Autobiography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisWHEN legendary music journalist Billy Sloan was fifteen years old he saw The Who play an incendiary live show at Green's Playhouse in Glasgow. It was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with music. Just a few years later he was backstage interviewing the likes of Keith Richards and David Bowie, at the height of Ziggy-mania, and it has been a life and career full of extraordinary moments.In ONE LOVE, ONE LIFE, Billy now tells his stories from the stars, from skipping Christmas dinner to see The Sex Pistols at the peak of their notoriety to friendships and adventures with some of music's biggest names and scoops that have hit the headlines. As well as legendary music and gigs, there's Grace Jones in the bath, candid conversations with Rod Stewart, football in Brazil with Simple Minds, a tour of the White House with Paolo Nutini, close encounters with U2 and so much more. Plus, the interviews that definitely didn't go as planned.Brilliantly entertaining and searingly honest, ONE LOVE, ONE LIFE is an incredible insight into the music industry, the stars we love and an unmissable backstage pass for music fans everywhere.

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Book SynopsisThe autobiography of Ted Macauley, award-winning newspaper reporter, columnist, and sports journalist. A story filled with the excitement of the sports that he covered, tales of some enviable assignments, and a host of celebrity friends and sporting superstars, including Mike Hailwood, George Best, Barry Sheene, Ringo Starr and many more. Ted Macauley has written three books about the incredible career of his best friend Mike Hailwood, whose life is soon to be immortalised in a major Hollywood film. He has now turned the focus on his own life, and the glamorous lifestyle as he travelled to exotic locations, and rubbed shoulders with sporting heroes and Hollywood stars alike. With many original photos from Ted's private collection to accompany the text, this autobiography is a fascinating glimpse into the life of a top sports journalist.

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Book SynopsisPatrick 'Paddy' Reilly is an Irish folk singer and guitarist. Born in Rathcoole, County Dublin, he is one of Ireland's most famous balladeers and is best known for his renditions of "The Fields of Athenry", "Rose of Allendale" and "The Town I Loved So Well". Reilly released his version of "The Fields of Athenry" as a single in 1983; it was the most successful version of this song, remaining in the Irish charts for 72 weeks. After years a solo performer, he joined The Dubliners in 1996 as a replacement for long-time member Ronnie Drew. He played with the group for nine years before leaving for New York City. In this memoir, Paddy is gracious and generous about sharing his memories, good and bad, with the readers who have helped make him Ireland’s best loved balladeer for almost 60 years.Trade Reviewvery enjoyable … great memories … wonderful -- Michael Lyster in Ireland's Owntop class from start to finish -- Irish Daily StarTable of ContentsChapter 1 Good Old Days My Arse! page 7 Chapter 2 From Pat to Paddy Reilly 24 Chapter 3 Life and Love in America and Ireland 40 Chapter 4 Highs and Lows in London and Elsewhere 58 Chapter 5 North America, Ted Kennedy and Brushes With the Law 73 Chapter 6 ‘The Fields of Athenry’ Found Me 89 Chapter 7 Paddy in the Lands Down Under 111 Chapter 8 The Dubliners Years 126 Chapter 9 Paddy Through the Eyes of Others 142 Chapter 10 Irish Sports Stars Sing Paddy’s Praises 162 Chapter 11 Retirement, Racing, Reminiscing and Beating Cancer 174

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Book SynopsisAn Uncut Magazine Book of the Year A Telegraph Book of the Year A Financial Times Book of the Year'An adventurer, an entrepreneur, a buccaneer, a visionary' - BONOAs the founder of Island Records, renowned music producer Chris Blackwell has discovered and worked with some of the most legendary artists of the second half of the twentieth century - from Steve Winwood to Cat Stevens, Bob Marley to Grace Jones, U2 to Roxy Music, via Nick Drake, the B-52's and Robert Palmer. A maverick free spirit himself, Blackwell turned Island into a home for groundbreaking musicians and their wildly divergent music styles, playing an instrumental role in bringing reggae to the world stage.Now, as he turns eighty-five, the great raconteur takes us back to the island where it all began: Jamaica - the paradise where his family once partied with the likes of Noël Coward, Ian Fleming and Errol Flynn and where, as local Jamaican sounds began to adopt contemporary American trends, Blackwell's burgeoning musical instincts flourished. It was also the birthplace of the cutting-edge Island Records, founded by Blackwell in 1959. But that was just the start of a truly remarkable career...Winding through the music industry, this fascinating memoir makes for a giddy ride, encountering Island's many esteemed collaborators over the years and unpacking the initiatives, decisions and risks that ultimately brought such enduring success to Blackwell, both in music and beyond.Trade Review'As you're about to find out through the pages in this book, Chris Blackwell - who looms large in U2's life and was in fact our lifeline into the music world - is an adventurer, an entrepreneur, a buccaneer, a visionary and a gentleman. I'm proud to know him.' -- Bono'C.B. had this way of throwing me in the deep end knowing that I would thrive on being challenged. As you'll read in The Islander, he knows how to get the very best out of people - he's a mover and a shaker and a mischief-maker.' -- Grace Jones'I read Chris Blackwell's autobiography in one sitting, unable to tear myself away. From "My Boy Lollipop" and Bob Marley, via Swinging London and punk, all the way to Talking Heads and U2, I felt like I was reading the inside story of the music of my life.' -- Salman Rushdie'A thoroughly quotable autobiography, a book that's hard to put down. 4/5' -- Mojo'Fascinating. 8/10' -- Uncut'Highly readable.' -- The Guardian'A compelling autobiography.' -- The Observer'A story told with disciplined coherence that plunges deep beneath the surface.' -- Daily Telegraph'Highly recommended.' -- Kirkus'If you're even a minor fan of music books ... buy this autobiography. Fascinating.' -- Variety'A page-turner of an autobiography.' -- Record Collector'Fascinating autobiography of the Island Records founder. The Islander is a treasure.' -- Prog'A rip-roaring yarn, the ultimate behind-the-scenes insider look at the coolest label ever on the planet.' -- The Quietus'A compelling, juicy book.' -- Irish Times'An absorbing read.' -- Echoes'An extraordinary story and a wonderful book. It couldn't be more enthusiastically recommended.' -- Mark Ellen'Highly entertaining, rapid-fire, hard-to-put-down memoir.' -- Air Mail'There are amazing insights. If you want to know how it was ... read The Islander.' -- Bob Lefsetz

