Biography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1978 as The Beach Boys and the California Myth, this groundbreaking study was both the first full-length book on the band and the first to recognize Brian Wilson as one of the most significant and influential artists of the 20th century. Covering the turbulent family strife and internal conflicts as well as giving proper attention to the remarkable music, the book was an instant classic. An intimate look at Brian's rollercoaster of a life and career, it's told through the eyes of those who were there during Wilson's most legendary productions including Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations. Revised and updated, God Only Knows covers the decades since the 1985 edition, including Brian's first acclaimed solo album, his startling return to live performing, the landmark Pet Sounds tour, the "All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson" (which Leaf wrote and produced) and the triumphant and miraculous Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE world premiere in London. Filled with surprising revelations, insight and behind-the-scenes detail, this indispensable book written by renowned Brian Wilson expert David Leaf also features forewords by Jimmy Webb, the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb and Melinda Wilson, Brian's wife.Trade Review'David Leaf's matchless The Beach Boys and the California Myth overshadows any book that documents the group's most successful years.' The Guardian “When I championed the first edition of this book in 1978 in Melody Maker, I wrote ‘The definitive story. Probably the best book ever of any aspect of music history. A one of a kind effort, a new genre of journalism by going behind the scenes without sensationalizing.’ In our world, the sequel is almost never better than the original. But in the rock biography universe, David Leaf’s God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the California Myth is akin to The Godfather Part II. In this massive update, Leaf reveals deeper truths about Mr. Wilson that make his adventures with Brian feel like a page-turning novel.” Author and music historian, Harvey Kubernik 'Essential reading for anybody who cares about Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys and the evolution of rock & roll.' Jason Fine, former Editor-in-Chief, Rolling Stone

Read more less

Book SynopsisFROM THE DIRECTOR AND SCREENWRITER OF WOMEN TALKING 'Fascinating, harrowing, courageous, and deeply felt, these explorations of "dangerous stories", harmful past events and trials of the soul speak to all who’ve encountered dark waters and have had to navigate them.' Margaret Atwood Sarah Polley's work as an actor, screenwriter and director is celebrated for its honesty, complexity and deep humanity. She brings all those qualities, along with her exquisite storytelling skills, to these six essays. Each one captures a piece of Polley's life as she remembers it, while at the same time examining the fallibility of memory and the embodied reactions of children and women adapting and surviving. The guiding light is the possibility of experiencing the past anew, as the person she is now but was not then. In this extraordinary book, Polley explores what it is to live in one's body, in a constant state of becoming, learning and changing. As she was advised after a catastrophic head injury - if we relinquish our protective crouch and run towards the danger, then life can be reset, reshaped and lived afresh. '[Polley is] a stunningly sophisticated observer of the world and an imperfect witness to the truth.' New York Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisInThere and Black Again, Don Letts looks back on his exceptional life, which has seen him befriend Bob Marley after sneaking into his hotel, join The Clash's White Riot tour as manager of The Slits and become one of the UK's most highly regarded video directors just as the MTV boom hit.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisKat is a storyteller extraordinaire...Read this book with glee. It's a revelation. CHARLES PACHTERSo you want to make it as a singer-songwriter? Kat Goldman has been there, almost to the very top, and now she's back with sage advice and hilarious behind-the-scenes stories from a lifetime of toil in the dive bars and legendary venues of the contemporary music scene.Learn what it''s like to meet your first fan, date a rock star (never again!), perform in a grocery store, and rebuild your career after getting hit by a car in a bagel shop. Feel the sting of rejection and rampant sexism, and the thrill of writing a hit song and performing with your idols...Off the Charts is a whimsical, uproarious tour through a fickle business that never seems to repay what performers put into it, and one woman's highly intimate account of how she made the best of almost making it. Featuring a sparkling set of original illustrations by the award-winning Nina Berkson.

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gripping, painfully honest and ultimately inspirational, New York Times bestselling memoir from global superstar and creator of the Red Table Talk series Jada Pinkett Smith.''It's a shame that Pinkett Smith''s marriage has taken up so much attention because, as Worthy shows, it's far from the most interesting thing about her' Sunday Times MagazineIn a media driven landscape that crafts narratives for our celebrities, Smith recounts her story in an intimate conversation with readers. Along the way, she explores her path to accepting her power as a woman, and her discovery that a strong sense of self is every woman's right and saving grace.An impactful and rare memoir that engages and educates, Worthy is a courageous love song to self, to family, to life, and to the world.From an unconventional upbringing in Baltimore, to an unconventional marriage to one of the most famous men in the world, adhering to the status quo has never been a familiar road for Jada Pinkett Smith. In Worthy, SmTrade Review'Worthy is at its best when it’s sparky and spiky with self-doubt and humour' i NEWS ‘As a teen, she was a mid-level drug dealer on Baltimore’s streets, repeatedly mugged at gunpoint for whatever she held on her. Surviving such ordeals, and her more recent battles with alopecia, have given her a steely armour’ Daily Telegraph 'It’s a shame that Pinkett Smiths marriage has taken up so much attention because, as Worthy shows, it’s far from the most interesting thing about her’ Hadley Freeman, Sunday Times Magazine

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this fully revised and richly illustrated edition, author and journalist Will Ellsworth-Jones pieces together a complete picture of the life and work of Banksy, perhaps the most iconic, enigmatic and controversial artist of modern times. For someone who shuns the limelight so completely that he conceals his name, never shows his face and gives interviews only by email, Banksy is remarkably famous. This fully updated and illustrated story of Banksy’s life and career builds an intriguing picture of his world and unpicks its contradictions. Whether art or vandalism, anti-establishment or sell-out, Banksy and his work have become a cultural phenomenon and the question ‘Who is Banksy?’ is as much about his career as it is ‘the man behind the wall’. From his beginnings as a Bristol graffiti artist, his artwork is now sold at auction for seven-figure sums and hangs on celebrities’ walTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Art of Infiltration 2. Once Upon a Time 3. Graffiti Decoded 4. Finding his own Style 5. Anonymously Happy 6. The Artist and Organiser 7. The Outlaw Returns Home 8. Dismal Delights 9. Holiday Snaps 10. Welcome to Team Banksy 11. Psst… Anyone Want to Buy a Wall 12. The Business of Banksy 13. Biting the Hand that Tempts Him 14. Art without a Theory

Read more less

Book Synopsis Introducing over 100 great artists (both historic and contemporary), Art Rules provides practical, creative and sometimes tongue-in-cheek advice inspired by those who have succeeded before. Trade Review“A vibrant tribute to endlessly varied frameworks of making and being.” Creatives of all stripes will be energized.” * Publishers Weekly *

Read more less

Book SynopsisStep into the fascinating world of art history with this inspiring collection of artists and their most famous works, ready and waiting for you to bring to life with colourAwaken your creativity and produce your own artistic masterpieces with this stunning selection of art icons. From painters and engravers to sculptors and quiltmakers, this book features illustrations of 23 artists from across the world and throughout time. Including figures as varied as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Gustav Klimt, Evelyn de Morgan and Harriet Powers, each illustration is accompanied by a concise biography and insight into the artist''s unique style.Embark on this journey of colour and creativity to practise mindfulness and ease everyday stresses. These intricate, original designs are perfect for developing fine motor skills, improving focus, reducing tension and relieving anxiety. So, relax, quieten your mind and let your imagination soar as you create your own renditions o

Read more less

Book SynopsisImagine being alongside one of the greatest bands in the history of rock, touring the world and being there as they perform at some of the best and biggest music venues in the world. Peter Hince didn't have to imagine: for more than a decade, he lived a life that other people can only dream of as he worked with Queen as head of their road crew. In 1973, Queen was the support act for Mott the Hoople, for whom Peter was a roadie. Back then, Queen had to content themselves with being second on the bill and the world had not yet woken up to the flamboyant talent of Freddie Mercury. Peter started working full time for Queen just as they were making A Night at the Opera, the album which catapulted them to international stardom. In this intimate and affectionate book, Peter recalls the highlights of his years with the band. He was with Freddie when he composed 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'; he was responsible for making sure that Freddie's stage performances went without a hitch - and was often there to witness his famed tantrums! He was also party to the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll which are invariably part of life on the road with a rock band.Trade Review'Will satisfy the curiosity of anyone wanting to know what it was really like to work with a famous rock band' - MOJO

