Biography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisNamed one of the Best Books of 2023 by the New Yorker and The New York Times'' Dwight GarnerThe first comprehensive biography of this hipster magus . . . [John Szwed] allows different sides of Smith's personality to catch blades of sun. He brings the right mixture of reverence and comic incredulity to his task. Dwight Garner, The New York TimesGrammy Awardwinning music scholar and celebrated biographer John Szwed presents the first biography of Harry Smith, the brilliant eccentric who transformed twentieth century art and culture.He was an anthropologist, filmmaker, painter, folklorist, mystic, and walking encyclopedia. He taught Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe about the occult, swapped drugs with Timothy Leary, had a front-row seat to a young Thelonious Monk, lived with (and tortured) Allen Ginsberg, was admired by Susan Sontag, and was one of the first artists funded by Guggenheim Foundation. He was always broke

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Book SynopsisWilliam Forsythe's reinvigoration of classical ballet during his 20-year tenure at the Ballett Frankfurt saw him lauded as one of the greatest choreographers of the postwar era. His current work with The Forsythe Company has gone even further to challenge and investigate fundamental assumptions about choreography itself.William Forsythe and the Practice of Choreography presents a diverse range of critical writings on his work, with illuminating analysis of his practice from an interdisciplinary perspective. The book also contains insightful working testaments from Forsythe's collaborators, as well as a contribution from the choreographer himself.With essays covering all aspects of Forsythe's past and current work, readers are provided with an unparalleled view into the creative world of this visionary artist, as well as a comprehensive resource for students, scholars, and practitioners of ballet and contemporary dance today.Table of ContentsIntroduction The Practice of Choreography Steven Spier 1. Watching the Frankfurt Ballet, 1988-2004 Roslyn Sulcas 2. Of Monsters and Puppets: After the "Robert Scott Complex" Gerald Siegmund 3. Splintered Encounters: The Critical Reception to William Forsythe in the United States, 1979-1989 Mark Franko 4. Njinsky’s Heir: A Classical Company Leads Modern Dance Senta Driver 5. Timbral Architectures, Aurality’s Force: Sound and Music Chris Salter 6. Dancing Music: The Intermodality of The Forsythe Company. An Auditory Turn Freya Vass-Rhee 7. Choreographic Objects William Forsythe 8. Decreation: Fragmentation and Continuity Dana Caspersen 9. Inside the Knot that Two Bodies Make Steven Spier 10. Aberrations of Gravity Heidi Gilpin 11. The Space of Memory: The Ballets Gerald Siegmund 12. Choreographic Thinking and Amateur Bodies Steven Spier

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Book SynopsisThe first book to explore the life and times of Chinese artist, businesswoman, socialite and style expert âMadame Songâ, whose life was spent in the company of a Whoâs Who of Cold War China and which paralleled the highs and lows of the countryâs history. The extraordinary life story of Song Huai-Kuei, better known as Madame Song, follows the arc of 20th-century history. Artist, entrepreneur and impresario, Song broke cultural barriers for love, transcended Cold War borders for her art, and laid the foundations for a global fashion industry. With her cosmopolitan outlook, she defined an influential vision for Chinese culture on the world stage and asserted an Asian perspective in 21st-century art and design. Madame Song is a name that everyone interested in the roots of contemporary visual culture needs to know. At the heart of this volume is a critical biography that explores Songâs youth in revolutionary China, her cross-cultural marriage to Bulgarian fibre artist Maryn VarbanTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Beijing to Sofia (1937–58) 2. Sofia to Paris (1959–74) 3. Paris to Beijing (1975–81) 4. Hangzhou to Beijing (1982–89) 5. Beijing to the World (1989–2006)

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Book SynopsisThe first of two titles by the Manic Street Preachers'' bassist and lyricist, Nicky Wire. For more than twenty years and from Blackwood, Wales to Tokyo, Japan, Nicky Wire has kept a personal visual history of the band in their various stages from Generation Terrorists through Holy Bible and right up to last year''s remarkable album, Postcards from a Young Man. Edited down from over 1,000 of Wire''s personal polaroids and with accompanying text by the man himself, Death of The Polaroid promises to be a rich, visual biography of one of the most loved and iconoclastic British bands of the past two decades.

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He was jazz''s first hipster. He performed in sunglasses and coined and popularized phrases like that''s cool and you dig? He always wore a suit and his trademark porkpie hat. He influenced everyone from B. B. King to Stan Getz to Allen Ginsberg, creating a lyrical style of playing that forever changed the sound of the tenor saxophone.In this groundbreaking biography of Lester Young (1909-1959), historian Douglas Daniels brings to life the man and his world, and corrects a number of misconceptions. Even though others have identified Young as a Kansas City musician, Daniels traces his roots to the blues of Louisiana and his early years traveling with his father''s band and the legendary Oklahoma City Blue Devils. Later we see the jazz culture of New York in the early 1940s, when Young was launched to national and international fame with the Count Basie Orchestra and began to accompany his close friend Billie Holiday. After a year spent in an Army prison on a conviction for marij