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Book Synopsis"His is a warm, charming page turner of an autobiography: from start to finish full of fascinating characters, incredible and amusing anecdotes, self-effacing humour and wry asides, beautifully detailed observations and, of course, stuffed with great nuggets of jewellery and art history." — The Jeweller Magazine "In this dazzling memoir revealing his encounters with royal and celebrity clients including the Queen Mother, Sir Elton John, Dame Joanna Lumley and Frank Sinatra, Antiques Roadshow presenter and jewellery expert Geoffrey Munn reflects on his stellar career, having spent more than five decades bejewelling some of the biggest names in the world." — Hello! "In this colourful and witty narrative, Geoffrey Munn, OBE, MVO, FSA, FLS, best known as a presenter on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, reflects on his career in the London art world, spanning over 50 years." — Arts & Collections magazine Born and bred in Sussex, Geoffrey Munn, Antiques Roadshow presenter and jewellery expert, came from a traditional rural background – but only weeks after leaving a country Grammar School in 1972, he was plunged into the vortex of the London art world. It was the beginning of the career of a lifetime at the famous firm of Wartski, whose showrooms scintillated with gem-set necklaces, tiaras and three of the famous Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs. In a colourful and witty narrative, Geoffrey relates his daunting but delightful encounters with HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, HRH Princess Margaret and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. In their wake, Geoffrey met a rich variety of luminaries, including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Joanna Lumley, Stephen Fry, Elton John, Vivienne Westwood and Dame Edna Everage. This is certainly a rapid and amusing read but it is also unique study of a narrow and fast-changing society.Trade Review"For our final Coronation special, just before the big day itself, Carol sits down with historian and TV presenter Geoffrey Munn, to discuss precisely what jewels will be part of the Coronation regalia and the history of the event itself." - If Jewels Could Talk podcast"TV jewellery specialist Geoffrey Munn has fond memories of selling to the rich and famous and hunting down lost jewels" - The Sunday Telegraph"Secrets of a Royal jeweller: For five decades GEOFFREY MUNN was the Windsors' go-to man at the jeweller behind Kate's wedding band and jewels worn by The Queen, Princess Margaret and many more." - Mail Online"In this dazzling memoir revealing his encounters with royal and celebrity clients including the Queen Mother, Sir Elton John, Dame Joanna Lumley and Frank Sinatra, Antiques Roadshow presenter and jewellery expert Geoffrey Munn reflects on his stellar career, having spent more than five decades bejewelling some of the biggest names in the world." - Hello!"His is a warm, charming pageturner of an autobiography: from start to finish full of fascinating characters, incredible and amusing anecdotes, self-effacing humour and wry asides, beautifully detailed observations and, of course, stuffed with great nuggets of jewellery and art history." - The Jeweller MagazineJoin Geoffrey Munn for breakfast and a talk at the Goldsmiths' Fair, London on Friday, October 6th 2023 - Goldsmiths' FairGeoffrey will be talking at the Southwold Literary Fair on Sunday, 5th November 2023 - Southwold Literary Fair"An expert on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, his new memoir, A Touch of Gold: The Reminiscences of Geoffrey Munn, includes a chapter on collectors and collecting." - The Antiques Trade Gazette"The Way to Princess Margaret's Heart? Jewelry, of course. An excerpt from a new memoir recalls how an interest in adornment led to an unforgettable royal run-in." - Town & Country"Discover delightful anecdotes from Fabergé expert Geoffrey Munn's time at Wartski in 1970s London, featuring encounters with royalty, Hollywood icons, and the pursuit of Imperial Eggs." - The Jewellery Editor"Antiques Roadshow presenter recalls his Sussex schooldays: Jewellery specialist, historian, writer and BBC Antiques Roadshow presenter Geoffrey Munn recalls his Sussex schooldays in his new memoir." - Sussex World"In this colourful and witty narrative, Geoffrey Munn, OBE, MVO, FSA, FLS, best known as a presenter on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, reflects on his career in the London art world, spanning over 50 years." - Arts & Collections magazine"A witty autobiography of Fabergé expert and Antiques Road Show jewellery specialist Geoffrey Munn, who arrived in London in the 1970s to work at Wartski, the renowned dealer in Fabergé objets d’arts." - The Jewellery Editor

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Book SynopsisEverybody knows John Altman's music, but not so many people know his name. Yet he is one of the most prolific composers, conductors and arrangers in history and his saxophone playing has been heard live and on record with many great names. In this vivid account of over fifty years in the world of popular music, Altman explains why he is the 'Hidden Man', whose scores include such well-known film sequences as 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' from Life of Brian, which he arranged, conducted and whistled; the tank chase through St. Petersburg in the James Bond movie Goldeneye and the ship sinking in Titanic, with the orchestra playing on deck. In all, he has composed the music for over 50 movies, and won most major film awards in his long and distinguished career. His orchestrations can be heard in film scores by legends like Elmer Bernstein and Jule Styne, and he was musical director for several television series, notably Miss Marple, starring Joan Hickson, as well as Peak Practice. As an arranger/conductor he has worked on hit records for numerous stars, among them Rod Stewart, George Michael, Tina Turner, Barry White, Diana Ross, Bjork, and Alison Moyet. As a saxophonist, flautist and clarinet player he has performed with an equally stellar list of musicians. John Altman has also found time to write, produce and arrange over 4,000 commercials worldwide, including his theme for the 'Sheila's Wheels' advertisement. Such anonymity coupled with universally-known themes is why Monty Python's Terry Gilliam named Altman the 'Hidden Man'. In this entertaining, fast-paced memoir you will discover how Ingrid Bergman smiled at his back; how a Beatle always greeted him by singing one of his musical phrases; how he tried in vain to persuade Nick Drake to continue performing in public; how he reduced Freddy Mercury to helpless laughter; how he got Pierce Brosnan his big movie break; how he sat with Charlie Chaplin watching a movie that hadn't been seen for a quarter of a century (with a running commentary from the great man himself); how he sang over a mobile phone to James Cameron and the cast of Titanic; how he inspired a five-year-old George Michael to become a musician; how he was the Wailers' tour guide around London, and how Tina Turner made him a cup of tea. One of the most poignant parts of the story is how he mentored the young Amy Winehouse.Table of ContentsPreface 1 All in the Family 2 School Days 3 We’re Jamming 4 Some Legends 1 (Peter Green, Nick Drake, John Martyn, Harry Nilsson, Tim Hardin, Tim Buckley, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix) 5 The London Beat 6 Forty Eight Years (and counting) of Python 7 Whispering Wheels, You Sexy Thing, Muhammad Ali, and Freddie Mercury and the sausages 8 BBC, Early Commercials, Bowie, Dietrich, Jule Styne and early Van 9 Sir Van the Man 10 Some More Legends 2 (Paul Kossoff, Bob Marley, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, John Ogdon, Spike Milligan, Mick Jagger, George Harrison) 11 An Intrusion and an Explanation 12 Records 13 Television 14 Movies (1) 15 Some More Legends 3 (Classic Movie and Jazz Stars including Orson Welles, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Chet Baker) 16 Movies (2) 17 Commercials 18 Going Live 19 LA Life 20 Amy 21 Some More Legends 4 (Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Prince, Mike Stoller, Mark Ronson, Sacha Baron Cohen) 22 What was that all about? 23 Shanghai, Honeymoons and Chat Shows (or how I came to be on a massage table next to Rafa Nadal), Paris, and Vladivostok 24 Awards and Recognition 25 The Ones That Got Away 26 Today and Beyond

