Biography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisBuddy Holly died in 1959. He was just 22 years old. Don McLean called that fatal day 'The Day the Music Died'. But, his music hasn't died, as he left us a wonderful legacy. Spencer Leigh's highly-readable biography Buddy Holly: Learning the Game is the most definitive account of Buddy Holly and his career.Trade Review'A highly-readable mix of impeccable research, first-hand testimonies and a personal critique on Holly's life, career and music. First-rate.' Michael Leonard, Vintage Rock. 'I was deeply touched by Spencer leigh's Words of Love about Buddy Holly. This book will ensure that the legacy of one of rock's greatest icons will Not Fade Away.' Gary Osborne, songwriter. 'Spencer Leigh is a fine writer and good researcher and I certainly enjoyed what he had to say about Buddy Holly.' Hunter Davies, author, journalist and broadcasterTable of ContentsForeword by Frank Ifield ............................................................................................v Acknowledgements...................................................................................................vii Introduction...............................................................................................................xi Timeline: Everyday, it’s a-gettin’ Closer...................................................................xiv Chapter 1. Never Mind the Lubbocks........................................................................1 Chapter 2. Tighten up Your Bible Belt......................................................................11 Chapter 3. Buddy and Bob.......................................................................................17 Chapter 4. Shock of the New....................................................................................29 Chapter 5. The Tex-New Mex Sound.......................................................................41 Chapter 6. The Rhythm Method ..............................................................................49 Chapter 7. Here I Go, Breaking All of the Rules.......................................................80 Chapter 8. Gotta Travel On....................................................................................121 Chapter 9. Buddy Holly Lives ................................................................................143 Chapter 10. Grave On............................................................................................152 Chapter 11. Listen To Me.......................................................................................158 I. I Can’t Believe it’s Not Buddy....................................................................... 158 II. Influencing the 60s....................................................................................... 161 III. Cover Versions – it’s so Easy, or is it?.......................................................... 166 IV. Family Connections..................................................................................... 172 Chapter 12. The Buddy Holly Story.......................................................................173 I. The Buddy Holly Story.................................................................................. 173 II. Buddy........................................................................................................... 177 III. Buddy on the Box....................................................................................... 180 IV. From Lubbock to Liverpool ........................................................................ 181 Chapter 13. The Crickets and Their Buddies .........................................................185 Chapter 14. Now and Forever Till the End of Time ...............................................203 I. Those Who Really Care ................................................................................ 203 II. What If ........................................................................................................ 207 x That’s What They Tell Me: The Contributors........................................................209 Bibliography ...........................................................................................................216 Appendix 1. Discographies.....................................................................................221 UK Discography............................................................................................... 221 US Discography................................................................................................ 230 Appendix 2. Some Buddies.....................................................................................234 Tribute Songs.................................................................................................... 234 Tribute Albums................................................................................................. 235 Cover Versions................................................................................................. 237 Appendix 3. Bye Bye Miss American Pie ................................................................242 Index ......................................................................................................................245

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Book SynopsisA sprawling, intimate scrapbook documenting the Grateful Dead's history in words and pictures.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Griffin has written a definitive biography, one that effectively toggles between gleeful gossip-dishing (as befits Hudson’s era of film-world glitz) and a genuine affection and admiration for the man behind the screen presence.” — Boston Globe “At once the luckiest and unluckiest of men, Rock Hudson finally has the book that his fans have long been waiting for. This richly detailed biography is a revelation. Mark Griffin’s thoughtful and compelling All That Heaven Allows isn’t simply a book about one of the most determined and hard-working movie stars in the history of Hollywood, it also happens to be an insightful look at America in the second half of the 20th Century. Read it and weep.” — Sam Kashner, co-author of The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters and the New York Times bestseller Furious Love “Exhaustive and empathetic…. Griffin fills in what’s left to say [about Hudson’s life] in between the lines with an impressive list of interviews with movie star friends, acquaintances and co-stars and also digs deep into private journals and correspondence.” — USA Today “Mark Griffin paints a vivid portrait of a man who lived a double life in order to maintain his status as a movie star. Griffin’s sources are candid but credible, which makes the book a real page-turner. I came away admiring Hudson all the more, and feeling sad for the secret existence that Hollywood demanded of its leading men in the 1950s and 60s.” — Leonard Maltin, author of Hooked on Hollywood: Discoveries from a Lifetime of Film Fandom “All That Heaven Allows is by far the definitive biography Rock Hudson and his fans deserve. . . . Griffin offers an unforgettable, richly nuanced and psychologically intriguing portrait.” — Shelf Awareness “Like Rock Hudson’s life — marked by glory as a Hollywood star and pinup but also the lifelong shame of the closet and his AIDS-related death — his afterlife was blessed and cursed in equal measure. Mark Griffin sets the balance right in a full, empathetic biography, sparing few details about the complicated life of a man who was born (and died) too soon.” — Vulture “In Mark Griffin’s excellently captured biography of Rock Hudson, he offers not a sensationalistic portrait; but one that carries a heartfelt and realistic view of this actor, gay man, and glorious star of motion pictures. This is the best and most researched of the biographies on Hudson. Truly an expansive and honest book.” — Rage Monthly “Mark Griffin’s perceptive and sympathetic biography All That Heaven Allows gives Hudson, both the movie star and the man, the kind of reassessment only time can allow.” — Associated Press “A rich and complex story of Hollywood’s biggest star in its most golden age.” — New York Journal of Books “Mark Griffin paints a vivid portrait of a man who lived a double life in order to maintain his status as a movie star. Griffin’s sources are candid but credible, which makes the book a real page-turner. I came away admiring Hudson all the more, and feeling sad for the secret existence that Hollywood demanded of its leading men in the 1950s and 60s.” — Patrick McGilligan, author of Young Orson: The Years of Luck and Genius on the Path to Citizen Kane “Rock Hudson was the last machine-made movie star, and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Audiences sensed Hudson’s basic kindness and responded with a loyalty that never wavered despite his predominantly passive career choices. All That Heaven Allows breaks new ground in its revelatory reporting on Hudson’s private life and, most important, in empathy for its subject.” — Scott Eyman, author of John Wayne: The Life and Legend and Hank and Jim “The hardest role Rock Hudson ever played was Rock Hudson. And he played it brilliantly. . . . Mark Griffin’s All that Heaven Allows goes behind the scripted characters to tell the real story.” — New York Daily News “This juicy biography explores Hudson’s rise to Hollywood fame, the extraordinary efforts to keep his sexuality a secret and the bombshell news of his AIDS diagnosis in the 1980s.” — Newsday “All That Heaven Allows dives into a lot of interesting phases of Rock’s life. . . . explain[ing] every facet of [his] life in extreme detail. Griffin touches on his life growing up, to making it onto the big screen, and everything in between.” — Closer Weekly “Griffin provides trenchant cinematic insight and social criticism along with an equally abundant trove of bon mots and anecdotes. Director Douglas Sirk, who worked with Hudson on eight films said, ‘The only thing which never let me down in Hollywood was my camera. And it was not wrong about Hudson.’ Griffin’s lens also puts Hudson in beautifully focused light.” — Library Journal (starred review) “Griffin provides trenchant cinematic insight and social criticism along with an equally abundant trove of bon mots and anecdotes. Director Douglas Sirk, who worked with Hudson on eight films said, ‘The only thing which never let me down in Hollywood was my camera. And it was not wrong about Hudson.’ Griffin’s lens also puts Hudson in beautifully focused light.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) and a Best Nonfiction Book of 2018 “Hudson’s rags-to-riches story is revealed by Griffin’s comprehensive overview of Hudson’s filmography as well as his frank but objective discussion of Hudson’s complicated personal life.” — Booklist “With sympathy for his subject, Griffin details the years of enforced hiding. . . . As he takes Hudson from tongue-tied novice to superstar, Griffin shows that [director Douglas] Sirk wasn’t wrong about his star’s essential qualities: the ones that colleagues loved, and the ones the neither the camera nor anyone else has ever lied about.” — Sight and Sound Magazine “With sympathy for his subject, Griffin details the years of enforced hiding. . . . As he takes Hudson from tongue-tied novice to superstar, Griffin shows that [director Douglas] Sirk wasn’t wrong about his star’s essential qualities: the ones that colleagues loved, and the ones the neither the camera nor anyone else has ever lied about.” — Brooklyn Digest