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Book SynopsisUpdates and expands Claghorn's previous book, Women Composers and Hymnists (Scarecrow, 1984), presenting succinct biographies for female composers in both secular and sacred music.Trade ReviewThe book will especially appeal to scholars and students of women's studies, music, and history. * Music Educators Journal *Users will find it a very helpful source of hard-to-find biographical information for services or programs featuring the music of women composers or hymn writers. * The Diapason *An excellent addition to any school's professional library. * Rethinking Schools *

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Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive biography of the director behind Godzilla and other Japanese sci-fi classics.Ishiro Honda was arguably the most internationally successful Japanese director of his generation, with an unmatched succession of science fiction films that were commercial hits worldwide. From the atomic allegory of Godzilla and the beguiling charms of Mothra to the tragic mystery of Matango and the disaster and spectacle of Rodan, The Mysterians, King Kong vs. Godzilla, and many others, Honda''s films reflected postwar Japan''s real-life anxieties and incorporated fantastical special effects, a formula that appealed to audiences around the globe and created a popular culture phenomenon that spans generations. Now, in the first full account of this long overlooked director''s life and career, authors Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski shed new light on Honda''s work and the experiences that shaped itincluding his days as a reluctant Japanese soldier, witnessing the aftermath of Hiroshima

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Book SynopsisTales, dreadful and delightful, from the disaster-prone world of international opera.Table of ContentsContentsPreface 91. Who Do You Think You Are? 132. Mixed Blessings 353. Learning the Ropes 574. Which Way to Go? 735. A Whole New World 896. After the Flood 1137. Crossing the Language Barrier 1398. Getting There 1579. Life as You Least Expect it 17510. The Final Curtain 191CDs and DVDs 222

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Book SynopsisThe Instant New York Times Bestseller!New York Times bestselling author Andy Cohen goes from bottle service to baby bottles in a hilarious, heartwarming, and name-dropping account of the most important year of his life.Andy Cohen has taken on the most important job of his lifefather and boy (and girl!) does he have a lot to say about it!One of Andy Cohen's most momentous years starts off with a hangover the morning after an epic New Year's Eve broadcast. But Andy doesn't have time to dwell on the drama, as his role as media mogul is now matched with the responsibilities, joys, and growing pains of parenthood.This fast-paced, mile-a-minute look behind the scenes of living the so-called glamorous life in Manhattan now takes firm aim at life at home. With a three-year-old son, Ben, and a daughter, Lucy, born in May, stories of late-night parties are replaced by early mornings with Ben, drama at the play-ground,

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Book SynopsisAristotle. Socrates. Descartes. And now, Chenoweth. (How about some women, am I right?)From television actress, Broadway star, and New York Times bestselling author Kristin Chenoweth comes I''m No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts, an inspiring high-design, colorful book featuring philosophical-ish musings on connection, creativity, loss, love, faith, and closure. Just like Kristin’s grandmother inspired her to trust her heart and develop her own belief system, you''ll be inspired to develop your own life philosophies, as you journey through some of Kristin''s most vulnerable and humorous personal stories, in her constant pursuit to make the most out of life.In each chapter, you''ll find: Behind-the-scenes stories from Kristin''s personal life High-design, colorful pages of inspirational quotes Engaging prompts, prayers, and inspiring quotes Oh, and a warning: There will be BibTrade Review'Even in her darkest moments, Chenoweth possesses a bubbly lightness. It feels like catching up with your slightly wacky favorite aunt over a glass of bourbon. Maybe you believe only a little bit of what she says, or maybe none of it hits the mark, but it's the joy of her company you're truly after. You'll laugh, you might even cry, and you'll leave feeling a little lighter and a little more loved than before.' * BOSTON GLOBE *'From the book's hot-pink cover to the 200-page collection of 'mini-meditations for saints, sinners, and the rest of us,' this book gave me a new perspective on faith, rage, and what it means to heal in your own way, with a lot of laughing required. Each section reads like an intimate phone call with a friend, with Chenoweth sharing her thoughts on a mix of topics from living with chronic pain to handling loss, anxiety, and closure.' * POPSUGAR *'In this humorous volume, actor Chenoweth opines on how to handle life's hurdles. She uses personal anecdotes to frame her meditations on anxiety, failure, love, and work. Chenoweth's fans will be enchanted.' * Publishers Weekly *'Sweet and salty, hilarious and vulnerable-'I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts' is signature Kristin Chenoweth.' * Kathy Najimy, activist, actor, producer, writer *'This 'KC' (as we lovingly call each other) has a light that makes everyone feel seen, appreciated, and understood. Kristin Chenoweth can connect with ANYONE. Her heart and soul are just what we need in these troubled times.' * Katie Couric, award-winning journalist, producer, and New York Times best-selling author *'When you feel that your life's worries are too heavy to carry anymore. put them down--and pick up this book. A game changer!' * Hoda Kotb, co-anchor, TODAY, and co-host, TODAY with Hoda & Jenna *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis fine portrait of the artist is both gossipy and poignant … [and] one of the best art books I have read, by turns atmospheric and waspishly gossipy but also profound and poignant. -- Michael Prodger * The Times *A vivid new memoir by the artist’s protégé is set to be a classic … highly entertaining … the narrative comes hurtling off the page with a palpable sense of release and apparently guileless, even artless, candour.The cavalcade of bohemian celebrities goes on and on … captivating...a classic, not only of art writing, but of personal memoir * Sunday Telegraph *There is a certain grisly satisfaction in watching an artist behave as one expects an artist to. Francis Bacon … always delivered and just how richly is recorded by Peppiatt … A wonderfully vivid account -- Art Book of the Year * Sunday Times *The best art memoir published in years * Spectator *An intoxicating tour of the painter’s louchest, and most productive, years -- Susie Rushton * Vogue *Peppiatt offers a window into the experiences and emotional intelligence of this great artist * New Statesman *A remarkable book ... it captures what it was like to be in the presence of this brilliant, camp, reckless, waspish, drunken, generous, shameless character. Michael Peppiatt brings him back to life and somehow carries off the near-impossible trick of echoing the repetitive nature of his drunken talk ... while somehow preserving his electricity and effervescence -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *An intimate memoir of two intense and interlaced lives ... Full of gossip, binges, nausea, bruises, stained sheets, punchlines and death wishes -- Richard Davenport-Hines * Times Literary Supplement *This fine memoir is more insightful than gossipy, and as a subject Bacon is just about unbeatable * New York Times *Fascinating and engaging -- Lynn Barber * Sunday Times *Entertaining, calculated and acerbic, Michael Peppiatt really does seem to have a bit of Bacon in his blood * Spectator *Every page is fresh, immediate, and flashing with glimpses into Bacon’s complicated psyche -- Donna Seaman * Booklist *An affecting personal narrative about his friendship with the great painter * Publisher's Weekly *Francis Bacon’s views on art, death and his bohemian circle make revealing reading in this enjoyable memoir * Independent *An enthralling, delightful story of two very different men * Kirkus *Part diary, part art history, part love letter, his memoir captures what it was like to know this brilliant, camp genius … an excellent glimpse into a vanished London bohemia -- Rebecca Wallersteiner * The Lady *

