Since it first appeared in the autumn of 1988, the Heroes and Villains column of The Independent has featured pieces by well-known writers, who have eulogized or vilified a wide range of people and characters. 60 of the pieces are assembled in this book. The writers include Jeffrey Bernard, Beryl Bainbridge, Roddy Doyle, Lenny Henry, Kate Pullinger, Nigel Williams, Craig Charles, Nick Hornby, Julian Barnes, Peter James, Spike Milligan, and Gore Vidal. Their subjects include J.S. Bach, David Bowie, Aleister Crowley, Roald Dahl, Salman Rushdie, Roseanne Arnold, Penelope Leach, the Singing Postman, Jesus, and Bluto.