Biography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisSince her death in 2011, the legendary Surrealist Leonora Carrington has been reconstructed and reinvented many times over. In this book, Gabriel Weisz Carrington draws on remembered conversations and events to demythologise his mother, revealing the woman and the artist behind the iconic persona.He travels between Leonora’s native England and adopted homeland of Mexico, making stops in New York and Paris and meeting some of the remarkable figures she associated with, from Max Ernst and André Breton to Remedios Varo and Alejandro Jodorowsky. At the same time, he strives to depict a complex and very real Surrealist creator, exploring Leonora not simply in relation to her romantic partners or social milieus but as the artist she always was.A textured portrait emerges from conversations, memories, stories and Leonora’s engagement with the books that she read.Trade Review'Gabriel Weisz Carrington's gentle, grieving memoir of his mother allows us a glimpse of their extraordinary life together in Mexico City. It is a life enchanted by art and anchored by love, a wild, irreverent love for all the world's creatures, passed on from mother to son, and now, from son to reader.' Merve Emre, Associate Professor of English, University of Oxford'Gabriel Weisz Carrington’s intense memoir of his mother explores her inner life as both artist and writer. He reveals the range of her experiments with the magical and the esoteric as well as her profound and sometimes dangerous quest to plumb the mysteries of manifest creation.' Marina Warner, writer and cultural historian'To spend time with this book is to spend time with Leonora Carrington — a pure delight from start to finish.' Viktor Wynd, author of The UnNatural History Museum'An enchanting portrait of what it was like to grow up as Leonora’s son — here, too, as in some of her paintings, the domestic and the fantastical are tightly, wonderfully, intertwined.' Chloe Aridjis, author of Sea Monsters 'One can never know enough about Leonora Carrington. Through a wealth of fascinating vignettes, Gabriel Weisz captures the magic and mystery of her inimitable persona.' Homero Aridjis, author of Eyes to See Otherwise ‘A touching account of a continuous conversation, The invisible painting sheds light on the extraordinary life of Leonora Carrington from a witness able to share his lived experience and give emotional texture to her biography and creative processes.' Francesco Manacorda, Artistic Director, V-A-C Foundation ‘Utterly exhilarating and poetically accurate. A vital addition to Leonora Carrington studies. The invisible painting wilfully debunks existing myths around the official Carrington family narrative. The preface by Jonathan P. Eburne also paints a glowing portrait of Gabriel Weisz Carrington as someone “deliciously weird” – a creative intellectual in his own right.’ Catriona McAra, author of The medium of Leonora Carrington'This is a moving portrait, tinged with palpable grief. Yet its abiding spirit is joyful: Leonora emerges as a character exuding the same magic and puckish vision that imbues her writing and painting.'Francesca Wade, RA Magazine -- .Table of ContentsPreface by Jonathan EburneMy memoir of Leonora Carrington

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Book SynopsisIn this inspiring rags-to-riches memoir, UFC star Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal reveals how he went from a poor son of immigrants on the streets of Florida to one of the most successful athletes in the world, and how you can use the same principles to achieve success in your life. When an older bully pushed the smaller Jorge Masvidal to the ground in second grade and tried to steal his bike, something snapped inside him. A “skinny kid with a big head,” Jorge grew up in a tough Miami neighborhood, raised by a single mom while his Cuban refugee father was in and out of jail. Jorge reacted in the only way he knew how: a flurry of punches and kicks fueled by red-hot rage that sent the bully to the ground. Over the years, Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal channeled rage into discipline and used his fists to go from feared street scrapper to one of the world’s greatest professional fighters. But his influence isn’t limited to

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Book SynopsisClint Eastwood is Hollywood’s elder statesman and its conscience. He is the standard by which other films and filmmakers are judged. He represents both classical Hollywood and an entirely modern, uncompromising and unfussy directorial presence. There are those who adore him as a cowboy, a superstar, the rugged, unyielding yet introspective face of American machismo. There are those who read him as a great American auteur fashioning uncompromising, fascinating, intellectual films about his country, about life, about whatever the hell takes his fancy.   No single figure in all of Hollywood, operates so freely outside of the strictures of commercial pressure. And yet, or perhaps that is because, he makes hit after hit.   Separation of actor and director is almost impossible. They are intimately related, cross pollinating, but he has become in the latter half of his career to be view as one of the great American artists. While drawing conTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION THE MAGNIFICENT STRANGER The early years (1930–1971) THE DIRECTOR EMERGES Play Misty for Me (1971), Dirty Harry (scene) (1971), High Plains Drifter (1973), Breezy (1973), The Eiger Sanction (1975) WAY OUT WESTERN The strange tale of The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) MAXIMUM MINIMALISM Ten great Clint Eastwood performances AMERICAN STORYTELLER The Gauntlet (1977), Bronco Billy (1980), Firefox (1982), Honkytonk Man (1982), Sudden Impact (1983) THE MAYOR Tightrope (uncredited) (1984), Pale Rider (1985), Heartbreak Ridge (1986), Bird (1988), White Hunter Black Heart (1990), The Rookie (1990) MAYOR OF CARMEL The tale of Clint Eastwood’s brief foray into politics THE LAST RIDE The greatness of Unforgiven (1992) THE INTREPID ICON A Perfect World (1993), The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Absolute Power (1997), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), True Crime (1999), Space Cowboys (2000), Blood Work (2002), Mystic River (2003) AMERICAN SOUL The emotional triumph of Million Dollar Baby (2004) COMPLETING CLINT Rounding out a fifty-year career as filmmaker HOLLYWOOD NOBILITY Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), Changeling (2008), Gran Torino (2008), Invictus (2009), Hereafter (2010) THE UNQUENCHABLE FLAME J. Edgar (2011), Jersey Boys (2014), American Sniper (2014), Sully (2016), The 15:17 to Paris (2018), The Mule (2018), Richard Jewell (2019), Cry Macho (2021) SOURCES

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Book SynopsisAnn Temkin is the MarieJosée and Henry Kravis Chief Curator of Painting and Sculpture at The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Romy Silver-Kohn is a researcher in the Department of Painting and Sculpture at The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Anna Deavere Smith is an actress and playwright credited with creating a new form of documentary theater. She is a professor at the Tisch School of the Arts and the founding director of New York University's Institute on the Arts and Civic Dialogue.