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary life of one of the world’s greatest music and literary icons, in the words of those who knew him best.Poet, novelist, singer-songwriter, artist, prophet, icon—there has never been a figure like Leonard Cohen. He was a true giant in contemporary western culture, entertaining and inspiring people everywhere with his work. From his groundbreaking and bestselling novels, The Favourite Game and Beautiful Losers, to timeless songs such as “Suzanne,” “Dance Me to the End of Love,” and “Hallelujah,” Cohen is a cherished artist. His death in 2016 was felt around the world by the many fans and followers who would miss his warmth, humour, intellect, and piercing insights. Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories chronicles the full breadth of his extraordinary life. The first of three volumes—The Early Years—follows him from his boyhood in Montreal to university, and his burgeoning literary career to the world of music, culminating with his first international tour in 1970. Through the voices of those who knew him best—family and friends, colleagues and contemporaries, rivals, business partners, and his many lovers—the book probes deeply into both Cohen’s public and private life. It also paints a portrait of an era, the social, cultural, and political revolutions that shook the 1960s. In this revealing and entertaining first volume, bestselling author and biographer Michael Posner draws on hundreds of interviews to reach beyond the Cohen of myth and reveal the unique, complex, and compelling figure of the real man.Trade ReviewA Globe and Mail Top 100 Book of 2020“Posner undertook dozens and dozens of interviews . . . creating a unique oral history, as if they’re in a room together, sharing memories and stories. . . . They’re linked together with a light narrative voice that gives this biography a very intimate and personal feel.” — Toronto Star“The life of Leonard Cohen—poet, novelist, artist, Zen monk, and oh, yes, singer-songwriter—is too vast to be contained within one book. Thankfully, Posner is giving us three. . . . Posner draws on hundreds of interviews to explore Cohen’s private and public lives, his complexities and contradictions, and, of course, his inarguable charisma. Serve yourself some tea and oranges and settle in.” — Zoomer“Through these stories, a unique portrait of a young Leonard Cohen is revealed, with insights into not only his extraordinary life but also his timeless poetry and music.” — ANNE MURRAY, Grammy Award–winning singer“Posner masterfully weaves an abundance of interviews with Cohen’s family, friends, and myriad lovers to create an intricate tapestry and, ultimately, produces the most revealing portrait of the legendary songwriter and wordsmith to date.” — NICHOLAS JENNINGS, journalist and bestselling author of Lightfoot“Out of a welter of stories—from those who encountered Leonard Cohen as associate, friend, or lover—Michael Posner has shaped a fascinating multi-faceted portrait. Posner is indeed Cohen’s Boswell, no doubt about it.” — SEYMOUR MAYNE, poet, editor, and translator“Offers an impressively thorough excavation of stories, including some gems and, well, dirt. Together, [Posner’s] various positions and perspectives create a cubist portrait of the Montreal-born icon as a young man—and simultaneously an artist, intellectual, prankster, bon vivant, workaholic, and dabbler in everything . . . If Cohen’s your man and you’re his fan, you’ll want this book.” — Maclean’s“Posner masterfully weaves the story of the iconic musician’s life through hundreds of interviews with the people who knew him best, including family members, business partners, and lovers alike.” — Chatelaine“Leonard Cohen’s posthumous album in 2019 proved he still had something profound to say, even in death. This book likewise confirms that hundreds of others have their own tales to tell about the master songwriter. The first of three volumes, it covers his early life via a myriad of fascinating interviewees, from rabbis to lovers. . . . Give it to anyone who misses Cohen.” — Evening Standard“As the anecdotes accumulate up until 1970, they build a compelling picture of the worlds around [Cohen]—affluent Montreal suburbia, Canadian Jewish summer camps, beatnik coffeehouses, jetset bohemia—grounding his myth in solid context, enriching it with casual detail. . . . As with any good oral history, the stories and opinions slowly coalesce like pointillist dots, shifting into a complex portrait of a man stepping into his myth, becoming brilliant.” — MOJO Magazine“Sex, drugs, and poetry permeate this oral history of Leonard Cohen. . . . This book offers a seductive blend of sometimes contradictory insights.” — Library Journal“A detailed account of Cohen’s fascinating early life and career. For serious Cohen fans, it’s a page-tuner.” — Canadian Jewish Record“[The] multiple perspectives capture man and myth in tandem. For all of his gift for words, Cohen would have struggled to tell his story better himself.” — Uncut Magazine

