Biography: arts and entertainment Books

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 McBRIDEFeaturing 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 Synopsis"Nobody knows Dolly like Dolly," declares Dolly Parton. Dolly's is a rags-to-riches tale like no other. A dirt-poor Smoky Mountain childhood paved the way for the buxom blonde butterfly's metamorphosis from singer-songwriter to international music superstar. The undisputed "Queen of Country Music," Dolly has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has conquered just about every facet of the entertainment industry: music, film, television, publishing, theater, and even theme parks. It has been more than fifty years since Dolly Parton arrived in Nashville with just her guitar and a dream. Her story has been told many times and in many ways, but never like this. Dolly on Dolly is a collection of interviews spanning five decades of her career and featuring material gathered from celebrated publications including Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, Playboy, and Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. Also included are interviews which have not been previously available in print. Dolly's feisty and irresistible brand of humor, combined with her playful, pull-up-a-chair-and-stay-awhile delivery, makes for a fascinating and inviting experience in down-home philosophy and storytelling. Much like her patchwork "Coat of Many Colors," this book harkens back to the legendary entertainer's roots and traces her evolution, stitching it all together one piece at a time..

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE FRANCO-BRITISH SOCIETY LITERARY AWARD 2020'Art is a Tyrant recounts [Bonheur's] life with no little brio.' Michael Prodger, The Times Books of the Year 2020 'A diligently researched, beautifully produced and insistently sympathetic biography.' Kathryn Hughes, GuardianA new biography of the wildly unconventional 19th-century animal painter and gender equality pioneer Rosa Bonheur, from the author of the acclaimed Mistress of Paris and Renoir's Dancer.Rosa Bonheur was the very antithesis of the feminine ideal of 19th-century society. She was educated, she shunned traditional 'womanly' pursuits, she rejected marriage - and she wore trousers. But the society whose rules she spurned accepted her as one of their own, because of her genius for painting animals. She shared an intimate relationship with the eccentric, self-styled inventor Nathalie Micas, who nurtured the artist like a wife. Together Rosa, Nathalie and Nathalie's mother bought a chateau and with Rosa's menagerie of animals the trio became one of the most extraordinary households of the day. Catherine Hewitt's compelling new biography is an inspiring evocation of a life lived against the rules.Trade Review[A] diligently researched, beautifully produced and insistently sympathetic biography. -- Kathryn Hughes, Guardian[A] lively biography of groundbreaking French painter Rosa Bonheur ... Art is a Tyrant is an impressive achievement, situating Bonheur's artistic achievement in the historical context of the Second Empire and Third Republic, and the artistic context of realism. * Spiked *Enthralling ... this biography, written every bit as compellingly as the best of novels, with a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter, tells a story just as fantastical. * Art Quarterly *Art is a Tyrant recounts [Bonheur's] life with no little brio. -- Michael Prodger * The Times, Books of the Year, 2020 *In Hewitt's third commanding biography of an overlooked French woman ... she recounts with enriching detail and narrative drive Bonheur's absolute dedication to her work and her independence, vividly establishing the tumultuous social and political contexts in which Bonheur overcame entrenched misogyny and negative views of lesbianism. ... Hewitt's rousing biography will propel a resurgence of appreciation for Bonheur and her achievements. * Booklist, starred review *

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Book SynopsisAs the enigmatic frontman of the multicultural band The Beat, RankingRoger represented the youthful and joyous sound of the post-punk 2 Tonemovement.Aswell as his illustrious career with The Beat and its subsequent iterations,this honest and compelling autobiography explores Roger's upbringing as achild of the Windrush generation, touring America and his outstandingcollaborations with artists such as The Clash, The Police and The Specials.Thishardback limited edition collectors boxset contains a number of exclusiveitems.Limitededition of 700 copies. Insidethe limited edition:Limitededition hardback book (not available in this format separately)7Single of two previously unreleased The Beat demosPhotographicprint of the Beat by Adrian BootTwobadgesCertificateof authenticityIJust Can't Stop It is the compelling autobiography of music legend RankingRoger. He died in March 2019, just as this autobiography was being finalised.

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the life, ideas and music of visionary composer Olivier Messiaen.

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Book SynopsisAudrey Hepburn was one of the most admired and emulated women of the twentieth century, an Oscar-winning actress, a model and humanitarian. But Hepburn also had huge sadness in her life: two failed marriages, a broken engagement, and the crushing disappointment that occupied her triumph in My Fair Lady. Chronicling Hepburn's life, from her nearly dying in Hitler's occupied Europe, to her conquering, in just one year, the New York stage and the Hollywood screen, this fascinating tribute illustrates and illuminates all things Audrey Hepburn.While trapped in the Netherlands at the end of WW2, Audrey and her family received critical food and medical relief from UNICEF – an act of charity she never forgot, as later in life, Hepburn devoted much of her time to UNICEF, becoming a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. From her early years as an ingénue to her status as an icon of elegance, in her Oscar-winning performance for Roman Holiday and the career high of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Hepburn's star quality resonates across the globe – even so long after her death. Few stars before or since are as beloved as Audrey Hepburn and The Little Guide to Audrey Hepburn details why.'My appearance is accessible to everyone. With hair tied in a bun, big sunglasses and black dress, every woman can look like me.' Audrey Hepburn'For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.' Audrey Hepburn'Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm. As you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.' Audrey HepburnTable of ContentsThe Young Audrey • Screen Legend • Style Icon • The Private Audrey • Fairy Godmother • The Inimitable Audrey.

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Book Synopsis"A total delight, a brilliant vignette of 17th-century Rome, the Baroque and the Catholic church – warts and all – rolled into an erudite narrative.... with an ease of writing that is rare in art history." - Simon Jenkins By 1650, the spiritual and political power of the Catholic Church was shattered. Thanks to the twin blows of the Protestant Reformation and the Thirty Years War, Rome, celebrated both as the Eternal City and Caput Mundi (the head of the world) had lost its pre-eminent place in Europe. Then a new Pope, Alexander VII, fired with religious zeal, political guile and a mania for building, determined to restore the prestige of his church by making Rome the must-visit destination for Europe's intellectual, political and cultural elite. To help him do so, he enlisted the talents of Gianlorenzo Bernini, already celebrated as the most important living artist: no mean feat in the age of Rubens, Rembrandt and Velazquez. Together, Alexander VII and Bernini made the greatest artistic double act in history, inventing the concept of soft power and the bucket list destination. Bernini and Alexander's creation of Baroque Rome as a city more beautiful and grander than since the days of the Emperor Augustus continues to delight and attract.Trade Review"A total delight, a brilliant vignette of 17th-century Rome, the Baroque and the Catholic church – warts and all – rolled into an erudite narrative.... with an ease of writing that is rare in art history." - Simon Jenkins

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Book SynopsisCompletely revised and updated from recently discovered archive material, Lewis Foreman's classic biography is the essential handbook to Bax and his contemporaries. Lewis Foreman's classic biography of the composer Arnold Bax (1883-1953) was first published in 1983. Documenting the life and times of a remarkable figure whose life touched a wide circle in England and Ireland, it was notable for having many of Bax's friends and contemporaries as sources, most of whom have since died. It also informed the remarkable revival of Bax's music and reputation which has taken place over the last twenty years. Now completely revised in the light of much new material including the huge archive of the pianist Harriet Cohen, Bax's mistress, which has only just become available for research, it is a notable portrait of a unique musical milieu. Bax's extensive musical output is now comprehensively recorded and widely known and here all the music is discussed from first hand acquaintance with all the revivals and recordings. This is the essential handbook to Bax and his period. LEWIS FOREMAN is a freelance author and advisor to record companies.Trade Review[Foreman's] big Bax biography...is surely his central achievement...The book established itself at the outset as the standard work on one of the most important and least understood British composers of his time...The new edition makes [it] more indispensable than ever. -- Calum MacDonald * BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE *Baxians everywhere owe Lewis Foreman a profound debt of gratitude and newcomers can rest assured that he is an absorbing and painstaking biographer...mandatory reading. -- Andrew Achenbach * GRAMOPHONE *A more wide-ranging study of Bax and his work than ever before...This book is a tour de force and the fitting culmination of a lifetime's dedicated research. -- Julian Haylock * CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE *One of the great biographies of an English composer just got even better. May it snare still more converts to this betwitching composer. * CLASSICAL MUSIC *For its contribution to the ongoing documentation of an extraordinary period of British musical creativity it is invaluable. * BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY NEWS *Foreman's latest effort is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Bax. * JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF MUSICOLOGY IN IRELAND *Highly recommended. * CHOICE *Table of Contents1883-1900: The Backround 1900-1905: The Royal Academy of Music 1905-1909: Many Influences 1909-1910: Ireland and Russia 1910-1911: Marriage 1912-1914: Rathgar and London 1914-1916: The Great War 1916-1918: Harriet Cohen 1918-1920: Peace and Success 1921-1923: Triumph 1924-1925: Crisis 1926-1928: New Directions 1928-1929: Dreams and Reality 1930-1932: Going Northern 1933-1936: Past Fifty 1937-1939: `I can't grow up' 1939-1945: The Second World War: Storrington 1945-1953: Last Years After 1953: Decline and Revival Appendix A: Dermot O'Byrne Appendix B: King Kojata Appendix C: The Happy Forest by Herbert Farjeon Appendix D: Bax's Symphonies at the Proms Appendix E: Felix Aprahamian's Foreward to the First Edition [1982]