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE CHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, OBSERVER, THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, MAIL ON SUNDAY, FINANCIAL TIMES, NEW STATESMAN, SPECTATOR THE SUNDAY TIMES ART BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 'Explosively enjoyable, bursting with life and art ... A central figure as wild and beguiling as any character in literature' CRAIG BROWN William Feaver, Lucian Freud’s collaborator, curator and close friend, knew the unknowable artist better than most. Over many years, Freud narrated to him the story of his life, ‘our novel’. Fame follows Freud at the height of his powers, painting the most iconic works of his career in a constant pursuit of perfection, just outrunning his gambling debts and tailor’s bills. Whether tattooing swallows at the base of Kate Moss’s back or exacting a strange revenge on Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger, Freud’s adventures were always perfectly characteristic. An enfant terrible till the end, even as he was commissioned to paint the Queen, what emerges is an artist wilfully oblivious to the glitter of the world around – and focussed instead on painting first and last. ‘A dazzling tour de force’ THE TIMES 'A wonderfully vivid chronicle' OBSERVER ‘Does justice to Freud’s pitiless genius’ DAILY MAIL Trade ReviewFreud’s voice rings out on every page, offering opinions on everything ... There’s plenty of celebrity juice here too * Guardian, Best Art Books of 2020 *The painter emerges as fully three-dimensional in this second part of Feaver’s biography * THE TIMES, Best Paperbacks of 2022 *Huge, gossipy and sometimes shocking … no less breezy and eye-popping than the first * The Times and Sunday Times Best Books of 2020 *The concluding volume of Feaver’s unmissable biography sees the great painter evolving from enfant terrible into Old Devil - although really was a man ever so uncompromisingly himself from cradle to grave? As a life it’s both a horrible warning and a shining example, and Feaver does it justice * Daily Telegraph *Freud was a wonderful painter – a genius – but a frequently awful human being. His endless feuds and fights, his numerous sexual partners, his extraordinary work and his eccentricities are all vividly chronicled in this, the second volume of Fever’s monumental biography * Mail on Sunday, Books of the Year *Lucian Freud wanted William Feaver’s biography of him to be ‘the first funny art book’ … [this is] certainly that, with laughs galore. But it’s also much more, not least a wonderfully vivid chronicle of the interlocking worlds of money, art and bohemia * Observer, Best Books of 2020 *Feaver has collected some fabulous stories * Daily Telegraph, The Best Biographies and Memoirs of 2020 *William Feaver’s biography of Lucian Freud also comes in two parts. I read the second part, Fame: 1968-2011 (Bloomsbury) this year and found it as engrossing and well informed as the first, and as judicious and well written -- Colm Toibin * New Statesman, Books of the Year *[One of] the best things I read this year … crammed with enough jaw-dropping, buttocks-clenching revelations to keep a whole Soho pub entertained for days -- Robert Douglas Fairhurst * Spectator, Books of the Year *Explosively enjoyable, bursting with life and art, and all focused on a central figure as wild and beguiling as any character in literature, real or fictitious ... Feaver is wonderfully deft at interweaving the art and the life in an unshowy manner. Throughout the two volumes he manages to convey Freud’s personal magnetism, and the way he was simultaneously controlled and controlling and out of control. And, rare for a biographer, he shows what it was like to be with his subject from day to day -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Magnificent ... Reads like the last days of Rome ... Feaver shares his subject’s style and timing. His clipped prose is running commentary and ironic aside; the sentences, bone-dry, have dramatic entrances -- Frances Wilson * Times Literary Supplement *If Freud’s pictures are at heart all about palpable reality, the same is true of Feaver’s daunting enterprise ... David Hockney described Freud’s portraits as being essentially “an account of looking”, and that’s just what Feaver’s book is too * Sunday Times *Does justice to Freud’s pitiless genius as an artist * Daily Mail *An extremely juicy biography … You can hear Freud’s voice on the page, which is thrilling …Bulges with gossipy stuff … He was more vivid than other people ... and Feaver’s great and generous achievement in his book is to enable us to imagine this. Its last lines – Freud tells him, that he’s always liked lipstick on the teeth – are so perfect. Somehow, they say it all. Dress up, go out, get laid. And then try to get it all down in your work: “Tell people you’ve been alive” -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *A biography that is as generous and unsparing as Freud’s own best work. At once personally intimate and critically detached, perceptive on the art ... but never trying to compete with it, Feaver’s biographical portrait is an unforgettable achievement * Prospect *Superb and eye-opening ... A figure who was driven by strong appetites, told the truth when it was uncomfortable or unwanted, and used paint to play a complicated game in which self-revelation was strangely mixed up with self-disguise. * Prospect *A mesmerising picture of a paintaholic who was incorrigibly on the make … Feaver’s vastly detailed biography is the ideal companion to Freud’s work. It resembles nothing so much as a large Freud canvas: hypnotic, occasionally reiterative, quirkily dark in places, proceeding by a process of obsessive accretion -- Elizabeth Lowry * Guardian *Diverting … Freud played the mischievous bar-room raconteur, chuckling over bygone stunts and scrapes, and sticking the knife into old foes with venomous relish * Sunday Telegraph *The latest instalment of the epic biography of Lucian Freud finds him at the height of his fame * The Times *Absorbing in all its darkness and light, a dazzling tour de force … Remarkable … we have to be grateful that his Boswell was there to make a record * Literary Review *The first volume of Feaver’s biography of the artist was highly acclaimed. This second one covers his most productive years * Sunday Times *PRAISE FOR THE LIVES OF LUCIAN FREUD: YOUTH: 'William Feaver has done a brilliant job -- Lynn Barber * Daily Telegraph *Freud emerges, dab by dab, fully three-dimensional from Feaver’s vibrant recitation of dealers and models, works in progress and gambling ... David Hockney, another sitter, described Freud’s portraits as being essentially “an account of looking”, and that’s just what Feaver’s book is too * SUNDAY TIMES *Freud and Feaver seize you by the elbows, bundle you into a Bentley, haul you round the nightclubs, feed you oysters, Guinness and amphetamines and order you Russian tea and eggs the next morning. I didn’t know whether I’d been roughed up or ravished * The Times *This is a tremendous read. Anyone interested in British art needs it … An extraordinary book -- Andrew Marr * New Statesman *A biography that is as entertaining, and full of twists and turns, as a picaresque novel … It has amazing zip and gusto, and leaves you wanting more -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Sparkling … An extraordinary tranche of anecdote and apercu … Feaver’s wonderful biography comes close to Freud’s own definition of his art: “A picture should be a recreation of an event rather than an illustration of an object” * Sunday Times *Superlative … Every page of this volume affirms his distinction … This is Lucian Freudian biography, packed with stories -- Alexandra Harris * Guardian *Lucian Freud was unique; unique in intensity, in affection, in interest and in fun. This brilliant and compendious biography has the same qualities. It does justice to Lucian -- Frank AuerbachFeaver has filled his book to the brim with the excitement and strangeness of Freud's life -- Colm Toibin * London Review of Books *Mesmerising, almost surreal in its headlong layering of detail, memory and gossip. Propelled by Freud's sardonic recollections, and lit throughout by William Feaver's impeccable, penetrating analysis of the work, this is a monstrously brilliant portrait -- Jenny UglowIn William Feaver’s The Lives of Lucian Freud, based upon decades of conversation with the painter, we hear Freud’s remarkable voice on almost every page. The result is a vivid, intimate biography of one of the 20th century’s most storied artists -- Annalyn Swann and Mark Stevens, Pulitzer Prize-winning authors of de Kooning: An American MasterHere, Freud gets to tell his version of events with panache * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisArt critic Martin Gayford, author of The Yellow House, brings the Regency period to life in Constable in Love: Love, Landscape and the Making of a Great Painter his account of the life of English Romantic painter John Constable. Love, not landscape, was the making of Constable. . . John Constable and Maria Bicknell might have been in love but their marriage was a most unlikely prospect. Constable was a penniless painter who would not sacrifice his art for anything, while Maria''s family frowned on such a penurious union. For seven long years the couple were forced to correspond and meet clandestinely. But it was during this period of longing that Constable developed as a painter. And by the time they''d overcome all obstacles to their marriage, he was on the verge of being recognised as a genius.Martin Gayford brings alive the time of Jane Austen in telling the tremendous story of Constable''s formative years, as well as this love affairTrade ReviewBrilliant, wholly fascinating. I can't recommend this delightful book too highly -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Delightful...a small drama of love, frustration and despair played itself out with massive repercussions for the history of painting * Financial Times *A stunning account of Constable's coming of age as both a man and an artist * Guardian *Gayford's nuanced narrative throws much-needed fresh light, as well as real understanding, on both Constable's painting and his love life * Sunday Telegraph *A scrupulously observed tragical-comical tale * Evening Standard *Engaging, cunning, agreeable and alert to the vagaries of human behaviour * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisCoco Chanel was founder and queen of a fashion empire, and her name is forever linked to an unmistakable style. Before all this, Mademoiselle Coco was Gabrielle, a poor orphan who rejected convention and put her independence above all else. With her grit and tenacity, she made her fortune and restored freedom to women. This volume celebrates a true icon 50 years after her passing, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the timeless Chanel No. 5. She revolutionised the concept of feminine elegance with straight dresses and inventions that would later become icons: these were the little black dress, Chanel No. 5, costume jewellery, the suit with gold buttons, the quilted bag. Her myth lives again in a biography illustrated by images portraying her as the perfect embodiment of the timeless elegance. Because, as Coco said, "fashion passes; style remains."