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Book SynopsisGeorge is the story of two extraordinary lives the private man and the public legend.Georgios Panayiotou was just eighteen when he decided to adopt the stage name of George Michael. Sometimes his two worlds would collide with shattering consequences.Bestselling biographer Sean Smith has gone back to the neighbourhoods of North London to trace the astonishing journey of a sensitive but determined boy who grew up to be one of the biggest British pop stars of all time.Along the way, he talks to those close to George, revealing the real man funny, articulate, intelligent and generous spirited who hid behind the powerful image he created.He reveals the complex relationship with his high-achieving Greek-Cypriot father; the unconditional love of his mother; his teenage relationships with girls; and his first tragic love affair with another man.George's career began falteringly with a schoolboy band, exploded with Wham! before he became a solo phenomenon. But at the height of his fame, the Trade ReviewPraise for George: ‘A celebration of his life, as well as his music. Brill.’ Closer ‘Incredibly moving insight into a man who is without doubt part of the soundtrack to my childhood’ – Shelley Fallows at Lovereading Praise for Adele: ‘Fans will be engrossed’ OK Magazine Praise for Kim: “A kind but astute biography. Four stars.” Mail on Sunday “An honest account offering a unique insight on the Krazy world of the Kardashians." The Sun Praise for Tom Jones: “Jaunty and well-researched … the most complete and entertaining portrait of the Welsh superstar to date” – The Mail on Sunday (Event Magazine) “A lavishly appointed, no-holds-barred biography.” – MailOnline

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Book SynopsisINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A RUPAUL'S BOOK CLUB PICKA Town & Country Must-Read Book of Summer 2024!One of Vulture's Best New Audiobooks of 2024. A delightful and sharp-witted tour through a lifetime's worth of travel exploits and misadventures. . . . Readers are bound to catch the travel bug.Publishers WeeklyFilled with warmth and self-deprecating humor, Janetti's relatable observations convey his deep affection for [his husband] Brad and the places they love. The Washington PostIn this hilarious and often touching collection, the author, television writer, and producer takes us with him on travels across the globe. Gary Janetti has gained a devoted following, with a huge audience on social media, and two bestselling collections of essays under his belt. His new collection will prompt laughter but also delighted recognition as Janetti tackles the absurdity and glory of travel. In We Are Experiencing a Slight Delay, he shares stories of his varied trips around the world. Tag along as he enjoys an unexpectedly transformative stay at a rigorous Italian spa where he and his husband go from deep grumpiness to exaltation. Take a ride on the Orient Express to Venice and discover a surprising side of London, including a hilarious dinner with actress Maggie Smith. And pull up a deck chair to watch the entertainment as Gary embarks on a family cruise on the Queen Mary 2. Interspersed with recollections of his trips are personal meditations on dining alone as well as journeys to such diverse destinations as Mykonos, Australia, a Noma pop-up, and other glamorous spots. Gary is unabashedly frank about his very exacting travel needs, and delivers practical advice on all aspects of the traveler's life, from very precise packing instructions, suggestions on how to get upgrades, and restaurant and hotel recommendations in his favorite cities. Aspirational, charmingly acerbic, and as diverting as the best vacation can be, delivering both laughs and moments of sharp recognition, Gary's funny collection is the perfect getaway companion, for both seasoned nomads and curious armchair travelers.

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Book SynopsisSet against the cultural and political backdrop of Belfast, before, during and after the Troubles, No Surrender offers a unique and penetrating perspective on Morrison's long career and the times that made him.This paperback edition includes a new epilogue.Trade Review'No biography is likely to tell you more about Morrison' - Adam Sweeting, Sunday TimesA compendium of detail, a neck-aching triumph of research * Scotsman *Here is everything you wanted to know about Van Morrison... Rogan leaves no stone unturned * Guardian *'Remarkably well-researched and deeply engrossing...Rogan's painstaking research yields an abundance of detail...Fascinating' * Irish Times *'This characteristically accomplished biography shows the singer from every angle' * Observer *

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Book SynopsisAlexandra Lapierre is a novelist and biographer. Her book, Fanny Stevenson, won Grand Prix Litteraire des Lectrices de Elle. She currently lives in Rome.