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Book Synopsis'What a woman and what a book!' Elizabeth Day'Fabulous!' Zoe Ball'Sporty Spice telling it like it is.' Independent'Incredibly profound, vulnerable and honest.' Steven Bartlett'Absolutely brilliant, especially for young girls.' Chris EvansI never told my story before because I wasn’t ready. Now, finally, I am.Twenty-five years ago, The Spice Girls released our first ever single, 'Wannabe'. At that moment, my life changed forever. I was suddenly part of one of the biggest groups in history, releasing hit after hit and living out everything I'd ever dreamed of... The BRITs, Spiceworld, the London 2012 Olympics and more!I have been known as Sporty Spice, Mel C, Melanie C and plain old Melanie Chisholm, but what you will read within the pages of this book is who I truly am and everything I’ve been through. I want to share with you my crazy experiences, my amazing journey and my full self.I hope you enjoy it with me.Trade Review'Spice Girls fans will eagerly devour this, but even those who are unfamiliar with the group will appreciate Chisholm's compassion and introspection' * Publishers Weekly *'What a woman and what a book!' -- Elizabeth Day * Publishers Weekly *'Amazing ... It's got every single emotion in it ... Absolutely brilliant, especially for young girls' -- Chris Evans'Sporty Spice telling it like it is ... Details the true gruelling reality of being in the world's biggest girl band' * Independent *'An incredibly profound, vulnerable and honest look into the highs and lows of the Spice Girls ... I gained so much from reading it' -- Steven Bartlett'Truly important ... The depth of honesty and uniqueness of Melanie's experience means that it offers so much to so many people ... The lessons with the book and the lessons she's managed to pull out of those experiences are lessons we can all use to change our lives' -- Steven Bartlett, The Diary of a CEO'She has always been open and approachable, remaining talkative and cheerily down-to-earth ... so her autobiography is as honest as you'd expect' * Daily Telegraph *'Fabulous ... There is so much I really relate to, growing up as a young girl, the 90s, all the stuff you went through' -- Zoe Ball'Really lovely' -- Chris Moyles

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Book SynopsisJim Cregan’s career as a rock guitarist, songwriter and producer has spanned over fifty years, touring and recording albums with stars such as Elton John, Cat Stevens, Family, Willie Nelson, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Joe Cocker, The Gypsy Kings, and Katie Melua. However, he is perhaps best known for his forty-year association with Rod Stewart, not only as his guitarist but also being best friends and godfathers to each other’s children.In his autobiography Jim Cregan lifts the lid on his extraordinary life, recounting his experiences with music’s biggest stars, from his first band at the age of 14 playing in youth clubs in Poole to performing in front of 350,000 people in Rio de Janeiro. In And on Guitar . . . Cregan holds nothing back: from his early life and anecdotes about his family to shenanigans on the road and extraordinary tales of hedonism, love and loss, his stories feature a Who’s Who of music’s biggest stars.

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Book SynopsisJohn Creedon is a renowned storyteller. Following on from the sensational success of An Irish Folklore Treasury, here he seeks to capture the folklore of his own childhood.This Boy's Heart is set in a city-centre household bursting with humanity, with a cast of a dozen children and another dozen adults, including beloved aunts, an American writer, an African doctor and a Scottish bookie. The streets outside are teeming with brewery horses, Christian Brothers, beat clubs, dance halls, a Turkish Delight shop -- and a pub where a child could sit up on a high stool and smoke his cigarette in peace. Summers are spent farmed out to friends and family in the countryside, with hilarious tales of donkey derbies and cow chases.Set in wildly contrasting worlds from urban exotica to spacious meadows, from the classroom of fifty boys to the open road these stories of friendship, fun, family and folklore take you on a heart-warming journey into an Irish childhood.A thing of beauty. I adored it. Full of heart and warmth and humour, this is a book to lift your spirits.' Donal Ryan

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Book SynopsisLegendary music producer, Gordon Raphael has spent four decades working with musicians, performers and songwriters to create unique genre-defining sounds. His work with THE STROKES, REGINA SPEKTOR and THE LIBERTINES has made him one of the world’s most sought-after music producers. What’s his secret? This book gives an insider’s view into how music is created and recorded, sharing insights into the artistic discoveries that happen when a group of talented musicians find the right studio, the right producer and the right sound. Like sitting on the purple velvet couch at New York’s fabled Transporterraum Studio, this rock ‘n’ roll memoir gives an All Access Pass to the processes and techniques, the people and the performances. It’s the early 2000s and, for the first time, young people who’ve grown up hating their parent's rock music, have found a reason in the songs of NYC newcomers THE STROKES to drop their electronica, house and techno for guitars, Converse, leather jackets—to form their own bands.Focussing on the eight-year period from the demise of the Seattle grunge scene to the rebirth of a thrilling cultural shift in New York and London that reimagined rock 'n’ roll. Gordon Raphael shares his tales of musical glory and loss, creative triumphs and breakups.It’s a bumpy ride with a killer soundtrack.Trade Review'Gordon Raphael reveals his most cherished experiences from a life lived utterly for music in his book The World Is Going To Love This. From studio sessions with The Strokes to his recollections of the grunge scene, the book is a passionate paean to music, chronicling Raphael’s journey through the world of indie.' – DAZED‘The World Is Going To Love This is full of stories fans haven’t heard before – as well as unseen photos of The Strokes." - NME'Famed producer Gordon Raphael has finally written the whole damn thing down – the making of The Strokes’ seminal album Is This It’ – Chris Hawkins BBC Radio 6‘Gordon Raphael produced era-defining albums like Is This It and Room On Fire. The World Is Going To Love This is his memoir documenting his time on the scene.' - Rolling Stone‘The World Is Going To Love This is full of stories fans haven’t heard before – as well as unseen photos of The Strokes.’ - NME'Gordon Raphael produced era-defining albums like Is This It and Room On Fire. The World Is Going To Love This is his memoir documenting his time on the scene' - Rolling Stone

