Biography: arts and entertainment Books
Faber & Faber Mike Leigh on Mike Leigh
Book SynopsisThis new revised edition brings Mike Leigh's career up-to-date, including his film about J.M.W. Turner, Mr. Turner, and his epic masterpiece, Peterloo.Five-time Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner, the only British director to have won the top prize at both Cannes (for Secrets & Lies) and Venice (for Vera Drake) - Mike Leigh is unquestionably one of world cinema's pre-eminent figures. Now, in this definitive career-length interview, he reflects on all that has gone into the making of his unique body of work.In their commingling of bleakness and humour, Leigh's films recreate the tragi-comic world of people whose everyday lives are far from glamorous: a world in which 'the done thing' usually prevails, contrary to our inner hopes, wants or needs. Leigh's work has always reflected its times and entered the vernacular, whether the harsh studies of Meantime and Naked or the humour of the now-legendary Abigail's Party and Nuts i
£21.25
Faber & Faber The Reactor
Book SynopsisOne of the finest accounts of the mysterious workings of grief I have ever read.' Helen MacdonaldCompletely compelling.' Olivia Laing''Read it with awe and sorrow.'' Fatima BhuttoAfter the sudden death of his father, Nick Blackburn embarks on a singular, labyrinthine journey to understand his loss. How do you create an existence when all you can see is a void?The Reactor is a memoir about absence and creative possibilities, assembled like the pieces of a puzzle. Through philosophy, music, fashion, psychology, art and film, Blackburn travels a vast panorama of ideas and characters to offer an entirely new exploration of grief. This is a book about looking for and finding chain reactions and human connection a work of enduring fragmentary beauty.
£10.44
Faber & Faber Why Karen Carpenter Matters
Book SynopsisA PITCHFORK MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEARA radical, literary and intimate insight into one of the twentieth century's most vital vocalists. ''Tongson serves up a number of astute observations about fantasy, projection, longing, normalcy, and aberrance.'' MAGGIE NELSON''Deftly weaves memoir, history, and cultural criticism to highlight the dynamic relationship between artists and listeners.''PITCHFORKIn the ''60s and ''70s, America''s music scene was marked by raucous excess, reflected in the tragic overdoses of young superstars such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. At the same time, the uplifting harmonies and sunny lyrics that propelled Karen Carpenter and her brother, Richard, to international fame belied a different sort of tragedy the underconsumption that led to Karen''s death at age thirty-two from the effects of an eating disorder.In Why Karen Carpenter Matters
£8.54
Faber & Faber Goodbye Russia
Book SynopsisIn 1940 Sergei Rachmaninoff, living in exile in America, broke his creative silence and composed a swan song to his Russian homeland. What happened in those final haunted years and how did he come to write his farewell masterpiece, the Symphonic Dances?Rachmaninoff left Petrograd in the throes of the Russian Revolution in 1917. He was 44 years old, at the peak of his powers as composer-conductor-performer, moving in elite Tsarist circles and running the family estate, his refuge and solace. He had already written the music which, today, has made him one of the most popular composers of all time: the second and third Piano Concertos and two symphonies. Reeling from the trauma of a life in upheaval, he wrote almost no music and quickly had to reinvent himself as a fêted virtuoso pianist, building up untold wealth and meeting the stars, from Walt Disney and Charlie Chaplin to his Russian contemporaries and polar opposites, Prokofiev and Stravinsky. Still, the melancholy of leaTrade ReviewPraise for Music for Life (Faber)'Fiona Maddocks's descriptions are dangerously moreish...a timely reminder of the importance of music.' - Anna Picard, BBC Music MagazinePraise for Hildegard of Bingen by Fiona Maddocks:'This entertaining book is a revelation.' - Daily Telegraph
£21.25
Faber & Faber Not Your China Doll
Book Synopsis''A deeply researched, hugely empathic biography.'' HELEN O''HARA''Sure to enthral anyone fascinated by audacious, before-their-time women.'' KAREN ABBOTT''This superbly detailed book does Wong''s story proper justice.'' BOB STANLEY''A must read, for anyone who loves pop culture or cares about representation in Hollywood.'' PHIL YUSet against the glittering backdrop of Los Angeles in the gin-soaked Jazz Age and the rise of Hollywood, this debut book celebrates Anna May Wong, the first Asian American movie star, to bring an unsung heroine to light and reclaim her place in cinema history.In her time, Anna May was a legendary beauty, witty conversationalist, and fashion icon. Plucked from her family's laundry business in Los Angeles, she rose to stardom in Douglas Fairbanks's blockbuster The Thief of Bagdad. Fans and the press clamored to see more of this unlikely actress, but when Hollywood repeatedly cast her in st
£22.50
Wood Stork Press Feodor Rojankovsky The Childrens Books and Other
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£21.56
Penguin Putnam Inc Waxing On
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£17.84
Alphabet Legends Pty Ltd Harry Styles Legends Alphabet
Book SynopsisFrom Watermelon Sugar to Adore You, Matilda to As It Was, Harry Styles Legends Alphabet is a swooning, pop-filled voyage through the greatest hits of Britain's brightest star. Put on your flashiest suit jacket (or dress!) and get ready to fall head-over-heels for Harry Styles. All trademarks, quotations, company names, registered names, individual names, products, logos, and catchphrases used or cited in this book are the property of their respective owners and used in this book for informational, reporting, review and guidance purposes only. This book has not been licensed, approved, sponsored, or endorsed by an person or entity.
