My Book of Treasures: The perfect Christmas gift by national treasure Dame Joanna Lumley

by Joanna Lumley

'I welcome you with open arms to my book of treasures. It's a book for all seasons and for all occasions; and it comes to you from me, with armfuls of effusive greetings and salutations, trailing clouds of glory and affection, this offering of treasures made specially for you.' Joanna Lumley

Over the years Joanna Lumley has kept private notebooks, filled with her favourite writings, thoughts and quotes. Now, for the first time, she opens her Book of Treasures to share some of her many and varied jottings with readers.

This collection of chosen writings, interspersed with narration from Joanna, features the lines of her best-loved authors, from Shakespeare to Emily Dickinson, pearls of wisdom that she has heard or read, and nuggets of trivia and miscellanea that have made her happy.

The book is full of surprise and the wistful keeps company with the acerbic, the sincere slips in besides the absurd. And the result is a jewel box of delights, filled with fabulous titbits.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Audiobook

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2025

About the author

Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE, FRGS is a British actress, presenter, former model, author, television producer, and activist.

Reviews

[Stephen Devonport · Rating 3 out of 5]

some beautiful wonderful writing from a very varied selection of authors well worth a read

[Clive Hodges · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Book of Treasures is a collection of favourite writings that Joanna Lumley has found interesting, comforting, humorous or thought-provoking over the years. Fabulous is a word closely associated with Dame Joanna. Her many fans will not be surprised that she considers the collection fabulous.

Many of the quotes are from playwrights, poets and commentators long dead; some from people she eventually met and was able to gush her appreciation.

Spike Milligan became a friend. One limerick of his is included: ‘Said Hamlet to Ophelia/I’ll do a sketch of thee/What kind of pencil shall I use/2B or not 2B?’

If, by Rudyard Kipling, is included in full. Until I read it in My Book of Treasures, I’d only been aware of snippets. ‘If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs …’ is one that springs to mind. Joanna mentions that the lines about triumph and disaster appear over the doors in Wimbledon for the tennis players to see before they go on court.

In a section of the book devoted to death and dying, Joanna quotes her grandmother, Thyra Letitia Alexandra Weir. After a lifetime of travelling as a diplomat’s wife, she said: the good thing about dying is that you don’t have to pack.

My Book of Treasures is a slim volume with a striking cover and a distinctive layout designed to ensure the reader’s attention is focused on the profound, wistful and waspish pearls of wisdom encountered on each page.

I puzzled over the poems, giggled at the trivia, and laughed out loud when reading British artist David Hockney’s description of watching Pablo Picasso paint without a stitch on.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-3 stars

I admit I ordered this without knowing what it was about because I adore Joanna Lumley, but I'm quite disappointed. I assumed it would be about her, her experiences, little snippets of things she's done and learnt etc. but instead it's a collection of poems, quotes, sayings etc. from poets, authors, celebrities, religious folk etc. that seemingly have absolutely no link to each other, other than being loved by Joanna.

It's a perfectly fine book, what's there is fine, and it's quick to read (done in an hour or so), but it's got no real meat on the bone. It's very random and a bizarre theme for a book. If it wasn't Joanna Lumley, I can almost guarantee it won't have been published.

[E Selby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this sweet collection in one sitting.

I was tempted to give it three stars as it includes a lot of poetry which I’m not particularly fond of, the rest I enjoyed.

I gave it four stars, however. I didn’t think it fair to deny Ms Lumley an extra star, it’s not her fault I’m not fond of poetry

And just to add, I’m so glad I’m not the only person who hates brown shoes. Utter Validation

[Lauren Nicol Deaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most random book I've read all year and I can honestly say it wasn't one of the greatest either which pains me to say as I LOVE Joanna.

I just feel like this book was oddly put together and a lot of it wasn't particularly enjoyable. The poems/literature was quite old school and not really up my street either to be honest.

Some nice stuff in here but nothing extraordinary.

[Sarah Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

very soothing as an audio book.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of poems/writings/thoughts by otheres that Joanna Lumley has collected over the years.