Read more less

Book Synopsis'EYEWITNESS GOLD' SUNDAY TIMESWHO - OR WHAT - WAS THE REAL LOVE OF FREDDIE MERCURY'S LIFE? THE SENSATIONAL NEW BIOGRPHAY OF QUEEN'S FRONTMAN Millions of Queen and screen fans who watched the Oscar-winning film Bohemian Rhapsody believe that Mary Austin, the woman he could never quite let go of, was the love of Freddie Mercury's life. But the truth is infinitely more complicated.Best-selling biographer and music writer Lesley-Ann Jones explores the charismatic frontman's romantic encounters, from his boarding school years in Panchgani, India to his tragic, final, bed-ridden days in his magnificent London mansion. She reveals why none of his love interests ever perfected the art of being Freddie's life partner.In Love of My Life, the author follows him through his obsessions with former shop girl Mary, German actress Barbara Valentin and Irish-born barber boyfriend Jim Hutton. She explores his adoration of globally fêted Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé. She delves into his intimate friendship with Elton John, and probes his imperishable bonds with his fellow band members. She deconstructs his complicated relationship with the 'food of love' - his music - and examines closely his voracious appetite for - what some would call his fatal addiction to - sex. Which of these was the real love of Freddie Mercury's life? Was any of them? Drawing on personal interviews and first-hand encounters, this moving book brings to the fore a host of Freddie's lesser-known loves, weaving them in and out of the passions that consumed him. The result, a mesmerising portrait of a legendary rock star, is unputdownable. Love of My Life, published during the year of the 30th anniversary of his death and that would have seen his 75th birthday, is Lesley-Ann's personal and compassionate tribute to an artist she has revered for as long as she has written about music and musicians.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisOn 31 August 1997, the world was stunned by the tragic death of the most popular and photographed woman of the modern age: Diana, Princess of Wales. The outpouring of public grief at this tragically early death was unprecedented in modern times. Now, more than 20 years on, Diana: The People's Princess celebrates both her life and her legacy. A dignified and unexploitative celebration of Diana's life, Diana: The People's Princess commemorates this remarkable woman's life from her childhood to her tragic premature death at the age of 36. With authoritative text and a vast array of photographs, this updated edition includes new material on the aftermath of her death, including her legacy as a mother – Princes William and Harry and their involvement in perpetuating and protecting her memory – and the continuing work of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The book is brought right up to date with the marriage of Harry to Meghan Markle, who some compare to the Princess of Wales. Diana: The People's Princess is a respectful, sensitive and poignant tribute to this elegant, charming and sympathetic symbol of our times. Table of ContentsForeword By Sir Trevor McDonald. Diana's Early Life. Diana and Charles. Diana the Devoted Mother. Diana: Queen of Hearts. Diana and Friends. Goodbye England's Rose. Diana's Legacy.

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize 2022 Longlisted for the William M B Berger Prize for British Art History 2022 Guardian Art Book of the Year 2021 A dazzling, boldly original work that tells the powerful and passionate stories of a group of extraordinary women as glimpsed through their still life paintings What is contained in a still life – and what falls out of the frame? For women artists in the early twentieth century, such as Dora Carrington, Vanessa Bell and Gwen John, this art form was a conduit for their lives, their rebellions, their quietly subversive loves for men and women. But for every artist whom we remember, there are those whose work is almost forgotten. In This Dark Country, Rebecca Birrell conducts a dazzling fusion of group biography and art criticism, exploring, from the celebrated to the overlooked, the structures of intimacy that make – and dismantle – our worlds. 'A brilliant book ... A truly radical aesthetics fit for the twenty-first century at last!' - Thérèse Oulton '[A] wonderful book. I am impressed and fascinated. It is beautifully written' - Celia PaulTrade ReviewBlending flights of poetic rhapsody with more traditional critical language, This Dark Country is as seductive as it is scholarly ... Riveting * Financial Times *[A] wonderful book. I am impressed and fascinated. It is beautifully written. Each woman artist, in this superb book, addresses the need to transform the confines she inhabits into a space of empowerment. These artists all lived and worked in the first part of the twentieth century yet their legacy continues to be relevant -- Celia PaulA brilliant book ... A truly radical aesthetics fit for the twenty-first century at last! -- Thérèse OultonA beautifully written and important art historical work, This Dark Country is a magnificent debut by one of Britain’s most electrifying new talents. I cannot wait to read what she writes next! -- Camilla Grudova, author of THE DOLL's ALPHABET[An] unusual and refreshing group biography of artists ... I loved Birrell's brilliant re-apprehension of Rodin’s The Thinker through the experience of Gwen John. And her explanation of the magnitude of rooms and importance of room, in these women’s lives -- Leanne Shapton[A] beautiful, bold new book … explores the desires and ambitions of women artists, moving beyond the frame to reflect lives that rarely fit convention -- Chlöe Ashby * Elephant *Birrell’s blend of art criticism and biography works best when it is tethered to real-world calculation. She is particularly good at teasing out the stubborn material facts that underpin the most serene of still lifes -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian *Rebecca Birrell urges us to ask new questions about gender and genre, domesticity and work … At its heart is the challenge of understanding the lives and works of women whose desires and ambitions often demanded secrecy, evasion and ambiguity -- Norma Clarke * Literary Review *[I was] captivated by this extraordinary book - stayed up way too late scribbling my astonishment on all the pages -- Doireann Ní Ghríofa, author of 'A Ghost in the Throat'This is a bold, unusual book, filled with archival research, exuberant ideas and a determination to counter misogyny -- Diana Souhami * RA Magazine *We have not generally thought of the still life as a radical feminist genre – until now. In This Dark Country, Rebecca Birrell gives a sensitive, deeply researched look at the lives behind the still lives, showing us how for a group of early twentieth-century women artists the home became a radical feminist space in which to redefine domesticity and their relationships to the world outside. There is a calm and companionable stillness to Birrell’s prose, too; I loved seeing these paintings through Birrell’s eyes. -- Lauren Elkin

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A joy. Celebrates the real world and revels in its mad glory'' Sue Townsend, Sunday Times_____________________________________All Points North is part-memoir and part-excursion. Charting the rugged and uneven terrain of a writer''s formative years - from tax problems to probation to American tours, football to family to running away to Iceland - Simon Armitage explores growing up and being Northern. It''s about humour, language, writing, film, houses, homes, time wasters, one loose tyre, you, me and all points in-between._____________________________________''Laugh-out-loud funny'' Independent''A delight'' Jonathan Raban, Times Literary Supplement ''A perfect holiday dipper'' Scotsman''An Alan Bennett-style diary'' Daily Telegraph Trade ReviewA joy. Celebrates the real world and revels in its mad glory -- Sue Townsend * Sunday Times *I was irresistibly reminded of Alan Bennett - there is the same wry humour, wonderfully telling selection of detail or remark . . . a fine balance of humour and poignancy * The Times *The salty prose of an original poetic voice -- Melvyn Bragg * Observer *A thoughtful, witty combination of travel writing, autobiography and Alan Bennett-style diary -- John-Paul Flintoff * Daily Telegraph *Laugh-out-loud funny . . . has all the resonant precision of a poet's ear and eye * Independent *An original and talented writer . . . highly entertaining and there are flashes of wit and moments of tenderness and brilliantly accurate observation -- Vernon Scannell * Sunday Telegraph *The best book I have read in a long time on what he insists is the true North of England -- Geoffrey Moorhouse * Daily Telegraph *I was irresistibly reminded of Alan Bennett - there is the same wry humour, wonderfully telling selection of detail or remark... a fine balance of humour and poignancy * The Times *The salty prose of an original poetic voice -- Melvyn Bragg * Observer *Laugh-out-loud funny... has all the resonant precision of a poet's ear and eye * Independent *A delight - high-spirited, light-footed, very funny and wickedly observamt -- Jonathan Raban * The Times Literary Supplement *A joy. Celebrates the real world and revels in its mad glory -- Sue Townsend * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe supermodel did not arrive when Twiggy first donned false eyelashes; the concept began more than 100 years previously, with a young artists' model whose face captivated a generation.Saved from the drudgery of a working-class existence by a young Pre-Raphaelite artist, Lizzie Siddal rose to become one of the most famous faces in Victorian Britain and a pivotal figure of London's artistic world, until tragically ending her young life in a laudanum-soaked suicide in 1862. In the twenty-first century, even those who do not know her name always recognise her face: she is Millais's doomed Ophelia and Rossetti's beatified Beatrice.With many parallels in the modern-day world of art and fashion, this biography takes Lizzie from the background of Dante Rossetti's life and, finally, brings her to the forefront of her own.Trade Review'A truly extraordinary achievement' -- A.N. Wilson'The life behind the model for Millais's Ophelia ... The first supermodel, Siddal remains a fascinating figure' * Tatler *'A seductive biography. The story as it gains in tragedy is irresistible' * Sunday Times *'This mesmerising biography gives life to an icon, and reads as grippingly as any rags-to-riches novel' * Mail on Sunday *'It is the stuff of opera' * Sunday Telegraph *'A heart-wrenching tale of art, addiction, adultery and loss, which transcends the decades. A fluid contemporary classic' * Skytext *