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Impressive detail, a notable addition to the extensive Music in American Life Series."--Booklist"A well-researched and rapidly consumed book."--AllAboutJazz.com"As comprehensive and appreciative as any of the past Parker literature."--The Santa Fe New Mexican"This is a wonderful, loving, yet unsparing look at Bird's life. Haddix's research is stunning."--Kim Parker"I couldn't put this book down! This is a must read! A very important book. Congratulations to Chuck Haddix for bringing more clarity to the life of Charlie Parker."--Bobby Watson, Director of Jazz Studies, UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance"Finally, a biography that includes a detailed account of Bird's formative years. One feels that Haddix's research may open new discussions about this flawed genius, and the wonderfully detailed aspects of Parker's early life present a hitherto unknown aspect of a tragically short but immensely influential existence. Almost sixty years since Parker's death, this book is surprisingly the first comprehensive account of the life of one of the last century's foremost and yet enigmatic musicians. Essential reading for any jazz musician."--Llew Walker, creator of www.birdlives.co.uk"Balancing historical research and anecdotal information, Haddix artfully crafts a rich context for understanding the musical genius—-and enigma—that was Bird. . . . the book's pacing, numerous quotes from other musicians, and references to legal practices of the time make it hard to put down. Highly recommended."--Choice"A detailed and well-proportioned linear narrative. Assiduous about assigning dates, where possible, to previously vague areas of chronology."--Jazzwise "Clearly the most complete account of the saxophonist's early life and career. What emerges from Bird is a much more human tale that we have not heard before."--Popmatters.com "Bird makes extensive use of primary-source material, much of it hitherto unknown. . . . It sets forth the known facts of Parker's brief life in a way that is unusually thorough for so concise a book."--Commentary "A straightforward, no-frills chronicle of the alto saxophonist. Thanks to diligent research, it pieces together the disparate fragments of Parker's turbulent private life into a persuasive, coherent and convincing narrative."--Record Collector Magazine "A studiously researched overview of the man, it underscores how Parker's life was as concise as his influence was infinite."--Los Angeles Magazine

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Book SynopsisMulatu was the first Ethiopian jazz music-maker to study abroad and thus be exposed to Western musical trends. When he returned to Addis Ababa he pursued his dream of drawing on the musical heritage of his homeland a heritage that has been buffeted by Ethiopia s turbulent history to produce a unique, compelling blend of music: Ethiopian sounds with a twist . In the late 1960 s, his Ethio jazz introduced, among other new ideas, the Afro-Latin soul where he played conga, piano, vibraphone and innovative musical arrangements. These included compositions of popular Ethio jazz music which took on a modern, funk, jazz-infused quality that soon had recording companies knocking at his door.

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Book SynopsisEminem is currently the world''s biggest and most controversial music star. He has been blasted for what many of his critics regard as overtly homophobic and misogynistic lyrics, and resented both for his record-breaking commercial success and being a white man in a black genre. But Eminem''s sheer talent has transcended such condemnation and established him as the most important figure to come out of popular music since Kurt Cobain. Whatever You Say I Am - based on exclusive interviews with members of Eminem''s family, key figures in the music business, sociologists and reviewers and featuring previously unpublished photographs - is the first book to reveal the man behind the controversy. Most crucially, Anthony Bozza''s unprecedented access to Eminem himself makes him uniquely qualified to answer the big question - why does Eminem matter?The answer is found in Eminem''s unlikely life story, in his extraordinary ascent to super-stardom and in an analysis of his music and lyrics. Whatever You Say I Am will keep Eminem''s legions of fans riveted, and will enlighten his critics.Trade ReviewA thorough and overdue appraisal * Guardian *Bozza works at the why and how of the story, discussing the origins and development of hip-hop culture, examining Detroit's place in American music history and looking at race and ethnicity in the US before getting back to Eminem's lyrics and what he 'means' * Independent *The most dangerous threat to American children since polio -- George BushHe has created a sense of what is possible. He has sent a voltage around a generation -- Seamus HeaneyDelivered with pace ...The most exhaustive trawl through the things that matter most about the most dominant artist of the age * Q Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThis first full biography confirms Florine Stettheimer as one of the 20th century’s most significant, progressive artists whose work remains highly relevant today. Stettheimer was a feminist, multi-media artist who painted several sexually explicit, political, identity-issue-based works and documented New York City’s growth as the centre of cultural life, finance, and entertainment between the World Wars. During her first 40 years in Europe, Florine Stettheimer studied academic painting and was aware of all the earliest modernist styles prior to most American artists. Returning to New York, she and her sisters led an acclaimed Salon for major avant-garde cultural figures including Duchamp, the Stieglitz circle, poets, dancers, writers, etc. During her life she showed her innovative paintings in over 46 of the most important museum exhibits and Salons, wrote poetry, designed unique furniture and gained international fame for her sets and costumes for the avant-garde opera, 4 Saints in 3 Acts.

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Book SynopsisThe first full biography of legendary East Village artist and gay activist David Wojnarowicz, whose work continues to provoke twenty years after his death''Carr's biography is both sympathetic and compendious; it's also a many-angled account of the downtown art world of the 1980s . . . a vivid and peculiarly American story'' New York Times''A beautifully written, sympathetic, unsentimental portrait of one of the most lastingly influential late 20th century New York artists'' LA Times______________________David Wojnarowicz was an abused child, a teen runaway who barely finished high school, but he emerged as one of the most important voices of his generation.He found his tribe in New York's East Village, a neighborhood noted in the 1970s and '80s for drugs, blight, and a burgeoning art scene. His creativity spilled out in paintings, photographs, films, texts, installations, and in his life and its recountingcreating a sort of mythos around himself. His circle of East Village artists moved into the national spotlight just as the AIDS plague began its devastating advance, and as right-wing culture warriors reared their heads.As Wojnarowicz's reputation as an artist grew, so did his reputation as an agitatorbecause he dealt so openly with his homosexuality, so angrily with his circumstances as a Person With AIDS, and so fiercely with his would-be censors.Fire in the Belly is the untold story of a polarizing figure at a pivotal moment in American cultureand one of the most highly acclaimed biographies of the year.

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Book SynopsisThis accessible and expertly written introduction and overview of Tracey Emin's life offers a completely up-to-date view on the work of one of the most important and respected artists working today.From some of her previously unpublished early works from the 1980s, through the period of the 'Young British Artists' when she first found international fame, and up to her very latest works - many also published here for the first time - The Guardian's art critic Jonathan Jones brings together Tracey Emin's complete career into one concise and essential volume.

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Book SynopsisFrom 1950 to 1962, John Richardson lived near Picasso in France and was a friend of the artist. With a view to writing a biography, the acclaimed art historian kept a diary of their meetings. After Picasso's death, his widow Jacqueline collaborated in the preparation of this work, giving Richardson access to Picasso's studio and papers. Volume one of this extraordinary biography establishes the complexity of Picasso's Spanish roots; his aversion to his native Malaga and his passion for Barcelona and Catalan "modernisme". Richardson introduces new material on the artist's early training in religious art; re-examines old legends to provide fresh insights into the artistic failures of Picasso's father as an impetus to his sons's triumphs; and includes portraits of Apollinaire, Max Jacob and Gertrude Stein, who made up "The Picasso Gang" in Paris during the "Blue" and "Rose" periods.Trade ReviewRichardson, it hardly needs repeating, is steeped in Picasso and his life (his own friendship with Picasso is the tacit bedrock of this biography) but the arguments he makes are always precise and cogent, never blithely assertive. -- William Boyd * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThe world's most famous mononym, Madonna may be outspoken, but she's never outgunned. With a loyal legion of millions of adoring fans, who have stayed by her side for more than four decades, Madonna has inspired and influenced the hearts, souls, and minds of every generation since her now-mythical arrival in New York in 1978.Continuously reinventing her music and her image, she remains today as every bit as powerful, and iconic, as she did throughout her long reign. With quotes from her earliest interviews to her latest (controversial) award speeches, from virgins to vogue-ing, and material girls to unapologetic bitches, Madonna expresses just a little bit of everything for everyone..."I remember just being frozen... He's male and female and beautiful and elegant and poetic and funny and ironic and other-worldly. And I recognized myself in him somehow and he gave me license to dream a different future for myself." In an interview with Mojo magazine, describing her first concert and the impact David Bowie had on her."I stand before you as a doormat, Oh, I mean, as a female entertainer. Thank you for acknowledging my ability to continue my career for 34 years in the face of blatant sexism and misogyny and constant bullying and relentless abuse." On the music industry, accepting Woman of the Year Award at the Billboard Women in Music 2016.Table of ContentsLike A Virgin - Madonna speaks about her pre-fame days and her earliest musical adventures and aspirations • Material Girl - Madonna throws light on her fight for fame, her rise to success, fortune, glory, and global domination • En Vogue - Madonna talks about her larger than life look at the top of the pop world and her fans • Girl Gone Wild - Madonna discusses her controversies, her battle with the media, her extravagances and her lovers • Express Yourself - Madonna talks about the music industry, her songs, her fame, and her reputation • Lucky Star - Madonna looks back at her career and cherry-picks her favourite, most iconic moments