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Book SynopsisGypsy Rose Lee?s memoir became a New York Times bestseller in 1957, inspiring the 1959 hit musical, two movies, and three revivals. Now a fourth, directed by Arthur Laurents and starring Patti LuPone, is lighting up New York, winning top Broadway theatre awards, including three 2008 Tony Awards, as well as raves from critics and audiences:?No matter how long you live, you?ll never see a more exciting production.? ?Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal ?Watch out, New York! This GYPSY is a wallop-packing show of raw power.? ?Ben Brantley, The New York Times ?Not your ordinary theater experience. This is the best production of the best damn musical ever.? ?Liz Smith, Syndicated ColumnistThe memoir, which Gypsy began as a series of pieces for The New Yorker, contains photographs and newspaper clippings from her personal scrapbooks and an afterword by her son, Erik Lee Preminger. At turns touching and hilarious, Gypsy describes her childhood trouping across 1920s America through her rise to stardom as The Queen of Burlesque in 1930s New York?where gin came in bathtubs, gangsters were celebrities, and Walter Winchell was king.Gypsy?s story features outrageous characters?among them Broadway?s funny girl, Fanny Brice, who schooled Gypsy in how to be a star; gangster Waxy Gordon, who fixed her teeth; and her indomitable mother, Rose, who lived by her own version of the Golden Rule: ?Do unto others … before they do you.?

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Book SynopsisMegadeth's run of thrash classics from the mid eighties through to the nineties continue to be celebrated in the metal community long after leader Dave Mustaine's band mates have been discarded to the sands of time-save one, Dave "Jr" Ellefson. Along the way there's Mustaine's pathology with his ex-friends in Metallica but also a hell of a lot of killer metal as the band works its way up through Peace Sells and So Far, So Good... So What! through to the superlative metal classics, namely Rust In Peace and Countdown To Extinction. Later came Cryptic Writings and Risk that threatened to kill the band but the reconstitution of Megadeth after its demoralising decline and then deflating dispersal at the destructive hand of Mustaine is a story untold... until now. But it's a tale worth telling for its instructiveness on how to rebuild and maintain a career. Quite simply the recent Megadeth story spanning the albums The World Needs A Hero through to Super Collider includes some of the beast and heaviest Megadeth ever committed to record. Celebrate Mustaine's vision track-by-track with top author Martin Popoff. With over sixty books to his name, Popoff applies his tried and tested methodology to a head-crunching canon of work that is truly as strong at the recent end of the spectrum as it is with the classics you all know and love.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE The world can't seem to get enough of Dolly Parton. Her image is blazoned across T-shirts, she burns on desks as blasphemous candles, and well into her seventies she continues to grace awards stages, arenas and talk shows where women of a certain age are rarely seen. Yet not so long ago, Dolly was best known by many people as the punch line of a boob joke. So, what happened? In this affectionate, sharply insightful book, Sarah Smarsh charts Dolly's meteoric rise against the backdrop of her working-class roots. Drawing on her own experience growing up in rural Kansas, Smarsh crafts a resonant portrait of Parton's cultural importance, above all for the often-unheard women who populate her songs: struggling mothers, pregnant teenagers, diner waitresses with deadbeat boyfriends. Candid, intimate and searching, She Come By It Natural captures the enduring appeal of this singular star.Trade Review'Smarsh and Parton are a perfect pairing for the kind of in-depth examinationinto gender and class and what it means to be a woman and a working class hero that feels particularly important right now' - Refinery29'A praise song for the cultural icon... deeply personal' - LA Times

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Book SynopsisSkip Spence was a soldier, a rockstar, an innovator, an addict, a cult phenomenon and a ward of the state. Spence's story is the story of the 60s, and one that has never before been told in full.

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Book SynopsisDesigned in 1774 by the celebrated architect Robert Adam, the Bury St Edmunds Market Cross is celebrated as a brilliant example of decorative neoclassical architecture. Beneath its feet lies an older story from the original medieval marketplace. Marking 250 years since Robert Adam revealed his design, this is the story of the iconic landmark

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Book SynopsisAutobiography of world star oboist Albrecht Mayer translated from best selling German Klangwunder. As a child he stuttered but the oboe proved to be the catalyst which cured him and propelled him to the heights of musical greatness.Foreword by KirillPetrenko.

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Book SynopsisThe second volume of the extraordinary life of the great music and literary icon Leonard Cohen, in the words of those who knew him best.Poet, novelist, singer-songwriter, artist, prophet, icon—there has never been a figure like Leonard Cohen. He was a true giant in contemporary western culture, entertaining and inspiring the world with his work. From his groundbreaking and bestselling novels, The Favourite Game and Beautiful Losers, to timeless songs such as “Suzanne,” “Dance Me to the End of Love,” and “Hallelujah,” Cohen is one of the world’s most cherished artists. His death in 2016 was felt around the world by the many fans and followers who would miss his warmth, humour, intellect, and piercing insights. Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories chronicles the full breadth of his extraordinary life. This second of three volumes—From This Broken Hill—follows him from the conclusion of his first international music tour in 1971 as he continued to compose poetry, record music, and search for meaning into the late 1980s. The book explores his decade-long relationships with Suzanne Elrod, with whom he had two children, and various other numerous romantic partners, including the beginning of his long relationship with French photographer Dominique Issermann and, simultaneously, a five-year relationship with a woman never previously identified. It is a challenging time for Cohen. His personal life is in chaos and his career stumbles, so much so that his 1984 album, Various Positions, is rejected by Columbia Records, while other artistic endeavours fail to find an audience. However, this period also marks the start of his forty-year immersion in Zen Buddhism, which would connect him to the legendary Zen master Joshu Sasaki Roshi and inspire some of his most profound and enduring art. In From This Broken Hill, bestselling author and biographer Michael Posner draws on hundreds of interviews to reach beyond the Cohen of myth and reveal the unique, complex, and compelling figure of the real man. Honest and entertaining, this is a must-have book for any Cohen fan.Trade ReviewPraise for Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories: From This Broken Hill, Vol. 2“In the words of some of the people who knew Leonard Cohen best—and with important testimonies never heard before—Posner allows us a fascinating plunge into the tumult and passion of Leonard Cohen’s 1970s and 1980s. We see his life and endless quest for love unfold at fast pace and get an incredible glimpse into the furnace of the two decades that gave Cohen some of his best songs. This is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Cohen the artist, the seeker, and the man.” — CHRISTOPHE LEBOLD, author of Leonard Cohen: L'homme qui voyait tomber les anges“A multi-layered, mosaic portrait of one of the most legendary—and most complex—writers and musicians that Canada has ever produced. . . . Thanks to Michael Posner and the more than 550 people he interviewed for this project, we get a much better, humanistic understanding at what drove the talented enigma that was Leonard Cohen.” — The Montreal Times“The chorus speaks but not in unison, and yet their many voices do work to conjure a thing almost magical: the feeling that you have all but met Leonard Cohen and know what he’s like. . . . The great pleasure of Posner’s volumes is they make room for all of these notions and set them in opposition." — The Washington Free Beacon“This is a great read of unparalleled intimacy as Cohen’s fellow travelers recall encounters, conversations, projects, concerts, trips, and affairs—the quotes interspersed with Posner’s contextual bridges, which strengthen the book’s narrative. . . . The second volume has an even more intimate feel with its rich detail.” — The Senior TimesPraise for Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories: The Early Years, Vol. 1 A Globe and Mail Top 100 Book of 2020“Posner undertook dozens and dozens of interviews . . . creating a unique oral history, as if they’re in a room together, sharing memories and stories. . . . They’re linked together with a light narrative voice that gives this biography a very intimate and personal feel.” — Toronto Star“The life of Leonard Cohen—poet, novelist, artist, Zen monk, and oh, yes, singer-songwriter—is too vast to be contained within one book. Thankfully, Posner is giving us three. . . . Posner draws on hundreds of interviews to explore Cohen’s private and public lives, his complexities and contradictions, and, of course, his inarguable charisma. Serve yourself some tea and oranges and settle in.” — Zoomer“Posner masterfully weaves an abundance of interviews with Cohen’s family, friends, and myriad lovers to create an intricate tapestry and, ultimately, produces the most revealing portrait of the legendary songwriter and wordsmith to date.” — NICHOLAS JENNINGS, journalist and bestselling author of Lightfoot“Sex, drugs, and poetry permeate this oral history of Leonard Cohen. . . . This book offers a seductive blend of sometimes contradictory insights.” — Library Journal