Read more less

Book SynopsisArtists at Home looks inside the homes of great artists and examines how their interiors reflected and inspired their artistic spirit. Trade Review"Resplendent and visually sumptuous." * Library Journal *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER THOMAS COLE, ROSA BONHEUR, GUSTAVE MOREAU FREDERIC, LORD LEIGHTON PAUL CÉZANNE, WILLIAM MORRIS AUGUSTE RODIN, CLAUDE MONET JAMES ENSOR, PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR, FRANZ VON STUCK VANESSA BELL AND DUNCAN GRANT SUZANNE VALADON, PABLO PICASSO GIORGIO DE CHIRICO, GEORGIA O’KEEFFE OTTO DIX, JEAN COCTEAU, RENÉ MAGRITTE LEE MILLER AND ROLAND PENROSE SALVADOR DALÍ, BARBARA HEPWORTH MASANARI MURAI, FRIDA KAHLO, LUCIAN FREUD CÉSAR MANRIQUE, YINKA SHONIBARE INDEX ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Read more less

Book SynopsisA NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEARAN OBSERVER BEST ART BOOK OF 2021SHORTLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE 2022This is a wonderful book. A lyrical journey into the natural and unnatural world' Patti SmithEverything Philip Hoare writes is bewitching' Olivia LaingAn illuminating exploration of the intersection between life, art and the sea from the award-winning author of Leviathan. Albrecht Dürer changed the way we saw nature through art. From his prints in 1498 of the plague ridden Apocalypse the first works mass produced by any artist to his hyper-real images of animals and plants, his art was a revelation: it showed us who we are but it also foresaw our future. It is a vision that remains startlingly powerful and seductive, even now.In Albert & the Whale, Philip Hoare sets out to discover why Dürer''s art endures. He encounters medieval alchemists and modernist poets, eccentric emperors and queer soul rebels, ambassadorial whales and enigmatic pop artists. He witnesses the miraculous birth of Dürer''s fantastical rhinoceros and his hermaphroditic hare, and he traces the fate of the star-crossed leviathan that the artist pursued. And as the author swims from Europe to America and beyond, these prophetic artists and downed angels provoke awkward questions. What is natural or unnatural? Is art a fatal contract? Or does it in fact have the power to save us?Trade Review Praise for Albert and the Whale ‘In Albert & the Whale he leads his readers off on a marvellously varied, vividly imaginative, seductively digressive adventure that traces the path of another colossus…this is a book to immerse you’ The Times, Book of the Week, Rachel Campell-Johnston ‘Magnificent new book … Hoare’s feeling for Dürer exceeds anything I have ever read … his greatest work yet’ Observer, Book of the Week, Laura Cumming ‘Marvellous, unaccountable book. This is a book like the stomach of a whale: capaciously ready to accommodate whatever disparate stuff comes its way' Literary Review ‘Philip Hoare, best know for Leviathan, his discursive and personal book about whales, has written a very Sebaldian new book. In it, he traverses his own patch and sniffs out an assortment of seemingly unrelated themes – Albrecht Durer, cetaceans, Thomas Mann and David Bowie, a deformation of the hand, the death of his mother – and proceeds to reveal the single degree of separation between them… Enlightening’ Michael Prodger, Sunday Times ‘Visionary: a tone poem put together from the lives of others, with detailed use of archives’ Financial Times ‘Mr Hoare’s portrait glitters with arresting details … His readings of Dürer’s work grow woozy with enthusiasm, dissolving into a kind of modernist poetry. Readers who prefer their art history to have both feet on the ground might be unmoored; others will be intoxicated’ Economist ‘It’s a summary-defying blend of art history, biography, nature writing and memoir … you can feel the delight he takes in being unbound by anything but his enthusiasms. He is alternately precise and concealing. His biographical sections are both elliptical and redolent of entire lives. His art criticism is often stirring’ New York Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2024Moving' THE NEW YORK TIMESA joy' THE WASHINGTON POSTVibrant' LIT HUBPowerful' NEW YORKERLucy Sante has often felt like an outsider. Born in Belgium to conservative Catholic working-class parents, she was transplanted to the United States without ever entirely settling here. But a feeling of home finally arrived when she moved to New York City in the early 1970s amidst her fellow bohemians. Through those electric years, some of her friends would die young, from drugs and AIDS, and others would become jarringly famous. Lucy flirted with both fates, on her way to building a glittering career as a writer. But she could never shake that feeling. When she was finally ready, Lucy decided to confront the façade she'd been presenting to everyone, including herself, over these years. I Heard Her Call My Name is the story of that confrontation, of a life with a missing piece that with transition, falls into place. This a memoir of grace and wit that parses the issues of gender identity and far beyond with unbounding humility and hope. 'Radical, humble and wise' HERMIONE HOBY'An astonishing, once-in-a-lifetime achievement' HUA HSU'Vivid, encompassing and compassionate' CATHERINE LACEY

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the noted Hollywood biographer and author of The Contender comes this celebration of the great American love story—the romance between Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart—capturing its complexity, contradictions, and challenges as never before.In Bogie & Bacall, William Mann offers a deep and comprehensive look at Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, and the unlikely love they shared. Mann details their early years—Bogart’s effete upbringing in New York City; Bacall’s rise as a model and actress. He paints a vivid portrait of their courtship and twelve-year marriage: the fights, the reconciliations, the children, the affairs, Bogie’s illness and Bacall’s steadfastness until his death. He offers a sympathetic yet clear-eyed portrait of Bacall’s life after Bogie, exploring her relationships with Frank Sinatra and Jason Robards, who would become her second husband, and the identity crisis she faced.Surpassing previous biographies, Mann digs deep into the celebrities’ personal lives and considers their relationship from surprising angles. Bacall was just nineteen when she started dating the thrice-married forty-five-year-old Bogart. How might that age gap have influenced their relationship? In addition to what she gained, what might Bacall have lost by marrying a Hollywood superstar more than twice her age? How did Bogart, a man of average looks, become one of the greatest movie stars of all time? Throughout, Mann explains the unparalleled successes of their individual careers as well as the extraordinary love between them and the legend that has endured.Filled with entertaining details and thoughtful insights based on newly available records and correspondence, and illustrated with 30-40 photographs, Bogie & Bacall offers a fresh look at this famous couple, their remarkable relationship, and their legacy.Trade Review"Well-researched . . . . Mann is perceptive, careful and experienced in writing about the film business." — David Thomson, London Review of Books “Engrossing…. Scrupulously attending to the distinct personalities, cultural conditions, and media environment that joined forces to create `arguably Hollywood’s greatest love story,’ Mann delivers a spirited narrative that’s hard to put down….Film buffs will eat this up.” — Publishers Weekly

