for posting this!

[@kevdawg55]

love stephen king's little "magic cottage" comment

[@BenKellyMusic92]

The very best horror author of all time :) And just look at how him and his brothers all look exactly the same! :D

[@01322521959]

Wonderful author. At 17 I read The Rats and was hooked on any horror book, especially James Herbert. So sad at his passing and of not being able to enjoy anymore of his brilliant books.

[@tomhamilton5261]

Very talented man. Much missed.loved his books from The Rats onwards.

[@maxinemckenzie6076]

Wow great artwork Herbert produced too. 👌 .

[@sonerali3047]

Loved reading James books particularly his early stuff

[@chrisharvey2611]

Thanks for sharing! Been looking for Mr Herbert's TIYL on here for ages! (used to have it on VHS but it got lost along the way!

[@waderaney7]

I knew James briefly in London

[@Fortress333]

I read The Rats a couple days ago, a fast and gripping read. Now started on Lair. I hear especially good things about the third book in the trilogy, Domain. Time to go to bed and read :)

[@asimghaffar8148]

+Jeroen Nouwens Is Lair any good?

[@Fortress333]

Asim Ghaffar I read Lair a few weeks ago. It was well-written, but kind of over-the-top or hard to believe in some places, like the first novel (such as the ending in The Rats where suddenly way too many rats are all over the place). However, it was saved by good writing and I must say the love-interest in this book was also nicely done, like in the first novel. I thought the ending was not that great, though. I started on Domain and got sort of bored in the first few pages already. Not sure if I can handle that many hundreds of pages of the same stuff. Hahah. I have to give it a more serious chance. Have fun. I would still recommend Lair just for entertainment. It's a quick read.

[@joan6839]

Domain is addictive. I read it in my adolescence

[@carolsheenyhailstoneartgra3977]

My favourite author of all time! Such a nice guy too.. legend x

[@glenp7612]

Brilliant writer and great fellow. Thank you for uploading.

[@asimghaffar8148]

Seriously, what happened to his popularity? From what I've read, heard and seen in interviews, he was as big as he was ever was going to be in the 80s and 90s. Movie adaptations, number one bestsellers, interviews etc... What happened to his demand in the 2000s and 2010s?

[@drjohnsmith2484]

HE IS THE BEST OF THE BEST

[@DarthSparhawk]

a great author

[@portcullis5622]

I wonder how the book would have sold if he had stuck with his first draft title, 'The Voles'?

[@ebneigh5191]

Tim Roth needs to play James Herbert in a biopic.

[@jennifervonpickartz2428]

I thank G-d for You. Love, Light, Peace, Music and Joy

[@amyclarke41]

Yes

[@videocurios]

[@wobber999]

brilliant author sadly missed, the rats trilogy is good i did prefer lair over the rats and domain.

[@Truegho]

I have done a video tribute to the late, great James Herber here: kzbin.info?search_query=James%20Herbert

[@warmecanic]

Creepy stories source :V

[@videocurios]