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Book SynopsisIn this much-anticipated autobiography, Raymond Gubbay brings to life his extraordinary fifty-year career as one of the most experienced and well-connected impresarios in British music and entertainment. With a provenance rich in history and talent, he retraces the musical legacy of his family, growing up in a liberal Jewish household in 1950s post-war London with the challenges he faced while embarking on his musical journey after a few failed attempts at corporate conformity. Beginning his career at the Royal Albert Hall, his introduction to the entertainment industry commenced under the guidance of the late Victor Hochhauser – Britain’s foremost promoter of Russian ballet and classical music. Passionate and enigmatic, this memoir delves right into the heart of 1960s performing arts, with Gubbay absorbingly recounting both the stress and excitement that came with marshalling three coach loads of Russian performers around the country at a time of conflicting traditions, theatrical decline, amid Soviet tensions – and this was only the beginning… Setting up on his own, he started with a handful of performers touring to modest venues around the country, building a brand and a style which seemed very much in tune with the times. Later, working alongside some of the most prestigious classical and popular artists of our time – from Yehudi Menuhin, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti and the English National Ballet to Ray Charles, Miles Davis and Andrew Lloyd-Webber – Gubbay has witnessed and played a hand in promoting and producing some of the most iconic performances of opera, ballet and classical music ever staged in some of the largest music venues in Britain, the Royal Festival Hall, Symphony Hall Birmingham – and not least of all the Royal Albert Hall. He was in at the start of the Barbican in the City of London and provides a keen insight into the early years there. Lowering the Tone is rich with stories of showbusiness and the behind-the scenes business of the great musical venues, with appearances from a wealth of household and international names. This is the story of achievement, imagination and a desire to bring happiness and entertainment to generations of music lovers.Trade ReviewA rollicking account of a unique working life and as such, hard to put down.Open, honest and funny, this book is a very good read indeed.It affords an insider’s glimpse behind the scenes and is fascinating for anyone with an interest in music-making in the UK over the past 60 years. It is told with love, wit and recalls a time when classical music was part of the country’s fabricIf there’s one thing he understands, it’s how to please an audience. People love fireworks? Give them fireworks.The legendary impresario has worked with some of our greatest performers and transformed the UK’s musical scene.Raymond Gubbay is widely recognised as the promoter and events producer who’s brought classical music to more people in the UK than anyone elseIconic impresario Raymond Gubbay shares incredible memories from his colourful careerThe legendary impresario is known up and down the landRaymond Gubbay, the impresario with a flair for spectacle

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Book SynopsisThe official memoir of Margo O'Donnell, legendary Irish Country Music singer For fifty years now the name 'Margo' has been synonymous with everything that is positive and enriching in Country and Irish music. Blessed with an instantly recognisable voice, a voice unlike any other in the music business, the Donegal-born singer, despite the ever changing musical trends, has remained a star attraction, much loved by her fans, not only in Ireland and Britain, but also in the USA, Canada, Australia and other far destinations. She still possesses an infectious enthusiasm for performing and recording that she had in those very early days with The Keynotes. This is the story of her life, the successes and difficult times, in her own words.

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Book SynopsisTHE GROUCHO LETTERS enjoys the very best of Groucho's correspondence with the greatest wits and minds of his day. Correspondents include James Thurber, T.S. Eliot, President Harry Truman, Edward R. Murrow, Jerry Lewis, Howard Hughes, Irving Berlin and of course, Chico, Harpo and Gummo. He writes to comics, corporations, children, presidents, and even his daughter's boyfriend. Here is Groucho swapping photos with T. S. Eliot ('I had no idea you were so handsome!'); advising his son on courting a rich dame ('Don't come out bluntly and say, "How much dough have you got?" That wouldn't be the Marxian way'); reacting with utmost composure when informed that he has been made into a verb by James Joyce ('There's no reason why I shouldn't appear in Finnegan’s Wake . I'm certainly as bewildered about life as Joyce was'); and crisply declining membership in a Hollywood club ('I don't care to belong to any social organization that will accept me as a member'). No personage is too big, no nuance too small, no subject too far-out for Groucho's spontaneous, hilarious, and ferocious typewriter.

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Book SynopsisOliver Postgate is widely regarded as the greatest children's storyteller of the modern era. His work, which included The Clangers, Ivor the Engine, The Pogles, Noggin the Nog and, most famously, Bagpuss, is beloved by generations. In this delicious memoir Oliver Postgate describes how he came to create his stories and characters, developing innovative techniques of animation and puppetry alongside his friend and co-producer Peter Firmin. Amazingly, almost all of Oliver's films were made in a cowshed in Kent on a budget of next to nothing. The story of Oliver Postgate's extraordinary and adventurous life, and the wonderful characters who populated it - both real and imagined - is witty, charming, beautifully remembered and exquisitely told.Trade ReviewPostgate had one of the most distinctive, instantly recognisable voices in television, warm, avuncular but also tinged with an otherworldly quality that suited his strange, magical stories perfectly. * * Daily Telegraph * *Oliver Postgate was, for my money, the greatest children's storyteller of the last 100 years. Together, the team of Postgate and Peter Firmin were apparently incapable of creating anything less than timelessly wonderful whenever they sat down to work. * * Charlie Brooker * *Oliver Postgate created some of the most beautiful and understated children's television animation of the 1950s and beyond. Not only have we lost a great animator, but a singular performer and brilliant storyteller. * * Phil Jupitus * *He had a warmth and love for what he was doing and for the audience who were watching. * * Jonathan Ross * *He was one of the great storytellers on television. * * Michael Rosen * *Postgate's work has been a huge influence on me . . . Somehow, for me, [The Clangers] defines all that is cosy about childhood. From Postgate's warm, reassuring voice, to the curiously handknitted aliens, it gave me a sense that all was well with the world. * * Lauren Child * *A wise and warm book from Britains favourite surrogate uncle, proving he's just as good at storytelling for adults as he was for children. -- Claire Sawers * * List * *The Clangers, Bagpuss, Noggin The Nog . . . They're all here. He's one of the great artists and always imagining a better world. A proper genius and very punk rock. * * Frank Cottrell-Boyce * *Postgate beautifully recounts the story of his extraordinary and adventurous life, and how he came to create his stories and characters. * * Oldie * *