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Book SynopsisHow did a photographer who was a relentless playboy, an unashamed womaniser and a leather-clad motorcyclist marry the Queen''s sister and become the Establishment figure Lord Snowdon? The brilliantly talented Antony Armstrong-Jones often humiliated Princess Margaret, yet he was compassionate to the causes he cared about. Since his death in 2017, Snowdon still hasn''t escaped the limelight, as more and more is revealed about his wild and intriguing life.Written with exclusive access to Snowdon and the people closest to him, this book uncovers the real man and his times. Addressing the facts behind the myths - the secret courtship of Margaret, the love child born just weeks after the royal marriage, the affairs on both sides, the suicide of one mistress and the birth of an illegitimate son to another - this is a balanced yet no-holds-barred account of Snowdon''s life.Trade ReviewThe most sensational book on the Royal Family in recent times * Sunday Telegraph *Offers a fascinating insight into not just his life but the social mores of the day * Evening Standard *An onslaught of revelation, a dizzyingly switchback ride of mixed emotions, pomp and sleaze ... very true to life -- Duncan Fallowell * Daily Telegraph *How refreshing to read a biography in which the author is half in love with her subject. There are none of the usual patronising putdowns, envious backbiting or mean-spirited cavilling in Anne de Courcy's portrait of the Earl of Snowdon -- Richard Davenport-Hines * Sunday Times *[A] juicy biography ... it is impossible here to convey the combination of high society and low morals, of firghtfully good taste and awful cheese that de Courcy has managed to dish up * Observer *Step forward, Snowdon. You're nicked ... Full of eye-popping revelations * Mail on Sunday *Has anyone not slept with Lord Snowdon? The priapic Earl's multi-layered love life is the dominant theme of this chatty and penetrating biography, packed as it is with love affairs, love-children ... and love-struck mistresses, often several at one time ... Snowdon makes a glamorous, capricious, selfish and surprisingly philanthropic subject for this lively account of a man and his era * Daily Mail Summer Reading *[A] commendably unvarnished portrait of a charismatic, contradictory individual * Good Book Guide *Offers unprecedented insight into the life of Princess Margaret's husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones. Anne de Courcy spoke with Lord Snowdon for the book (along with several others close to him), and it's a no-holds-barred look at both his art and his often-scandalous relationships * Town & Country, 18 Books About the Royal Family *

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Book SynopsisBroadway, once upon a time. A place where people buy tickets at the box office, with cash; where patrons dress for theatre, with no sneakers, no water bottles, and no backpacks; and the only text messages are the ones put there by the playwright. A place where iconic legends of stage and screen can be found in plain view, smiling politely or egotistically preening. Where three dollars will get you a balcony seat at the biggest hitor the lowliest flopin town. And a place where an innocent teenager from the suburbs can buy a ticket, slip through the stage door, and wander o''er the threshold into the magical world backstage.Steven Suskin introduces Broadway, once upon a time, in Offstage Observations: Tales of the Not-So-Legitimate Theatre. The drama critic and noted chronicler of Broadway takes the reader through a decade''s worth of adventures, working his way from a menial pencil sharpener for producer David Merrick toward a career as a full-fledged manager, producer, and dr

