Francis Bacon: Anatomy of an Enigma Book

Probably the best biography on Francis Bacon (see edit). Peppiatt was of course a close friend of the artist so is well placed to recount Bacon's extraordinary life story; particularly first-hand descriptions the long drinking sessions in Soho, Paris, and elsewhere. The writing is clear and concise just as one would expect from the author. I've given the book four stars as it does take a bit of a dip in the middle. If you're a Bacon fanatic you'll probably know most of the details about his life in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The first few chapters are brilliant, however, and contain many elucidating insights about the artist's family and upbringing that I hadn't read anywhere else. There is also a selection of carefully chosen photographs of Bacon, his parents, nanny, friends, and lovers to complement the text.
If you want an even more personal insight into how the friendship between Bacon and Peppiatt evolved, and how the artist became something of a father figure to him, I would also recommend the memoir 'Francis Bacon in Your Blood' as a follow up.

Edit (Jan 2021): It should also be noted that this biography does include certain errors. This is inevitable as Bacon scholarship is an expanding field; particularly with regard to the period during which the artist travelled throughout Europe in the late 1920s and early 30s. For the most up-to-date information, I would strongly suggest cross-referencing material contained within this book with the recent Francis Bacon Studies released by The Estate of Francis Bacon. Newly published photographic sources and recently transcribed diary entries (originally written by Eric Allden) are available in 'Inside Francis Bacon' and these clearly show details Peppiatt either overlooked, or didn't have access to at the time of writing.
It is also worth mentioning the newly released (Jan 2021) biography titled 'Revelations' by Stevens and Swan which, being some ten years in the making, looks to be the most thorough overview of the artist's life published to date. Adding significantly to Bacon scholarship, it looks to clear up many of the myths surrounding his development as a designer and then painter, in addition to rectifying the incorrect details found in 'Anatomy...'.