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Book SynopsisWords of Glory: Inspiring Speeches from the Greatesteaders

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Book SynopsisRelive the laughter with this definitive book on Morecambe and Wise - the most famous and best-loved British comedy double-act of all time. In this unique book, Eric Morecambe''s son Gary sheds new light on the comic geniuses who became the nation''s best friends. Gary reveals what it was like behind the scenes, with touching and hilarious stories of life in the Morecambe and Wise family homes, along with memories from Eric''s wife Joan and his daughter (and Ernie''s goddaughter) Gail.Gary''s conversations with high-profile fans today, from Ben Miller and Bob Golding, to Jonathan Ross and Miranda Hart, provide a fascinating look at why Morecambe and Wise remain so popular now, their impact on today''s most recognisable double acts, and how Eric and Ernie continue to be a part of so many families'' Christmas traditions. Sweet and funny, touching and poignant, these untold stories and anecdotes let us get to know the two men who became the biggest British comedy act of

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Book SynopsisMusician, nightlife impresario, record label executive, photographer, and author, Michael Alago takes readers through this amazing journey that is his life. Alago grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in a large, spirited, and devoted Puerto Rican family. Through his early passion for music, art, theater, and photography, he soon found himself rubbing elbows with many downtown NYC scene makers, from Stiv Bators to Jean Michel Basquiat, Cherry Vanilla and Wayne County to Deborah Harry and Robert Mapplethorpe. As an underage teenager going to Max's Kansas City, CBGB, and various art galleries, Alago also began running The Dead Boys fan club. A few years later, he became the assistant music director for legendary nightclubs the Ritz and the Red Parrot. At age twenty-four, he began a storied career as an A&R executive at Elektra Records that started with signing Metallica in the summer of 1984, changing the entire landscape of rock 'n' roll and heavy metal. Alago continued to work in A&R for both Palm Pictures and Geffen Records. He was thrilled to executive-produce albums by Cyndi Lauper, Public Image Ltd, White Zombie, and Nina Simone. In the late 1980s, he was diagnosed with HIV, which manifested into full-blown AIDS ten years later. He survived to continue his music career, but in 2005, he left music to pursue his other love: photography. Alago went on to publish three bestselling books: Rough Gods, Brutal Truth, and Beautiful Imperfections with German-based publisher Bruno Gmünder. He has since overcome his longtime addiction to drugs and alcohol. In his clean and sober life, he has reconnected with his family, continues to be a working photographer as well as record producer, and only through the grace of his 12-Step program is he able to live this big, beautiful life. In 2017, a documentary directed by Drew Stone and produced by Michael Alex on Alago's wildly successful career in music was released in theaters and on Netflix, entitled Who the Fuck Is That Guy? The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago.

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Book SynopsisWhat was it about Bob Marley that made him so popular in a world dominated by rock'n'roll?How is that he has not only remained the single most successful reggae artist ever, but has also become a shining beacon of radicalism and peace to generation after generation of fans across the globe?On May 11, 1981, a little after 11.30 in the morning, Bob Marley died. The man who introduced reggae to a worldwide audience, in his own lifetime he had already become a hero figure in the classic mythological sense. From immensely humble beginnings and with talent and religious belief his only weapons, the Jamaican recording artist applied himself with unstinting perseverance to spreading his prophetic musical message.And he had achieved it: only a year earlier, Bob Marley and The Wailers'' tour of Europe had seen them perform to the largest audiences a musical act had up to that point experienced. Record sales of Marley''s albums before his death were spectacular; in the years since his death they have become phenomenal, as each new generation discovers afresh the remarkable power of his music.Chris Salewicz, who had a sequence of adventures with Bob Marley in Jamaica in 1979, offers us a comprehensive and detailed account of Bob Marley''s life and the world in which he grew up and came to dominate. Never-before-heard interviews with dozens of people who knew Marley are woven through a narrative that brings to life not only the Rastafari religion and the musical scene in Jamaica, but also the spirit of the man himself.Trade Review'Salewicz invades and illuminates Marley's privacy more effectively than previous biographers' - The Sunday Times 'Essential biography that also traces the evolution of rebel music. It's the author's owm conjuring of events - that make this book so valuable' - Mojo 'Where the veteran music journalist Chris Salewicz provides new insights is in his portrait of the musician's complex and troubled personality. Drawing on extensive interviews with those closest to Marley, he reveals a character afflicted by insecurity and instability' - Times Literary Supplement 'The definitive account of the man and the myth' - The Independent

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Book Synopsis''A terrifying and unhappy book...'' The GuardianThis astounding self-portrait covering the whole of Shostakovich''s life (1906-1975) was prepared in collaboration with the distinguished Soviet musicologist Solomon Volkov. With the composer''s consent, the manuscript was smuggled out of Soviet Russia - but Shostakovich, fearing reprisals, stipulated that the book should not appear until after his death. Ever since its publication in 1979 it has been the subject of controversy, some suggesting that Volkov invented parts of it, but most affirming that it revealed a profoundly ambivalent Shostakovich which the world had never seen before - his life at once triumphant and tragic.Either way, it remains indispensible to an understanding of Shostakovich''s life and work. Testimony is intense and fiercely ironic, both plain-spoken and outspoken.Trade Review"'I do not know of a musician who will not read it with compassion and admiration' Andre Previn"

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to the life and work of Marina Abramovic, the world's most famous performance artist. Combining brand-new interviews, never-before-seen images and fascinating ephemera, this book is a testament to the extraordinary life and work of one of our most courageous and groundbreaking artists, and is published to coincide with the opening of Abramovic's Royal Academy exhibition - the first major show by a female artist in the Academy's 255-year history. Agreeing to answer any question that was posed, Abramovic embarked on 17 months of candid interviews conducted by her friend and confidante, Katya Tylevich. The result is a monolithic retrospective that takes us from the humble beginnings of a shy child sitting at the back of the class, to fearless pioneer, conquering and subverting the art world with boundary-pushing performances, and concluding with her most profound personal experience to date. Over 600 images from Abramovic's personal archives set these captivating memories alight, creating a fascinating, visual landscape and demonstrating the inextricably intertwined nature of her life and work. A breathtakingly intimate journey, we are led across deserts, oceans and cities to explore extreme highs and lows, all the while marvelling at how Abramovic approaches every success and setback with her signature humour and wit. Never shying away from the truth, no stone is left unturned, and Abramovic's fearlessness imbues every page.