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Book SynopsisJason Statham has risen from street seller through championship diving and modelling to become arguably the biggest British male film star of the twenty-first century. This is the first book to offer a critical analysis of his work across a variety of media, including film, television, video games and music videos. Each chapter focuses on a particular aspect of Statham’s career, from his distinctive screen presence to his style, branding and celebrity. Accessibly written, and featuring a contribution from Hollywood director Paul Feig, who worked with Statham on the 2015 action-comedy Spy, the collection will appeal to a wide audience of scholars, students and fans.Table of ContentsIntroduction – Steven Gerrard and Robert Shail1 Reframing the British tough guy: Jason Statham as postmodern hero - Robert Shail2 ‘I’m certainly not Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt’: Jason Statham, fandom and a new type of (anti)hero - Renee Middlemost3 The power of Statham - Paul Feig4 ‘It’s that peasant mentality’: the cult persona of Jason Statham, Hollywood outsider - Jonathan Mack5 A balancing act(or): Jason Statham and the ensemble film – Sarah Thomas6 Blagging it both ways: The Bank Job and the British heist movie - James Chapman7 Jason Statham in Spy: subverting genre and gender - Clare Smith8 Arthouse Statham - Martin Carter9 Transporting Jason Statham: national identity in the Transporter trilogy - Jennie Lewis-Vidler10 The avatar hero: exploring the virtualisation of the Statham brand - Dean Bowman and Erin Pearson11 Ageing Statham: expendable expendable? - Nathasha Parcei12 Crank it up! Scoring Statham - Shelley O’Brien 13 Clothes make the man: Statham’s sartorial serendipity - Steven GerrardConclusion - Steven Gerrard and Robert ShailIndex

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Book SynopsisThis first biography of Susan Sarandon highlights the real person behind the screen image, exploring her idealism, values, and combative spirit in the service of higher goals, while also celebrating her stunning film career. Renowned celebrity biographer Marc Shapiro traces Sarandonfs life from her strict Catholic upbringing in suburbia and her early days of protest in high school for civil rights and against the Viet Nam War to her more recent involvement with women and children's rights in Nicaragua, the AIDS quilt project, ACT UP, the disruption of an Academy Awards ceremony to protest the internment of Haitians with HIV, and many other ongoing projects. Shapiro also discusses her first career successes through high-profile roles in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Pretty Baby, Atlantic City, and Thelma and Louise, as well as her openly unconventional relationships with directors Louis Malle and Franco Amuri, and actor Tim Robbins. So motivated is Sarandon by her convictions that she often chooses roles to reflect larger issues. She agreed to play in the film Dry White Season to draw attention to the evils of apartheid, and her opposition to the death penalty resulted in her Academy Award-winning performance in Dead Men Walking. Over the years she has paid a price for her activist positions, and supposedly she has accumulated a sizable FBI file. Nonetheless, she has proved time and again that she is always ready to speak out and act up whenever she believes it will do some good. No ordinary biography, Susan Sarandon is a captivating page-turner about a sexy, alluring, and passionately committed actress who has broken every conventional rule.

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Book SynopsisMargaret Randall reveals personal stories and profound insights about the artists who most influenced her life. Artists in My Life is a collection of intimate and conversational accounts of the visual artists that have impacted the renowned poet activist Margaret Randall on her own journey as an artist. Randall writes of each relationship through multiple lenses: as makers of art, social commentators, women in a world dominated by male values, and in solitude or collaboration with communities and the larger artistic arena. Each story offers insight into the artist’s life and work, and analyses the impact it had on Randall’s own work and its impact on the larger art community. The work strives to answer bigger questions about visual art as a whole and its lasting political influence on the world stage. Randalls describes her motivations: ”I go beneath the surface, asking questions and telling stories. I have wanted to answer questions such as: Why is it that visual art—drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, architecture—grabs me and, in particular instances, feels as if it changes me at the molecular level? How do art and memory interact? How do reason and intuition come together in art? Do women and men make art differently? Does great art change the viewer? Does it change the artist? How does art travel through time?”Trade Review"Panoramic yet intimate, Artists in My Life brings Margaret Randall’s poetic and photographer’s sensibilities, as well as her superb prose, to these portraits of artists who have touched her life. The examples are far-ranging, from well-known Elaine de Kooning and Frida Kahlo to contemporaries like Jane Norling or the unknown creators of 10,000-year-old petroglyphs and the Nazca lines of southern Peru. Male power, female resistance, the pain of childhood abuse or physical disability shaped the lives and art of some, but all persisted in claiming their independence and unique artistic creativity. This is a fascinating read." -- Louise Lamphere, Past-President of the American Anthropological Association"These essays on the radiant living that art enables are crafted with an eye to scene structure and narrative economy within the accidental landscapes of recollection. Randall’s accounts relate forms as configured differently by artists, many of them women, who have challenged the social calibrations of power and its interpersonal complexities. Animating the work of Elaine de Kooning, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe, Lucy Lippard, Sabra Moore, Jane Norling, and Barbara Byers, among others, Randall underscores the distinct ways materiality “draws us into meaning” and collective memory. This generous tribute confirms the enduring impact of Randall’s form of storytelling where “perspective is everything”—such that it reconfigures the impact of the singular on the horizon of the plural. " -- Roberto Tejada, author of Still Nowhere in an Empty Vastness"Margaret Randall’s Artists in My Life clearly shows how a writer can gain sustenance and guidance from the work and the lives of a range of visual artists, photographers, and architects. Randall also gives us a glimpse into the journeys of her own life—the importance of art, community, place, and politics—providing sustenance and guidance to all of us. " -- Kenny Fries, award-winning author of In the Province of the Gods"Margaret Randall composes an intimate portrait of influential artists and creators through the lens of a feminist, lesbian, revolutionary, poet and photographer who herself has lived an extraordinary life. . . . Perhaps it’s a product of Covid-19 lockdown but she makes me want to travel in time and place. From the '60s in New York City to “pre-history” Yucatan, this writing is the closest I will ever come." -- Catherine DeMaria, artist, Warehouse 1-10, Magdalena, New Mexico