Read more less

Book SynopsisJoshua M Greene is the author of two acclaimed biographies and the producer of numerous award-winning films. His articles have appeared in print media internationally and his books on the Holocaust were adapted for TV in the US. He lives in Long Island.Trade ReviewMany well-known artists have touched people's hearts with their music, but few have ever succeeded in touching people's souls. That was George's gift, and his story is described here with affection and taste. A wonderful book * Mia Farrow *I love this book for many reasons, most of all for its fair and sensitive portrayal of my brother's open-minded approach to spirituality. He saw Spirit as belonging to everyone, and that wonderful quality in him comes through here with dignity and insight * Louise Harrison *I have fond memories of times George and I spent together and Here Comes the Sun really captures him - not just as a Beatle, but as an artist and a human being * Peter Frampton *Here Comes the Sun captures the music and the dazzling spiritual quests of the tumultuous 1960s through the story of George Harrison, the Beatle who as much as anyone embodied the era and its strange pilgrimage * Robert Ellwood, Professor Emeritus of Religion, University of Southern California *Wonderful! A detailed and comprehensive supplement to the memory of a gentle, driving force * Mike Pinder, founder of The Moody Blues *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWilliam Mann charts the journey by which Kathy Hepburn of Hartford, Connecticut, became the star who dazzled audiences for decades in the company of such luminaries as Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and, most memorably, Spencer Tracy, with whom she made nine movies and conducted a long off-screen romance. Hepburn won her fourth Oscar aged 74 and across seventy years in the public eye, she was a cut above the usual screen queen. Now William Mann looks beyond the legend to consider apart the life and the persona of Katharine Hepburn, from her movies, her loves, her bisexuality and her extraordinary life in the golden age of film-making.Trade Review"'A significant biography.' Gore Vidal"

Read more less

Book SynopsisBrian Jay Jones is an award-winning writer and biographer and presently serves as vice president of Biographers International Organization, the world's largest organization of practicing biographers. Brian is a devoted member of the Jim Henson generation, having been two years old when Sesame Street premiered in 1969 and nine when The Muppet Show debuted in 1976. A former policy analyst and advisor in the U.S. Senate, Brian abandoned politics for the pen in 2008, with the publication of his award-winning biography of Washington Irving.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A thorough, objective telling of McCartney's story - in and out of the most famous band ever.' ESQUIREThe first biography written with McCartney's approval and with access to family members and friends closest to him.In 2013, Sir Paul McCartney granted Philip Norman 'tacit approval' as his biographer. The result is a masterly and complex portrait of the most successful songwriter in history.It gives a unique insight into McCartney's childhood, blighted by the loss of his mother when he was fourteen, and into the creative symbiosis and fierce rivalry between John Lennon and himself that powered the Beatles' music. Here, too, for the first time, is the full story of McCartney's triumphant but troubled post-Beatles years: the tragic death of his first wife, Linda, and the chaotic divorce from his second wife, Heather Mills.Paul McCartney is the definitive life of a long-misunderstood genius that superbly evokes half a century of popular music and culture.Trade ReviewNorman is an enviably skilled pen-portraitist, with a consummate ability to conjure the presence of [McCartney] ... A powerful sense of McCartney the man comes across in this book's evocative high points ... A capably executed biography, brimming with detail -- John Harris * THE GUARDIAN *A thorough, objective telling of McCartney's story - in and out of the most famous band ever. But it's also a breezy read, considering the tremendous ground it covers -- Jeff Slate * ESQUIRE.COM *Meticulous character study that adeptly shuns hero worship -- Bill Prince * GQ magazine *Where [the] book succeeds the most is bringing the reader into McCartney's private life... The most up-to-date account of Paul's life to yet appear * THE ECONOMIST *A compelling narrative about a working-class Liverpudlian whose extraordinary musical gifts made him the most successful songwriter in history... McCartney emerges from [the book] as a textured but decent man -- Graham Boynton * NEWSWEEK *Norman makes meaningful use of his access to members of Macca's Liverpool clan, a colourful crew to whom he's always remained close, as well as many business and musical associates, friends, lovers, collaborators and flunkies ... The Beatles story is so amazing in every respect that when it's told as well as this, it's worth reading again -- Allan Jones * UNCUT *An enormous and sympathetic book ... The story of its subject's life from his childhood in Liverpool through the breakup of the Beatles in 1970 has lost none of its ability to charm ... One of the best stories the past century has to tell -- Dwight Garner * NEW YORK TIMES *Philip Norman's considered biography portrays the 'cute' Beatle in all his creative complexity and breadth -- Neil Spencer * THE GUARDIAN *This biography is a compelling chronicle of the life of an immortal icon -- Ed Murphy * HOT PRESS *This 800-page opus is crammed with detail ... Read it for the detail and humour of the early years, and marvel at the revelations * i PAPER *Meticulous detail ... you can even smell the sweat, rat shit and basement mold in the Cavern Club ... Even Macca, who, to Norman's surprise, agreed to give him "tacit approval" without directly particpating, apparently had to concede that the guy is a Beatles scholar to reckon with. The Beatles' startlingly brief career is recounted expertly; Norman knows his facts ... vivid storytelling ... Norman gets as close as anyone has yet. -- Will Hermes * ROLLING STONE *Norman is perhaps the only biographer to provide an exegesis of the one Beatle most everyone gets wrong. This is thrillingly thorough stuff ... richness of detail ... McCartney is a rounded figure here -- Brian Boyd * THE IRISH TIMES *[Norman] is a good interviewer and the book is charming when he lets his Liverpool sources speak about the days before the Beatles were inevitable ... Paul McCartney is full of things that happened to Paul McCartney and through absurd fame and a few tragedies he appears to be an unusually decent man with few regrets * THE SCOTSMAN *Written with the tacit approval of its subject, Philip Norman's Paul McCartney: The Biography is the most thorough examination to date of the ex-Beatle's life and music, also serving to set the record straight on McCartney's central importance in the group once described as "the 20th century's greatest romance" * CHOICE magazine *A colourful and detailed account of Macca's life and music * SAGA magazine *A very fair and multi-layered biography * MAIL ON SUNDAY - Summer Reads *What's left to reveal about one of the most chronicled musicians of the 20th century? As it turns out, a great deal. With the notoriously guarded McCartney's "tacit approval," Norman sheds new light on well-known Beatles stories and then goes further, forging a thoroughly absorbing account of McCartney's life after the group's breakup: business ventures, parenthood, personal tragedy, the struggle to live and create beyond the legacy of his fabled band. The result is a tantalizing trip down the legend's own long and winding road. * HUFFINGTON POST *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFew artists have exerted such an influence on modern art as Paul Cezanne. Picasso, Braque and Matisse all acknowledged a profound debt to his painting, and many historians regard him as the father of modernism. This new biography reexamines Cezanne's life and art, discussing the central events and people who shaped his work and placing his oeuvre in the context of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century art and culture.Jon Kear examines Cezanne's youth in Provence, a formative period which left a deep and abiding impression on the artist's painting, as well as exploring his turbulent time in Paris and the larger-than-life artistic persona he created for himself during these years. His initial style, characterized by violent and explicit subject-matter and a rugged manner of painting, gave rise to an enduring mythology of the artist. Paul Cezanne explores the personal and artistic relationships that influenced Cezanne: from his close friendship with Emile Zola to his artistic dialogue with Manet, collaboration with Camille Pissarro and association with the Impressionists. Above all, Paul Cezanne tells the story of his life as a part of the pivotal shift towards the twentieth century, illuminating how much his work and ideas helped to usher it in.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDISCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WORLD’S MOST-LOVED COMPOSER; Musical history is full of tormented geniuses, tortured despite – or because of – their enormous talent. Yet perhaps the greatest musical virtuoso the world has ever known cannot be counted among them. Though he faced great hardships, Mozart was surely the happiest composer who ever lived.; In Mozart: The Man Revealed, John Suchet breathes new life into the story of the ‘boy genius’, revealing a complex character, yet one who always remained comfortable with himself and at ease with his gift. His musical legacy may be immortal, but the man behind the music was gloriously human.Trade Review‘A lively read’ Financial Times Best Books of 2016; ‘Fascinating, and impressively well-researched . . . makes for an absorbing read’ Christopher Morley, BirminghamTable of ContentsContents Preface xiii Prologue xv 1 The Handsomest Couple in Salzburg 1 2 The Little Wizard 14 3 The Grand Tour 28 4 Prodigies of Nature 43 5 He Is Skin and Bone 55 6 Wolfgangganggangerl 67 7 Chevalier de Mozart 81 8 Ass-Bumping in Venice 95 9 Bravissimo Maestro! 108 10 Gnagflow Trazom 121 11 There Is No Vacancy 133 12 Wolfgang Amadé Rosenkranz 147 13 Off with You to Paris! 155 14 My Dear Departed Mother 165 15 Unlucky in Love 181 16 A Kick in the Backside 198 17 An Honest and Virtuous Wife 210 18 Return to Salzburg 225 19 Paternal Pride 240 20 Womaniser, Criminal and Genius with Words 253 21 The Final, and Greatest, Symphonies 268 22 A Stranger Knocks 285 23 The Taste of Death on My Tongue 297 Afterword 309 Postscript 315 Acknowledgements 317 Notes 319 Index 323 About Classic FM 331 About the Author 33