£14.24
Omnibus Press With the Beatles Historic Photographs of Dezo
Book SynopsisA timeless record of the Fab Four at the height of Beatlemania, as captured by the lens of master photographer Dezo Hoffman.
£13.46
Duckworth Books Elvis Has Left the Building The Day the King Died
Book SynopsisInElvis Has Left the Building, Dylan Jones takes us back to those heady days around the time of his death and the rise of Punk Rock.Trade Review'As a writer, he has an effortless style with an unerring instinct for the absurd and the noteworthy' Independent'Jones is a wonderfully fluent writer, with a terrific knack for atmospheric phrasemaking, period detail and juicy factoids' Daily Telegraph
£9.49
Gill Pocket Book of WB Yeats
Book SynopsisWilliam Butler Yeats ranks among the greatest literary talents of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Though best-known as the author of poems as timeless and delicately crafted as The Lake Isle of Innisfree and for his unrequited love of Maud Gonne, he exerted a remarkable influence in many other aspects of Irish life: a brother to the artist Jack B. Yeats, he was also a leading light of the Irish Literary Revival, founder of the Abbey Theatre and two-term senator. This volume forms a compact introduction to his life and the events shaped his work.
£6.99
Gill Rorys Story My Unexpected Journey My Unexpected
Book SynopsisNobody thought Rory O'Connor would make it written off as thick' at school he struggled to find a career he felt he could succeed in. When a hot tip led to a win on the horses it was the beginning of a dangerous spiral into a gambling addiction that gnawed away at his self-esteem even further.How did the man who thought he had nothing to live for go on to become a stand-up comedian selling out venues around Ireland and reaching 800,000 people through his social media platforms? This is Rory's Story.Told with his trademark humour, this straight-talking memoir is a book for anyone who wants to be inspired by an ordinary man's mental health journey.''A witty and moving look behind one of the biggest comedy success stories of recent years.'' Donal Lynch, Sunday Independent''Great Read'' Kieran Cuddihy, The Hard Shoulder''''Brilliant'' Dermot and Dave
£15.29
Gill Finucane and Me
Book SynopsisThe surprising story of Ireland's beloved broadcaster.
£19.79
James Clarke & Co Ltd A A Brush with Life
Book SynopsisThrought-provoking ecological paintings and the artist who created them.Trade ReviewWho knows how Peter's recognition as a top artist would have turned out had he, as a 2-year-old, not been evacuated from the soon-to-be occupied Guernsey in WW2 to London. It was here that his exceptional talent was spotted in the early 50's by his teacher. A Brush with Life encapsulates so many of Peter's paintings along with the deep meanings he wants to share with us. A wonderful insight into the real Peter Le Vasseur. Dame Mary Perkins, Founder, Specsavers Peter's paintings are full of vibrant colours and beauty. Under the surface there are provoking and subtle messages, bursting to be heard. Jason Monaghan draws our attention to Peter's warnings of the ugliness of human mismanagement and exploitation, driven by man's greed and ignorance. However, Peter manages to combine these powerful emotions and still create beautiful and desirable art. I am in awe. Eric, Lord de SaumarezTable of ContentsForeword by Lee Durrell 1. Peter in Wonderland 2. 'You Don't Know Who You Are' 3. A Brush With Life 4. Into the Future Catalogue Acknowledgements and Sponsors' Notes
£19.71
The History Press Ltd My Heart is Bleeding
Book SynopsisWritten by Dorothy’s good friend Johnny Tudor, this fascinating first biography of a Welsh singing phenomenon is an unprecedented insight into the glitz and glamour of 1940s and ’50s Hollywood.