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Book SynopsisIn this candid and perceptive memoir of his 45-year career bassist Jerry Scheff takes us onto Elvis's private jet on tour with Bob Dylan and into the studio with The Doors. A stalwart presence behind some of the greatest names of popular music Scheff has also played with Roy Orbison Elvis Costello the Association Neil Diamond Johnny Mathis the Everly Brothers John Denver and Nancy Sinatra to name just a few. Eschewing hype Scheff provides a behind-the-scenes perspective from having worked sleeves rolled up side by side with the great artists in their factories.ÞThe book opens with the TCB band's learning of the King's death while en route to a tour date a pivotal moment for him the rest of the band and the world at large. He then proceeds on a nonlinear journey that mirrors the process of true life-reflection from his roots in San Francisco to his touring all over the world.ÞThis is a tale of a man who has truly grown a career from a genuine love of music and of his instrument proving how following that gift can bring a person to places beyond his wildest dreams. It is an exciting inside view of the evolution and craft and work of making rock and roll ä a must-have for true music craftsmen and music junkies in general.

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Book SynopsisPalmer, a long-time friend of Bruce Lee and one of his youngest martial arts students, recounts Lee’s early years, when he would train a multicultural group of local toughs in empty parking lots and backyards around Seattle. Palmer spends a summer with Lee and his family in Hong Kong and provides fascinating insight into Lee’s personality, from his silly sense of humor and love of practical jokes to his uncanny ability to learn from different fighting traditions to hone his skills. Palmer’s stories paint a picture of a fun-loving, intense young man who worked hard to excel at his craft.

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Book SynopsisThe story of a brief music career, 'Your Secrets Are Safe With Me' is much more a narrative of the quest for meaning. At once funny and sad, poignant and absurd, it is not the exploration of one life. Rather, it marks the convergence of many lives linked by music--lives that became intertwined on a journey to discover what it means to be human. For most, the end of the journey came much too soon. It is left to the one who remains to speak for those who can no longer speak for themselves, to express gratitude for all they gave and love for all they were, to show that their lives mattered, to insist that they not be forgotten, and, finally, to recall the music that they made together. 

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Book SynopsisMy involvement with the history of theatres suggested that the theme for this book should be the many theatres which have been affected in some way by the destructive force of fire. Their twice nightly entertainment of wide and varied music hall acts and even performing animals, provided a magical escape in the 1800s and 1900s from people’s arduous working conditions, which were often coupled with their poor and overcrowded housing. However, there was a danger of fire at these theatres as they were heated and lit by gas, were mainly constructed of wood, and many had inadequate emergency escapes. In all, they were unsuitable for their purpose of entertaining hundreds of people. It was obvious from my research that many of them were either totally destroyed or badly damaged by fire, on more than one occasion, often leading to the tragic loss of many lives. Thank goodness this resulted in new legislation demanding minimum standards for theatre safety.

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Book SynopsisKamahl? s journey from where it all began in 1953 as a chronically shy Tamil teenager named Kandiah Kamalesvaran. He arrived in Australia at the height of the White Australia policy, to complete his education. Little did he know where or what he would beome by choosing to study in Australia. For what was supposed to be a short term stay in Australia turned his world into a life most people could only dream of in the music industry.Kamahl has been in the music industry for over 70 years. He was one of the first people to appear in concert at the Sydney Opera House and has graced world stages such as London Palladium and Carnegie Hall to name a few.It has been reported Kamahl has sold more than 20 million records worldwide. He recorded more than 30 albums and earned more than 100 Gold and Platinum records.This isn? t however just a story of how a show business identity became famous, it is a quintessential migrant success story. It also chronicles how much Australia has changed over the last seventy years.Armed with a unique talent, priceless friendships he made along the way, and unflinching hope he trans- formed into one of Australia? s most talented and loved performers. The larger than life Kamahl