Read more less

Book SynopsisDrawing upon extensive new first hand interview material from Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and many other significant players in the band's long history, a huge archive of personal materials and unpublished interviews, Blondie: Parallel Lives is the definitive eye-witness account of the group's long and often tumultuous existence. Beginning with their childhoods, backgrounds and influences, the book is also an evocative homage to the unique New York scene of the 1970s. It charts the development of Blondie to their massive popular success and eventual break up. How Debbie Harry set her career aside to nurse Chris through a debilitating and life-threatening genetic disease. It recounts the group's 1997 reformation, subsequent renaissance with their No Exit album, the controversies surrounding the 2006 induction to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, ending in the present with the release of Panic of Girls. Co-author Kris Needs established a friendship with Harry, Stein and the rest of the band that endures to this day. As a trusted confidante, he now recounts the full story.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLarry Grayson was extremely funny, highly likeable and much-loved. Those were sentiments felt not just by his millions of fans, but also by those who knew him personally. He was a complicated man who didn't become a star until well into his middle age, having worked for years as drag act Billy Breen. The peak of his popularity came in the early 1980s with Larry Grayson's Generation Game on BBC1, with regular viewing figures of over eighteen million. Larry Grayson's story is fascinating from beginning to end, and has never properly been told before. This extensively and painstakingly researched account of his life is aspirational, funny and heartbreaking in equal measure. "Written with affection and sensitivity, this long overdue biography tells the wonderful Larry's remarkable story." Julian Clary "He was an honest comic and he was funny. I think that's why everybody loved Larry Grayson." Lionel Blair "Larry had a wicked sense of fun and from many years in clubs and variety halls his timing was just impeccable. This fascinating account of his life story is like a rollercoaster ride." Chris Tarrant

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe unknown book editor, featured in the HBO show Julia, finally gets her due in this colorful biography of Judith Jones--who published Julia Child, Anne Frank, and Sylvia Plath

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisNew York Times BestsellerEnter Audrey Hepburn?s private world in this unique New York Times bestselling biography compiled by her son that combines recollections, anecdotes, excerpts from her personal correspondence, drawings, and recipes for her favorite dishes written in her own hand, and more than 250 previously unpublished personal family photographs.Audrey at Home offers fans an unprecedented look at the legendary star, bringing together the varied aspects of her life through the food she loved?from her childhood in Holland during World War II, to her time in Hollywood as an actress and in Rome as a wife and mother, to her final years as a philanthropist traveling the world for UNICEF.Here are fifty recipes that reflect Audrey?s life, set in the context of a specific time, including Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream?a celebration of liberation in Holland at the end of the war; Penne alla Vodka?a favorite home-away-from-home dish in Hollywood; Turkish-style Sea Bass?her romance with and subsequent marriage to Andrea Dotti; Boeuf à la Cuillère?Givenchy?s favorite dish, which she?d prepare when he?d visit her in Switzerland; and Mousse au Chocolat?dinner at the White House. Audrey also loved the basics: Spaghetti al Pomodoro was an all-time favorite, particularly when returning home from her travels, as was a dish of good vanilla ice cream. Each recipe is accompanied by step-by-step instructions, including variations and preparation tips, anecdotes about Audrey and her life, and a poignant collection of photographs and memorabilia.Audrey at Home is a personal scrapbook of Audrey?s world and the things she loved best?her children, her friends, her pets. It is a life that unfolds through food, photographs, and intimate vignettes in a sophisticated and lovely book that is a must for Audrey Hepburn fans and food lovers.Trade Review"Dotti's book offers a unique view of the star's personal life through the lens of her food philosophies, including a love of growing vegetables in the garden and sourcing from local farmer's markets." -- Redbook.com "Home cooks are offered a taste of Hepburn's life beyond the sound stages, red carpets and magazine covers." -- Yahoo! Food

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThese rollicking gabfests bring together nearly everyone who made the series a creative and cultural landmark' New York TimesEssential for fans, with a revelation on every page' KirkusWelcome to the Family.Michael Imperioli, who played the inimitable Christopher, and Steve Schirripa, the lovable Bobby Bacala who together host the hit podcast Talking Sopranos lay bare the secrets of The Sopranos. In these pages you'll find where all the bodies are buried: the stories behind the stories, the backstage gossip, and, most important, the love, trust, camaraderie and friendship that a group of actors and their crew discovered together.Woke Up This Morning is the essential companion to the seminal series, whether you're a first-time viewer or a longtime fan. Read it and you'll become a member of the family.You got a problem with that? A spectacular tell-all about the making of the Emmy-winning hit television series' Publishers WeeklyFor Sopranos fans this one iTrade Review‘I will be reading and rereading Woke Up This Morning ….These rollicking gabfests… bring together nearly everyone, on screen and off, who made the series a creative and cultural landmark. The freely offered admiration expressed by so many for their missing comrade and unofficial cast captain, Gandolfini, makes these stories about playing tough guys all the more tender’ New York Times ‘Ever wished you could hang out with the cast and crew of The Sopranos and just listen to them trade stories? … There are plenty of tantalizing bits of trivia—Tony was Tommy Soprano in the pilot script; producers wanted Lorraine Bracco to play Tony’s wife, but she said she would only consider playing Melfi, the psychiatrist—but this isn’t just a trivia collection. Mostly it’s about friends and colleagues getting together to pay tribute to one another and to a series that rewrote many of the rules of television. Love and respect for the show’s star, the late James Gandolfini, permeates the book, as does admiration for the show’s creator, David Chase, who started with a vague idea about a crook and his mother and built it into something that’s almost Shakespearean in its thematic scope. For Sopranos fans this one is an absolute must-read’ Booklist ‘Essential for fans, with a revelation on every page … Devotees will revel in the stroll into series minutiae’ Kirkus Reviews ‘A spectacular tell-all about the making of the Emmy-winning hit television series … What makes this sing is the passion and energy brought by Imperioli and Schirripa and its indelible tribute to the late James Gandolfini. As Aida Turturro (Janice Soprano) recalls, 'He was there for you no matter what.' This is the ultimate book on The Sopranos, made by the people who lived it’ Publishers Weekly