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Book SynopsisSimon Callow is an actor, director and writer. He has appeared on the stage and in many films, including the hugely popular Four Weddings and a Funeral. His books include Being an Actor, Shooting the Actor, Love is Where it Falls, the first two volumes of his four-volume life of Orson Welles, his theatrical memoir My Life in Pieces, and, most recently, the highly acclaimed Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World.Trade ReviewOne of the very best theatre books ever -- Alec GuinnessRemarkable...extraordinarily well written, perceptive and rivetingly sympathetic -- John GielgudSimon Callow is a writer - and a very good one too. Few people can match him in catching with words the physical excitement of a great performance -- Peter HallCallow’s emphatic biography certainly presents this complicated man in all his contradictory roles -- Sally Morris * Daily Mail *a fine character actor’s tribute to the king of the tribe. The numerous insights show Callow to be that rarity, an actor who can write about acting -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Telegraph *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisForged in the Dustbowl of the 1930s, in an America crippled by the Great World Recession, this humble man found solace in song, and soon those songs became the voice of the People – men and women who had seen their lives deracinated and destroyed by the vicissitudes of global economic forces beyond their control.Trade ReviewHolds within its pages a tremendous sense of time and place… Hayes has set out on an ambitious path and creates a vivid and unforgiving picture. * Design Week *An inventive and expansive biography worthy of its subject. * Big Issue *A step up [for Hayes] in ambition and execution… An inventive and expansive biography worthy of its subject. -- Doug Johnstone * Big Issue *In a handsome square format, with open spreads as wide as the land itself, Hayes captures the man and the times in his lyrical writing and brush artwork. * Independent *This is a passionate picture of Guthrie and his times. -- James Smart * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of the ten best Chicago books of 2020. Plenty of books have been written about Afrofuturist pioneer Sun Ra and his Arkestra, but Sites is the first to make Chicago his co-protagonist. . . . Sites provides crucial context on how Chicago's Afrocentrist philosophy, religion, and jazz scenes helped turn Blount into Sun Ra.” * Chicago Reader *Best Historical Research in Recorded Jazz, Certificate of Merit 2021 * Association for Recorded Sound Collections Awards for Excellence *“Four stars. A must-read for fans of the musician and his city. . . . Fascinating and thoroughly readable. . . Sites makes the engaging argument that the idiosyncratic jazz legend’s penchant for interplanetary journeys and African American utopia was in fact inspired by urban life right on Earth.” * Spectrum Culture *“An important contribution. . . Sites draws on an impressive number of disciplines to ground Ra’s spacebound theatrics in material history. . . . He cites work from urban studies, African American studies, theology, and literary theory. . . It’s difficult to imagine anyone other than Sites writing a work that demands mastery of these specific disciplines.” * The Wire *"Required reading for anyone seriously interested in Sun Ra and his ensemble, the Arkestra." * American Literary History *"Not the launching point for an introduction to the life of Sun Ra, but rather a deeper dive into the city life and utopian vision informing his work and philosophy, emphasizing that (Urban) Space Is the Place." * Library Journal *“Highly readable. . . What Sites is good at is the detail of the period. . . He is good, too, on the economics of segregation, the racial divisions of the American working class, and the role of the black establishment. . . But best of all, especially to musicians and jazz fans, he is great about the musical life of Chicago, the Pershing and Du Sable venues, and the Jim Crow squalor of Calumet City, the sin suburb of Chicago. Where this book really scores is in its investigation of the sheer 'otherness 'of Sun Ra.” * Jazz Journal *"Sites’s project in this work is to get back to this future city by understanding Sun Ra’s geographic, intellectual, and galactic journeys. . . . Sites’s considerable skills as an urban cartographer help to further remap Chicago. . . . In Sites’s analysis, Sun Ra’s work continues to rethink the U.S. city." * Rain Taxi *“One of the most unique books to ever look at the music of Sun Ra. . . Digs very deep into Ra's early years – time that isn't covered in as much details as in other projects – and the book paints a picture of the city that's as vivid as the jazz legend himself. . . Sites comes at the project from a different perspective than most music writers – which makes for a very fresh volume that may well open up whole new territory in the exploration of jazz and community.” * DustyGroove.com *“Sun Ra’s Chicago is a masterful account of the musician’s formative years. Sites deftly applies a wider lens to his biography, analyzing the urban spaces and networks that shaped Sonny Blount’s transformation from an itinerant musician into the otherworldly philosophical leader of the Arkestra. This book is essential reading not only for Sun Ra listeners but for readers interested in the crosscurrents of Black intellectual thought and the utopian possibilities, past and present, of America’s cities.” * Erik S. Gellman, author of Troublemakers: Chicago Freedom Struggles through the Lens of Art Shay *"Like its subject, Sun Ra’s Chicago is a category buster—social history, musicology, urban studies, hermeneutics, cultural reclamation—and as such, a revelation. Sites tells a story of countercultural ferment in 1950s south side Chicago that is detailed and provocative. Sun Ra, Alton Abraham, and the members and friends of the Arkestra were truly a 'creative class' long before that term, as we know it, was coined." * Larry Bennett, author of The Third City: Chicago and American Urbanism *Table of ContentsUrban Routes, Utopian PathwaysPart I: Birmingham 1 Downtown Sounds 2 Industrial School to Territory Band 3 Leadership DreamsPart II: Chicago 4 South Side Music Scene 5 “Sound So Loud It Will Wake Up the Dead” 6 Utopian Chicago 7 African Space 8 Wonder Inn, 1960 Lineages/Legacies Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisHenri Matisse by Alastair Sooke - an essential guide to one of the 20th century''s greatest artists''One January morning in 1941, only a fortnight or so after his seventy-first birthday, the bearded and bespectacled French artist Henri Matisse was lying in a hospital bed preparing to die.''Diagnosed with cancer, the acclaimed painter, and rival of Picasso, seemed to be facing his demise. Then something unexpected happened. After a life-saving operation that left him too weak to paint, and often too frail to even get out of bed, Matisse invented a ground-breaking and effortless new way of making art. The results rank among his greatest work.In an astonishing blaze of creativity, he began conjuring mesmerising designs of dazzling dancers and thrilling tightrope walkers, sensuous swimmers and mythical figures falling from the heavens. His joyful and unprecedented new works were as spontaneous as jazz music and as wondrous as crystal-clear lagoons. Their mTrade ReviewSooke is an immensely engaging character. He has none of the weighty self-regard that often afflicts art experts and critics; rather he approaches his subjects with a questioning, open, exploratory attitude -- Sarah Vine * The Times *His shows are excellent - clever, lively, scholarly, but not too lecturey; he's very good at linking his painters with the world outside the studio, and at how these artists have affected the world today' Sam Wollaston reviewing 'Modern Masters' * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Packed with interesting details about the filmmaker’s life, interests, and inspirations.”—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post“The celebrated Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki came out of retirement last year, making this compact study of his life and work especially timely.”—John McMurtrie, San Francisco Chronicle (Holiday Gift Guide selection)“Susan Napier eloquently defines Miyazaki as an auteur who creates immersive animated realms that vary from film to film but are joined by a consistent (albeit evolving) worldview and tropes . . . An essential work in anime scholarship.”—Angelica Frey, Hyperallergic “Enjoyable and enlightening book.” — Claire Kohda Hazelton, Times Literary Supplement“A refreshing, intimate, highly original look at Miyazaki Hayao’s oeuvre, including early anime features, mainstream hits and the many-volumed manga, Nausicaa. Miyazaki is placed firmly on the world stage, including both local roots and global impact.”—Rachael Hutchinson, University of Delaware "An insightful, fascinating, and revealing study of Miyazaki and his worlds by one of the world’s foremost experts in Japanese animated films, Miyazakiworld is a true achievement."—Karen Thornber, Harvard University"Providing expert guidance to the radically inventive mysteries of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, Susan Napier shows exactly how Japan’s master of animation taps into the wonders of the natural world yet also faces down our demons, exploring trauma, crisis, and the willful destruction of our made world. Like his literary and cinematic forebears, Miyazaki creates a form of wonderlore that reveals the power of art to animate, not just his characters and landscapes, but also his audiences."—Maria Tatar, author of The Annotated Brothers Grimm"In Miyazakiworld, Susan Napier demonstrates her gift for narrative and passion for enchantment in exploring the spacetime between the fantasy worlds of Hayao Miyazaki’s creation and the grittier worlds that created him."—Jennifer Robertson, author of Robo Sapiens Japanicus“This wonderful, lively book introduces the whole life and career of Miyazaki via commentary on the narratives and themes within his films, and some manga, and his personal life.”—Sharon Kinsella, The University of Manchester