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Book SynopsisAVAILABLE NOW - THE PERFECT GIFT FOR FATHER'S DAY'Delightful. A great, fun read.' DAVID JASON'Mel Brooks is the king of comedy.' DAVID BADDIEL'Riotous' DAILY MAIL'A jaunty romp across Brooks's career' THE TIMES__________________________At 95, the legendary Mel Brooks continues to set the standard for comedy across television, film, and the stage. Now, for the first time, this EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner shares his story in his own words.Here are the never-before-told, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and remembrances from a master storyteller, filmmaker, and creator of all things funny.From The Producers to Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein to Anxiety and more, All About Me! offers fans fascinating and hilarious insight into Mel Brooks's outstanding collection of boundary-breaking work. Filled with tales of struggle, achievement and camaraderie, Brooks shares riveting details about his upbringing, his career and his many close friendships and collaborations including those with Gene Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock, and the great love of his love, Anne Bancroft.'Not since the Bible have I read anything so powerful and poignant. And to boot - it's a lot funnier!' M. BrooksTrade ReviewConvivial and chirpily amusing...Wisecracking Mel's journey from tragedy to comedy. * Telegraph *Riotous * Daily Mail *A jaunty romp across Brooks's career * The Times *Brooks writes evocatively and with huge affection about his show business breakthrough as a writer * iNews *Such an enjoyable read * RTE *

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Book SynopsisAdele touches the hearts of millions of people who love her for her music and share the real and honest emotion she brings to each and every song. In a cynical age, she is a phenomenon.In Adele, bestselling biographer Sean Smith talks to those close to her as he follows her astonishing journey to fame that began on the gritty streets of Tottenham. Through compelling new research and interviews, he reveals that there is far more to Adele than the superstar we all think we know.He uncovers the story of her complex family relationships; the ill-starred love affair between her mother and father; her devastation at the untimely death of her grandfather; and her seemingly unpromising future in a gang-ravaged area of South London.She found salvation at the BRIT School before a series of unhappy love affairs provided the inspiration for her record-breaking albums. He describes how she conquered America and how it all could have been ended by a dramatic vocal injury. Instead, she has made an amTrade Review‘She’s touched the hearts of millons of people through her emotional tunes, and now author Sean Smith reveals the story behind one of the UK’s most successful exports. Having gained intimate access to the individuals closest to her, Smith exposes the star’s multifaceted life, from a string of miserable relationships in her early years to conquering America. Fans will be engrossed by the highs and lows of the second highest-paid woman in pop (behind Taylor Swift), concluding with her enjoying life as a new mother to son Angelo, alongside partner Simon Konecki.’– 4 star review, OK! Magazine

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Book Synopsis''REVELATORY'' - DAILY TELEGRAPH *****''FASCINATING'' - OBSERVER''ENGROSSING'' - DAILY MAIL''You'll worry at your hunger to keep on reading, but you won't be able to stop'' - GUARDIAN, Book of the Year David Litvinoff was one of the great mythic characters of 60s London. Flitting between the worlds of music, art and crime, he exerted a hidden influence that helped create the Krays twins' legend, connected the Rolling Stones with London's dark side, shaped the plot of classic film Performance and saw him immortalised in a portrait by Lucian Freud. Litvinoff's determination to live without trace means that his life has always eluded biographers, until now. Intent on unravelling the enigma of Litvinoff, Keiron Pim conducted 100 interviews over five years, speaking to Eric Clapton and Marianne Faithfull, James Fox and Mad' Frankie Fraser. The result is an extraordinary feat of researcTrade ReviewYou’ll worry at your hunger to keep on reading, but you won’t be able to stop. * Guardian, Book of the Year *The rock'n'roll legend of David Litvinoff is given its definitive account. A considerable work of detection and human sympathy unpicking old myths and making them new. -- Iain SinclairThis surely has the most startling beginning of any biography to be published this year… Vivid, engrossing… Pim gives an all too graphic picture of the seedy 1950s… He is compassionate and humane at every moment. His prose is always careful and stylish. -- Richard Davenport-Hines * Guardian *Blending pop culture, social history and interviews with raddled survivors, Pim reconstructs every scene in Litvinoff’s twisted history… Jumpin’ Jack Flash provides the missing piece of Swinging London’s social jigsaw. -- Dominic Green * Literary Review *Blending pop culture, social history and interviews with raddled survivors, Pim reconstructs every scene in Litvinoff’s twisted history… Jumpin’ Jack Flash provides the missing piece of Swinging London’s social jigsaw. -- Dominic Green * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisWritten by Piyush Pandey, who has worked in close coordination with Manoj Bajpayee for more than a decade, this book gives a rare insight into the life of one of Indiaâs best contemporary actors.

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Book Synopsis''A joyful examination of two artists from different centuries and the unlikely parallels in their life and work'' Guardian''An ardent fan letter from Hornby that makes you want to reread Great Expectations whilst listening to Sign o''the Times'' Vogue_____________________The essential gift for lovers of Prince, Dickens and everyone in between!In Nick Hornby''s completely joyous and original new book two great figures share the stage. Charles Dickens and Prince. Two wildly different artists who caught fire and lit up the world in ways no others could. Where did their magic come from? How did they work so hard and produce so much? How did they manage or give in to the restlessness and intensity of their creativity? How did they use it, and did it kill them?With wit, curiosity and deep admiration Nick Hornby traces their extraordinary lives - from their difficult beginnings to the women they fell for to theiTrade ReviewA joyful examination of two artists from different centuries and the unlikely parallels in their life and work * Guardian *Well, here's something you didn't expect - a joint biography of Charles Dickens and the pocket-sized popster Prince. And why not? The Fever Pitch chappie explores the nature of genius and what unites the inimitable Boz and the Imp of the Perverse * The Times, Best Books for Autumn *I love this. It's smart and funny and elegantly persuasive -- Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, author of Becoming DickensFrom rocky beginnings to too-early endings, Hornby traces the lives of two very different artists and shows they have more in common than we might think. Dickens & Prince is a playful, illuminating book * The i, 40 Best Books to Read this Autumn *An enjoyable and educational read that will leave fans of either figure positively enlightened * The Independent *An ardent fan letter from Hornby that makes you want to reread Great Expectations whilst listening to Sign o'the Times * Vogue *A winningly grounded manifesto for artists: forget the preciousness so often urged as the route to brilliance, and embrace prodigiousness instead – and don’t forget to make sure you get paid * Sunday Times *Beneath the surface of this fascinating biography there lies a warm and wise craft book about what it takes to make great art in any century * Esquire *A fascinating little book * Irish Times *Hornby’s admiration for his subjects is infectious . . . a zesty tribute to two cultural legends not often spoken about in the same breath * Publishers Weekly *This pairing – two magnificent creatives, centuries and genres apart – makes stunning sense in the hands of their wisest, wittiest fan * People Magazine *Hornby’s love for the work, for the sheer unbelievably prodigal output of both artists, is intense. And when he does write about Prince and sexuality, he is almost jarringly illuminating, particularly when he wrestles with Prince as shapeshifting sexual avatar * Daily Beast *