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Book SynopsisWhen Fred Dibnah debuted on television in 1979, British audiences immediately embraced a new cultural icon: a steeplejack from Bolton who fell in love with England's decaying industrial landscape and an exhaustive storyteller whose charm and wit was matched only by his down-to-earth manner. The Producer of that first film, Don Haworth, would go on to make nineteen films about this unlikely celebrity and true British eccentric.Did You Like That? collects the best stories from these films: colourful tales told by Fred himself, recounting key moments in his life, his experiences as a steeplejack, his fascination with machinery, his work as an engineer, craftsman, artist, inventor and steam enthusiast, and his forthright views on life in general.Told with true Northern grit, Did You Like That? is the story of a man who never shied away from a hair-raising challenge, and the closest thing to Fred's autobiography we're likely to get. In paperback for the first time, this is Fred's story, in his own words.

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Book SynopsisBarbara Hulanicki tells the story of the rise and fall of the tiny, energetic boutique that grew into a vast emporium and epitomised Swinging London. The Biba store was to become an icon of hip '60s and '70s London and a hangout for artists, film stars and rock musicians, including the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Twiggy, Brigitte Bardot and Marianne Faithful. But in the early 1970s, Hulanicki and her husband Stephen Fitz-Simon lost control after a series of bitter boardroom struggles and for Barbara, Biba was lost. This lively autobiography evokes the adventurous spirit of the 1960s and describes an extraordinary life with clarity and wit.

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Book SynopsisThis autobiography includes the record of a sexual and spiritual quest, exploring the deepest recesses of the author's mind while narrating the farcical comedy of errors which was his life. P.N. Furbank is the author of "E.M. Forster: A Life".

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Book SynopsisJim Simpson of Big Bear Records has been involved in the music business for nearly 60 years, as musician, bandleader, promoter, record producer, festival director, manager, journalist and photographer. In his candid, constantly surprising, frequently amusing and occasionally shocking account you will encounter the joys and difficulties of managing Black Sabbath or of running a jazz festival in sun-kissed, crime-ridden Marbella. At home in Birmingham meet some of the characters who have enlivened 35 years of the Jazz Festival and read Jim's take on the scandals that closed the city’s premier jazz club. Revisit the exciting Brum Beat scene, take to the road with some 40 of the best (in some cases, most eccentric) American bluesmen of the 1970s, encounter the Blues Brothers Band in surprising places and enjoy Jim's tributes to some of the great names in British jazz, such as Humphrey Lyttelton and Kenny Baker, with whom he worked closely.

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Book SynopsisThe inside of Derren Brown's head is a strange and mysterious place. Now you can climb inside and wander around. Find out just how Derren's mind works, see what motivates him and discover what made him the weird and wonderful person he is today. Obsessed with magic and illusions since childhood, Derren's life to date has been an extraordinary journey and here, in Confessions of a Conjuror, he allows us all to join him on a magical mystery tour - to the centre of his brain... Taking as his starting point the various stages of a conjuring trick he's performing in a crowded restaurant, Derren's endlessly engaging narrative wanders through subjects from all points of the compass, from the history of magic and the fundamentals of psychology to the joys of internet shopping and the proper use of Parmesan cheese. Brilliant, hilarious and entirely unlike anything else you have ever read before, Confessions of a Conjuror is also a complete and utter joy.Trade ReviewWeird, whimsical and, at times, uproarious... Brown takes us on a meandering pleasure cruise downriver. It is worth the journey * The Sunday Times *It combines a playfully baroque prose style with pinpoint observation and almost excruciating levels of self-examination, if not loathing. It's a fascinating experience -- AL Kennedy * Guardian, Books of the Year *A fantastic voyage into Derren Brown's intensely sharp brain... A deeply funny and eccentric triumph * Heat *Closer to the work of someone like Malcolm Gladwell than to the... reminiscences of Brown's memoirs-writing contemporaries * Word *A lovely kind of magic trick in book form * Boing Boing *

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Book Synopsis‘These guitars have been really good tools; they’re not just museum pieces. They all have a soul and they all come alive.’ – Eric Clapton ‘In his own words, Clapton tells his story through the history of his instruments.’ – Rolling Stone In Six-String Stories Eric Clapton reflects on a legendary career as told through the tools of his trade: his guitars. Collected together here for the first time are the instruments Clapton sold in three record-breaking auctions between 1999 and 2011 to benefit the Crossroads treatment centre he founded in 1998. Featuring some of the most famous guitars ever played, Clapton guides the reader through nearly 300 instruments as he discusses their provenance, reveals insights about his own playing, and shares anecdotes from each chapter of his spectacular life in music. ‘One by one these guitars were the chapters of my life. They belong to a very well-loved family.’ – Eric Clapton Six-String Stories presents a ‘family tree’ that makes connections between iconic instruments, such as Clapton’s famous ‘Blackie’ Stratocaster, and previously unknown rarities, placing them in the chronology of his career. Clapton recalls the instruments he bought to emulate his heroes, the guitars with unknown origins that became their own legend, the ones that never left his side, and the legacy they left behind. Every piece has been individually photographed, revealing every curve, detail and scratch, while the work of over 80 of the world’s best rock photographers shows the instruments in play. See Clapton’s evolution from the psychedelic Sixties, through the stripped-back Seventies, electric Eighties, and unplugged Nineties, right up to the sale of the last guitar. ‘As an avid rock or blues fan, I would look at all the pictures in this book.’ – Eric Clapton Historical and technical information for each piece in the collection – including playlists and concert dates for those instruments used on records and at public appearances – completes the story behind each guitar. ‘The guitars are things of great beauty.’ – Eric Clapton