£14.24
The History Press Ltd Bombshells
Book SynopsisFrom Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe to Ruth Ellis: the stories of the strong, spirited and controversial women who created the enduring image of the Blonde Bombshell
£15.29
The History Press Ltd Beethoven
Book SynopsisA concise biography of one of the world's most influential composers
£10.44
The History Press Ltd Deep Are the Roots
Book SynopsisThe story of Black British theatre at its most radical, entertaining and profound - told through the lives of its great trailblazersTrade ReviewStephen Bourne is a hero of our history. He has published countless books, always accessible to all, on the hidden stories of our presence on these shores. Let’s honour Stephen for quietly shining a light on our history -- Booker Prize-winner Bernardine EvaristoStephen Bourne is a tireless chronicler of the Black British history of the last century or so. I love Stephen’s books because he gives voice to real people – Black soldiers, sailors, musicians, campaigners, doctors, nurses, broadcasters and so many more -- Jhalak Prize-winner Patrice Lawrence
£17.09
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc Bob Marley and the Wailers
Book SynopsisBob Marley and the Wailers documents the band’s crucial role in establishing reggae’s global popularity, with socially conscious lyrics that made Marley a symbol of pride and justice. Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1: Beginnings: 1945–1962 CHAPTER 2: The Studio One Ska Years: 1963–1966 CHAPTER 3: From Rock Steady to Reggae: 1967–1971 CHAPTER 4: The International Breakthrough: 1972–1974 CHAPTER 5: The First Third-World Superstar: 1975–1979 CHAPTER 6: The Final Years: 1980–1981 EPILOGUE: Legacy SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS
£19.80
Running Press,U.S. Pop Culture Pioneers
Book SynopsisCelebrate the empowering and inspiring women who helped create, shape, and make pop culture great, from the creator of SYFY WIRE's FANGRRLS and the podcast 'Forgotten Women of Genre'! In every medium in popular culture—from books, films, and video games to comics, television, and animation—women have been instrumental in creating and shaping the worlds, characters, and genres that we know and love. However, much of their hard work and innovation has gone largely unrecognized—until now. With a foreword by American Gods actress Yetide Badaki and essays exploring the history and transformation of pop culture's genres and mediums, Pop Culture Pioneers explores and pays respect to the women who played a crucial role in creating and influencing of some of the most famous worlds and characters in pop culture including: Directors & Producers like Karyn Kusama (Aeon Flux,
£19.00
McFarland & Co Inc Karl Dane A Biography and Filmography
Book Synopsis Karl Dane''s life was a Cinderella story gone horribly wrong. The immigrant from Copenhagen was rapidly transformed from a machinist to a Hollywood star after his turn as the tobacco-chewing Slim in The Big Parade in 1925. After that, Dane appeared in more than 40 films with such luminaries as Lillian Gish, John Gilbert and William Haines until development of talkies virtually ruined his career. The most famous casualty of the transition from silent to sound film, Dane reportedly lost his career because of his accent. He was broke and alone at the height of the Depression and committed suicide in 1934.