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Book Synopsis''Nobody owes us anything, but the Simple Minds story has been too condensed. After Live Aid and ''Don''t You (Forget About Me)'' there hasn''t been quite the credit for those first few records. I think they contain some really special music. I can hear the flaws but there''s something about the spirit and imagination in them that feels good. They draw from such a wide range of influences . . . but the spirit of it was always Simple Minds.'' Jim Kerr, to the author An illuminating new biography of one of Britain''s biggest and most influential bands, written with the full input and cooperation of Simple Minds, shedding new light on their dazzling art-rock legacy. Themes for Great Cities features in-depth new interviews with original band members Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil and Derek Forbes, alongside key figures from within their creative community and high-profile fans such as Bobby Gillespie, James Dean Bradfield and Mogwai''s StuTrade ReviewA deep and thrilling dive into some of the greatest musical minds to have come out of Scotland in modern times * Ian Rankin *The definitive biography of this most mercurial of bands. Thomson knows how to take it apart - without demystifying the mystery, he gives us the art school band that never had an art school, but went instead on an endless adventure and took a bit of all of us with them * Alan Warner *A biography that gives the group its long-overdue credit. Thomson's exquisitely written account reaches poetic levels . . . An eye-opening work throughout, Themes for Great Cities may be the final word on Kerr and Co's legacy * Classic Pop *Brings fresh insight into the early albums in particular. Any music biog which sends you straight to the records themselves is doing its job * Alistair Braidwood, Scots Whay Hae *For anyone who is newer to the Simple Minds fold or hasn't explored their back catalogue extensively, I implore you to read this book. For the die hards - you need this book! It is a fast and exhilarating ride * Larelle Read, Priptona Weird (Simple Minds fansite) *[The] mission here is to "remystify" Simple Minds. It's a wholly successful endeavour . . . Thomson's enthusiasm for tracing the cultural and geographical roots of Simple Minds is infectious, and the result shines a bright light into the forgotten corners of the band's story -- Tom Doyle * MOJO *Excellent . . . shows how the five-piece Simple Minds found their place -- Jim Wirth * Uncut *Thomson expertly handles proceedings . . . best of all is the coverage of the epic early albums, which all too often seemed to be forgotten as soon as the mega stardom called * Electronic Sound *Music has such a capacity to uplift, to inspire, to recognise, to connect, and Graeme Thomson's latest book explores how the work of Simple Minds captures those possibilities * Books From Scotland *In focusing largely on their pre-stardom records ... Thomson elegantly reminds us how Simple Minds influenced Primal Scream, Manic Street Preachers and contemporaries U2. **** * Mail on Sunday *An essential read * Echoes & Dust *An engaging, insightful, and welcome biography and history of one of Scotland's greatest bands ... it'll make you return to those glorious early albums and fall in love with them all over again - the ultimate accolade for any music biography * Product *One of the (many) pleasures of ... Themes for Great Cities is its desire to be an act of reclamation. Thomson wants to challenge the lazy cliches that have attached to the band's reputation, to complicate the story, to, as he says in his introduction, "remystify" his subject * The Herald *Themes for Great Cities is so taut and so full of cliff-hangers, that it reads more like a thriller. It's exactly the sort of book that Simple Minds deserve. * Prog *Thomson's thesis is sound: for about five years, Scotland's biggest ever band made exceptional music, and there's no better man to tell you all about it. * Hot Press, Music Book of the Month *Truly a story of 'ambition in motion' . . . There are a number of passages that almost uncannily mirror the music, where the narrative and inner vision perfectly align . . . In some ways Simple Minds' early music is a perfect secret waiting to be rediscovered. * Quietus *I couldn't read this book without digging out my old vinyl and listening as I read. It was like listening with new ears . . . utterly inspiring. * Louder Than War *

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Book SynopsisSelf-described as a 'spotty, chubby, ginger teenager' with a love for Damien Rice and Nizlopi, Ed Sheeran was never an obvious bet to become a global superstar. And yet that's exactly what he's achieved, winning plenty of awards (and hearts) along the way. But how did a young musician go from selling CDs from his rucksack to becoming the millennial record-breaking international stadium act? Tracing his story from his bohemian childhood in Yorkshire and Suffolk to the release of his third album Divide, music journalist David Nolan chronicles Sheeran's musical life and times. Featuring exclusive interviews with friends, relatives, musical collaborators and key figures in his rise to stardom, Divide and Conquer tells the story of how Ed Sheeran went from school drop-out to one of the world's most successful musicians.

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Book Synopsis** Shortlisted for the @CrimeFest H.R.F. Keating Award **'A smart and highly entertaining portrait of a literary powerhouse'- THE TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEAR'A riveting portrait' - GUARDIAN BOOKS OF THE YEAR***'Christie lovers should read this biography for the same reason they read her novels.' - The Times'A model of how to combine biographical information, analysis and literary criticism into a propulsive narrative' - Daily Telegraph'Worsley's book excels in bringing a broader historical perspective to Christie's life and work, and her enthusiasm is infectious.' - ObserverMs Worsley herself writes engagingly... She combines an almost militant support for her subject with a considered analysis of her books and plays.' - Economist'Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was.'Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was 'just' an ordinary housewife, when clearly she wasn't? As Lucy Worsley says, 'She was thrillingly, scintillatingly modern'. She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness. So why - despite all the evidence to the contrary - did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of leisure? She was born in 1890 into a world which had its own rules about what women could and couldn't do. Lucy Worsley's biography is not just of an internationally renowned bestselling writer. It's also the story of a person who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman. With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley's biography is both authoritative and entertaining and makes us realise what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was - truly a woman who wrote the twentieth century.Trade ReviewAgatha Christie was a modernist, an iconoclast, and a groundbreaker, according to this excellent biography from historian Worsley. Worsley offers close readings of Christie's work and presents a careful reframe of the novelist's famous 1926 disappearance. Drawing on personal letters and modern criticism, Worsley manages to make her subject feel fresh and new. This is a must-read for Christie fans. * Publishers Weekly, (starred review) *One brilliant woman writing about another: an irresistible combination. * Antonia Fraser *This is a warm, intelligent book, which does justice , both to Agatha Christie's character, and to her distinctive genius as a writer of plays and novels. Someone once said that the greatest character Agatha Christie ever invented was Agatha Christie herself. If that's true, she was waiting for the perfect biographer to bring her back to life, and she has found her in Dr Lucy Worsley. * A.N. Wilson *Lucy Worsley brings Agatha Christie back to life, revealing a strong, pioneering, highly intelligent woman whose detective novels rank among the best ever written. Worsley shows us Christie's faults and flaws in the context of her time; she evokes her houses, clothes and the central mystery of her life in spritely sentences with a sharp ear for dialogue. Reading Worsley is as enjoyable as reading Christie herself. * Ruth Scurr *Lucy Worsley's biography of Agatha Christie is as unputdownable as any of the novels by the Queen of Crime herself. Gripping, revealing, and ultimately extremely moving, Agatha Christie is a wonderful tribute to one of the best-loved writers of the 20th century. * Amanda Foreman *Fascinating, seductive, incisive, this beautiful exploration into Christie, her life and times, is full of unique insight, eye opening detail, sharp analysis. Lucy Worsley is a brilliant detective into the letters, the emotion, the drive of Christie, the ambition. Gripping. * Kate Williams *'In the best biography of Agatha Christie ever written, Lucy Worsley gets to the soul - the complex, troubled, but big soul - of our greatest whodunnit writer with laser-like precision. There will not now need to be another biography of the queen of the detective story written for decades.' * Andrew Roberts, author of ‘Napoleon the Great’ and ‘Churchill: Walking with Destiny’ *'Gosh this is BRILLIANT. Read it at one sitting. It's frothy and fast and properly, subtly, furious.' * Annie Gray *'Reading Lucy Worsley's biography is like sharing Agatha Christie's favourite drink: cream. Rich, hearty and extremely satisfying, this book fills the void and, more than that, shows us with much brio and charm why Christie remains a writer for our times' * Dr Daisy Dunn, author of Not Far From Brideshead *Lucy Worsley is simply unparalleled as a biographer who couples historical insight with riveting storytelling. She proves it once again by capturing the life of the elusive Agatha Christie in a book so full of sensitive interpretations and surprising revelations that you won't want to put it down. * Devoney Looser *'Entertaining and authoritative, shining a light on just what an extraordinary pioneer Christie was.' * Belfast Telegraph *'(An) authoritative and entertaining biography.' * Irish Independent *Written with the cooperation of the Christie family and all of Lucy Worsley's trademark wit and wisdom, Agatha Christie emerges from the page as a thoroughly modern woman, full of light and shade and a world away from the cosy little old lady that she's so often perceived to be. * Red *Paint(s) an intriguing picture of Christie as an upper-middle-class Victorian and Edwardian child whose life, then and later, encompassed significant losses and reversals of fortune, * Guardian *With great affection, Worsley masterfully maneuvers her way through Christie's life and prolific oeuvre. * Kirkus (Starred Review) *Ms Worsley herself writes engagingly, with a smattering of racy phrases (Archie Christie, that adulterous first husband, is said to have been "incredibly hot"). She combines an almost militant support for her subject with a considered analysis of her books and plays-making the case that, in her themes and formal innovation, Christie was much more than a writer of formulaic potboilers. * Economist *Presenting Christie in a stimulating new light... the book is a model of how to combine biographical information, analysis and literary criticism into a propulsive narrative. Christie would have hated it, as she would have hated all biographies, but even so she might have saluted the skill of an author who shares her gift for supreme readability. * Jake Kerridge, Daily Telegraph *What makes this biography so fascinating is the way Worsley demonstrates how "everything Agatha experienced became copy". An irreverent historian, she sets in context the events of her subject's life with great skill, then shows how Christie reflected them in her work... Christie lovers should read this biography for the same reason they read her novels: they "address dark, uncomfortable feelings. They address the darkness that can lurk within even normal, respectable people. People like your own spouse." Worsley not only makes you want to reread them all over again, she actually makes you love the talented yet tormented woman who wrote them. * Mark Sanderson, The Times *The first significant biography of Christie since Laura Thompson's... Worsley's book excels in bringing a broader historical perspective to Christie's life and work, and her enthusiasm is infectious. * Stephanie Merritt, Observer *Provocative new biography... the narrative is buoyed by colourful details about Christie's fondness for surfing, fast cars and drinking glasses of neat cream. She certainly emerges as a more subversive figure than is generally realised. * Business Post *Worsley is refreshingly down to earth, and her passion for her subject is palpable... What a shame she never met her heroine - they would have got on like a house on fire. * Irish Examiner *A superlative biography of the Queen of Crime, Worsley's page-turning volume is a fitting tribute to Christie's extraordinary life. * Waterstones Weekly, Best New Literary Biographies *Agatha Christie fans intrigued to learn where the queen of crime gained her real-life inspiration will enjoy Lucy Worsley's new biography. * Yours *Fascinating... A wonderful tribute to one of our most brilliant national treasures. * Best *