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Book SynopsisDuring my first visit to the cinema the empathy I felt from Gary Cooper was life-changing, and a secret dream was born in the darkened auditorium. Later, my forays to the East revealed an original take on humanity which fell into two categories: those who remembered and those who didn't. The former by teaching the latter could transmit this memory, and communicate this spark of creation directly into the being of the other.The Ocean Fell into the Drop is a different kind of showbusiness memoir, one that traces Terence Stamp's twin obsessions, acting and mysticism, and the relationship the two have to each other for him, through the trajectory of his life. On the way he discusses his directors, Fellini, Loach, Pasolini; actors, Olivier, Brando and Redgrave; and spiritual masters, Krishnamurti and Hazarat Inayat Khan, as well as his family, life in the East End, Sufism and style.Trade Review'A perfect read, a near-perfect life.' --GQ magazine

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Book Synopsis'Dan is a national treasure and one of America s great songwriters. Elvis Costello. 'Dan s songs were funny, serious, and entertaining, and the combo of old-timey folk, country, and jazz knocked me out. Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons. 'Dan Hicks is like lightning in a bottle. Bette Midler. Dan Hicks didn t have his heart set on a career in music. It all just sort of happened to him. It didn t hurt, of course, that he was in the right place at the right time San Francisco, 1966 and had a front-row seat for the birth and death of the counterculture. Among other things, this is a classic story of the 60s. More importantly, it s a story of musical genius. By the time the Summer of Love limped to a close in the fall of 67, Hicks had quit the Charlatans the pioneering psych-rock band with whom he played the drums and turned to jazz, the music he d secretly loved all along, as he began building his own band, the Hot Licks. 'I just started taking ingredients I liked and putting them together to see what came out, Hicks writes. What came out was an amazing blend of complex time signatures, unusual instrumentation, and intricate vocal harmonies that took him to the top of the 70s rock world but also into a downward spiral of drink and drug abuse. Emerging from a long wilderness, which he writes about here with wit and candour, the man described by Tom Waits as 'fly, sly, wily, and dry eventually returned to recording and performing, making a number of acclaimed albums, including Beatin The Heat, a set of duets with Waits, Costello, Rickie Lee Jones, and more. Along the way, his music continued to subtly permeate the culture, turning up everywhere from The Sopranos to commercials for Levi s and Bic. Hicks passed away in early 2016, but his music, and the stories he tells here, remain as fresh and irresistible as ever. I Scare Myself takes readers on a journey behind the music, and into the life and mind of the fantastic artist who created it.

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Number One BestsellerGary Barlow is one of the most successful British musicians and songwriters of all time, but fifteen years ago, as he himself admits, he hit rock bottom - he was out of shape, out of work and depressed. Faced with an underperforming solo career, tireless media taunts and the other cruel twists of fate, Gary turned to food. For nine years, he struggled with his weight and went on every diet imaginable before eventually asking a doctor what the 'cure' for obesity was. That was when he realised that he would have to change his life dramatically. So how did he go from an obese, out-of-work pop star to becoming a hugely successful superstar of music and TV, as well an accomplished musical songwriter and producer who is full of vitality, fitter, happier and more successful than ever before?In this extraordinarily honest memoir, Gary tells of his journey back to professional success, as well as mental and physical health. A Better Me is a remarkably frank account of Gary's life as he battled with his demons, endured personal tragedy, and staged one of the most thrilling professional comebacks in decades. In his warm, witty and authentic voice, Gary recounts his story with compelling insight, captivating sincerity and a human side that people rarely see.From returning with a critically and commercially successful Take That and reigniting his own legendary songwriting career, going beyond recorded music to forge success on TV with The X Factor and Let It Shine, to overcoming his weight problems and crippling obsession with food, this is the story of how Gary found balance in both his personal and professional life.Here is one of the UK's most beloved pop stars, more open, honest and raw than ever before.

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Book SynopsisDame Maggie Smith stands as a remarkable example of the concomitance - in a performer's career - of typecasting and characterisation, that is the ability to impersonate `against type' infinitely various screen or stage characters. This book of appreciation essentially aims at correcting the preconceived image that the general public has of Dame Maggie Smith. Focusing on the last twenty-five years, it examines, through the many parts she has played since the early 1990s, her ability to go beyond typecasting and give, thanks to her chameleon skills, nuanced and convincing portrays of infinitely diverse characters. From "The Importance of Being Earnest" to "Gosford Park" and "Becoming Jane", to "Downton Abbey" and "Sister Act", to "The Last September" and the "Harry Potter" saga, Dame Maggie Smith has had a wide spanning career in TV and Film. Not to mention her theatrical work on the stage.

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Book SynopsisTony Christie hat mit "Is This The Way To Amarillo", "I Did What I Did For Maria", "Avenues & Alleyways" die Charts in Landern auf der ganzen Welt angefuhrt und fur seine jungeren Arbeiten mit Richard Hawley und Jarvis Cocker auch von anerkannten Kritikern hoechste Anerkennung erhalten. Tonys Alben haben mehrere Gold- und Platin-Auszeichnungen erreicht, und er war der einzige Sanger im Jahr 2005, der in England gleichzeitig eine Single und ein Album auf Platz 1 der Charts hatte. Tony ist einer der beliebtesten Sanger Deutschlands und Mitteleuropas. Sein Album "Welcome To My Music", das erste einer ganzen Reihe von Alben mit dem legendaren deutschen Produzenten Jack White, verkaufte sich uber 450.000 Mal fur den Mann, der als "Gentleman of Pop Music" bezeichnet wird. Er ist immer noch regelmassig in Carmen Nebels TV-Shows zu sehen, und spielt auf seinen Tourneen vor ausverkauften Hausern. Songs wie "Sweet September", "I Did What I Did For Maria" und naturlich "Amarillo" sind bei seinen deutschen und mitteleuropaischen Zuschauern, fur die er zu einem der Lieblingskunstler des Schlagers aller Zeiten wurde, so beliebt wie eh und je. Jetzt erzahlt Tony zum ersten Mal von seiner illustren, farbenfrohen Karriere, die in der kleinen Stadt Conisbrough in South Yorkshire begann, und ihn zu einem heute noch als Sangerlegende mit Fans auf der ganzen Welt gefeierten Kunstler werden liess. Es ist eine Geschichte voller emotionaler und finanzieller Hoehen und Tiefen, fantastischer Charaktere und Tonys tief verwurzelter Liebe zur Familie. Wenn Sie dachten, dass Sie Tony Christie kennen, werden Sie es jetzt tun, wenn er uber seine Lieben, seine Sorgen und sein erstaunliches Leben spricht! TONY CHRISTIE: Der Sanger ist die offizielle Autobiografie einer Ikone in der Popmusik, deren Stimme heute so gut klingt, wie als er 1971 zum ersten Mal in die Charts kam.

