This compelling collection invites readers to explore the world of Derek Jarman (1942-94), one of the most influential and pioneering cultural figures of the postwar era.

It brings together newly commissioned essays that focus on specific, and often lesser-known, aspects of his life and work, along with extensive portfolios that span his entire oeuvre.

From his first feature film Sebastiane (1976) to his videos for the Pet Shop Boys and Marianne Faithfull in the 1980s, from his AIDS activism to his iconic film Blue (1993), Jarman was not only a filmmaker and artist but also a musician and gay activist, profoundly shaping British culture.

Conceived as a reader, this volume includes essays by cultural critic Elisabeth Lebovici, curator Claire Le Restif, and garden historian Marco Martella. It also features an interview with Jarman's collaborator James Mackay, personal testimonies from actress Tilda Swinton and musician Simon Fisher Turner, and an illustrated chronology.

The collection discusses key works such as Jarman's militant Queer Paintings series (1992), his Super8 films from the mid-1970s, and the assemblages created in his legendary garden at Prospect Cottage in Kent. This book offers an accessible yet rich overview of Jarman’s legacy, inviting readers to rediscover his revolutionary impact on art and culture.