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Book SynopsisIt is impossible to talk about 20th century comedy without discussing George Carlin. Named the 2nd greatest standup of the 20th century by both Comedy Central and Rolling Stone, Carlin garnered multiple gold records, 4 Grammys, 6 Emmy nominations, and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He was the first host of SNL, appeared on the Tonight Show some 130 times, and acted in beloved films like Bill and Ted''s Excellent Adventure and Dogma. Dubbed the dean of counterculture comedians, George Carlin was an American icon.A perfect introduction for new fans and a worthy addition to the collections of old fans, The Best of Carlin showcases the longevity, range, and-above all-hilarity of the master. Filled with thoughts, musings, questions, lists, beliefs, curiosities, monologues, assertions, assumptions, and other delicious verbal ordeals, it is drop-dead funny tour through Carlin''s mind. More than ten years after his death, Carlin''s characteristically ironic takes on life''s annoying universal truths remain thoughtful, fearless, and somehow more relevant than ever.

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Book SynopsisTHE MAKING AND MEANING OF RADIOHEAD''S GROUNDBREAKING, CONTROVERSIAL, EPOCHDEFINING ALBUM, KID A.In 1999, as the end of an old century loomed, five musicians entered a recording studio in Paris without a deadline. Their band was widely recognized as the best and most forward-thinking in rock, a rarefied status granting them the time, money, and space to make a masterpiece. But Radiohead didn''t want to make another rock record. Instead, they set out to create the future.For more than a year, they battled writer''s block, intra-band disagreements, and crippling self-doubt. In the end, however, they produced an album that was not only a complete departure from their prior guitar-based rock sound, it was the sound of a new era-and it embodied widespread changes catalyzed by emerging technologies just beginning to take hold of the culture. What they created was Kid A.Upon its release in 2000, Radiohead''s fourth album divided critics. Some called it an instant classic; others, such as the UK music magazine Melody Maker, deemed it tubby, ostentatious, self-congratulatory... whiny old rubbish. But two decades later, Kid A sounds like nothing less than an overture for the chaos and confusion of the twenty-first century.Acclaimed rock critic Steven Hyden digs deep into the songs, history, legacy, and mystique of Kid A, outlining the album''s pervasive influence and impact on culture in time for its twentieth anniversary in 2020. Deploying a mix of criticism, journalism, and personal memoir, Hyden skillfully revisits this enigmatic, alluring LP and investigates the many ways in which Kid A shaped and foreshadowed our world.

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Book SynopsisA Rolling Stone-Kirkus Best Music Book of 2020'In this brilliant book, Steven Hyden goes deep into why Kid A matters—it's the fascinating saga of how the music turned into the symbol of a new cultural era.' — Rolling StoneTHE MAKING AND MEANING OF RADIOHEAD'S GROUNDBREAKING, CONTROVERSIAL, EPOCHDEFINING ALBUM, KID A.In 1999, as the end of an old century loomed, five musicians entered a recording studio in Paris without a deadline. Their band was widely recognized as the best and most forward-thinking in rock, a rarefied status granting them the time, money, and space to make a masterpiece. But Radiohead didn't want to make another rock record. Instead, they set out to create the future.For more than a year, they battled writer's block, intra-band disagreements, and crippling self-doubt. In the end, however, they produced an album that was not only a complete departure from their prior guitar-based rock sound, it was the sound of a new era-and it embodied widespread changes catalyzed by emerging technologies just beginning to take hold of the culture. What they created was Kid A.Upon its release in 2000, Radiohead's fourth album divided critics. Some called it an instant classic; others, such as the UK music magazine Melody Maker, deemed it 'tubby, ostentatious, self-congratulatory... whiny old rubbish.' But two decades later, Kid A sounds like nothing less than an overture for the chaos and confusion of the twenty-first century.Acclaimed rock critic Steven Hyden digs deep into the songs, history, legacy, and mystique of Kid A, outlining the album's pervasive influence and impact on culture in time for its twentieth anniversary in 2020. Deploying a mix of criticism, journalism, and personal memoir, Hyden skillfully revisits this enigmatic, alluring LP and investigates the many ways in which Kid A shaped and foreshadowed our world.

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Book SynopsisVery few individuals can truthfully say that their work impacts every person on earth. Forrest Galante is one of them. As a wildlife biologist and conservationist, Galante devotes his life to studying, rediscovering, and protecting our planet''s amazing lifeforms. Part memoir, part biological adventure, Still Alive celebrates the beauty and determined resiliency of our world, as well as the brave conservationists fighting to save it. In his debut book, Galante takes readers on an exhilarating journey to the most remote and dangerous corners of the world. He recounts miraculous rediscoveries of species that were thought to be extinct and invites readers into his wild life: from his upbringing amidst civil unrest in Zimbabwe to his many globetrotting adventures, including suspenseful run-ins with drug cartels, witch doctors, and vengeful government officials. He shares all of the life-threatening bites, fights, falls, and jungle illnesses. He also investigates the con

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Book SynopsisFrom the legendary singer-songwriter of Bad Religion comes a historical memoir and cultural criticism of punk rock’s evolution. Greg Graffin is the lead vocalist and songwriter of Bad Religion, recently described as “America's most significant punk band.” Since its inception in Los Angeles in 1980, Bad Religion has produced 18 studio albums, become a long-running global touring powerhouse, and has established a durable legacy as one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time.  Punk Paradox is Graffin's life narrative before and during L.A. punk's early years, detailing his observations on the genre's explosive growth and his band's steady rise in importance. The book begins by exploring Graffin’s Midwestern roots and his life-changing move to Southern California in the mid-’70s. Swept up into the burgeoning punk scene in the exhilarating and often-violent streets of Los Angeles, Graffin and his friends formed Bad Religion, built a fanbase, and became a touring institution. All these activities took place in parallel with Graffin's never ceasing quest for intellectual enlightenment. Despite the demands of global tours, recording sessions, and dedication to songwriting, the author also balanced a budding academic career. In so doing, he managed to reconcile an improbable double-life as an iconic punk rock front man and University Lecturer in evolution.   Graffin’s unique experiences mirror the paradoxical elements that define the punk genre—the pop influence, the quest for society’s betterment, music’s unifying power—all of which are prime ingredients in its surprising endurance. Fittingly, this book argues against the traditional narrative of the popular perception of punk. As Bad Religion changed from year to year, the spirit of punk—and its sonic significance—lived on while Graffin was ever willing to challenge convention, debunk mythology, and liberate listeners from the chains of indoctrination.     As insightful as it is exciting, this thought-provoking memoir provides both a fly on the wall history of the punk scene and astute commentary on its endurance and evolution.