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Book SynopsisDon Short’s autobiography is a treasure trove of revealing untold stories and sensations from a showbusiness journalist who became enmeshed in the golden age of entertainment.  He was credited with coining the 'Beatlemania' tag. He had the scoop of a lifetime with his world exclusive — "Paul Quits The Beatles." This book tells of his travels around the world with The Beatles. It also talks about Don’s ominous task of healing a rift between John Lennon and his seafaring father Freddie, who he had not seen for 17 years. Don Short also monitored the rise to fame of the Rolling Stones and acted as a bodyguard for Mick Jagger at his wedding to Bianca. He went on to become a confidante of many of Hollywood's greatest stars. He was at Elizabeth Taylor's bedside as she recovered from a life-threatening illness; he helped Roger Moore to obtain a tricky divorce; he persuaded Elvis Presley to explain his nine-year absence from the stage; he managed hellraiser Richard Harris as a challenge in New Orleans; dined with Muhammad Ali in his snowbound Chicago home and caught up with Louis Armstrong in San Remo as he prepared to premiere his international hit ‘What A Wonderful World.’

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author, comedian, actress, and producer Phoebe Robinson is back with a new essay collection that is equal parts thoughtful, hilarious, and sharp about human connection, race, hair, travel, dating, Black excellence, and more. Written in Phoebe's unforgettable voice and with her unparalleled wit, Robinson's latest collection, laced with spot-on pop culture references, takes on a wide range of topics. From the values she learned from her parents (including, but not limited to, advice on not bringing outside germs onto your clean bed) to her and her boyfriend, lovingly known as British Baekoff, deciding to have a child-free union, to the way the Black Lives Matter movement took center stage in America, and, finally, the continual struggle to love her 4C hair, each essay is packed with humor and humanity. By turns insightful, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartfelt, Please Don't Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes is not only a brilliant look at our current cultural moment, but a collection that will stay with you for years to come.

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Book SynopsisA hilarious and timely essay collection about race, gender, and pop culture from comedy superstar and 2 Dope Queens podcaster Phoebe Robinson Being a black woman in America means contending with old prejudices and fresh absurdities every day. Comedian Phoebe Robinson has experienced her fair share over the years: she's been unceremoniously relegated to the role of "the black friend," as if she is somehow the authority on all things racial; she's been questioned about her love of U2 and Billy Joel ("isn't that...white people music?"); she's been called "uppity" for having an opinion in the workplace; she's been followed around stores by security guards; and yes, people do ask her whether they can touch her hair all. the. time. Now, she's ready to take these topics to the page-and she's going to make you laugh as she's doing it. Using her trademark wit alongside pop-culture references galore, Robinson explores everything from why Lisa Bonet is "Queen. Bae. Jesus," to breaking down the terrible nature of casting calls, to giving her less-than-traditional advice to the future female president, and demanding that the NFL clean up its act, all told in the same conversational voice that launched her podcast, 2 Dope Queens, to the top spot on iTunes. As personal as it is political, You Can't Touch My Hair examines our cultural climate and skewers our biases with humor and heart, announcing Robinson as a writer on the rise.

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Book SynopsisRichard and Fred Fairbrass, better known as Right Said Fred, scored a global Number 1 hit in 1991 with their debut single 'I'm Too Sexy', selling 30 million albums, being showered with industry awards, and earning plaudits from admirers such as Madonna and Prince. Before that breakthrough, though, the brothers spent over a decade in London and New York, trying to make it in the music industry. Fred played guitar with Bob Dylan and Richard played bass in several David Bowie videos, with the brothers appearing on stage with Joy Division and Suicide, and on film with Mick Jagger. Once fame hit, the good times rolled, the substances mounted up and the groupies formed an orderly queue, but it wasn't long before the brothers realised that fame and fortune is not for everyone. Still Too Sexy is their story, with a foreword by the legendary stunt motorcyclist Eddie Kidd, OBE.Trade Review'Salacious, candid, funny and shocking. The book captures the anarchy of sudden celebrity' The Independent

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Book SynopsisThe story of the legendary comedian Tony Hancock in words, pictures, and not without a few interruptions from The Lad Himself, who proves a little infuriated at how his story is told... as those who know and love his work would fully expect!When he appeared on radio and television in the 1950s, Hancock immediately became an archetype and so he has remained. The writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson basically invented the sitcom form for him, teasing out the threads of his personality and creating from them a universally recognisable figure: the ever-aspiring, grumpy, petty, frustrated everyman pitted against society, bureaucracy, jobsworth vindictiveness and whatever you're having yourself; the best and worst of all of us, down to his last shilling for the meter.WC Fields, Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton and Sid Field all came before him. Young Hancock was hugely influenced by them all, just as successive generations of comic actors (Cleese, Fry and Merton, to name a few) have been massively influenced by Hancock. The Office, Black Books, Peep Show and all the other great British sitcoms of the present day are variations on the Hancock template.The Lad Himself is the creation of writer Stephen Walsh and artist Keith Page, exploring the strange life of a much-admired comedian.Trade Review"It's really good in a way that creeps up onyou. Hancock's brilliance and comedy are timeless but the inner demons andinsecurities that caused him to destroy himself are timeless too. This graphicnovel shows us both sides of the man." -- Neil Gaiman (Good Omens,Sandman)"This work of love by talented fans is atriumph." -- Nick West, The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society"Stone me, it's a work of genius." --Robert Ross, Comedy Historian"Simply put, instantly one of the greatestBritish graphic novels ever. An immediate classic. Moving, funny, tragic andsurreal. A tale that could only be told in comics form. Buy it and becomeentranced in the funny yet melancholy life of a British icon, beautifully told."-- Mike Collins (2000AD, Doctor Who, Good Omens)"The Lad Himself is a complex,darkness-touched story told with kindness and elegance about a man convinced hedeserved neither. It's a salute to a generation who changed comedy. Most of allit's a complex series of nested punchlines about a man whose life was far morethan all of them, and who could never quite let himself believe that. Tragedy,comedy, horror and joy, all wrapped up in a big hat and a bigger coat,repeating the eternal half hour." -- Alasdair Stewart, The Full LidAn authentic voice transmits throughout viaexcellently devised speech patterns, with a recurring motif of aself-destructive propensity for mistaking ambition for capability. In all, thegood, the bad, and ugly of Hancock are duly and stylishly offered to present aman who delighted millions, but tragically never himself." -- FrankPlowright, Slings & Arrows

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Book SynopsisThe memoir of Maria McErlane, well-known actor, writer and broadcaster.

