Tell Me Who I Am is a memoir by Alex and Marcus Lewis, which also inspired a Netflix documentary of the same name. So, what is Tell Me Who I Am about? After a motorcycle accident, Alex Lewis woke up but couldn’t remember anything about his past life. The Tell Me Who I Am book chronicles the long journey of Alex Lewis who tries to recover from his memory loss due to this devastating motorcycle accident. As a result, Alex finds himself grappling with amnesia, while he desperately tries to reconstruct his lost memories. He turns to his twin brother, Marcus, for support in reconstructing the scattered pieces of his life and memories. Meanwhile, Marcus is hiding a dark family secret — one that remains concealed for 20 years until the story eventually comes to light. The book Tell Me Who I Am explores in detail themes like complex family ties, lost memories, secrets, and brotherhood. I was in awe of these characters, their strength to overcome the past together, and their unusual life story. I’m glad I got the chance to know more about them. Read on for community reviews and my thoughts about the book.

English

Language

July 4, 2013

Publication Date

Hodder & Stoughton

Publisher

Tell Me Who I Am in numbers:

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12.8 x 2.8 x 19.6 cm

Dimensions

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People involved with Tell Me Who I am:

Alex Lewis

Author

Marcus Lewis

Author

Awards Tell Me Who I am has won:

As of our last update in September 2021, the book itself had not received any major awards. However, please keep in mind that our information might be outdated. To find the most up-to-date and accurate information about any awards the book may have received, we recommend checking reputable literary award websites, book industry news sources, and official author or publisher websites.

Let us know if you’ve valuable information to update this section. Please reach out: team [@] lisanneswart.com

More about the authors:

Born in 1964, both Alex and Marcus Lewis experienced their early years in London and Sussex before the tragic accident happened. Following the publication of their memoir in 2013, both Alex and Marcus took the courageous step of sharing their journey during an interview on ITV’s This Morning. As time went on, these twin brothers ventured into new phases of life as they tied the knot and began their own families. Additionally, they found success in the business realm and established themselves as proprietors of the exquisite Fundu Lagoon boutique hotel. The luxurious hotel is located on the enchanting African island of Pemba.

Reflecting on their journey, Alex, who was 49 at the time, emphasized, “We are both married, we both have children. You can move forward. These harrowing things can happen to you, but we’ve all got the opportunity to put that aside and live our lives.” Therefore, this sentiment resonates with their remarkable journey of resilience and renewal, which serves as an inspiration to others facing challenges.

Their first book, Tell Me Who I Am, is co-written by ghostwriter Joanna Hodgkin who has written 11 novels, from psychological thrillers to historicals. Her work has been translated into more than 8 languages, and the memoir she wrote of her mother, Amateurs in Eden, The Story of a Bohemian Marriage, was published in 2012 to widespread acclaim. Joanna lives in London today and teaches history at Somerville College.

In 2021, Lisanne recommended “Tell Me Who I am” by Alex and Marcus Lewis and said…

“It is an interesting idea how a seemingly great solution – losing all your bad and traumatic memories – isn’t a solution to the problems at all. As this documentary implies, emotions cannot be controlled, and by hiding certain emotions or painful experiences they aren’t cleaned up at all.”

Frequently
Asked Questions

  • Is Tell me who I am real or fake? A commonly asked question about the memoir, is whether it is based on a true story. The story of Tell me who I am is centered around Alex and Marcus, who are on their journey to uncover their traumatic past together. It’s an exploration of the lasting effects of abuse on an individual’s life. The events they underwent together were so extraordinary and outrageous, that it almost defies belief, but the story is based on actual events and every detail is undeniably true.

  • What happened to the twins from Tell Me Who I Am? First of all, I highly recommend reading the book for more details. I prefer not to expose everything because the book is worth reading. From reading the book and watching the documentary it became clear to me that the life journey of both Alex and Marcus is definitely marked by trauma and sexual abuse which took them obviously a lifetime to heal from. The brothers now have kids and went on with their lives.

  • What jobs do Alex and Marcus Lewis have? The bothers found success in the business realm and established themselves as proprietors of the exquisite Fundu Lagoon boutique hotel. The luxurious hotel is located on the enchanting African island of Pemba. Sadly I’ve never visited the place but hopefully I will in the coming future.

  • Who are the parents of Alex and Marcus? First of all, their mother, Jill Dudley, was born in 1931 and was a debutante. I read that she had distant familial ties to British Prime Minister Clement Attlee, potentially elucidating her association with the prominent figures that were referred to in the documentary. Mother died of cancer in 1995 at the age of 63.

    Their biological father was a salesman called John Lewis, who died in a car crash when the twins were three days old. Therefore, the twins grew up with their stepfather Jack Dudley, an accountant. Jill and John went on to have two other children.

  • So what happened to the brothers in Tell Me Who I Am?

    If you’re willing to read the book yourself; READ NO FURTHER. This section contains spoilers!

    – After they discover a disturbing photo in their mom’s bedside drawer, their life changes forever. Both Alex and Marcus Lewis are in many ways marked by childhood trauma and sexual abuse which had a lasting impact on their lives, and obviously, it took them a long time to heal from.

  • Why did Marcus and Alex live in the shed? The brothers shared that their stepfather appeared to be a bully, forcing the boys to live in their garden shed.

  • Who is the director of the documentary?

    The director of Tell Me Who I Am is Ed Perkins. As a talented filmmaker, he has received many international awards including an Oscar nomination for Black Sheep. Perkins’ work on “Tell Me Who I Am” showcases his dedication to exploring the complexities of the human experience. The documentary not only delves into the intricacies of memory and identity but also serves as a testament to Perkins’ skill in weaving together narratives that resonate on a deeply emotional level. In addition to “Tell Me Who I Am,” Perkins has showcased his versatility by tackling diverse subjects and themes throughout his career. Whether exploring social issues, personal narratives, or broader cultural phenomena, he has consistently demonstrated an innate ability to engage and enlighten audiences.

  • Where can I watch the documentary?

    Tell Me Who I Am is available on Netflix.

Book Details

The book Tell Me Who I Am by Alex and Marcus Lewis is now on my list of recommended reads. Find some more details about the book in this section.


Reviews for Tell Me Who I Am from Insiders:

Five stars!

I was able to read this book and it touched me to the core and I came out of it as a changed person. Very few books have ever had that effect on me, and it is relevant on so many levels. It will encourage people to be true to themselves and not keep dark secrets under wraps they suffered as children, often causing pain they carry for a lifetime and in many cases destroy lives – I salut the twins, Marcus and Alex Lewis for their bravery to come forward and share their lives journeys with us. Beautiful job by Hodgkin who tells the story with so much integrity. Even though shocking, this story is inspiring, and empowering and will bring about change. Bravo!

Karin

Intriguing coming-of-age story

This is an intriguing coming-of-age story, that reads like a psychological thriller. I have to say that I loved the book more than the documentary, but the story is either way very upsetting yet beautiful. I admire their courage of putting a story that’s so deeply personal out there.

Melinda


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