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Book Synopsis"The all-access autobiography of Bad Religion, a Southern Californian institution and one of the most influential and long-standing punk rock bands of all time In 1980, punk was declared dead in New York, done-for in London, banned in Hollywood. And yet just under the radar, the punk rock virus had continued to spread, slowly inching its way through the breezy beach towns of Southern California and into the edgier interior of East LA. Embraced by the skaters and surfers, and hated by just about everyone else, the LA punk scene ebbed and flowed in the early '80s, each wave ushering in an increasingly aggressive cycle of reformers. It was within this hotbed of deliberate dissonance, lyrical intensity, and untapped teen angst that Bad Religion was born. In Do What You Want, the legendary band tells us the story of their success in their own words, from jamming out in a 'hell hole-ish' garage in the 1980s to headlining sold-out festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, and more. O

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Book SynopsisThe world’s leading reggae scholar spent forty years interviewing Bob Marley and his closest confidants. This is the definitive telling of Bob Marley’s life.Trade Review"If Bob Marley is Jesus in these times, Roger Steffens is Peter." -- Carlos Santana"... absorbing oral history... So Much Things to Say is a major work that helps us better understand Marley's tragic yet inspirational tale." -- Mojo"... absorbing "oral history"... So Much Things to Say is a fitting tribute to the tumultuous life and complex character of the country’s favourite son." -- The Observer"So Much Things to Say, an 'oral' account of Marley's life and times, amounts to an absorbing alternative biography." -- The Spectator"Steffens identifies many more pieces of the man than have ever before been put together in one book." -- The Guardian"[So Much Things to Say] narrates the life of Marley from cradle to grave... Steffens has been on the Marley case for decades, and he’s a crucial voice in this epic chorus... Illuminating." -- Touré - The New York Times Book Review"There have been dozens of Bob Marley books, but this 2017 oral history, decades in the making, is definitive." -- Rolling Stone"For decades Steffens has been a leading authority on Bob Marley. Here he identifies many more pieces of the man than have ever before been put together in one book... Steffens marshals his sources with skill, and we’re left with a complex representation." -- The Guardian

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Book SynopsisA Financial Times Book of the Year: the definitive story of fashion's most enigmatic icon. Karl Lagerfeld lived a very public life. He shaped the Chanel and Fendi brands for decades, and his wit and wisdom amused and informed the world. Yet despite a massively public persona, his hinterland remained unknown. What is the truth behind this larger-than-life but enigmatic figure? The journalist and fashion specialist Alfons Kaiser met Lagerfeld on numerous occasions. He has now written the first authoritative biography on this fascinating character, whose life has always been marked by elements of secrecy. From his parentsâ links with the Nazi regime to Lagerfeldâs last days in the company of only his closest friends, this book â the result of unprecedented archival and field work â divulges all the facets of a passionate artist and workaholic: the precocious boy who preferred to draw in the attic rather than play with his peers; the son who quarrelled with his parents but never got aTrade Review'A must-have for every aficionado! ' - Vogue'A satisfyingly rounded portrait of a designer who remained largely mysterious during his lifetime ' - Financial Times'Aims to give a fuller account of the designer – and is complete with some brilliant black-and-white (obviously) photography of Lagerfeld throughout his life' - i newspaper

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Book SynopsisMatthew Bourne and His Adventures in Dance is an intimate and in-depth conversation between the prize-winning pioneer of ballet and contemporary dance Matthew Bourne and the New York Times dance critic Alastair Macaulay. In 1987, a small, aspirant dance group with a striking name made its debut on the London fringe. In 1996, Adventures in Motion Pictures made history as the first modern dance company to open a production in London''s West End. From this achievement, AMP sailed triumphantly to Broadway - winning three Tony Awards - guided by Artistic Director Matthew Bourne.Even before the inception of AMP, Bourne was fascinated by theatre, by characterization, and by the history of dance. In his early works - Spitfire, Town & Country and Deadly Serious - Bourne brought a novel approach to dance. And in his reworkings of the classics of the ballet canon - Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella - Bourne created witty, vivid, poignant productions that received great acclaim.In the first decade of the new millennium, the company name was changed to New Adventures, and Bourne''s ''classics'', as well as Bourne''s new works - The Car Man, Play Without Words, Edward Scissorhands and Dorian Gray - achieved levels of box-office popularity that have seldom, if ever, been matched in dance. In addition, his choreography for various musicals - My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins and Oliver! - have run for years in the West End and on Broadway.The detail in which Bourne discusses his work with Alastair Macaulay is unprecedented. The two explore Bourne''s upbringing, his training and influences, and his distinctive creative methods. Bourne''s notebooks, his sources and his collaboration with dancers all form part of the discussion in this book.

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Book SynopsisMetallica have sold in excess of 100 million albums and won seven Grammys. Their journey from scuzzy Los Angeles garages to the stages of the world''s biggest stadia has been an epic and often traumatic one, and one of the few truly great rock ''n'' roll sagas.No music writers have been afforded greater access to Metallica over the years than Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwood, two former editors of Kerrang. Having conducted hundreds of hours of interviews with the band, they have between them gained an unparalleled knowledge of the group''s history and an insiders'' view of how their story has developed: they have ridden in the band''s limos, flown on their private jet, joined them in the studio, been invited to the quartet''s ''HQ'' outside San Francisco and shared beers and stories with them in venues across the globe. There are countless memorable stories about the band never before seen in print, tales of bed-hopping and drug-taking and car-crashes and fist-fights an

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Book SynopsisHer Again is an intimate look at the artistic coming of age of the greatest actress of her generation, from the homecoming float at her suburban New Jersey high school to her star-making roles in The Deer Hunter, Manhattan, and Kramer vs. Kramer. Michael Schulman charts Meryl Streep's rise stardom on the New York stage, her passionate, tragically short-lived love affair with John Cazale, and her evolution as a young woman of the 1970s, wrestling with changing ideas of feminism, marriage, love, and sacrifice.

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Book SynopsisA 4-way biography of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, her sister Mimi and Richard Farina and how these beatniks made folk the new rock.Trade ReviewDraws you so far into the story that you read it as a novel; as if you were present, meeting the characters on the stairway, peering at them in smoky coffee houses while they tune their guitars' IRISH TIMES

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Book SynopsisThisis the story of the milltown brothers meteoric rise and 'much ignored' demise. It's the story of a good band that got very luckyand then got very unlucky. More broadly it demonstratesthe role luck plays in all our lives, every thought, breathand movement impacting on the way our futuresunfold.

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Book SynopsisThe book looks at each Elvis song in a different light. Maybe readers will play the lesser heard songs and appreciate them in a different way after reading the story behind the track. If it builds on the fans’ knowledge about Elvis and brings a bigger appreciation of Presley’s music then the book will have achieved its purpose.