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Book SynopsisRock And Roll Survivor charts all the ups and downs of Del Bromham - guitarist, singer and songwriter for the rock band Stray. Del's story takes you back on his 'Time Machine' to share recollections of his life. Born, and growing up in the 1950s. Becoming a teenager in London during the 'swinging 60s'. Forming his first band and learning his musical apprenticeship playing the clubs at the age of fourteen years in his brothers group. Constantly on tour with Stray he recalls tales of Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy Kilmister and touring with Kiss and Rush to name but a few. Meeting the Mafia Boss Joe Pagano. His associations with Wilf Pine and Charles Kray (elder brother of the infamous Kray twins) at the offices of the equally infamous Don Arden, along with Arden's daughter Sharon (who became Osbourne). Charting the ups and many downs of being a musician over fifty years in the music business. With forewords by life-long Stray fans, The Damned's Captain Sensible and Iron Maiden's Steve Harris, this is a true rollercoaster ride.

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Book SynopsisThis is a story of a young girl from a small town with a big dream that took her to Juilliard, Broadway, summer stock, the stage of the Metropolitan Opera and the Santa Fe Opera, and introduced her to her husband William Zeckendorf Jr. Her memoir overflows with the glamour of a life lived among the famous figures of mid-century New York society and the grit necessary to succeed in the professional world of dance. Fascinated by art and architecture, the vivacious ballerina Nancy Zeckendorf became a formidable development partner with her husband and a philanthropic leader in the performing arts – her fundraising ability is an art form unto itself. “I love hardware stores and tools,” she said of her common-sense approach to construction projects. Indeed, Nancy was a guiding force in the expansion of the Santa Fe Opera, the Lensic Performing Arts Center, and the premier community of Los Miradores where she lives now in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Book SynopsisTake an exciting journey with professional stuntwoman, Diane Peterson, into the amazing world of action stunts, adventure, joy, heartbreak, injury, death, and her uncanny desire to overcome her fears and follow her dreams. Diane has been a professional stuntwoman for over forty years. She has worked on over two hundred movies and television shows including Titanic, Laundromat, Green Hornet, Batman Forever, Marked for Death, Out for Justice, Robocop II, Airplane, and many, many others. Television shows she has worked on include Walker, Texas Ranger, Fall Guy, Mac- Gyver, Magnum P.I., and many others. Diane has film credits as double for: Sharon Stone, Jessica Lange, Faye Dunaway, Diane Keaton, Heather Locklear, Heather Thomas, Farrah Fawcett, Michele Pfeiffer, Kate Capshaw, and hundreds of other actresses. Diane encourages all to overcome your fears and follow your dreams! Sit back and enjoy the ride! 

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Book SynopsisCheck out Little Voice on Apple TV+! Little Voice is inspired by a lost song from Sara Bareilles’s first studio album. This updated New York Times bestselling collection of essays by seven-time Grammy nominated singer songwriter Sara Bareilles “resonates with authentic and hard-won truths” (Publishers Weekly)—and features new material on the hit Broadway musical, Waitress.Sara Bareilles “pours her heart and soul into these essays” (Associated Press), sharing the joys and the struggles that come with creating great work, all while staying true to yourself. Imbued with humor and marked by Sara’s confessional writing style, this essay collection tells the inside story behind some of her most popular songs. Well known for her chart-topper “Brave,” Sara first broke through in 2007 with her multi-platinum single “Love Song.” She has since released seven albums that have sold millions of copies and spawned several hits. “A breezy, upbeat, and honest reflection of this multitalented artist” (Kirkus Reviews), Sounds Like Me reveals Sara Bareilles, the artist—and the woman—on songwriting, soul searching, and what’s discovered along the way.

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Book SynopsisAward-winning actor, rapper, and producer Ice-T unveils a compelling memoir of his early life robbing jewelry stores until he found fame and fortune—while a handful of bad choices sent his former crime partner down an incredibly different path. Ice-T rose to fame in the late 1980s, earning acclaim for his music before going on to enthrall television audiences as Odafin “Fin” Tutuola in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. But it could have gone much differently. In this “poignant and powerful” (Library Journal, starred review) memoir, Ice-T and Spike, his former crime partner—collaborating with New York Times bestselling author Douglas Century—relate the shocking stories of their shared pasts, and how just a handful of decisions led to their incredibly different lives. Both grew up in violent, gang-controlled Los Angeles neighborhoods and worked together to orchestrate a series of jewelry heists. But while Ice-T was discovered rapping in a club and got his first record deal, Spike was caught for a jewelry robbery and did three years in prison. As his music career began to take off, Ice made the decision to abandon the criminal life; Spike continued to plan increasingly ingenious and risky jewel heists. And in 1992, after one of Spike’s robberies ended tragically, he was sentenced to thirty-five years to life. While he sat behind bars, he watched his former partner rise to fame in music, movies, and television. “Propulsive” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), timely, and thoughtful, two men with two very different lives reveal how their paths might have very well been reversed if they made different choices. All it took was a split decision.

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Book SynopsisDuring the mayhem of the 1947 Partition,akhs of peopleost their homes andivelihoods, whileakhs died. It was a time of catastrophicoss. Despite this, people found the strength toook towards the future and focused on rebuilding theirives and the country they had migrated to. This book captures stories of resilience and sheer grit of people caught in the vortex.It comprisesife stories of twenty-one extraordinary individuals who were deeply affected by the Partition, yet went on to achieve greatness in Independent India. Through their first-hand accounts, they provide a visceral insight into the devastation of families who endured the migration, the camps and the struggle of rebuilding theirives.Each of these stories is inspirational in a timeless way and the book is ultimately about the resilience and triumph of the human spirit over everything else.Manmohan Singh,.K. Advani, Madanal Khurana, M.S. Kohli, Dharampal Gulati, Faqir Chand Kohli, Manoranjan Byapari, Gulzar, Hamida Habibullah, Kasturial Wadhwa, Krishen Khanna, Kuldip Nayar, Ajeet Cour, Brijmohanall Munjal, Govind Nihalani, Anjolie Ela Menon, Milkha Singh, Ram Jethmalani, Satish Gujral, Surinder Singh Gandhi, Ved Marwah.

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