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Book SynopsisJoseph Beuys is arguably the most important and most controversial German artist of the late twentieth century, not least because his persona is interwoven with Germany's fascist past. This book illuminates two defining threads in Beuys's life and art: the centrality of trauma, and his sustained investigation of the very notion of art itself. In addition to the materials of fat and felt that Beuys used widely in his oeuvre, numerous Beuys artworks are autobiogra-ph-ical in content. His self-woven legend of rescue and redemption still strikes many as a highly inappropriate fantasy, or even an outright lie, located as it is in the harrowing context of the Second World War as it was lived by a German soldier or 'Nazi'. Nevertheless, Beuys's self-mythology confronted the post-traumatic, foregrounding his struggle for psychic recovery. Perhaps most importantly, this led to his major efforts to expand Western art, freeing artists after him to work in a thoroughly interdisciplinary way and to embrace anthropological conclusions about art and culture. Beuys's lived experience determined a consistent commitment to peaceful change and positive transformation not only through his work, but in the discussions and institutions he initiated. His notion of activism-as-art has not only become a widespread practice, but is predominant in contemporary art of the twenty-first century. Exploring Beuys's expansive conception of art and following him into the realms of science, politics and spirituality, this book, in contrast to many other accounts of Beuys's life, attributes extraordinary importance to his own myth-making as a positive force in the post-war confrontation of Germany's past.Trade Review..". presents an informative discourse of Beuysian work and 21st century art by addressing issues such as how the current practice of established codes of meaning and iconography fit Beuys' model. In doing so, this reader successfully meets its main aim, which was to reopen an 'international discussion on Joseph Beuys and his work.'" contemporary (U.K.)

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Book SynopsisTinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse, Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Hobbit trilogy, Twelve Years a Slave, August: Osage County, The Fifth Estate; Hedda Gabler, After the Dance, Frankenstein; Hawking, To the Ends of the Earth, The Last Enemy, Parade''s End, and, of course, Sherlock. For most actors, these stellar cinematic, theatrical, and television events would be the highlights of a lifetime''s work. On Benedict Cumberbatch''s résumé they are only a few of many entries. Especially since 2010, his performances have garnered a plethora of best actor awards, both in the theatre (Evening Standard Theatre Award, Critics Circle Theatre Award, and Olivier Award), by playing the dual roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature in the National Theatre''s Frankenstein, and on television (Broadcasting Press Guild Award, Critics Choice Television Award, Crime Thriller Award, and TV Choice Award), by starring as the titular Holmes in the BBC''s Sherlock. Add these and other recent accolades to nearly a decade s nominations and awards (such as the Golden Nymph as best actor in Hawking), and it''s easy to see why Benedict Cumberbatch is often hailed as the actor of his generation. Cumberbatch''s body of work further includes indie films, radio plays and series, television documentaries, live dramatic readings, multimedia advertisements, and even the occasional stint as a fashion model. He often shares an intriguing perspective on his profession, as evidenced in sometimes controversial interviews. He has become so much in demand that online box offices crash when tickets for his performances go on sale, and, before a Cheltenham Literature Festival Q&A session, fans overwhelmed Twitter when so many responded immediately to a call for questions. Cumberbatch consistently is a top name on lists ranging from sex appeal to global influence. In 2012 he beat David Beckham in the former and U.S. President Barack Obama in the latter. Increasingly, part of Cumberbatch''s job involves the role of celebrity. Benedict Cumberbatch is at a pivotal point in his profession, and his career trajectory especially as documented in entertainment media permits a closer examination of just what it means to be a celebrity or star in Britain or the U.S. and how an actor may be perceived very differently in London or Hollywood. This performance biography is an analysis of a man in transition from working actor to multimedia star, as well as the balance between actor and celebrity. It looks at what makes this actor so well suited to play one of popular culture''s iconic characters, Sherlock Holmes, and how Sherlock is so well suited to propel Cumberbatch toward greater global fame.

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Book SynopsisThe Future Show is a piece that tells the story of Deborah’s future, starting from the end of the performance and going until the end of her life, that is consistently re-written to be both site and time specific. It is a Sisyphean task of a show, examining the mundane, the uncertain, and the fragility of our futures. The Future Show toured internationally for two years, with a new script written for every iteration. It has been performed in the USA, Canada, Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Ireland and throughout the UK. With an Introduction by Tim Etchells, Founder of Forced Entertainment The Future Show was developed with a grant from Arts Council England and with support-in-kind from BAC, Amhurst Republic and MAKE in Ireland.Trade ReviewA testament to Pearson's astonishing skill as a writer. -- Andrew Haydon * What's on Stage *

