Their life story. Told, not written.
Set it up for someone you love – they tell it at their own pace, and the finished book comes to you.
Telling your own story instead? See how that works →
Step 1: You set it up
You set it up
Give it on the day
- Choose the day, even Christmas morning: no order-by date
- An email on the day, or a card to give by hand
- Nothing for them to download
Step 2: They tell it, at their own pace
They tell it, at their own pace
No blank page. Just a question.
- One gentle question at a time
- Talk or type, whichever is easier
- Pause any time; 13 chapters, each with an ending
Step 3: They make the book their own
They make the book their own
Their words. Their design.
- Written from what they said, and they can change any word
- Their photographs, inside and on the cover
- They design it: the cover, the colours, the type and a dedication
Step 4: Share it, or have it delivered
Share it, or have it delivered
Then, a book to keep
- Every Chronicle: a digital edition to keep and share
- With Memoir or Heirloom, an A5 hardback printed in the UK
- Private links for the family, to read along and hear them
A real conversation, in their own words.
Not a form and not a folder of files – an actual guided conversation, drafted into a chapter that sounds like them.
Read what the film shows
There is no voiceover. A phone on a table lights up with a message.
On screen: “A gift from her son: the chance to tell her life story.” Beside it is Peggy’s invitation: “Dear Peggy, Michael has given you something to keep – your story, in a book. They’ve set aside a Chronicle in your name. When you’re ready, you sit down at your own pace and simply tell your story – speak it aloud or type, whichever feels easier. There’s nothing to write from scratch; we take it from there.”
“No blank page. Just a question.” Chronicle’s interviewer greets Peggy, checks it has the right people in mind – her husband Tom, her son Michael, her brother David and her parents – and asks her to cast her mind back to the home she grew up in.
“She talks.” Peggy records her answer aloud.
“Chronicle writes it down – and asks the next question.” Her answer appears as text – “It was loud, it was busy, we’re talking 1950s, 1960s Britain, lots going on, but it all felt small and homely, and everyone knew everyone…” – and the interviewer follows up.
“In her own words.” The same words open Chapter One, “Ferns of ice on the inside of the glass”.
“Thirteen chapters to start. By the end, they’re hers.” The contents page lists her chapter titles.
“Thirteen chapters. One book.” A summary of the finished story: 13 chapters, about 156 printed pages, 38,396 words and 6 photographs.
“Then the whole book is read back to her.” The final read sets out what holds the book together, and what to look at together before it is printed.
“Designed to keep.” A live preview of the hardback cover: “Ferns of Ice”, by Peggy Whitfield.
“Their life story, in their own words.” The Chronicle name. The film ends: “Dramatised. Names and story are invented.”
Try it yourself, the way they would. Two minutes, no sign-up, nothing saved.
What the AI does – and what it never does.
What it does
- Leads the conversation, one gentle question at a time
- Listens and follows the thread, so it feels like being interviewed by someone who knows them
- Drafts each chapter from what was actually said
What it never does
- Invent, embellish, or add things that weren’t said
- Swap their voice for a polished, generic one
- Use anything shared with Chronicle to train AI
Every chapter is built from what they actually said – and they approve every page. That’s the whole point.
The questions people actually ask.
Is there an endpoint – or does it just go on for ever?
There are thirteen chapters to start with, and Chronicle gently winds each one to a close once it’s been told – so the story has a shape, and an ending. When the chapters are done, it becomes the book. They're never left with an open-ended task that never finishes.
How do I know it’s in their voice, and not Chronicle’s?
Because it is built from what they actually said. Chronicle drafts each chapter from their own answers and never invents or embellishes – it doesn’t rewrite them in a generic style either. And they read it back, change anything that doesn’t sound like them, and approve every page before a word is printed.
What if they're not good with technology?
It works on any phone, tablet or computer, with nothing to download and one simple sign-in. If they can read a text message, they can do this. They can talk instead of type, pause whenever they like, and pick up exactly where they left off.
What if they can’t write, or would rather just talk?
That’s the point. There’s no blank page – they simply answer out loud, and Chronicle turns the conversation into a written chapter. It’s built for people who’d talk about their life for hours but would never sit down and write it.
What happens to the story if Chronicle disappears?
Their words are theirs. You can export everything from day one, and every tier includes a full digital edition to keep – so the story is safe with you, not locked to us.
What does it cost?
A single, one-off payment – no subscription. Life Story (the digital edition) is £99, Memoir adds a printed hardback at £199, and Heirloom is the thread-sewn keepsake at £399. Every tier includes the full guided experience.
Three tiers, no subscription
Choose their Chronicle
The depth of a ghostwritten memoir, in their own voice – without the £2,000 ghostwriter.
Life Story
Their whole life story, in their own words – to read and share.
- Thirteen guided conversations – spoken or typed, at your own pace
- Read along as it grows – share each chapter as it is finished
- Photos alongside the words
- Full-colour digital edition to read and share
- Voice transcription and custom design included
- Upgrade to Memoir or Heirloom for a printed book
one-off
Memoir
Their life story as a hardback.
- Everything in Life Story, plus:
- A hardback to hold – casebound, printed in the UK
- Printed in full colour throughout
- 130gsm white silk paper
- A printed cover you design – colours, title and photo
- Extra copies £50 each – one for everyone
one-off
Heirloom
The edition made to be handed down.
- Everything in Memoir, plus:
- Made to be handed down – Smyth Sewn, opens easily and stays open as you read
- 150gsm white silk paper, the heaviest we offer
- Priority support – we answer you first
- Ribbon marker and endpapers in a colour you choose
one-off
Upgrade any time – pay only the difference·60-day money-back guarantee·a finished book, whatever happens
Start their story while it’s still theirs to tell.
A few quiet minutes from you. A lifetime of their stories, kept for good.
One-off payment, no subscription · a finished book, whatever happens