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Book Review Editors' ChoiceA Best Book of the Year (So Far): W magazineA Must-Read: The New York Times Book Review, Nylon, Star Tribune, Ms., Kirkus Reviews, The Bay Area Reporter, Town & Country, InsideHook, San Francisco Chronicle[A] monumental biography. Hilton Als, The New YorkerA rich portrait of a glittering, communal, and bygone NYC . . . [and] of the glamorous queer icon. Arimeta Diop, Vanity FairFrom the acclaimed biographer Cynthia Carr, the first full portrait of the queer icon and Warhol superstar Candy Darling.You must always be yourself no matter what the price . . . Don't dare destroy your passion for the sake of others. The Warhol superstar and transgender icon Candy Darling was glamour personi?ed, but she was without a real place in the world.Growing up on

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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 Synopsis''A passionate, pacey tome you should do anything for a copy of'' - Kerrang! I never wanted to be a big star. I just wanted to be the biggest at what I do! Powerful, unstoppable, heavy - when that word still meant something good! - Meat Loaf, as told to Mick Wall Everything in the story of Meat Loaf is big. From the place he was born (Texas); to the family he was born into (his father weighed 22 stone, his uncle weighed over 40 stone, while Meat Loaf himself weighed 17 stone before he was even in his teens); to the sound he made (a colossal collision between Richard Wagner, Phil Spector and Bruce Springsteen); and of course the records he sold - nearly 50 million in Britain and America alone.From a tumultuous childhood with an alcoholic father to the relentless abusive bullying he endured, nobody could have predicted Meat Loaf''s meteoric rise to fame. But when the messianic rock opera Bat Out of Hell was released Trade ReviewA passionate, pacey tome you should do anything for a copy of. * KERRANG! *

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Book SynopsisThe first intimate look at the cracked fairytale life of Hollywood's first family, the Farrows. John Farrow was Hollywood royalty. An Academy Award-winning director and screenwriter, he was married to the talented and beautiful actress Maureen O'Sullivan, best known for playing Jane in Tarzan films with Johnny Weissmuller. Together they had seven children, including esteemed actress Mia Farrow, mother of journalist Ronan Farrow. From the outside, they were a fairytale Hollywood family. But all was not as it seemed.The Farrows of Hollywood: Their Dark Side of Paradise reveals that Mia Farrow's allegations of sexual molestation by Woody Allen of their seven-year-old adopted daughter, Dylan, has roots in Farrow’s childhood relationship with her father, John Farrow. John was often an abusive father to his children, his wife, and to his co-workers in Hollywood. Called the most disliked man in Hollywood, John Farrow was a tortured, tragic artist and father. He left his children a legacy of trauma and pain that the family kept hidden. It erupted only years later when Mia Farrow unknowingly revealed her pain through her words and behavior in her allegations aimed at Allen.The book includes new research, never-before-revealed interviews with actors who worked with John Farrow, and an original theory from author, biographer, and documentarian Marilyn Ann Moss.Trade Review"An immersing and compelling read about a renowned Hollywood family."—Library Journal "Film scholar Marilyn Ann Moss embraces the messiness of real life in an astonishingly good new book, The Farrows of Hollywood. Released by vigilante independent publisher Skyhorse, which picks up books institutions want canceled but readers want released, this volume delves into the sad, strange history of the Farrow family. It serves as a useful reminder that nearly everyone has closets with skeletons. . . . After reading this rigorously researched, perceptively written book, however, we know one other thing for sure: in the Woody-Mia contretemps, only a fool would try to find the moral high ground. 'What a mess' is a more sensible reaction than any firm feeling about the parties’ innocence or guilt, let alone virtue or sinfulness."—Washington Examiner “Introducing the Farrows, Hollywood royalty who had it all: sex, drugs, and cheating hearts . . . With a tale that includes the Black Dahlia, the Manson family, Frank Sinatra, and the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi . . . YOU GOTTA LOVE THIS FAMILY!”—Paul Lynch, director of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Prom Night, and The (New) Twilight Zone “Bad men leave a deep imprint on their communities and, especially, on their families. Case in point, John Farrow, Hollywood director of the film noir era; tall, handsome, commanding, a magnet for the ladies—but also a bullying brute on set, a serial abuser of actresses, a person Katharine Hepburn called the most depraved man she had ever known. And Mia Farrow’s father. It’s the impact of this man’s schizophrenic reign of trauma on those who worked and lived with him that is at the heart of Marilyn Moss’s compelling new book. Scrupulously researched, as it had to be— Farrow’s past was shrouded in mystery—and sharply written, it unravels as a twisted tale of a twisted man who left his mark on his oldest daughter in ways that have only become clear with the passage of time.”—William Gray, screenwriter of The Changeling “Like her marvelous books on directors George Stevens and Raoul Walsh, Marilyn Ann Moss’s The Farrows of Hollywood delves deep into its subject and is a flat-out pleasure to read. She excavates the rich and tragic history of writer and director John Farrow, who was as intent on self-destruction as he was on achieving fame and acclaim. The saga of his marriage to the established star Maureen O’Sullivan is no less troubling and just as expertly told. Then, there’s the tale of their seven offspring, with its central episode devoted to Mia Farrow’s and Woody Allen’s tortured relationship.”—Robert L. Pincus, art critic, cultural historian, and author of Edward and Nancy Reddin Kienholz: On a Scale That Competes with the World “The great revelation of The Farrows of Hollywood is the engrossing character of patriarch John Farrow, a handsome poseur, fabricator, sadist, compulsive womanizer, and devout Catholic who managed to parlay his storytelling skills into becoming a film director. Nonetheless, he was a talented director who, at his best, memorably evoked his personal demons in noirs like The Big Clock, Where Danger Lives, and the Faustian Alias Nick Beal in what author Marilyn Ann Moss describes as a landscape of his unconscious. Moss makes a convincing case that his traumatic legacy had profound effects on the characters of his children, especially daughter Mia.”—Frederic Lombardi, author of Allan Dwan and the Rise and Decline of the Hollywood Studios “As a Hollywood dynasty, the Farrows have been overshadowed by the likes of the Fondas, the Hustons, and the Coppolas, but their contributions to film history and to popular cultural in general are significant and well worth delving into. With this rich and deep dive, Marilyn Moss crafts a vivid story of multiple generations of lives lived in the spotlight, whether they welcomed the attention or not. Great stuff.”—Shawn Levy, author of The Castle on Sunset, Paul Newman: A Life, and In on the Joke

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Book SynopsisJoe Strummer was one of the twentieth century’s iconic rock’n’roll rebels. As frontperson, spokesperson and chief lyricist for The Clash, he played a major role in politicising a generation through some of the most powerful protest songs of the era, songs like ‘White Riot’, ‘English Civil War’ and ‘London Calling’. At the heart of this protest was the struggle for social justice and equality.The punk rock politics of Joe Strummer examines Strummer’s beliefs on a range of issues – including socialism, alienation, exploitation, multiculturalism and humanism - analysing their credibility, influence and impact, and asking where they came from and how they developed over time. Drawing on Strummer’s lyrics, various interviews and bootleg recordings, as well as interviews with those he inspired, The punk rock politics of Joe Strummer takes the reader on a journey through the political influences and motivations that defined one of the UK’s greatest punk icons.Trade Review'Ever wondered why UK punk rock was political and US punk rock wasn't? Two words: Joe Strummer. Gregor Gall takes a deep dive into the convictions and contradictions of the legendary Clash front man who tried to walk it like he talked it.'Billy Bragg, musician, writer and campaigner'With this book, Gregor Gall has written what must be the last word on Joe Strummer, the icon of rock politics. Examined from multiple perspectives, and drawing on the words of Strummer himself and of the many who followed and commented on him, The Punk Rock Politics of Joe Strummer is a fine and fitting testimony to the complexity and contradictions of the man’s life, his music and his politics.'Professor John Street, University of East Anglia and author of Music and Politics'An absolute ”must read” for all those who believe ”it’s more important than just music".'Richard Chorley, Louder Than War 'Bringing together an impressive amount of research, Gall examines in meticulous detail many aspects of the political psyche and personality of the Clash frontman, charting his political development from his Clash heydays and then beyond. The Punk Rock Politics of Joe Strummer is not just for hardcore Strummer fans (although, if you are, then this book is a must), but anyone interested in the political impact of music will find The Punk Rock Politics of Joe Strummer insightful and comprehensive.'Molly Tie, Punktuation magazine 'This unique examination of Joe Strummer’s political outlook is exactly the kind of material that’s been missing from books on The Clash and its frontman.'Simon Whittle, Scottish Socialist Voice'A sober analysis of Strummer’s shifting political outlook and the influence he’s exercised on fans’ views and activism.'George Binette, Camden New Journal 'The punk rock politics of Joe Strummer proves to be an indispensable text for the student as well as the general reader interested in the politics of one of the great rock ‘n’ roll songwriters of the 20th century.'Richard Parfitt, Red Pepper 'A forensic examination of Strummer’s political trajectory.'Pat Carmody, Socialist Worker'When the subject is Joe Strummer you hope the music and message will shine through, and this book is a welcome and novel addition to the many words on the enigmatic and inspiring Clash frontman that was taken too soon.' Mik Sabiers, The Morning Star 'It’s a thoughtful, and highly readable, account – and not a hagiography – of the man, the band, and the politics of this country which sheds light on where we were and where we are today.'Keith Richmond, ASLEF Journal'Readers seeking another Strummer hagiography will be disappointed; those seeking an insightful, thought-provoking and inspiring analysis of popular music’s intersections with politics, and a critical dissection of the musician’s role in promoting political ideals, will be delighted.'James Peacock, Capital & Class -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Studying Strummer: issues and approach 2 Perceptions of Strummer’s politics3 Strummer’s politics and philosophical perspectives4 Rebel rock and its ramifications5 Rocking against the rich6 Advocate not activist7 Straying from socialism8 Strummer’s influence: secondary sources 9 Follower testimony ConclusionIndex