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Book SynopsisThe 22nd titles in this top-selling sports series reviews the life of skateboarding superstar Tony Hawk.

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Book Synopsis From the bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls, the untold, 'richly detailed' story of the women of Walt Disney Studios, who shaped the iconic films that have enthralled generations (Margot Lee Shetterly, New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Figures). From Snow White to Moana, from Pinocchio to Frozen, the animated films of Walt Disney Studios have moved and entertained millions. But few fans know that behind these groundbreaking features was an incredibly influential group of women who fought for respect in an often ruthless male-dominated industry and who have slipped under the radar for decades.  In The Queens of Animation, bestselling author Nathalia Holt tells their dramatic stories for the first time, showing how these women infiltrated the boys' club of Disney's story and animation departments and used early technologies to create the rich artwork and unf

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Book SynopsisTaraborrelli is the noted biographer of Sunday Times bestseller Madonna, Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness, and the forthcoming Diana Ross. Consistently sought as an authority on celebrity culture, he makes regular appearances on television.Table of ContentsSection - i: Prologue Unit - i: Part One: CHILDHOOD Chapter - 1: Sara and Francis Chapter - 2: A Change in Sara Chapter - 3: A Family Held Hostage? Chapter - 4: “Bravo!” Chapter - 5: “Missing a Father’s Love” Chapter - 6: “I Think I Might Want to Be an Actress” Chapter - 7: A New Life in America Chapter - 8: “But I Want to Be with MGM!” Chapter - 9: National Velvet Chapter - 10: Making a Star . . . a Star! Unit - ii: Part Two: FINDING HER WAY Chapter - 11: Early Suitors . . . and Howard Hughes Chapter - 12: Nicky Hilton Chapter - 13: Elizabeth’s Anger Chapter - 14: Uncle Howard Gets Rid of Nicky Hilton Chapter - 15: Michael Wilding Chapter - 16: A Marriage Devoid of Passion Chapter - 17: Movies Chapter - 18: Mike Todd Chapter - 19: Mike Todd’s Sudden Death Chapter - 20: Eddie Fisher Chapter - 21: Elizabeth and Eddie Marry Chapter - 22: Butterfield 8 Chapter - iii: Part Three: HER DESTINY Chapter - 23: A False Start for Cleopatra Chapter - 24: A Near-Death Experience and Then an Oscar Chapter - 25: Cleopatra Begins Filming Chapter - 26: Richard Burton Chapter - 27: Elizabeth Adopts a Baby Chapter - 28: “Love, in All of Its Mystery, Unfolds” Chapter - 29: Elizabeth Confesses to Eddie about Richard Chapter - 30: Unadulterated Drama Chapter - 31: Elizabeth Attempts Suicide? Chapter - 32: “Le Scandale” Chapter - 33: The Taylor-Burton Sexual Revolution Chapter - 34: Cleopatra Arrives Chapter - 35: Elizabeth as a Mother Chapter - 36: Nightmare in Porto Santo Stefano Chapter - 37: Finishing Cleopatra Chapter - 38: A Turning Point in Gstaad Chapter - 39: Richard Chooses Chapter - 40: True Love in Mexico Unit - iv: Part Four: “LIZ AND DICK” Chapter - 41: Elizabeth and Richard: “We Will Have No More Marriages” Chapter - 42: The Boston Brawl Chapter - 43: Richard’s Hemophilia Chapter - 44: “Even Our Fights Are Fun” Chapter - 45: Elizabeth Apologizes to Debbie Chapter - 46: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Chapter - 47: Bad Movies, Great Riches, and Another Oscar Chapter - 48: “Francis L. Taylor—All Our Love—1897–1968” Chapter - 49: “Learning from Each Other” Chapter - 50: “I Sometimes Curse the Day . . .” Chapter - 51: “Pray for Us” Chapter - 52: And What of the Children? Unit - v: Part Five: CONFUSION REIGNS Chapter - 53: “What Makes Us Women” Chapter - 54: Henry Wynberg Chapter - 55: Elizabeth Divorces Richard Chapter - 56: Elizabeth Marries Richard . . . Again! Chapter - 57: A Diversion before Divorce Chapter - 58: Richard Asks for Another Divorce Unit - vi: Part Six: COMING TO TERMS Chapter - 59: John Warner Chapter - 60: Elizabeth Marries John Chapter - 61: An Important Transition Chapter - 62: The Little Foxes Chapter - 63: Sifting Through the Wreckage Chapter - 64: A Birthday Reunion with Richard Chapter - 65: “God Has Kept an Eye on My Children” Chapter - 66: Elizabeth Gets Her Way Chapter - 67: Private Lives and Private Miseries Chapter - 68: Richard Marries . . . Someone Else Chapter - 69: Intervention Chapter - 70: Betty Ford Center Chapter - 71: Richard Burton Dies Chapter - 72: Transition Unit - vii: Part Seven: THE GLORY YEARS Chapter - 73: “I Will Not Be Ignored” Chapter - 74: Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion Chapter - 75: Back at Betty Ford Chapter - 76: Larry Fortensky Chapter - 77: Michael Jackson Chapter - 78: Elizabeth Marries Larry Chapter - 79: Re-creating Her Mother’s Marriage . . . but Not Quite Unit - viii: Part Eight: ALL WOMAN Chapter - 80: “Sara S. Taylor—Loving Mother, Devoted Wife—1895–1994” Chapter - 81: Elizabeth and Larry End Their Marriage Chapter - 82: Facing Her Mortality . . . Again Chapter - 83: Dame Elizabeth: Honor at Last Section - ii: Selected Cast of Characters Acknowledgements - iii: Acknowledgments Section - iv: Sources and Other Notes Section - v: Elizabeth Taylor Filmography Index - vi: Index