£29.57
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group When Caesar Was King
£24.00
Penguin Random House Group Prairie Man
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£22.94
Contemporary Books Inc The Warrior Within
Book SynopsisDuring his lifetime, legendary martial artist Bruce Lee formulated a complex personal philosophy--a synthesis of Eastern and Western ideals--that extolled the virtues of knowledge and total mastery of one's self. However, most of his philosophical writings could be found only within the personal library of the Bruce Lee estate--until now. The Warrior Within is the most comprehensive volume of these teachings, meant to help you apply Lee's philosophies to your own life. This unique guide reveals such life-affirming secrets as: Seeing the totality of life and putting things into perspective Understanding the concept of Yin and Yang Defeating adversity by adapting to circumstances Tapping into inner spiritual forces to help shape the future With a foreword by Linda Lee Cadwell and photographs and other memorabilia from Bruce Lee's short but celebrated life, The Warrior Within is an engrossing and easy-to-understand guide to the little-explored wo
£19.54
The University Press of Kentucky Yves Montand
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£48.60
McNidder & Grace Bob Dylan in the Big Apple
Book SynopsisBob Dylan in the Big Apple takes you on Dylan's journey through the streets of New York - the locations, characters and stories that formed a backdrop to his life and work. Follow in his early footsteps to the Cafe Wha? and more recently the Beacon Theatre. With maps, illustrations and wonderful stories this is a must for any Dylan enthusiast.Trade Review‘There is something magical about walking in the footsteps of our musical heroes. Whether it’s the Beatles in Liverpool, Leonard Cohen in Hydra or Bob Dylan in New York City, these pilgrimages can be vastly more rewarding than any planned vacation. Refreshingly non-academic, this book begins and ends at the Beacon Theatre, where Dylanophiles from around the world converge for a glimpse of the enigma that is Bob Dylan. This is your travel guide through time and space to the favorite haunts of the most celebrated folkie on planet earth.’ Kevin Odegard, musician, ‘Blood on The Tracks’
£10.80
Oldcastle Books Ltd Simenon
Book SynopsisGeorges Simenon was the most successful writer of crime fiction in a language other than English in the modern age, and his detective Maigret is rivalled only by Sherlock Holmes; André Gide called Simenon 'the greatest French novelist of our times'. Barry Forshaw examines the man's extraordinary life and work on both page and screen....Trade ReviewBite-size briefings on everything you could possibly want to know about the French novelist, philanderer and armchair philosopher. The perfect companion to Pierre Assouline's magisterial 1997 biography, Simenon * Sunday Times (Best New Crime Fiction for July 2022) *Barry Forshaw's detailed study unravels clues to the Belgian writer's prolific output and controversial life... Where Forshaw's book comes into its own is in its detailed dissection of the books Simenon wrote and the many film and television adaptations that they spawned * Financial Times *Bite-size briefings on everything you could possibly want to know about the Belgian novelist, philanderer and armchair philosopher: not only the Maigret books and the many adaptations of them, but also other works, personal history, Parisian geography and, thankfully, precious little hagiography * Times & Sunday Times Crime Club *An exemplary and insightful work of reference that I highly recommend -- Alan Price * London Grip *
£11.69
Canongate Books Boogie Man
Book Synopsis''You the funkiest man alive.'' Miles Davis'' accolade was the perfect expression of John Lee Hooker''s apotheosis as blues superstar: recording with the likes of Van Morrison, Keith Richards and Carlos Santana; making TV commercials (Lee Jeans); appearing in films (The Blues Brothers); and even starring in Pete Townshend''s musical adaptation of Ted Hughes'' story The Iron Man. His was an extraordinary life. Born in the American deep south, he moved to Detroit and then, in a career spanning over fifty years, recorded hypnotic blues classics such as ''Boogie Chillen'', rhythm-and-blues anthems such as ''Dimples'' and ''Boom Boom'' and, in his final, glorious renaissance, the Grammy-winning album The Healer. Charles Shaar Murray''s authoritative biography vividly, and often in John Lee Hooker''s own words, does magnificent justice to the man and his music.Trade ReviewMurray's book represents a paradigm of investigative biography: musical nuts and bolts threaded through vividly recounted social history and philosophical muscle, written by a thinking writer who knows exactly how to operate and manipulate language. Sprawling over 500 pages, Murray is word - and comma - perfect. -- Philip Clark * * Gramophone * *Charles Shaar Murray combines a serious grasp of what he needs to take from post-modernist notions such as intertextuality or shamanism, and chastened common sense about life and sorrow, with an adult capacity to shut up and, a lot of the time, let John Lee himself do the talking -- Roz KaveneyThe new foreword drops tantalising hints that the chronology on which the book is based may be out by five or six years...this is a fascinatingly detailed account of an equally fascinating life. * * Record Collector * *