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Book Synopsis“The answer is not to silence me. . . . The answer is for you to have better arguments.”Go the Joe Rogan way. Sh*t Joe Rogan Says is a book of motivation, inspiration, and reflections from the man who talks to everybody. Not one to back down from a conversation or an f-bomb, Joe Rogan tells it like it is and gives everyone a fair shake.From years of discipline and expertise in martial arts, to unabashed comedy and showing people how to face their fears, to his stratospheric ascent to podcast greatness, Joe Rogan knows a little something about life, discipline, hard work, and an unrelenting pursuit of personal freedoms and free thought. Get Joe Rogan’s take on philosophy, comedy, politics, free speech, mind-altering experiences, censorship, and happiness with this collection of his most influential quotes and ideas. Get your hands on 150 Joe Rogan-isms on life, free thought, and common sense Find motivation, momentum, and real talk in Joe Rogan’s no-nonsense reflections Follow the Joe Rogan route to achieve confidence, nonconformity, and an uncensored life

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Powerhouse delivers a chronicle of vaunting ambition, immense wealth and power, and personal betrayal all the more astonishing in a business ostensibly built on loyalty and trust... Even more impressive is Miller's ability to get nearly everyone involved not only to talk but also go on the record." -- New York Times Book Review "Magisterial. ... One of the two most important books about the business of entertainment to come out in 2016. ... A must read for anyone who wants to work in Hollywood or just know how Hollywood works." -- The Hollywood Reporter "It's dishy. It's like People Magazine meets 'The Godfather.' It's like nothing else. I ate it up." -- New York Post "Eminently readable and moves at a fast pace thanks to dozens of fascinating celebrity stories." -- Mashable "The year's hottest Hollywood tell-all." -- New York Daily News "Probably the most hotly anticipated book since Julia Phillips's tell-all YOU'LL NEVER EAT LUNCH IN THIS TOWN AGAIN dropped more than two decades ago." -- Variety "[F]un to read both for the boldface names - including agency founders Michael Ovitz and Ron Meyer, and clients like Magic Johnson and Ali MacGraw - and for a glimpse into a largely unseen world of cultural influencers." -- The National Book Review

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Book SynopsisRichard Burton: star. The roaring boy from the Welsh coal valleys who came to sport on the banks of the old Nile, playing great Antony to Elizabeth Taylor''s Cleopatra. From the West End to Hollywood, from Camelot to Shakespeare, he drank, dazzled and despaired, playing out his life on the public stage. But there was another, quieter, off-stage Richard Burton, a face hidden from the multitude.Melvyn Bragg, allowed free access to the never-before-revealed Burton private notebooks, and with the cooperation of friends who have never spoken about him before, has brought together the private and public sides for the first time. Rich is the complete Richard Burton: a revelation.

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Book SynopsisThe classic biography which explores the shocking drama of Kurt Cobain's troubled life

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Book Synopsis'There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself.' Hannah Gadsby, NanetteMulti-awardwinning Hannah Gadsby transformed comedy with her show Nanette, even as she declared that she was quitting stand-up. Now, she takes us through the defining moments in her life that led to the creation of Nanette and her powerful decision to tell the truth - no matter the cost.Gadsby's unique stand-up special Nanette was a viral success that left audiences captivated by her blistering honesty and her ability to create both tension and laughter in a single moment. But while her worldwide fame might have looked like an overnight sensation, her path from open mic to the global stage was hard-fought and anything but linear.Ten Steps to Nanette traces Gadsby's growth as a queer person from Tasmania - where homosexuality was illegal until 1997 - to her ever-evolving relationship with comedy, to her struggle with adult diagnoses of autism and ADHD, and finally to the backbone of Nanette - the renouncement of self-deprecation, the rejection of misogyny, and the moral significance of truth-telling.Equal parts harrowing and hilarious, Ten Steps to Nanette continues Gadsby's tradition of confounding expectations and norms, properly introducing us to one of the most explosive, formative voices of our time.Trade ReviewAs a document of what can happen when a different kind of voice seizes the conversation, Ten Steps to Nanette shows Gadsby taking control of the page along with the stage. * Sunday Times *A serious book about comedy...there is real merit in this deep exploration of a complex work and its creator * Irish Times *Here, she reveals the winding road that led her [to Nanette]...with her unique mix of humour and fury * Stylist *In this stunning debut, Emmy Award-winning comedian Gadsby guides readers on a tour of her life that's every bit as intimate, gutting,and untidy as the performance referenced in the title...[a] stirring tale of resilience. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Similar to her groundbreaking comedy specials Douglas and Nanette, Gadsby's memoir reads like a conversation with a longtime friend...A can't-miss memoir that will make readers laugh, cry, and everything in between * Library Journal (starred review) *A witty and provocatively written life story * Kirkus Reviews *Hannah is a Promethean force, a revolutionary talent... This hilarious, touching, and sometimes tragic book is all about where her fires were lit. -- Emma ThompsonAs uproariously funny as it is profoundly furious. * New Yorker on NANETTE *Table of Contents1: Epilogue 2: Foundation Mythology 3: The Formative Years 4: The Wilderness Years 5: The Bell Curve Jar 6: Whirl, Interrupted 7: All Part of the Soup 8: Gathering Strands 9: Women's Work 10: Nanette