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Book Synopsis***WINNER OF THE NEW ANGLE PRIZE FOR LITERATURE******WINNER OF THE HWA NON-FICTION AWARD***A beautifully written exploration of the world of Edwardian folk music, and its influence on the composer Ralph Vaughan WilliamsIn January 1905 the young Vaughan Williams, not yet one of England's most famous composers, visited Norfolk to find folk songs 'from the mouths of the singers'. An old fisherman, James 'Duggie' Carter, performed 'The Captain's Apprentice', a brutal tale of torture sung to the most beautiful tune the young composer had ever heard.With this transformational moment at its heart, the book traces the contrasting lives of the well-to-do composer and a forgotten cabin boy who died at sea, and brings fresh perspectives on folk-song collectors, the singers and their songs.***AS READ ON BBC RADIO 4***'A quirky, fascinating read. Davison excels in evoking English landscapes' Sunday Times 'Animated, entertaining... Presenting a richly complex picture of a subject that can all too easily be shrouded in a sentimental haze' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewThe book makes for a quirky, fascinating read. Davison excels in evoking English landscapes, especially in Vaughan Williams's beloved fen country -- Christopher Hart * The Sunday Times *The Captain's Apprentice explores a more profound and complex seam of folk discovery, and concentrates on a single life-changing episode in Vaughan Williams' life... [it is] well written and researched -- Ian Thomson * Financial Times *Animated, entertaining . . . quietly sensitive to ironies and ambiguities without being pretentious, presenting a richly complex picture of a subject that can all too easily be shrouded in a sentimental haze * Daily Telegraph *Davison's evocative, far from linear approach does great service to the composer * Literary Review *A sadistic murder and the staggering words of a song drive Davison's obsession to unravel this vivid story of lives, landscapes and musical inspiration. No stone is left unturned in the meticulous gathering. Her gift is a work of love and infinite care -- Keggie Carew, Costa Award-winning author of DADLAND

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Book Synopsis'Exuberantly entertaining' NYT Book Review'Mark Braude's writing and subject make this book irresistible, as was Kiki herself.' Jim Jarmusch'A delightful, marvelously readable, meticulously-researched romp of a book, Kiki Man Ray brings to life not just the kaleidoscopically talented Kiki herself, but the endlessly fascinating Montparnasse milieu over which she reigned.' Whitney Scharer, author of THE AGE OF LIGHTThough many have never heard her name, Alice Prin - Kiki de Montparnasse - was the icon of 1920s Paris. She captivated as a ground-breaking nightclub performer, wrote a bestselling memoir, sold out exhibitions of her paintings, and shared drinks and ideas with the likes of Pablo Picasso, Peggy Guggenheim, and Marcel Duchamp. She also shepherded along the career of a then-unknown American photographer: Man Ray.Following Kiki in the years between 1921 and 1929, when she lived and worked with Man Ray, Kiki Man Ray charts their complicated entanglement and reveals how Man Ray - always the unabashed careerist - went on to become one of the most famous photographers of the twentieth century, enjoying wealth and prestige, while Kiki's legacy was lost.But this isn't a story of an overbearing male genius and his defeated muse. During the 1920s it was Kiki, not Man Ray, who was the brighter of the two rising stars and a powerful figure among the close-knit community of models, painters, writers and café wastrels who made their homes in gritty Montparnasse. Following the couple as they created art, struggled for power and competed for fame, Kiki Man Ray illuminates for the first time Kiki's seminal influence on the culture of 1920s Paris, and challenges ideas about artists and muses, and the lines separating the two.'Kiki de Montparnasse was more than a muse - she was a vivacious, independent woman whose talent and magnetism helped make Paris the center of the art world in the 1920s. In Mark Braude's riveting cultural history, the Queen of Montparnasse rises again. This is a lively and compassionate tribute to the chanteuse, model, and portraitist who held center stage in her life, and who inspired some of the finest Surrealist art of the twentieth century.' Heather Clark, author of Pulitzer Prize-finalist Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia PlathTrade ReviewA lively study of [Kiki de Montparnasse] who exemplified [a] cocktail of high spirits and a heedless self-destruction. * The Times *[Kiki is] a vibrant force in a colorful world - and the heart of Braude's history. A rich, affectionate look at bohemian Paris. * Kirkus Reviews *Mark Braude focuses on Kiki de Montparnasse and Man Ray . . . immersing the reader in a world where everyone was pushing their creativity in unimaginable directions. * The Spectator *Exuberantly entertaining . . . A riveting glimpse into the absinthe-fuelled Parisian jazz age * Lady Magazine *Finally, a detailed and entertaining account of Alice Prin, aka Kiki de Montparnasse, and her artistic and romantic relationship with Man Ray. Best known as a popular (and usually nude) artists' model, Kiki was a singer and performer, a painter, a writer, and the central female instigator for the avant-garde demimonde of Paris in the 1920s. Mark Braude's writing and subject make this book irresistible, as was Kiki herself. * Jim Jarmusch *The frank, lively voice that comes through in Kiki's vignettes makes a cornerstone for the case, which Braude renews, that she was far more than Man Ray's party-girl companion - that it was, in fact, her vitality, her connectedness in artistic networks, and her intuitive understanding of his creative process that hoisted Man Ray on to the highway to fame. * The Telegraph *Kiki de Montparnasse was more than a muse - she was a vivacious, independent woman whose talent and magnetism helped make Paris the center of the art world in the 1920s. In Mark Braude's riveting cultural history, the Queen of Montparnasse rises again. This is a lively and compassionate tribute to the chanteuse, model, and portraitist who held center stage in her life, and who inspired some of the finest Surrealist art of the twentieth century. * Heather Clark, author of Pulitzer Prize–finalist RED COMET: THE SHORT LIFE AND BLAZING ART OF SYLVIA PLATH *Kiki Man Ray is a thoroughly researched and gracefully written life of the (until now) underestimated model, performer, painter, actress, and influencer known as Kiki de Montparnasse. Mark Braude's biography brings her out of the wings and sets her firmly center stage in this evocative portrait of artistic life in the Paris of the 1920s. * Carolyn Burke, author of FOURSOME and LEE MILLER *A delightful, marvelously readable, meticulously researched romp of a book, Kiki Man Ray brings to life not just the kaleidoscopically talented Kiki herself, but the endlessly fascinating Montparnasse milieu over which she reigned. -- Whitney Scharer, author of THE AGE OF LIGHTMan Ray captured 1920s Paris in his photographs, especially those of a singular muse: Kiki de Montparnasse, a hostess, a celebrity, a cabaret performer, a woman whose bawdy, heartfelt songs were the pulse of Paris. Mark Braude turns the tables - and the lens - and gives us a unique portrait: Man Ray from the perspective of that celebrated muse and her ephemeral art of performance. * Tilar J. Mazzeo, New York Times bestselling author of THE HOTEL ON PLACE VENDÔME: LIFE, DEATH, AND BETRAYAL AT THE HOTEL RITZ IN PARIS *Kiki de Montparnasse - model, muse, artist - is the sole realist in a room of Surrealists. Unafraid of contradiction, she lived the fast life in the stillness of a pose, the intimacy of a public dream. Beautifully written, with a light touch and a wise eye, Mark Braude's Kiki Man Ray arranges the elements of Kiki's life, letting radiant patterns emerge. * Alexander Nemerov, author of FIERCE POISE: HELEN FRANKENTHALER AND 1950S NEW YORK *Exquisitely crafted . . . [S]harp and succinct . . . Kiki Man Ray rescues its protagonist from the dustbin of history and advocates eloquently for the vitality and importance of the world she helped to forge. * HAMILTON CAIN, Wall Street Journal *If the only 'Kiki de Montparnasse' you are aware of is a lingerie brand, please check out this top-notch, highly readable nonfiction from cultural historian Mark Braude right now. * CAT AUER, A.V. Club *[An] affectionate biography . . . As irresistible as it is overdue. * Chicago Review of Books *Mark Braude's exuberantly entertaining biography sets out to rebalance the much-told story of Left Bank Paris, in which Kiki - model, memoirist and muse - is usually cast as a bit player. * The New York Times *[A] heady romp through the galleries and nightclubs of interwar France * Vogue *I loved Mark Braude's entertaining dual-biography . . . Kiki entranced the American Surrealist Man Ray, and the book charts their tempetuous relationship. * Lady Magazine *2022 Bookshelf Christmas Special - The Lady's Pick of the Year's BEST BOOKS* *'Mark Braude's spirited and thoroughly researched account brings [Kiki] to life, highlighting her belligerent nature and generous spirit, as well as her activities as an artist and writer . . . Braude's colourful evocation captures the heady atmosphere of a Paris still traumatized by the First World War' * TLS *