£15.29
Barricade Books Inc Morgan Freeman A Biography
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£17.09
Queen's Temple Publications Strings Winds Pipes Pianos and Food
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£14.20
Pan Macmillan Cheers Geoff
Book SynopsisThe Times Sports Books of the Year'Cracking read . . . loved it' – Piers Morgan'Packed with brilliant anecdotes about the biggest names' – The MirrorWith a foreward from Alan Shearer.There are just a handful of people who have been ever-present for the thirty years of the Premier League, but only one person has been at the very epicentre for the entire period: Geoff Shreeves. From signalling the very first ball to be kicked on Sky’s Premier League coverage to facing down Sir Alex Ferguson’s wrath (on countless occasions), Geoff is an integral part of the football fabric, respected by everybody in the game while still asking the toughest questions. Geoff’s interviews with Cristiano Ronaldo, Arsène Wenger, Frank Lampard and Alan Shearer have become the stuff of legend, but it is his close personal relationships with the game’s star names that really sets him apart.PackTrade ReviewWhen it’s the showpiece game of the weekend and it’s on Sky Sports, you know Geoff will be there. No one handles the big moments better -- Jordan HendersonThe man who asks the questions now gives the answers -- Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer for The TimesA legend of television journalism -- Arsène WengerThroughout my career, Geoff is always there and always fair. As a player and a manager, you can’t ask for more than that -- Frank LampardGeoff has always been professional, honest and authentic in all the time we’ve worked together. He has a special way of connecting with his line of questioning -- Steven GerrardGood times. Bad times. Who is always there? Geoff is always there and he does his job perfectly -- Jose MourinhoPacked with brilliant anecdotes about the biggest names * The Mirror *Cracking read by a brilliant reporter – loved it -- Piers MorganSometimes, all that is needed is a bit of fun, and for that you can turn to Cheers, Geoff, by Geoff Shreeves, who is generous with his anecdotes * The Times *
£10.79
Austin Macauley Publishers Pussycat
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£18.69
Penguin Putnam Inc The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
Book SynopsisAt last, the full story behind Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman's epic romance, including stories, portraits, and the occasional puzzle, all telling the smoldering tale that has fascinated Hollywood for almost two decades.
£13.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Speak Well of Me
Book SynopsisSir Ronald Harwood (1934-2020) was one of the most prolific playwrights and screenwriters of his generation. His acclaimed play, The Dresser, has been constantly revived since its premiere in 1980 and has been adapted for both cinema and television, most recently the 2015 BBC production starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Ian McKellen. Harwood's other notable film adaptations included Roman Polanski's haunting depiction of life in the Warsaw Ghetto, The Pianist (2002), Baz Luhrmann's frontier epic, Australia (2008), and Dustin Hoffman's poignant celebration of old age, Quartet (2012). His many awards included an Oscar for The Pianist and a BAFTA for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007). Speak Well of Me turns the focus onto Harwood himself. Based on extensive interviews with the playwright during his final years, the biography recounts Harwood's gradual transformation from lacklustre South African schoolboy to doyen of theatreland Trade ReviewRonald Harwood is a highly intelligent dramatist who handles important themes with a powerful theatrical skill. Furthermore he possesses an ability to tell stories, by which I mean his sense of narrative binds his skills to produce a compelling stage battle. I envy his abilities. * Arnold Wesker *Table of ContentsIntroduction Prologue Act One: WALKING THE BOARDS 1.) A Man from the Colonies 2.) Uncle Lionel 3.) 'Clean My Boots!' Act Two: A STAR IS BORN 4.) Early Magic 5.) 'Mine for the Asking' Act Three: BEYOND OLYMPIA 6.) Show Business 7.) Man of Letters INTERVAL 8.) The Good Companion Act Four: SARTOR RESARTUS: The Tailor Retailored 9.) The Dresser 10.) With the Greats Act Five: AUTUMN TRIUMPH 11.) The Pianist 12.) Arise, Sir Ronald CURTAIN CALL 13.) At Home Acknowledgements Major Works By Ronald Harwood Endnotes Index