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Book SynopsisBeethoven's life and legacy in 100 recordingsTrade Review'Norman Lebrecht has turned his attention to Beethoven, and in a way that no one has done before. Lebrecht has had the idea of taking 100 pieces, briefly describing their origins and character, and then critically examining, and recommending, recordings of them. You want to build a Beethoven library? There can be no better starting point. You want to expand your existing collection? This book is for you. Not just the familiar works — symphonies and piano concertos — but lesser known chamber pieces, and even songs and musical quips. Not many Beethoven books tell you about the 30-second musical joke ‘Schuppanzigh ist ein Lump’. Lebrecht does. Few chapters are more than a couple of pages long. Bite-sized Beethoven. Brilliant idea.' -- John Suchet, Classic FM presenter‘The inimitable Norman Lebrecht here turns his glaring spotlight not so much onto the composer as onto responses to him over the intervening centuries. This is a Beethoven book for our pixelated, attention-deficient era… one heck of an enjoyable read.’ -- BBC Music Magazine'From one of our most prolific and wide-ranging writers on music, here is a connoisseur’s guide to Beethoven recordings fleshed out with vivid bits of biography and memoir. Most books recommend either recordings or works. This singular book does both.' -- Jan Swafford, author of Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph'With these 100 reverently irreverent venerations, Lebrecht not only burnishes further the immortal legend of Beethoven but demonstrates that language need not end where music begins. An illuminating and uplifting mosaic.' -- Gabriela Montero, pianist and composer'Norman Lebrecht, in his remarkable book, shows that Beethoven has, in his philosophical approach, as much relevance as he always had – maybe even more in these crazy times.' -- Franz Welser-Möst, Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra‘An incredibly fascinating personal search for the “core” of Beethoven's personality, his legacies and relevance of his figure nowadays. Lots of details and facts were new to me, many of the chapters provoked me to think even further, beyond the music and philosophy of this titan.’ -- Vasily Petrenko, Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra‘The greatest artists repay a lifetime of study. Now Norman Lebrecht has given us a lambent summing up of his adventures with Beethoven, deeply personal yet grounded in music that we know and love, inspiring readers to offer their own answers to the question “Why Beethoven?”’ -- Tim Page, winner of the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for his music criticism in the Washington Post‘Any oldies who are a little hard of hearing will be moved by Norman Lebrecht’s new book.’ -- Oldie'Entertaining and informative... an ideal guide to the master’s wondrous achievements.' -- Kirkus, starred review‘This glorious study of Beethoven… a deep dive into the politics and cafe society of Beethoven’s day, and his effect on contemporary composers.’ -- Jewish Chronicle'Why Beethoven is a provocatively illuminating, occasionally scandalous survey of the recordings that shaped Beethoven's life. It makes for an exhilarating narrative that in its wake also raises several divisive cultural issues.' -- Strings Magazine‘This wonderful book inspires, challenges, cajoles and entertains. It is so grand in its sweep and erudition that like its subject it set the bar at a height that might, in fact properly will, dissuade others who might wish to publish a new view of one of Western civilisation’s pillar figures… refreshingly direct… It would be an overstatement but not by much to describe Why Beethoven as a Rosetta Stone to guide the interested but unsure to the pot of gold at the end of the Beethoven rainbow. And like all wonderful books, you can dip in and out as your appetite decrees. It is a wonderful primer but much more as well.’ -- Irish Examiner

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAs seen on The Today Show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and more. — “’The Office BFFs: Tales of the Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There’ is an enjoyable complement to the series, filled with behind the scenes anecdotes that help explain what made NBC’s hit click. … If there’s any lesson to be learned from the show’s nine-season run and this book, it’s that a lot of teamwork goes into making an office look this dysfunctional.” — Associated Press “Bound to have you giggling… Heart = warmed.” — The Skimm "Reading the book makes you feel like you're out to lunch (at The Ivy, if we can get a patio table!) listening to your two close friends gab. And it's clear those two friends have such warm regards for their show, their cast and crew, and each other." — Mashable “Can you think of a better gift for The Office lover in your life (even if it’s you?)” — AV Club A smart, sweet look from inside The Office about how the show spawned enduring friendships and unexpected careers. — Kirkus Reviews

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Book Synopsis"Amazing adventures. Apparently I was there." Richard Hammond For over 12 years Phillipa Sage worked alongside Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May as their PA, gofer, and fixer where she saw the boys at their best and, hilariously, at their worst. A closet petrol head, Phillipa started working in the motor industry on live events over 20 years ago and first worked with Jeremy Clarkson in 1997. She proved to be a loyal, trusted friend and colleague to all the presenters—from back in the beginning with Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson and Quentin Wilson—to the now infamous trio of Clarkson, Hammond and May, and was a key member of what became known as 'The Bubble', the exclusive, dysfunctional working family that toured the world. With an enormous budget, they travelled like rock stars—with super cars, yachts, private jets, helicopters, and five-star wining and dining—taking their unique brand of motoring madness to 18 countries, 31 cities and to over 2 million fans in arenas and at festivals from New Zealand to Norway. Supported by a large crew and their personal entourage, Clarkson, Hammond and May, when not performing in their extraordinary, high octane, live action, motoring theatre, indulged in extravagant holidays. They and their 'Bubble' family relaxed in luxury resorts or private houses entertaining themselves with pool parties, drinking, heli-sightseeing, drinking, private motorboat cruises, drinking, jet skiing, sailing, drinking and eating, and drinking. In Off-Road with Clarkson, Hammond & May, Phillipa shares the tour highs, lows and laughter of three clever, funny, and very stupid motoring journalists.Trade Review"Amazing adventures. Apparently I was there." -- Richard Hammond"Don’t read this book. The bastards only took me to Birmingham. (Oh, and Jo’burg)." -- Tiff Needell"Strap yourselves in as Phillipa knowledgeably steers you down the fast lane!" -- Vicki Butler-Henderson“The chapter titles are brilliant, you think, What! What’s that all about and can’t wait to read.” * John Marcar, Talk Radio Driven host *“It’s like a film, you can’t wait to find out what happens next!” * Amy Shore, Talk Radio Driven host *'Hilarious, genuine... nothing short of fabulous!' * Driven Chat Podcast *

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Book SynopsisChris, also an investigative news-writer, has written for Rolling Stone, Details, the Telegraph and The Sunday Times amongst many others. His subjects have varied from Madonna and Lisa-Marie Presley to politicians, murderers and artists. Chris and Robbie have spent nearly two years working on this book.Trade ReviewThe definitive book on Robbie Williams * Heat *A phenomenal piece of journalism... an absorbing essay on fame and the music industry * Observer *Perceptive, sympathetic and sometimes shocking. It is also - because Williams is a genuinely amusing man - wonderfully funny * Sunday Telegraph *The most lustrous and scrupulously observed anatomy of the madness of top-flight 21st century celebrity existence that it has ever been my deep joy to read * Independent on Sunday *It's all there, the inside story that the fans have guessed at and the tabloids have done their best to invent...Until Mrs Williams finally does appear, nobody is going to get closer to Robbie than this * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisJohann Sebastian Bach is one of the most unfathomable composers in the history of music. How can such sublime work have been produced by a man who seems so ordinary, so opaque - and occasionally so intemperate?In this remarkable book, John Eliot Gardiner distils the fruits of a lifetime''s immersion as one of Bach''s greatest living interpreters. Explaining in wonderful detail how Bach worked and how his music achieves its effects, he also takes us as deeply into Bach''s works and mind as perhaps words can. The result is a unique book about one of the greatest of all creative artists.Trade ReviewGardiner has joined the select ranks of luminary musicians articulating their experience, with this long, sumptuously illustrated survey of Bach's life and times. The result is dazzling -- Iain Burnside * Observer *There could be no better-qualified guide to the mysteries behind Bach's music than the conductor who has breathed new life into its performance . . . As an exploration of Bach's labyrinthine thought-processes, and as an analysis of his music's overwhelming power, this book will now be required reading . . . for listeners and performers alike -- Michael Church * Independent *Gardiner weaves industrial-strength scholarship, musical analysis and performing insight into a highly readable narrative ... extraordinary -- Richard Morrison * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe first full-scale biography of one of the 20th-century's great makers, theorists and painters.Trade Review'Lively, lucid, compelling and revealing, offering fascinating insights into Albers – as artist and teacher – while convincingly reframing his place at the heart of modernism on both sides of the Atlantic' - Frances Morris, Director of Tate Modern'Darwent is a highly engaging writer on the visual arts. … Albers lived through a remarkable period, mixing with some extraordinary people' - The Spectator'A revealing read, leading to a deeper understanding of Albers's life and his impact on the landscape of art' - Arts Society Magazine'Carefully researched and engagingly written … fascinating … beautifully designed' - The Art Newspaper'Darwent is a thorough chronicler of this long and complex life, and it is in the moments of critical insight that his text soars' - Crafts magazine'Charles Darwent examines not just Albers’s artwork … but how he became probably the most important art teacher of the century' - Sunday Times, Art Books of the Year'Charles Darwent’s biography gives the German-born American artist and teacher his due [and] makes a strong case for an artist who was not as recognized as fellow Bauhaus teachers … A gruff yet caring teacher, a ladies’ man and a daily Mass-going Catholic, both jealous of and generous with his peers, Albers steps convincingly from these pages' - The Washington Post'A sedulously researched and urgent guide to its subject’s art, his vexed professional life and his somewhat ummoving personality' - Literary Review'Casts new light on the man whose art wasn’t valued highly until he was in his seventies … provides a sense of Albers’ tremendous imaginative stamina: his ideas remained cutting-edge for six decades' - Financial Times'Drawing on previously untapped archival sources, in addition to five years spent at the Albers Foundation, Darwent has assembled a wealth of historical material … a lean and cohesive narrative that is a pleasure to read' - The Burlington Magazine'Brings Albers to life' - Country LifeTable of Contents1. Homages to the Square • 2. Am Anfang • 3. Berlin and Munich • 4. Weimar • 5. Dessau and Berlin • 6. Black Mountain College • 7. Yale • 8. Beginnings and Ends

