When time feels short
For the parent whose health has changed.
A scare, a diagnosis, a slower gait. The window is not permanent and you know it. Chronicle is something you can start today – not next month.
For a parent or grandparentGive them the gift
Give them the gift
of their own story.
A physical life story, drawn out of them in their own words – by an interviewer that is patient, warm and never in a hurry.
Who gives this
Three reasons families commission a Chronicle.
For a milestone
For a 75th, an 80th, a golden anniversary.
A gift that earns its place at the dinner table. Better than another bottle. Better than another framed print. Something they will talk about long after the candles are out.
For the family
For the parent whose story everyone tells differently.
Every family has different versions of the same memories. Chronicle records the one from the person who was there.
The chapters
Thirteen chapters, and none of them fixed.
The thirteen chapters are a starting point – add, remove, or rename any of them in the setup wizard. The guided conversation follows the titles you choose and the information you give us about the storyteller; where the storyteller takes it from there is up to them.
How the gift arrives
How a Chronicle gift unfolds.
The gift is in the invitation. The book is whenever they are ready.
1
The invitation lands on your chosen date.
Pick the day you want it to land – a birthday, an anniversary, or no occasion at all. They receive a personal note from Chronicle on that morning, with their first chapter ready to begin.
2
They tell their story, a chapter at a time.
Thirteen guided conversations, one chapter at a time. Targeted reminders keep them moving without pressure. Pause whenever they want. The story is theirs to tell, not a deadline to meet.
3
A finished book in the post, printed in the UK.
When they have finished every chapter, the printed edition is bound and posted. 148 × 210mm (A5). 130 or 150gsm paper for the Memoir and Heirloom editions. The kind of book that belongs on a shelf for generations.
Have a go
Try telling a story →See what it feels like first
Before you decide, have a go yourself. A few minutes, nothing saved, no account needed.
The invitation, on the day
A note from Chronicle.
Dear Margaret,
Your daughter Sarah has commissioned a Chronicle for you – a guided memoir of your life, captured one chapter at a time, at your pace. Your first chapter is ready when you are.
Begin whenever feels right. There is no deadline.
On the day
A personal note from Chronicle, signed by you.
On the day, they receive a warm note – introducing Chronicle, naming you as the person who commissioned it, and inviting them to begin their first chapter whenever they are ready. There is no app to download, no account to set up. They click one link and start.
Three tiers, no subscription
Choose their Chronicle
A one-off payment. No subscription. No hidden costs.
Life Story
The complete digital edition. The whole life, in their own words.
- Full-colour digital edition to read and share
- Thirteen guided conversations
- Voice or typed sessions – at your own pace
- Voice transcription and custom design included
- Family sharing included
- Upgrade to Memoir or Heirloom for a printed book
£99
one-off
Memoir
Everything in Life Story, in print. A full-colour casebound hardback.
- Everything in Life Story, plus:
- One casebound hardback, printed in the UK
- Full-colour printed interior throughout
- 130gsm cream paper
- Printed cover with forest-green title type
- Additional copies £50 each
£199
one-off
Heirloom
One thread-sewn keepsake. Built to last a century.
- Everything in Memoir, plus:
- One Smyth Sewn hardback – opens flat, lasts decades
- 150gsm cream paper, the heaviest stock we offer
- Priority support
- Ribbon marker and printed endpapers
£399
one-off
Upgrade any time – pay only the difference·60-day money-back guarantee·a finished book, whatever happens
Good to know
Questions
What if my parent does not want to do it?
Chronicle does not pressure anyone. The invitation arrives; they can begin if and when they want to. You will see their progress in your dashboard. Most reluctant storytellers begin once they realise no one is watching the clock.
What if they get stuck mid-way?
Then they stop, until they want to start again. Targeted reminders nudge them forward without pressure. The book can be made from whatever chapters are finished.
Will they know I paid for it?
They will know you commissioned it – the invitation says so, in a warm and personal way. They will not see a price or a checkout receipt.
Can I read what they are saying?
You'll always see their progress in your dashboard – chapters started, chapters approved, the book taking shape. To read the chapters themselves you need their permission; if they give it, you can read along, comment, and help with the designing of the book. The story stays theirs to share or keep private.
Can the family share the digital book?
Yes. The full-colour PDF is included in every tier and can be shared with everyone you want to give it to.
Some stories can only be told now.
Pick the day you want their invitation to land. They start when they are ready. The book follows when the chapters are done.
Begin their story →