£20.89
Disney Book Publishing Inc. Women of Walt Disney Imagineering
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£24.64
Arcturus Publishing Ltd Leonardo da Vinci
Book SynopsisThe genius behind Leonardo da Vinci''s artwork is introduced in this deluxe silkbound guide with full-colour illustrations. Leonardo da Vinci''s desire for accuracy and realism in his work drove him to take an almost forensic approach to recording the world around him, and to produce an enormous number of paintings, drawings, plans and diagrams.Selected from the entire range of Leonardo''s finest drawings, this book presents a comprehensive and inspiring collection that is testament to Leonardo''s accurate eye and unfailing hand, showcased with breathtaking full-color images.Once you have studied these images you will begin to understand why Leonardo believed the eye was the perfect instrument for absorbing all the laws of nature, and that the artist was the perfect instrument for their expression.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Silkbound Classics series brings together deluxe gift editions of literary classics, present
£13.49
Orion Publishing Co The Blues Brothers
Book Synopsis''Highly entertaining'' Empire''A must read'' Independent''Remarkable'' Judy Belushi Pisano''This book is on a mission from God'' DBC PierreThe Blues Brothers hit cinemas on 20th June, 1980. Today, it ''s recognised as one of the most significant films of the twentieth century. Its spotlighting of some of the world''s most legendary rhythm and blues artists - Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker - made the film as unforgettable as its wild car chases. In The Blues Brothers, Daniel de Visé shares the history of this timeless movie, encompassing the colourful childhoods of Belushi and Aykroyd; the comedic revolution sparked by The Harvard Lampoon; the birth and drug-filled early years of Saturday Night Live; and of course, the indelible behind-the-scenes narrative of how the film was made. Based on original research and dozens of interviews probing the memories of principals from director John Landis and producer Bob Weiss to Aykroyd himself, The Blues Brothers illuminates in glorious technicolour, the making of an American masterpiece and the birth of modern comedy.''Droll and rigorous . . . bracingly thorough'' The Times''[A] diverting celebration'' Irish Times
£13.49
Hodder & Stoughton Capotes Women
Book SynopsisSUNDAY TIMES ''SUMMER BOOKS'' CHOICE Readers LOVE Capote''s Women: ''A genuinely fascinating account of a great writer and his muses.'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Loved it! Fabulous book about a extremely complicated and complex character.'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''You won''t want to put this down.'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''There are certain women,'' Truman Capote wrote, ''who, though perhaps not born rich, are born to be rich.'' These women captivated and enchanted Capote - he befriended them, received their deepest confidences, and ingratiated himself into their lives. From Barbara ''Babe'' Paley to Lee Radziwill (Jackie Kennedy''s sister) they were the toast of mid-century New York, each beautiful and distinguished in her own way.For years, Capote had been trying to write what he believed would be his magnum opus, Trade ReviewThe real-life stories behind the female friends he gossiped about in his final, unfinished novel - who include Jackie Kennedy's sister - make for a wicked read in the hands of the gifted Laurence Leamer. * Irish Examiner *'A glittering insight into the high society world of Capote's swans. The ruthless betrayal of the muse by the artist leaves you breathless.' * Anna Pasternak *'Deliciously gossipy... Leamer's snappy prose makes Capote's Women a juice, engaging read...' * Sunday Independent *Engagingly gossipy, Leamer provides extensive behind-the-scenes peaks into Capote's tangled social life. * Kirkus *Leamer showcases his knack for telling a rattling good tale in this vivid look at Truman Capote's failed attempt to write 'the greatest novel of the age.' . . . This juicy story delivers. * Publishers Weekly *In this delicious dissection of the writer and the women he befriended, Laurence Leamer uncovers what it meant to let Capote into your inner circle, how each of these women found friendship and frustration with him, and what happened when he committed the ultimate betrayal. * Town & Country *Babe Paley, Slim Keith, C.Z. Guest... they were the stars of '50s and '60s society. They were also the women Truman Capote loved, flattered - and betrayed. A fascinating look at their world. * People *There are portraits by Cecil Beaton, dresses by Courrèges , champagne by the bucket.... Leamer works hard to squeeze every last bit of excitement and glamour from these ingredients. * Guardian *'He writes with considerable panache.' * Telegraph *By weaving the details of Capote's life in and out of the fascinating origin stories of the most admired women of the 1950s and 1960s, Leamer reminds us that beauty, wealth and privilege-not to mention talent-aren't enough to guarantee a happy ending. But oh, what fun can be had along the way! * Melanie Benjamin *Like Capote, Leamer has a great eye for the telling detail, the perfect bon mot. * Sunday Times *'Catty, scandalous and pacy.' * TLS *