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Book SynopsisRobert Johnson. Brian Jones. Jimi Hendrix. Janis Joplin. Jim Morrison. Kurt Cobain. Amy Winehouse. They were inspirational, controversial, talismanic and innovative. They lead lives full of myth, scandal, sex, drugs and some of the most glorious music that has ever heard. Though each of their lives were cut tragically short at the age of 27, they would all leave the world having changed it irrevocably. Chris Salewicz tells, in intimate detail, the stories behind these compelling figures. From Robert Johnson and his legendary deal with the devil, to Jimi Hendrix appearing like a psychedelic comet on the London scene, through to Amy Winehouse's blazing talent and her savage appetite for self-destruction.Trade ReviewOne of the most rivetingly detailed, revealing music biographies ever written - The Sunday TimesA great read. Brutally frank and full of insights - MojoA riveting read that will keep you gripped to the end - Daily Mirror

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Book SynopsisThe son of a watercolour artist, William Gershom Collingwood (1854-1932) studied at University College, Oxford where he met John Ruskin, whose secretary he later became and with whom he shared a wide range of interests. Collingwood travelled extensively, sketching as he went, and after studying at the Slade School of Art, moved to the Lake District where he wrote extensively about the Lakes, Icelandic sagas and Norse mythology, as well as publishing a biography on Ruskin in 1893. He was an accomplished artist, founding the Lake Artists Society in 1904 and serving as Professor of Fine Art at the University of Reading from 1905-11. His interest in art and Scandinavia prompted his research into the Pre-Norman Crosses of Cumbria and the North of England. In 1927 he published ‘Northumbrian Crosses of the Pre-Norman Age’, illustrated with his own drawings. He was also an accomplished musician, climber, swimmer and walker. His son was the noted archaeologist (a leading authority on Roman Britain), philosopher and historian R. G. Collingwood. This well researched biography provides a comprehensive account of the life and works of a nineteenth century polymath whose story should be better known.Table of ContentsChronology ; Preface ; Chapter I Collingwood Family (1761-1854) ; Chapter II Boyhood (1854-1872) ; Chapter III Student Days (1872-1876) ; Chapter IV Becoming an Artist (1876-1882) ; Chapter V Edith Isaac (Dorrie) and Marriage (1877-1884) ; Chapter VI Life at Gillhead Windermere (1883-1891) ; Chapter VII Working with Ruskin (1881-1900) ; Chapter VIII Life in Lakeland (1891-1932) ; Chapter IX Researching the Past (1884-1932) ; Chapter X Scandinavian Studies (1895-1928) ; Chapter XI Academia and Lanehead (1905-1917) ; Chapter XII Naval Intelligence (1917-1919) ; Chapter XIII Later Research (1920-1930) ; Chapter XIV Future of Lakeland (1932-) ; Chapter XV Father and Son (1889-1932) ; Chapter XVI Last Years (1928-1932) ; Notes ; Appendix A ; Index

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Book SynopsisStories to inspire. Stories to connect. Extraordinary moments in which women's lives changed forever. Exhilarating, heartbreaking and ultimately inspiring, The Day That Changed My Life is a remarkable collection of stories of Ireland's women and the extraordinary moments which transformed their lives. There are stories of the marvels of motherhood and coming out, leaps of faith and determined entrepreneurship. Stories of crazy highs, such as Oscar nominations and being elected into office. And stories of brave fights against illness and triumphs against all odds. All are united by a strength in adversity, courage and resilience, and an ability to find humour in the darkest places. Our lives change, but some days change our lives forever. 'These women's stories have inspired me beyond measure and I remain in awe of their unwavering honesty. They leave me entirely humbled, while simultaneously stoking a fire in my belly.' CAITLIN McBRIDE Featuring inspirational Stories from: ÁINE KERR, AMY HUBERMAN, ANDREA NOLAN, BREEGE O'DONOGHUE, CAROLINE DOWNEY, CASSIE STOKES, CHRISTINA NOBLE, CIARA GRIFFIN, DERVAL O'ROURKE, DOIREANN GARRIHY, EIMEAR VARIAN BARRY, ELLEN O'MALLEY DUNLOP, EMMA DONOGHUE, EVANNE NÍ CHUILINN, GEORGIE CRAWFORD, HELEN McENTEE, JOANNE BYRNE, JUDITH GILLESPIE, KIRSTEN MATE MAHER, KATHERINE ZAPPONE, KATHY RYAN, LOUISE O'REILLY MARY ANN O’BRIEN, NORAH CASEY, NORAH PATTEN, ORLA BARRY, SABINA BRENNAN, SARAH TOBIN, SONYA LENNON, TARA FLYNN, TERRY PRONE

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Book SynopsisA Chronology of the Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was first published in 2009; this was fully revised, expanded in 2012 and 2014, an Addenda & Corrigenda was published in 2016.  This 2018 edition has been completely updated and revised and supersedes all previous editions, it includes all of the revisions and corrections that were made previously plus the information and maps included in the Addenda & Corrigenda.  Also included is information located during research since 2016.  New photographs have been added to those already published and The Times is now listed in the sources with the date of publication.  The index has been compiled professionally by Geraldine Beare.The first section contains a family tree and a detailed chronology of the major and minor events in the life of Sir Arthur and his family from 1755 to 1930.  This is followed by sections on events from 1930 to 1998, An Arctic Voyage in 1880, maps of Conan Doyle’s travels, the residences of Conan Doyle and his family, where are they buried, locations of plaques and statues, Arthur Conan Doyle and cricket, Arthur Conan Doyle and Portsmouth Football Club, Innes Doyle and cricket, a list of biographies and semi-biographical works, a list of Facsimile manuscripts that have been published, a bibliography, a selective list of miscellaneous writings, works consulted and about the chronologist.  Finally, there are a number of well-reproduced photographs of ACD his family at various times of his life; some have not appeared in print before. This publication proves that there is more to Arthur Conan Doyle than just Sherlock Holmes.