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to be English? What does it mean to be British? Is the cross of St George a proud symbol of a great tradition, or the badge of a neo-Nazi? In a world where British citizens can lay bombs to kill their countrymen, where religious fundamentalism is on the increase and where the BNP are somehow part of the democratic process, what does patriotism actually mean?Our identity can change depending on what company we are in. For example, someone could describe themselves British to one person, Scottish to another and, say, a Londoner to another, and be right every time. But problems arise when someone tries to tell you what you are, based on your skin tone, religion, accent, surname, or whatever. This book is Billy Bragg''s urgent, eloquent and passionate response to the events of 7 July 2005, when four bombs tore through a busy morning in London, killing 52 innocent people and injuring many more. A firm believer in toleration and diversity, he felt himTrade ReviewAn intriguing and timely book, which opens a new angle on the debate of what it means to be British and a patriot * Daily Express *Charming and engaging... The Progressive Patriot flows with integrity and commitment * The Independent *Whatever your views, there is much to be inspired by here, and much you will want to rant right back at. * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWilliam Hogarth is a house-hold name across the country, his prints hang in our pubs and leap out from our history-books. He painted the great and good but also the common people. His art is comically exuberant, ''carried away by a passion for the ridiculous'', as Hazlitt said.Jenny Uglow, acclaimed author of Elizabeth Gaskell, Nature''s Engraver and In These Times, uncovers the man, but also the world he sprang from and the lives he pictured. He moved in the worlds of theatre, literature, journalism and politics, and found subjects for his work over the whole gamut of eighteenth century London, from street scenes to drawing rooms, and from churches to gambling halls and prisons. After striving years as an engraver and painter, Hogarth leapt into lasting fame with A Harlot''s Progress and A Rake''s Progress, but remained highly critical of the growing gulf between the luxurious lives of the ruling elite and the wretched poverty of t

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Book SynopsisSean Connery''s personification of secret agent James Bond invigorated Britain and its cinema, allowing a cash-strapped, morale-sapped country in decline to fancy itself still a player on the world stage. But while Bond would make Connery the first actor to command a million dollar-plus fee, the man himself was forever pouring scorn on the fantasies audiences found it increasingly hard to separate him from.Spirited, argumentative and sardonically celebratory, Christopher Bray''s Sean Connery is both a biography of a star and an investigation of what can happen to a man when the images he creates take over his life. And it''s an analysis of what it means to be star-struck - a critical tribute to a secular icon who has shaped so many dreams. In this skillfully crafted biography, Christopher Bray challenges the assumptions and rumours prevelent in previous biographies with characteristic wit and skill. His previous book Michael Caine: A Class Act, was des

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Book SynopsisThis new revised edition brings Mike Leigh's career up-to-date, including his film about J.M.W. Turner, Mr. Turner, and his epic masterpiece, Peterloo.Five-time Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner, the only British director to have won the top prize at both Cannes (for Secrets & Lies) and Venice (for Vera Drake) - Mike Leigh is unquestionably one of world cinema's pre-eminent figures. Now, in this definitive career-length interview, he reflects on all that has gone into the making of his unique body of work.In their commingling of bleakness and humour, Leigh's films recreate the tragi-comic world of people whose everyday lives are far from glamorous: a world in which 'the done thing' usually prevails, contrary to our inner hopes, wants or needs. Leigh's work has always reflected its times and entered the vernacular, whether the harsh studies of Meantime and Naked or the humour of the now-legendary Abigail's Party and Nuts i

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Book SynopsisOne of the finest accounts of the mysterious workings of grief I have ever read.' Helen MacdonaldCompletely compelling.' Olivia Laing''Read it with awe and sorrow.'' Fatima BhuttoAfter the sudden death of his father, Nick Blackburn embarks on a singular, labyrinthine journey to understand his loss. How do you create an existence when all you can see is a void?The Reactor is a memoir about absence and creative possibilities, assembled like the pieces of a puzzle. Through philosophy, music, fashion, psychology, art and film, Blackburn travels a vast panorama of ideas and characters to offer an entirely new exploration of grief. This is a book about looking for and finding chain reactions and human connection a work of enduring fragmentary beauty.

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Book SynopsisA PITCHFORK MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEARA radical, literary and intimate insight into one of the twentieth century's most vital vocalists. ''Tongson serves up a number of astute observations about fantasy, projection, longing, normalcy, and aberrance.'' MAGGIE NELSON''Deftly weaves memoir, history, and cultural criticism to highlight the dynamic relationship between artists and listeners.''PITCHFORKIn the ''60s and ''70s, America''s music scene was marked by raucous excess, reflected in the tragic overdoses of young superstars such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. At the same time, the uplifting harmonies and sunny lyrics that propelled Karen Carpenter and her brother, Richard, to international fame belied a different sort of tragedy the underconsumption that led to Karen''s death at age thirty-two from the effects of an eating disorder.In Why Karen Carpenter Matters

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Book SynopsisIn 1940 Sergei Rachmaninoff, living in exile in America, broke his creative silence and composed a swan song to his Russian homeland. What happened in those final haunted years and how did he come to write his farewell masterpiece, the Symphonic Dances?Rachmaninoff left Petrograd in the throes of the Russian Revolution in 1917. He was 44 years old, at the peak of his powers as composer-conductor-performer, moving in elite Tsarist circles and running the family estate, his refuge and solace. He had already written the music which, today, has made him one of the most popular composers of all time: the second and third Piano Concertos and two symphonies. Reeling from the trauma of a life in upheaval, he wrote almost no music and quickly had to reinvent himself as a fêted virtuoso pianist, building up untold wealth and meeting the stars, from Walt Disney and Charlie Chaplin to his Russian contemporaries and polar opposites, Prokofiev and Stravinsky. Still, the melancholy of leaTrade ReviewPraise for Music for Life (Faber)'Fiona Maddocks's descriptions are dangerously moreish...a timely reminder of the importance of music.' - Anna Picard, BBC Music MagazinePraise for Hildegard of Bingen by Fiona Maddocks:'This entertaining book is a revelation.' - Daily Telegraph

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Book Synopsis''A deeply researched, hugely empathic biography.'' HELEN O''HARA''Sure to enthral anyone fascinated by audacious, before-their-time women.'' KAREN ABBOTT''This superbly detailed book does Wong''s story proper justice.'' BOB STANLEY''A must read, for anyone who loves pop culture or cares about representation in Hollywood.'' PHIL YUSet against the glittering backdrop of Los Angeles in the gin-soaked Jazz Age and the rise of Hollywood, this debut book celebrates Anna May Wong, the first Asian American movie star, to bring an unsung heroine to light and reclaim her place in cinema history.In her time, Anna May was a legendary beauty, witty conversationalist, and fashion icon. Plucked from her family's laundry business in Los Angeles, she rose to stardom in Douglas Fairbanks's blockbuster The Thief of Bagdad. Fans and the press clamored to see more of this unlikely actress, but when Hollywood repeatedly cast her in st

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Book SynopsisFrom Watermelon Sugar to Adore You, Matilda to As It Was, Harry Styles Legends Alphabet is a swooning, pop-filled voyage through the greatest hits of Britain's brightest star. Put on your flashiest suit jacket (or dress!) and get ready to fall head-over-heels for Harry Styles. All trademarks, quotations, company names, registered names, individual names, products, logos, and catchphrases used or cited in this book are the property of their respective owners and used in this book for informational, reporting, review and guidance purposes only. This book has not been licensed, approved, sponsored, or endorsed by an person or entity.