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewSeated next to Stephen Sondheim in the front row of the American musical theater pantheon is the prolific and prodigiously talented composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz (b. 1948). Throughout a career spanning four decades that includes such hits as Godspell, Pippin, and Wicked, Schwartz has been honored with multiple Tony nominations, three Grammys, and three Academy Awards. Musical theater scholar Laird has written an in-depth study focusing on Schwartz’s projects and music. Acknowledging Carol de Giere’s biographical contributions in her 2008 book, Defying Gravity, the author concentrates on the music and musical styles of Schwartz’s theater and film work. Arranged chronologically, the title begins with an introduction to Schwartz with individual chapters on Godspell; his collaboration with Leonard Bernstein on Bernstein’s Mass; Broadway and off-Broadway shows Pippin, The Magic Show, The Baker’s Wife, Working, Rags, and Children of Eden; Schwartz’s work on animated features for Disney and DreamWorks; then the success of the musical Wicked; his opera, Seance on a Wet Afternoon, and works outside Broadway and Hollywood. VERDICT Laird offers a definitive musical analysis of Schwartz’s incredible career to date. A trenchant investigation that is both erudite and accessible, this book is an essential acquisition for all academic, professional, and large public library collections. * Library Journal, Starred Review *Laird has crafted a scholarly yet accessible review of composer/lyricist Schwartz’s work. While sentences like 'The choral writing is in four parts with a few passing tones' will only resonate with readers who have studied music, there is still lots here for fans of musical theatre—and even a few tidbits for Disney and Dreamworks fans who are fond of the musical scores of Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt. Laird’s most insightful coverage is of Schwartz’s work on Godspell and Pippin, composer’s earliest successes. Interviews with Schwartz reveal both insider secrets and fun trivia, including that Godspell’s most famous song, 'Day by Day,' is modeled on Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s 'What the World Needs Now.' * Publishers Weekly *Laird has a fine list of publications, e.g., Leonard Bernstein: A Guide to Research. Here he presents a comprehensive biography of Schwartz and a guide to all his works—for the musical stage, film, concert stage, and opera. Schwartz is multitalented, and the author chronicles his achievements ‘as a composer, lyricist, director, and theatrical creator.’ Productions included range from Godspell (1971) to the opera Séance on a Wet Afternoon (2009). Particularly strong are Laird's descriptions of the changing versions of each production as it progressed toward the stage, with close attention to the many musical styles Schwartz employs. Throughout the volume Laird notes that this new work supplements but does not replace two earlier books: his own Wicked: A Musical Biography (2011) and Carol de Giere's Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz from Godspell to Wicked (2008). Those volumes should be consulted, especially for more details on Wicked. Excellent notes and bibliography. Summing Up: Recommended. Large performing arts collections. * CHOICE *Several years ago, the author, a music professor and writer on Broadway musicals, interrupted his writing of a book on all of Stephen Schwartz’ musicals to concentrate on this composer/lyricist’s latest Broadway success, Wicked. The result was Wicked: A Musical Biography. . . .He later returned to and completed the original project, which became this detailed analysis of the complete works of Schwartz with individual chapter devoted to each of his shows beginning with Godspell (1971) and continuing through such works as Bernstein’s Mass (1971) (for which he wrote the lyrics), Pippin (1972), The Magic Show (1974), The Baker’s Wife (1976), and his only opera Séance on a Wet Afternoon (2009). The longest chapter (almost 60 pages) is devoted to a work not yet seen on Broadway but performed widely in schools and churches, the Biblical epic, Children of God (1991). Each of these chapters supplies detailed material on the individual show: its genesis, development, personnel involved, tryouts, rewrites, casts and cast changes, the contents of individual acts and scenes, a thorough analysis of each song used, revivals, foreign productions, and its critical receptions (with quotes from reviews). . . .The book also contains an introductory chapter on Schwartz’s life, a chapter on his film work (mainly lyrics for several Disney features), and a concluding chapter on his work outside of Broadway and Hollywood. The work is up to date. . . .It is also extremely readable and thoroughly researched; for example, the book concludes with a separate 65-page section of footnotes, sources, Websites, and interviews used. There is also a detailed index and a few black-and-white photographs scattered throughout the text. This is an excellent and enjoyable book on this important contemporary Broadway figure. . . .This work is highly recommended for theater collections. * American Reference Books Annual *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: An Introduction to Stephen Schwartz Chapter 2: Godspell Chapter 3: Leonard Bernstein’s Mass Chapter 4: Pippin Chapter 5: The Magic Show Chapter 6: The Baker’s Wife Chapter 7: Working Chapter 8: Rags Chapter 9: Children of Eden Chapter 10: Animated Features for Disney and Dreamworks Chapter 11: Geppetto Becomes My Son Pinocchio: Geppetto’s Musical Tale Chapter 12: Wicked Chapter 13: Séance on a Wet Afternoon Chapter 14: Stephen Schwartz’s Works Outside of Broadway and Hollywood Epilogue Bibliography

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Book SynopsisInspired by A Complete Unknown starring Timothée Chalamet?Discover the critically-acclaimed, definitive biography of the legendary rock musician, Bob Dylan.''Engagingly written and scrupulously researched'' ObserverOne of the best biographies I have ever read' ***** Reader reviewBob Dylan was the first figure in the history of popular music to challenge the domination of the three-minute pop song and to bring serious ideas and poetry into the song lyric.A true revolutionary, he was also the first pop performer to adopt the attitudes and lead the life of a bohemian artist. In doing so he not only defined the direction which popular music would take in the second half of the twentieth century, he also defined the lifestyle which would come to be associated with the rock artist.This new edition of Howard Sounes'' critically-acclaimed classic biography of Dylan gives the complete picture of the man, the artist and performer, and includes a new chapter that brings the legend''s life story right up to date. Meticulously researched and including hundreds of interviews with Dylan''s closest associates, the brand new chapter also covers the last ten years of Dylan''s life, and the last (and previously unpublished) interview with Dylan''s first serious girlfriend.Written by the acclaimed biographer of Paul McCartney and Lou Reed, this is a compelling, fast-paced and revelatory read, which takes the reader on a journey from Dylan''s childhood in a Minnesota mining town to the status he enjoys today as one of the most iconic figures of contemporary culture.''Sets a standard few rock ''n'' roll chronicles have attained'' Independent''The benchmark by which all future Dylan biographies will be judged'' USA Today

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Book SynopsisLove Lin-Manuel Miranda''s hit musical Hamilton? Discover the untold story of the brilliant Eliza Schuyler Hamilton!Coming of age in revolutionary New York, Elizabeth Schuyler is proud to champion the fight for independence. And when she meets Alexander Hamilton, Washington''s penniless but passionate right hand man, she''s captivated by the young officer''s charisma and brilliance. Despite the perilous times and Alexander''s background, they fall in love and are soon married. From glittering balls to bloody street riots, the Hamiltons are at the centre of it all - including America''s first sex scandal, which forces Eliza to struggle through heartbreak and betrayal to find forgiveness. And when a duel destroys Eliza''s hard-won peace, the grieving widow fights her husband''s enemies to preserve Alexander''s legacy. But long-buried secrets threaten everything Eliza believes about her marriage and her owTrade ReviewNot since I read Erik Larson's Dead Wake have I had such an edge-of-my-seat immersion into historical events. Eliza Hamilton is a remarkable heroine, depicted here with gorgeous prose and heart-tugging realism. No study of Alexander Hamilton would be complete without reading this book and learning the true source of the great man's strength-his wife. Full of history, engaging characters who shimmer on each page, and a tremendous love story, this is a book for everyone. -- Karen White, New York Times bestselling authorFollowing their stunning success in America's First Daughter, Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie have penned an unforgettable story of the woman behind Hamilton. Combining treachery, lies, and the fate of those present at the birth of a nation, My Dear Hamilton is a masterpiece that is both intimate in detail and epic in scope-a triumph! -- Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan’s TaleMy Dear Hamilton is a superbly written, meticulously researched homage to the birth of America as seen from the eyes of a woman who helped bring it to life. Eliza Schuyler Hamilton is much more than a Founding Father's wife; she's a passionate patriot who finds the strength to steer her tempestuous husband away from his own worst instincts even when he betrays her. At once a wartime drama, a woman's coming of age, and a lesson on politics that resonates in today's world, My Dear Hamilton is the book of the year. -- Kate Quinn, USA Today bestselling author of The Alice NetworkEliza Hamilton assumes her rightful place as one of America's founding mothers as she guides first her husband and then her fledgling nation into the annals of history. My Dear Hamilton is historical fiction at its most addictive! -- Stephanie Thornton, author of The Tiger QueensAn incredible, surprising, and altogether lovely tribute to the woman who stood beside one of the most unknowable, irascible, energetic, and passionate men who contributed to the foundation of this nationThe historical fiction dream team does it again with the wife of Hamilton . . . My Dear Hamilton is a novel not to be missed and is to be enjoyed and savoured and re-read over and over * Fresh Fiction *A complete and very human portrait of Eliza will resonate with today's readers. This is the perfect example of an epic fictionalised biography * RT Book Reviews TOP PICK *My Dear Hamilton is a fascinating work of historical fiction, beautifully crafted and richly detailed. If you think you already know Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, her role in the founding of our country, her marriage, and her heartbreak, you'll marvel at the woman you meet in this compelling novel -- Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author