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestseller about two guys who went out for coffee and dreamed up Seinfeld—“A wildly entertaining must-read not only for Seinfeld fans but for anyone who wants a better understanding of how television series are made” (Booklist, starred review).Comedians Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld never thought anyone would watch their sitcom about a New York comedian sitting around talking to his friends. But against all odds, viewers did watch—first a few and then many, until nine years later nearly forty million Americans were tuning in weekly. Fussy Jerry, neurotic George, eccentric Kramer, and imperious Elaine—people embraced them with love. Seinfeldia, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s intimate history is full of gossipy details, show trivia, and insights into how famous episodes came to be. Armstrong celebrates the creators and fans of this American television phenomenon, bringing readeTrade Review***A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER*** "Her book, as if she were a marine biologist, is a deep dive...Perhaps the highest praise I can give Seinfeldia is that it made me want to buy a loaf of marbled rye and start watching again, from the beginning." —Dwight Garner, The New York Times “Even for those of us who imagine ourselves experts, Armstrong scatters delicious details throughout her book, like so many Jujyfruits we can’t resist… [I]n describing the making and writing of this singular show, Armstrong is queen of the castle. Her stories about “Seinfeld” are real — and they’re spectacular.” —Washington Post “Lively and illuminating. A wildly entertaining must-read not only for Seinfeld fans but for anyone who wants a better of understanding of how television series are made.” —Booklist, starred review “[S]avvy and engaging…the best way to enjoy “Seinfeldia” is to read the book with TV remote in hand, calling up episodes on Hulu as Ms. Armstrong adroitly recounts the back story of these still-captivating shows that were never, ever about nothing.” —Wall Street Journal "The heart of Armstrong’s book and its most engaging quality is how it all came to be: the Seinfeld rules of the road that seemed to be without rules; the actors who left their indelible mark (Bryan Cranston as dentist Tim Whatley, Teri Hatcher as one of Jerry’s “spectacular” girlfriends) and the parade of moments about nothing that really turned out to be something." —USA Today “Even as someone lucky enough to be on the show, I couldn’t put Seinfeldia down.” —Larry Thomas, “The Soup Nazi” “Armstrong's intimate, breezy history is full of gossipy details, show trivia, and insights into how famous episodes came to be. How nothing could become something or how a national TV audience learned to live in a Beckett-ian world. Perfect for Seinfeldians and newcomers alike.” —Kirkus Reviews “Armstrong offers a masterly look at one of the greatest shows. The research involved makes this a boon to television scholars, but Seinfeld enthusiasts will also enjoy this funny, highly readable book.” —Library Journal

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the fascinating story behind the rise of a new pop icon: Dua Lipa.When Dua Lipa was eleven, her music teacher told her she wasn’t good enough to join her school choir – her husky voice couldn’t reach the high notes.Now, she’s a global star. Her songs are pop anthems, streamed billions of times; she’s collaborated with everyone from Calvin Harris and Miley Cyrus to Madonna and Elton John; she’s won Grammys, BRITs and MTV awards; and she’s the biggest homegrown talent to emerge from the UK music scene since Ed Sheeran and Adele. Dua’s rise has been all the more impressive given that her Kosovan parents arrived in London as refugees, but her determination, hard work and undeniable voice have seen her transcend these humble beginnings, all while remaining fiercely proud of her heritage.In this revealing biography from the publishers of Harry, Ariana and Adele, pop music journalist Caroline Sullivan charts Dua’s incredible journey to pop superstardom. Spanning everything from her mainstream breakthrough to her sold-out Future Nostalgia Tour, and exploring her influences, activism and high-profile personal life, it paints the most complete portrait yet of this icon in the making.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHe was one of the world's true superstars, and the silver screen's most beloved James Bond. Sir Sean Connery - a proud Scotsman born in 1930 to a working-class family - died at home in the Bahamas on 31 October 2020. He left behind him a legacy to rival any actor. Connery bestrode Hollywood like a Colossus. He commanded some of the highest fees in the industry and was lauded by critics and the public alike. In July 2000, his unique contribution to the world of film was recognised when he was accorded a knighthood. John Parker traces the astonishing rise to stardom of a tough street kid from Edinburgh. The part of 007 became a monster that threatened to kill Connery as an actor; he escaped to establish himself as one of the world's most magnetic and commanding character actors, winning an Oscar for his role in iconic crime drama The Untouchables. The author has drawn on reminiscences of famous friends and colleagues, including Honor Blackman, Robert Hardy and Eric Sykes, to create an authoritative and entertaining portrait of a talented, complex actor - and, above all else, a magnificent man.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGrace Kelly: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon is a stunning illustrated biography of style and screen legend Grace Kelly, from internationally renowned fashion illustrator Megan Hess. Oscar-winning actress, muse to one of the greatest directors of all time, global fashion icon and European princess – Grace Kelly was a truly remarkable figure. In just six short years in Hollywood, she became one of the most significant and highest-paid stars of her generation. She was the darling of costume designers and fashion houses everywhere and beloved by fans across the globe, but at the height of her fame, 'the girl in the white gloves' gave it all away to follow her heart across the sea. In a lavish ceremony that captivated the world, she married Prince Rainier III and became Princess Grace of Monaco. Elegantly enclosed by a hardback cover and ribbon, Grace Kelly: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon is a celebration of a cultural icon who turned heads and won hearts wherever she went, with every enchanting detail brought to life on the page by the expert hand of Megan Hess.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Martin Bailey has written some of the most interesting books on Vincent’s life in France, where he produced his greatest work” - Johan van Gogh, grandson of Theo, the artist’s brotherStudio of the South tells the story of Van Gogh’s stay in Arles, when his powers were at their height. For Van Gogh, the south of France was an exciting new land, bursting with life. He walked into the hills inspired by the landscapes, and painted harvest scenes in the heat of summer. He visited a fishing village where he saw the Mediterranean for the first time, energetically capturing it in paint. He painted portraits of friends and locals, and flower still life paintings, culminating in the now iconic Sunflowers. He rented the Yellow House, and gradually did it up, calling it ‘an artist’s house’, inviting Paul Gauguin to join him there. This encounter was to have a profound impact on both of the artists. ThTrade Review"a revelatory study" - The Times “the text is richly detailed, often anecdotal, exuding the warmth you’d expect if [Martin Bailey] were speaking of a close friend...a vivid illumination of the artist’s prolific 15-month stay in Provence...the book is able to offer a true insight into Vincent the man - not just Van Gogh the artist.” - Art Quarterly Table of ContentsPreface Prologue: Paris 1. Discovering Arles 2. Blossoming Orchards 3. An Artist’s House 4. Heights of Montmajour 5. Seascapes 6. Harvest Time 7. The Rh.ne and its Canals 8. Portraits of Friends 9. Flowers 10. Colours of the Night 11. Gauguin’s Arrival 12. Elysian Fields 13. Street of the Kind Girls 14. Collaboration 15. Postman Roulin 16. Out of his Mind 17. Doctor Rey 18. Spring Postscript: Van Gogh’s Bed On the Trail of Van Gogh Chronology Endnotes Select Bibliography A Note to the Reader Index Picture credits Acknowledgements

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘When I first heard about this Faith No More biography, I didn’t know what to think. But I have to give credit where it is due, it’s a quality piece. The man has done his research and it shows. It provided me with more than a few revelations … and I’m in the band.’ – Bill Gould, Faith No MoreSmall Victories: The True Story of Faith No More is the definitive biography of one of the most intriguing bands of the late twentieth century. Written with the participation of the group’s key members, it tells how such a heterogeneous group formed, flourished, and fractured, and how Faith No More helped redefine rock, metal and alternative music. The book chronicles the creative and personal tensions that defined and fuelled the band, forensically examines the band’s beginnings in San Francisco’s post-punk wasteland, and charts the factors behind the group’s ascent to MTV-era stardom.Small Victories strips away the mythology and misinformation behind their misanthropic masterpiece Angel Dust, explores the rationale behind the frequent hiring and firing of band members, and traces the unraveling of the band in the mid-1990s. It also examines the band’s breakup and hiatus, explores their unwelcome legacy as nu-metal godfathers, and gives a behind-the-scenes view of their rebirth.Based on meticulous research and hundreds of interviews with current and former band members and other key figures, Small Victories combines a fan’s passion with a reporter’s perspicacity.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTiffany Haddish is back with her highly anticipated new essay collection, I Curse You With Joy.It''s been a minute. Readers last sat down with Tiffany in her bestselling debut The Last Black Unicorn. Since then, Haddish has catapulted to A-list fame as the breakout star of Girls Trip. She''s walked the Oscars red carpet, released a hit stand-up special with Netflix, and made history as the first Black female comedian to host Saturday Night Live and Shark Week. But it hasn''t been all VIP parties and free diving with apex predators. In these humorous and heartfelt essays, Tiffany gets real about the highs and lows of life. Believe it or not, there was a time when Tiffany didn''t totally know who Tiffany was. Before she found her groove, she was on stage dressed like her snobby airline coworkers telling halfhearted dick jokes. She tanked. It took a fake penis, some help from friends, and