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Book SynopsisA timeless record of the Fab Four at the height of Beatlemania, as captured by the lens of master photographer Dezo Hoffman.

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Book SynopsisInElvis Has Left the Building, Dylan Jones takes us back to those heady days around the time of his death and the rise of Punk Rock.Trade Review'As a writer, he has an effortless style with an unerring instinct for the absurd and the noteworthy' Independent'Jones is a wonderfully fluent writer, with a terrific knack for atmospheric phrasemaking, period detail and juicy factoids' Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisWilliam Butler Yeats ranks among the greatest literary talents of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Though best-known as the author of poems as timeless and delicately crafted as The Lake Isle of Innisfree and for his unrequited love of Maud Gonne, he exerted a remarkable influence in many other aspects of Irish life: a brother to the artist Jack B. Yeats, he was also a leading light of the Irish Literary Revival, founder of the Abbey Theatre and two-term senator. This volume forms a compact introduction to his life and the events shaped his work.

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Book SynopsisNobody thought Rory O'Connor would make it written off as thick' at school he struggled to find a career he felt he could succeed in. When a hot tip led to a win on the horses it was the beginning of a dangerous spiral into a gambling addiction that gnawed away at his self-esteem even further.How did the man who thought he had nothing to live for go on to become a stand-up comedian selling out venues around Ireland and reaching 800,000 people through his social media platforms? This is Rory's Story.Told with his trademark humour, this straight-talking memoir is a book for anyone who wants to be inspired by an ordinary man's mental health journey.''A witty and moving look behind one of the biggest comedy success stories of recent years.'' Donal Lynch, Sunday Independent''Great Read'' Kieran Cuddihy, The Hard Shoulder''''Brilliant'' Dermot and Dave

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Book SynopsisThe surprising story of Ireland's beloved broadcaster.

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Book SynopsisThrought-provoking ecological paintings and the artist who created them.Trade ReviewWho knows how Peter's recognition as a top artist would have turned out had he, as a 2-year-old, not been evacuated from the soon-to-be occupied Guernsey in WW2 to London. It was here that his exceptional talent was spotted in the early 50's by his teacher. A Brush with Life encapsulates so many of Peter's paintings along with the deep meanings he wants to share with us. A wonderful insight into the real Peter Le Vasseur. Dame Mary Perkins, Founder, Specsavers Peter's paintings are full of vibrant colours and beauty. Under the surface there are provoking and subtle messages, bursting to be heard. Jason Monaghan draws our attention to Peter's warnings of the ugliness of human mismanagement and exploitation, driven by man's greed and ignorance. However, Peter manages to combine these powerful emotions and still create beautiful and desirable art. I am in awe. Eric, Lord de SaumarezTable of ContentsForeword by Lee Durrell 1. Peter in Wonderland 2. 'You Don't Know Who You Are' 3. A Brush With Life 4. Into the Future Catalogue Acknowledgements and Sponsors' Notes

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Book SynopsisWritten by Dorothy’s good friend Johnny Tudor, this fascinating first biography of a Welsh singing phenomenon is an unprecedented insight into the glitz and glamour of 1940s and ’50s Hollywood.

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Book SynopsisFrom Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe to Ruth Ellis: the stories of the strong, spirited and controversial women who created the enduring image of the Blonde Bombshell

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Book SynopsisA concise biography of one of the world's most influential composers

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Book SynopsisThe story of Black British theatre at its most radical, entertaining and profound - told through the lives of its great trailblazersTrade ReviewStephen Bourne is a hero of our history. He has published countless books, always accessible to all, on the hidden stories of our presence on these shores. Let’s honour Stephen for quietly shining a light on our history -- Booker Prize-winner Bernardine EvaristoStephen Bourne is a tireless chronicler of the Black British history of the last century or so. I love Stephen’s books because he gives voice to real people – Black soldiers, sailors, musicians, campaigners, doctors, nurses, broadcasters and so many more -- Jhalak Prize-winner Patrice Lawrence

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Book SynopsisBob Marley and the Wailers documents the band’s crucial role in establishing reggae’s global popularity, with socially conscious lyrics that made Marley a symbol of pride and justice. Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1: Beginnings: 1945–1962 CHAPTER 2: The Studio One Ska Years: 1963–1966 CHAPTER 3: From Rock Steady to Reggae: 1967–1971 CHAPTER 4: The International Breakthrough: 1972–1974 CHAPTER 5: The First Third-World Superstar: 1975–1979 CHAPTER 6: The Final Years: 1980–1981 EPILOGUE: Legacy SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the empowering and inspiring women who helped create, shape, and make pop culture great, from the creator of SYFY WIRE's FANGRRLS and the podcast 'Forgotten Women of Genre'! In every medium in popular culture—from books, films, and video games to comics, television, and animation—women have been instrumental in creating and shaping the worlds, characters, and genres that we know and love.  However, much of their hard work and innovation has gone largely unrecognized—until now. With a foreword by American Gods actress Yetide Badaki and essays exploring the history and transformation of pop culture's genres and mediums, Pop Culture Pioneers explores and pays respect to the women who played a crucial role in creating and influencing of some of the most famous worlds and characters in pop culture including: Directors & Producers like Karyn Kusama (Aeon Flux,

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Book Synopsis Karl Dane''s life was a Cinderella story gone horribly wrong. The immigrant from Copenhagen was rapidly transformed from a machinist to a Hollywood star after his turn as the tobacco-chewing Slim in The Big Parade in 1925. After that, Dane appeared in more than 40 films with such luminaries as Lillian Gish, John Gilbert and William Haines until development of talkies virtually ruined his career. The most famous casualty of the transition from silent to sound film, Dane reportedly lost his career because of his accent. He was broke and alone at the height of the Depression and committed suicide in 1934.

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