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Book SynopsisWilliam Morris - poet, designer, campaigner, hero of the Arts & Crafts movement - was a giant of the Victorian age, and his beautiful creations and provocative philosophies are still with us today: but his wife Jane is too often relegated to a footnote, an artist's model given no history or personality of her own. In truth, Jane and William's personal and creative partnership was the central collaboration of both their lives. The homes they made together - the Red House, Kelmscott Manor and their houses in London - were works of art in themselves, and the great labour of their lives was life itself: through their houses and the objects they filled them with, they explored how we all might live a life more focused on beauty and fulfilment.In How We Might Live, Suzanne Fagence Cooper explores the lives and legacies of Jane and William Morris, finally giving Jane's work the attention it deserves and taking us inside two lives of unparalleled creative artistry.Trade ReviewLyrical...enjoyable * Mail on Sunday *Jane is fortunate in her biographer * The Times *Well researched and extensive * BBC History Magazine *Fascinating * The Field *[Cooper] traces the Morrises' shared and separate lives with clarity and judicious assessment * History Today *Fagence Cooper succeeds, against the odds, in restoring some reality to our view of Jane Morris, giving a proper sense of a woman with striking gifts and talents identifiably her own * Literary Review *Delightful, accessible and insightful * Church Times *Jane Morris's creative influence on her husband's design empire has finally been revealed in a new book [...] the first joint biography of the couple will shine a light on their personal and creative partnership, and reassert the rightful place of Jane Morris - a skilled embroiderer and talented designer - in the history books. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisIn 1996 Tupac Shakur, one of the most talented artists of his time, was murdered by an unknown gunman. Fred L. Johnson and Tayannah Lee McQuillar examine the theories surrounding his death and the story of Tupac's lost legacy in this definitive biography. For millions, Shakur gave voice to their stories, but there was also another side to him, revealed as his life spun out of control, as the whispered warnings from friends went unheeded and the denunciations of critics grew louder. Disturbingly, he sang and wrote about his impending death. When it came, it brought the music industry to its knees and ended an era when American rappers were leaders in using their art to speak the truth to corporate, government, and judicial power.Trade ReviewBooklist, 2/15/2010 "The Shakur who emerges here is no illiterate gangster-turned-gangsta but, rather, a bright, artistic, driven man whose life and career continue to inspire many people." Library Journal, 1/29/10 "Original...As much a biography of Shakur as a history of racial struggle in America...Those looking for a compelling, no-holds-barred biography and an education regarding significant historical events should seek out this book." Buffalo News, 1/31/10 "Fine writing and deft analysis." PublishersWeekly.com, 2/22/10 "Exhaustively researched and contextualized...Insightful, enjoyable and expansive...This undeniably solid biography will deepen anyone's appreciation of the hip-hop legend." The Source, March 2010 "An in-depth and chilling analysis of the rap icon."

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Book SynopsisSaxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter has not only left his footprints on our musical terrain, he has created a body of work that is a monument to artistic imagination. Throughout Shorter''s extraordinary fifty-year career, his compositions have helped define the sounds of each distinct era in the history of jazz. Filled with musical analysis by Mercer, enlivened by Shorter''s vivid recollections and enriched by more than seventy-five original interviews with his friends and associates, this book is at once an invaluable history of music from bebop to pop, an intimate and moving biography and a story of a man''s struggle toward the full realization of his gifts and of himself.Hardly anyone will dispute Shorters''s overall importance as one of jazz''s leading figures over a long span of time. Though indebted to a great extent to John Coltrane, with whom he practiced in the mid-''50s while still an undergraduate, Shorter eventually developed his own more succinct manner on tenor sax, retaining the tough tone quality and intensity and, in later years, adding an element of funk. Shorter has played with the greats of jazz during his career including Horace Silver, Maynard Ferguson, Art Blakey, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis, becoming the bands most prolific composer. In 1970, Shorter, along with his old cohorts, formed the band Weather Report and went on to tour with the likes of Santana and has also featured on albums from the Rolling Stones. In 2006, Blue Note released the long awaited ''Blue Note''s Great Sessions: Wayne Shorter.''

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Book SynopsisOn a lazy Sunday in 1954, twelve-year-old Jerry Schilling wandered into a Memphis touch football game, only to discover that his team was quarterbacked by a nineteen-year-old Elvis Presley, the local teenager whose first record, "That’s All Right," had just debuted on Memphis radio. The two became fast friends, even as Elvis turned into the world’s biggest star. In 1964, Elvis invited Jerry to work for him as part of his "Memphis Mafia," and Jerry soon found himself living with Elvis full-time in a Bel Air mansion and, later, in his own room at Graceland. Over the next thirteen years Jerry would work for Elvis in various capacities — from bodyguard to photo double to co-executive producer on a karate film. But more than anything else he was Elvis’s close friend and confidant: Elvis trusted Jerry with protecting his life when he received death threats, he asked Jerry to drive him and Priscilla to the hospital the day Lisa Marie was born and to accompany him during the famous "lost weekend" when he traveled to meet President Nixon at the White House. Me and a Guy Named Elvis looks at Presley from a friend’s perspective, offering readers the man rather than the icon — including insights into the creative frustrations that lead to Elvis’s abuse of prescription medicine and his tragic death. Jerry offers never-before-told stories about life inside Elvis’s inner circle and an emotional recounting of the great times, hard times, and unique times he and Elvis shared. These vivid memories will be priceless to Elvis’s millions of fans, and the compelling story will fascinate an even wider audience.

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Book SynopsisKathy Acker was a punk-rock counter-cultural icon, and innovator of the literary underground. The interviews collected here span her amazing, uncompromising, and often misunderstood 30-year career.

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