Read more less

Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES LITERARY NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEARA GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR (AS CHOSEN BY AUTHORS)**LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE****SHORTLISTED FOR THE RSL ONDAATJE PRIZE**''Outstanding. I''ll be recommending this all year.'' SARAH BAKEWELL''A beautiful and deeply moving book.'' SALLY ROONEYI like this London life . . . the street-sauntering and square-haunting.' Virginia Woolf, diary, 1925Mecklenburgh Square, on the radical fringes of interwar Bloomsbury, was home to activists, experimenters and revolutionaries; among them were the modernist poet H. D., detective novelist Dorothy L. Sayers, classicist Jane Harrison, economic historian Eileen Power, and writer and publisher Virginia Woolf. They each alighted there seeking a space where they could live, love and, above all, work independently.Francesca Wade's<

Read more less

Book SynopsisONE OF THE NEW YORKER''S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEARCHOSEN BY PITCHFORK AS ONE OF THE TEN BEST MUSIC BOOKS OF 2023ONE OF LOUDER THAN WAR''S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE PLUTARCH AWARDINCLUDED IN PUBLISHERS WEEKLY''S SEVEN BOOKS FROM 2023 YOU SHOULDN''T OVERLOOKIt takes a great journalist to find the stories behind the mysteries we carry. Howard Fishman has done that with his superb examination of Connie Converse. - Ken BurnsNothing short of remarkable. - Publishers WeeklyA massive and fascinating feat. - MOJO MagazineThe true story of Connie Converse - a mid-century New York singer and songwriter, who mysteriously disappeared - and one writer''s quest to understand her life.When musician and New Yorker contributor Howard Fishman first heard a Connie Converse recording, he was convinced she could not be real. Her music was too out of place for the 1950s to make sense - a singer who bridged the gap between traditional Americana, pop standards, and the singer-songwriter movement that exploded a decade later with Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.Fishman was determined to know more about this artist and how she slipped through the cracks of music history but there was one problem: in 1974, at the age of fifty, Converse simply drove off one day and was never heard from again.After a dozen years of research, Fishman expertly weaves a narrative of her life and music, and of how it has come to speak to him as both an artist and a person.It is by turns a hopeful, inspiring, melancholy, and chilling story of dark family secrets, taciturn New England traditions, a portrait of 1950s Greenwich Village, of a visionary intellect and talent, and a woman who fiercely strove for independence when the odds were against her. Who was this overlooked trailblazer, how did she come to make such complex and arresting music, and can Fishman discover what happened to the artist who disappeared?