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Book SynopsisA ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023A GUARDIAN MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023The Cure are arguably the biggest alternative rock band in the world. Between 1985 and 2000 every album they released went to at least Gold in the UK, the US or both. In America they have earned four Platinum albums, and they are estimated to have sold 30 million albums worldwide. Their iconic status as elder statesmen of Alternative Rock remains undiminished - if anything, their tireless touring has ensured that it has grown with every passing year - and lead singer Robert Smith is an endlessly fascinating figure to successive generations of fans. The Cure''s influence reverberates through genres including Emo, Goth, Industrial and Indie Rock.The book is an encyclopaedic A-Z of The Cure examining and riffing on miscellaneous trivia, biographies of the band members past and present, summaries of each album and selected songs, details of the band''s various tours and filmTrade ReviewA ROUGH TRADE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023A GUARDIAN MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023It will be hard to find a more all-encompassing repository of Cure wisdom than this one * Record Collector *Simon Price is a goth aficionado, and his encyclopaedic knowledge of The Cure was a pleasure to study and absorb - highly recommended for superfans or anyone with an interest in one of our most treasured bands of the past four decades * Tim Burgess *An extraordinary piece of work * Elis James *Price's immersion in their story is impressive, and his writing is always lively... a goldmine of information * Irish Times *Beautifully written and meticulously researched, Price's passion for his subject is obvious... a stunning tribute to the alt-rock icons * Classic Pop *An essential compendium of Cure-lore * MOJO *Simon Price is a goth aficionado, and his encyclopaedic knowledge of The Cure was a pleasure to study and absorb - highly recommended for superfans or anyone with an interest in one of our most treasured bands of the past four decades * Tim Burgess *

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Book SynopsisA biography of Winnaretta Singer-Polignac, heiress to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune, who befriended and subsidized some of the most important musical and literary artists of the 20th Century, including Stravinsky, Proust, Ravel, Cocteau, and Colette. The American-born Winnaretta Singer (1865-1943) was a millionaire at the age of eighteen, due to her inheriting a substantial part of the Singer Sewing Machine fortune. Her 1893 marriage to Prince Edmond de Polignac, an amateur composer, brought her into contact with the most elite strata of French society. After Edmond's death in 1901, she used her fortune to benefit the arts, science, and letters. Her most significant contribution was in the musical domain: in addition to subsidizing individual artists (Boulanger, Haskil, Rubinstein, Horowitz) and organizations (the Ballets Russes, l'Opéra de Paris, l'Orchestre Symphonique de Paris), she made a lifelong project of commissioning new musical works from composers, many of them unknown and struggling, to be performed in her Paris salon. The list of works created as a result is long and extraordinary: Stravinsky's Renard, Satie's Socrate, Falla'sEl Retablo de Maese Pedro, and Poulenc's Two-Piano and Organ Concertos are among the best-known titles. In addition, her salon was a gathering place for luminaries of French culture such as Proust, Cocteau, Monet, Diaghilev, and Colette. Many of Proust's memorable evocations of salon culture were born during his attendance at concerts in the Polignac music room. Sylvia Kahan brings to life this eccentic and extravagant lover of the arts, whose influence on the 20th Century world of music and literature remains incalculable.Trade ReviewA splendid biography of the munificent princess. --Alex Ross [online at http://www.therestisnoise.com/2011/04/merci-beaucoup-domo-arigato.html] Superb new biography. . . The list of her achievements -- music dedicated to her, works commissioned by her, artists supported by her -- are all scrupulously recorded here. . . a dazzling and inspiring array. . . In Sylvia Kahan Winnaretta [Singer-Polignac] has a biographer able to explain her special mixture of arrogance, intelligence and bravery. -- Margaret Reynolds * THE TIMES *Her book is magnificently readable. The reader's complaint might be that it stopped after 550 pages and has not yet been made into a movie. * THE VILLAGER *A pleasure to read and a good reference book to keep. . . . [Winnaretta's] beautiful kingdom created a musical reality that we enjoy to this day. -- Julie Cross * JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN IN MUSIC *The list of those who owed much to [the Princesse de Polignac] is simply breathtaking. . . . This biography by Sylvia Kahan [now available . . . in paperback] is easy to read as an adventure story just as much as it is a sideways glance at over half a century's cultural history. -- Geraint Lewis * GRAMOPHONE *This is a book to be referred to again and again. . . an authoritative study that will give any interested reader an overview of a fascinating artistic epoch with a complex and intriguing survivor at its helm. Underneath the forbidding exterior, 'Aunt Winnie' was a sensitive and selfless philanthropist, both acutely perceptive of genuine talent in others and wide-ranging in her patronage. These aspects shine clearly through the mine of detailed information in Sylvia Kahan's important new study. -- Robert Orledge * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *Kahan appears to have gotten as close to Singer-Polignac as any scholar could in the many years she worked on this good book. * NOTES, March 2005 *Kahan does justice to this inspiring woman's legacy by crafting a biography that is heartfelt and stimulating. -- Eileen M. Angelini * FRENCH REVIEW, 2006 *Wonderfully researched. . . . Sensitively sets Singer Polignac's vibrant lesbianism in the context of the times. -- Andrew Green * CLASSICAL MUSIC *A pleasure to read and a good reference book to keep. . . . [Winnaretta's] beautiful kingdom created a musical reality that we enjoy to this day. -- Julie Cross * JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN IN MUSIC *Table of ContentsAn International Child Life with Mother A Woman of the World The Sewing Machine and the Lyre Marriage and Music La Belle Epoque Renovations Modern Times The Astonishing Years Shelter from the Storm The Magic of Everyday Things Cottages of the Elite, Palaces of the People A Pride of Protégés Mademoiselle All Music is Modern The Beautiful Kingdom of Sounds

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Book SynopsisA rollicking recounting of the landmark case a writer brought against Miramax, whom he accused of stealing his screenplay and turning it into the cult classic Rounders.When a young screenwriter goes online to check out the promotional website for a new poker movie called Rounders, he’s shocked to discover how similar it is to a screenplay he wrote a few years earlier and submitted to a number of studios. When he later sees the Miramax-produced film in theaters, he is astonished by the number of overlapping elements—the protagonist playing Texas Hold ’em to pay his way through college while deceiving the girlfriend who believes he’s quit, the loss of everything he has in a single hand of high-stakes Hold ’em, a character named “Worm,” and many other commonalities that form the foundation of what will become his lawsuit against Miramax. He leaves the theater that day feeling that not only has the studio stolen his script, but his life, which had encompassed years of professional poker playing that informed the screenplay he hoped would open the door to a writing career in Hollywood. Against all odds, he proceeds to take on Miramax and the Hollywood system with the help of an ingenious lawyer. Jeffrey Grosso simply has to prove how it could have happened and convince a judicial system that often favors studios over writers that he’s a victim of intellectual property theft, which results in a ten-year landmark legal battle against Hollywood’s most notorious studio. Part comic legal thriller, part nail-biting poker memoir, Dirty Dealing: Grosso v. Miramax—Waging War Against Harvey Weinstein, and the Screenplay that Changed Hollywood is the entertaining look at one man’s fight to get the credit he believes he deserves. Does he have a case or are the similarities just an illusion the mind plays on a creator? Perhaps there are only five stories in Hollywood, as his lawyer points out, and no idea is truly original. You be the judge.

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