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Book SynopsisGreat Lives in Graphics: Coco Chanel graphic retelling of Chanel's story gives children a visual snapshot of her life and career, while educating them on everything from the history of early twentieth century fashion and society to life in wartime France. You may already know that Coco Chanel was a visionary who transformed the world of fashion, but did you know that she was also accused of being a secret agent for the Nazis during World War II? Or that she was superstitious and would read tarot cards to try to predict her future? Great Lives in Graphics reimagines the lives of extraordinary people in vivid technicolour, presenting 250+ biographical facts in a new and exciting way. It takes the essential dates and achievements of each person's life, mixes them with lesser-known facts and trivia, and uses infographics to show them in a fresh visual way that is genuinely engaging for children and young adults. The result is a colourful, fascinating and often surprising representation of that person's life, work and legacy. Using timelines, maps, repeated motifs and many more beautiful and informative illustrations, readers learn not just about the main subject of the book but also about the cultural background of the time in which they lived. AGES: 8 to 12 SELLING POINTS: . 250+ fascinating facts about fashion icon Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel . From September 2023 to February 2024, the V&A museum will be hosting the first UK exhibition dedicated to Coco Chanel . Covers important issues in an innovative format which is accessible for young children . Fact-packed infographics capture the key information about each person's life and work . Builds into a colour-coded library of collectible biographies Aimed at children aged 8-12

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Book SynopsisA tribute to Big Tom McBride, the Johnny Cash of Irish country music'. From labourer to music star, the journey of the singer who brought so much joy to fans at home and to emigrants abroad over five decades.

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Book SynopsisDmitry Shostakovich was one of the most successful composers of the twentieth century – a musician who adapted as no other to the unique pressures of his age. By turns vilified and feted by Stalin during the Great Purge, Shostakovich twice came close to the whirlwind of political repression and he remained under political surveillance all his life, despite the many privileges and awards heaped upon him in old age. Yet Shostakovich had a remarkable ability to work with, rather than against, prevailing ideological demands, and it was this quality that ensured both his survival and his posterity. Pauline Fairclough’s absorbing new biography offers a vivid portrait that goes well beyond the habitual clichés of repression and suffering. Featuring quotations from previously unpublished letters as well as rarely-seen photographs, Fairclough provides a fresh insight into the music and life of a composer whose legacy, above all, was to have written some of the greatest and most cherished music of the last century.Trade Review'Pauline Fairclough’s attractively readable and fair-minded new biography sails elegantly past old arguments, while taking fascinating account of the mass of new research that has appeared in recent years. The result is a wise and sympathetic portrait of a remarkable man, which will appeal broadly to musicians and music-lovers, to those who already love Shostakovich’s music and those who would like to discover it for themselves.'-Gerard McBurney, Composer

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Book SynopsisThis first comprehensive English collection of the interviews of Jacques Rivette (19282016) documents his career through chronology, filmography, bibliography, and image stills. A comprehensive introduction places this work in the wider context of twentieth-century social change. Rivettes films, like many of the works of the French New Wave, seem to have avoided the aging process entirely, remaining as playful, fresh, and quietly spectacular as the day they were made. Indeed, his body of work may be the most impressive of the French New Wave. Celine and Julie Go Boating (1974) has been recognized as possibly the best film to emerge from the post-New Wave era, even as Paris Belongs to Us (1961) is one of the best pictures to emerge from the New Wave itself. Rivette was hardly the most prolific director, however, and the length of his films has often counted against him. Nonetheless, his clinical, self-reflexive essays in film form reveal him as a cinematic purist whose commitment to the celluloid muse hardly diminished from the heady days of the early 1950s to the end of his career in 2009. Beyond inspiring the New Wave movement and continuing to reflect, and reflect on, its central tenets, Rivettes enduring contribution to the history of film is unquestionably evident in his sensitive treatment of the histories and destinies of women, especially through strong roles for actresses. During the six decades of his career, nonetheless, he struck a subtle balance not only between female and male characters, but also between political and personal obsession, between myth and fiction, between theater and cinema, in films that, in addition to having influenced such contemporary filmmakers as Claire Denis, Jim Jarmusch, Olivier Assayas, and David Lynch, continue to redefine the art of cinema around the world.Trade Review‘Rivette’s refusal to compromise with popular or commercial dictates, his determination to explore untrodden directorial paths, will perhaps always consign the bulk of his work to marginality; but as these interviews suggest, anyone with the patience to explore his output will discover creative angles and perceptions few other filmmakers can offer.’ Philip Kemp, Sight & Sound

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