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Funny, lively and convivial... how rare and nourishing this sort of roaming thought is and what a joy to read'' MEGAN NOLAN, SUNDAY TIMES''An exhilarating, shape-shifting exploration of the perilous boundaries between art and life'' JENNY OFFILL''Monsters is extraordinary - engaging, enraging, provocative, and brilliant'' ANN PATCHETTA passionate, provocative and blisteringly smart interrogation of how we experience art in the age of #MeToo, and whether we can separate an artist''s work from their biography.What do we do with the art of monstrous men? Can we love the work of Roman Polanski and Michael Jackson, Hemingway and Picasso? Should we love it? Does genius deserve special dispensation? What makes women artists monstrous? And what should we do with beauty, and with our unruly feelings about it?Claire Dederer explores these questions and our relationshipTrade ReviewWhat a treat it is: funny, lively and convivial, constantly in argument with itself . . . Dederer's tone and willingness to be wrong and confused, along with her seductive, intimate style, bring the subject to new life . . . how rare and nourishing this sort of roaming thought is and what a joy to read. How moving, too, the underpinning adoration that allows the difficult questions to be asked. You are left wishing Dederer would apply her generous mind to every other niggling unfinished hang-up that haunts our culture -- Megan Nolan * Sunday Times *In a world that wants you to think less - that wants, in fact, to do your thinking for you - Monsters is that rare work, beyond a book, that reminds you of your sentience. It's wise and bold and full of the kind of gravitas that might even rub off -- Lisa TaddeoPersonal, open-hearted and intellectually playful -- 50 of this year's best non-fiction books * The Times *Witty and conversational . . . It's a book full of the nuance that the cancel culture debate so often lacks -- *Books of the Year* * The Times *Enthralling, challenging and downright unsettling . . . smart and provocative . . . Monsters is a vital book for our times, and it offers so much rich food for thought -- Martin Chilton * Independent *Thrilling * Observer *A properly honest and passionate book that will help set this debate alive -- Andrew Marr * New Statesman *An exhilarating, shape-shifting exploration of the perilous boundaries between art and life. This timely book inhabits both the marvellous and the monstrous with generosity and wit -- Jenny OffillExhilarating -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian *Excellent . . . Frank . . . A work of deep thought and self-scrutiny that honors the impossibility of the book's mission -- Melissa Febos * The New Yorker *Monsters is an incredible book, the best work of criticism I have read in a very long time. It's thrillingly sharp, appropriately doubtful, and more fun than you would believe, given the pressing seriousness of the subject matter. Claire Dederer's mind is a wonder, her erudition too; I now want her to apply them to everything I'm interested in so I can think about them differently -- Nick HornbyA hot and urgent monologue structured around a problem without a solution . . . The conclusion to this immersive and doubtlessly important book is both tentative and bold -- Frances Wilson * Times Literary Supplement *Part memoir, part treatise, and all treat . . . nimble, witty . . . her exquisitely reasoned vindication of Lolita brought tears to my eyes . . . This is a book that looks boldly down the cliff of roiling waters below and jumps right in, splashes around playfully, isn't afraid to get wet. How refreshing * New York Times *A timely interrogation of the eternal question: can you separate the art from the artist? It showed me my bookshelves, my record collection, the pictures and films I love - even myself - in a new, unflinching light. I'm pressing it into the hands of everyone I know. -- Erin Kelly, author of The Skeleton KeyNuanced and exploratory . . . With verve and empathy, she asks if we can - if we should - separate the work from the biography -- Suzanne Harrington * Irish Independent *Humming with originality, clarity and humour . . . The book's questions might be zeitgeisty, but it is far more satisfying than the circular arguments about cancel culture that abound in Twitter threads. It sketches a Venn diagram of creativity and depravity before plunging into its intersection - dangerous water, but one I emerged from reinvigorated . . . * i News *Dederer asks, with witty self-deprecation, how we should respond to art from artists guilty of morally squalid deeds . . . Instead of rushing to the barricades of ongoing culture wars, Dederer offers - and enacts - a way of thinking that acknowledges the ever growing diversity of intellectual and moral life -- Pankaj Mishra, summer reads * Guardian *Sane and nuanced - even refreshingly brave. This is no dry compendium of intellectual arguments about artistic meaning, but rather an emotional journey through audience experience told with engaging chattiness from an insider's perspective -- Kathleen Stock * The Times *An incredibly nuanced and human work -- Barry Pierce * Big Issue *In this book you may not find the answer, but you will find heaps of wit and wisdom - on monsters, victims, hate, love, and the big grey area in between -- Chloë Ashby * Spectator *Clever and provocative * Daily Telegraph *A lively, personal exploration of how one might think about the art of those who do bad things . . . It's such a pleasure to stretch out in a big, nuanced conversation about a topic that can be so easily flattened into wrong and right, good and bad; it's a pleasure to be asked to think * Vanity Fair *Dederer's exploration offers up no easy answers, but the journey is never less than illuminating -- Summer holiday reads * Guardian *Monsters is a dazzling book . . . If you too love the work of Polanski - or Picasso, Hemingway, Allen, Davis, and so on - sticking with Dederer on her curlicued journey might be the best gift you can give yourself. The final chapter feels its way toward a conclusion that burns clean, though it hurts a little too -- Stephanie Zacharek * Time *Vital, exhilarating . . . Although Dederer has done her homework, her style is breezy and confessional . . . Monsters leaves us with Dederer's passionate commitment to the artists whose work most matters to her, and a framework to address these questions about the artists who matter most to us * Washington Post *An exciting read . . . I was shaken to my core * Los Angeles Times *Perceptive and engaging * ArtReview *Monsters is both a nimble exploration of fan culture and a spirited call to action -- Ruth Madievsky * GQ *A blisteringly erudite and entertaining read. Dederer holds the moral ambiguity of her subject matter, landing her arguments with precision and flair. It's a book that deserves to be widely read and will provoke many conversations -- Nathan FilerDederer provides a fascinating new way of looking at how the work and lives of problematic artists are bound together. She poses so many topical questions, plays with so many pertinent ideas, that I'm still thinking about this book long after I finished -- Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled GroundConversational, clear and bold without being strident . . . Dederer showcases her critical acumen . . . In this age of moral policing, Ms. Dederer's instincts to approach such material with an open mind - and heart - are laudable * Wall Street Journal *An invigorating, engrossing, and deeply intelligent book. By guiding us through her critical dilemmas, Dederer performs an act of generosity: she allows the reader the space and encouragement to interrogate their own beliefs. Monsters made me laugh, argue, tear up, and most importantly, think -- Julia May Jonas, author of VladimirExcellent. Erudite and unpretentious, ruthlessly honest, a searching self portrait as well as moral inventory of good artists doing bad things -- Stephanie Danler, author of SweetbitterThoughtful -- Susie Goldsbrough * The Times *Punchy and sharp . . . Exploring her own relationship to art made by shitty men, the book moves beyond tedious cancel culture discourse to interrogate ethics, art and fandom with nuance and compassion -- Katie Goh, Books to be excited for in 2023 * i-D *The book is tangled and fascinating, chasing down arguments and questions that can't always be easily resolved. Dederer's shrewd, vivid descriptions of movies and books suggest just how much they mean to her and how deeply any sacrifices on the altar of contemporary sexual ethics might cut * Slate *[Dederer] just keeps getting better and smarter . . . it's absolutely exhilarating to read the work of someone so willing to crumple up her own argument like a piece of paper, throw it away and start anew. She's constantly challenging her own assumptions, more than willing to find flaws in her own thinking * San Francisco Chronicle *I flat-out admire her book and want to share it with my students. As a thinker, Dederer is smart, informed, nuanced and very funny -- Maureen Corrigan, NPR Fresh AirThe rare polemic that's full of greedy love for the good stuff in this world, Monsters is an expansion of Dederer's instant classic Paris Review essay from 2017, 'What Do We Do with the Art of Monstrous Men.' With a larger canvas, she lets both her cast of monsters and our culpability grow, and manages to one-up herself over and over again. Cooly pensive on an overheated subject, Dederer writes powerfully about art's ability to move us, teach us, and entrap us * Bustle *Monsters is like having the best version of the "good art by bad people" conversation. Dederer writes like your wisest, most compassionate friend, helping to guide you to your own thoughts and generously offering her own. I loved it -- Lizzy Stewart, author of AlisonSlyly funny, emotionally honest, and full of raw passion, Claire Dederer's important book about what to do when artists you love do things you hate breaks new ground, making a complex cultural conversation feel brand new. Monsters elegantly takes on far more than 'cancel culture' - it offers new insights into love, ambition, and what it means to be an artist, a citizen, and a human being -- Ada Calhoun, author of Also a PoetShe asks important questions . . . Subtle and adroit * The Atlantic *Dauntless, cannily reasoned and barn-burning . . . Monsters isn't just the book that art-loving feminists have been waiting for; it's the book that anyone determined to live an intentional life owes it to themselves to read * Shelf-Awareness *Nuanced and incisive . . . Dederer's candid appraisal of her own relationship with troubling artists and the lucidity with which she explores what it means to love their work open fresh ways of thinking about problematic artists. Contemplative and willing to tackle the hard questions head on, this pulls no punches * Publishers Weekly *Sharp and unflinching . . . In Monsters, Dederer produces an entirely original and self-aware contemplation on the psychological reverberations of living in a biographical age * AnOther *Bringing erudition, emotion, and a down-to-earth style to this pressing problem, Dederer presents her finest work to date * Kirkus Reviews *While Dederer sets out to write about the art of monsters, she ended up writing about what it means to be human -- Camille Sojit Pejcha * Document Journal *Monsters has crystalline intellectual force . . . Dederer has fashioned a book of depth and candor about what it is to be heartbroken by an artist whose work we also happen to love . . . So on point is Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma about the historical moment in which we currently find ourselves, you want to carry it around with you and whip it out at every bar or dinner party -- Tom Shone * Avenue Magazine *Smart * People *Spectacular . . . A work of pop-culture criticism that's fun to read, Monsters will for sure help us have deeper conversations around the perennial question of whether it's possible and OK to separate the work from the art and what it really means to be a fan. This is a book we plan to return to again and again - and to press on all our friends * Apple.com *Monsters is a good companion, working away at the problem from various perspectives, always explaining patiently what it is trying to do and keeping it interesting by participating more energetically than just steepling the fingers * Strong Words *Smart and engaging, never dogmatic or pious, I loved this. -- David NichollsDespite the heavy subject matter, Monsters is neither rant nor sermon. Dederer is not only an incisive researcher and writer, she's also conversational, approachable and funny . . . Monsters is a worthy addition to contemporary literary criticism, but more than that, it's a very enjoyable book about a thorny, elusive subject * BookPage *Profoundly cathartic. The book feels simultaneously like having the deepest, artiest conversation with the smartest people you know and like having an intense shit-talking session with your closest friends * Alta *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'[A] penetrating biography . . . While the book posits Newman as a writer of sociopolitical import, its emotional narrative is driven by the more personal aspects of his story: a complex family legacy, childhood struggles with strabismus (crossed eyes) and a lifelong tendency toward sadness and isolation' Bob Mehr, New York Times'An illuminating and masterful achievement' Booklist'Randy Newman is our great master of American song and storytelling' Bruce Springsteen'At last, the biography that Randy Newman has long deserved. The emotional precision, the humour and sweep, the truths and secrets behind his remarkable body of work . . . it's all here in Robert Hilburn's heartfelt and indispensable account of America's finest songwriter. Leave it to Hilburn to pull back the curtain on the incredible life of Newman, a shy genius who clearly trusted him enough to point him in all the right directions. It's more than a great read, it's an invitation to re-visit Randy Newman's work with renewed appreciation for the man who uniquely defined the American Experience just when we needed it most' Cameron CroweRandy Newman is widely hailed as one of America's all-time greatest songwriters, equally skilled in the sophisticated melodies and lyrics of the Gershwin-Porter era and the cultural commentary of his own generation, with Bob Dylan and Paul Simon among his most ardent admirers. While tens of millions around the world can hum 'You've Got a Friend in Me', his disarming centrepiece for Toy Story, most of them would be astonished to learn that the heart of Newman's legacy is in the dozens of brilliant songs that detail the injustices, from racism to class inequality, that have contributed to the division of our nation. Rolling Stone declared that a single Newman song, 'Sail Away', tells us more about America than 'The Star-Spangled Banner'. And yet, his legacy remains largely undocumented in book form - until now. In A FEW WORDS IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY, veteran music journalist Robert Hilburn presents the definitive portrait of an American legend. Hilburn has known Newman since his club debut at the Troubadour in 1970, and the two have maintained a connection in the decades since, conversing over the course of times good and bad. Though Newman has long refused to talk with potential biographers, he now gives Hilburn unprecedented access not only to himself but also to his archives, as well as his family, friends, and collaborators. Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, John Williams, Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Chuck D, James Taylor, and New York Times' Pulitzer-winning columnists, Thomas Friedman and Wesley Morris, among others, contributed to the book. In addition to exploring Newman's prolific career

Read more less