£999.99
Orion Publishing Co Foo Fighters
Everyone from Sir Paul McCartney and Jimmy Page to Queens of the Stone Age now relishes the chance to share a stage with Dave Grohl and his legendary Foo Fighters. The question is: why? Musical depth? Not really. Major success? Well, yes. Despite no longer shifting albums in the same quantity as they did twenty years ago, this band can still fill stadiums the world over (when Dave's not breaking his leg, of course).Long before Kurt Cobain blew his brains out in 1994, Dave Grohl was planning for a life after Nirvana. The unflinching bright sunlight to Cobain's permanent midnight darkness, Grohl had come from a similar broken home to his erstwhile band leader, but came out of the experience differently - brimming with positivity and a shrewd grasp of opportunities in the music industry.Did Grohl merely take the sonic blueprint of Nirvana and embellish it with a more life-affirming pop sheen? Of course he did. Every band in America that sold over a million records in the post-grunge 90s did the same. The difference was that Grohl had real credibility. And he knew it.With exclusive testimony from true insiders (including Krist Novoselic, Grohl's bass-playing partner in Nirvana, ex-girlfirends, record company executives, tour photographers and confidantes), this book is an exploration of the real story behind Grohl and the Foo Fighters - the only serious literary biography of the group and its leader, one of the most famous and critically bulletproof rock figures of the 21st century.
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co No Regrets
Book SynopsisA colourful collection of pieces on the enigmatic genius of Scott Walker from THE WIRE.
£9.99
Little, Brown Book Group The Reacher Guy
Book SynopsisThe definitive authorised biography of Lee ChildTrade ReviewHere is a biography as gripping as one of Lee Child's own bestsellers. Heather Martin digs deep to uncover nugget after nugget. Trust me, this is gold. -- Ian Rankin
£10.99
Orion Publishing Co The Castle on Sunset
Book SynopsisFor nearly ninety years, Hollywood''s brightest stars have favoured the Chateau Marmont as a home away from home. Filled with deep secrets but hidden in plain sight, its evolution parallels the growth of Hollywood itself. Perched above the Sunset Strip like a fairy-tale castle, the Chateau seems to come from another world entirely. An apartment-house-turned-hotel, it has been the backdrop for generations of gossip and folklore: 1930s bombshell Jean Harlow took lovers during her third honeymoon there; director Nicholas Ray slept with his sixteen-year-old Rebel Without a Cause star Natalie Wood; Anthony Perkins and Tab Hunter met poolside and began a secret affair; Jim Morrison swung from the balconies, once nearly falling to his death; John Belushi suffered a fatal overdose in a private bungalow; Lindsay Lohan got the boot after racking up nearly $50,000 in charges in less than two months. Much of what''s happened inside the Chateau''s walls has eluded the publTrade ReviewFascinating, dishy, and glimmering with insight, THE CASTLE ON SUNSET is a must-read for anyone interested in the rich and racy history of Tinseltown. Shawn Levy's entertaining and deeply researched biography of a building chronicles experiences both glamorous and sordid, historical and contemporary. This is the definitive book about Hollywood's most storied hotel -- Cheryl Strayed, author of WILD: A JOURNEY FROM LOST TO FOUNDChateau Marmont in West Hollywood is unquestionably one of the most dauntingly glamorous hotels in the world [and this book is] an exuberant record of its life and times . . . Levy's pages teem with extraordinary and extreme personalities -- Simon Callow * THE SUNDAY TIMES *I felt like I was sneaking around the hallways of the Chateau after midnight and peering through keyholes in history . . . Lovingly researched and wonderfully dishy -- Joe Hagan, author of STICKY FINGERS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JANN WENNER AND ROLLING STONE MAGAZINEI want to live inside this book! -- Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of DAISY JONES & THE SIXAs elegant and naughty as the hotel's guests . . . tells a secret history of American film, fame and decadence. It's a spellbinding read -- Peter Ames Carlin, author of HOMEWARD BOUND: THE LIFE OF PAUL SIMONA fabulously fizzy account * VANITY FAIR *A fascinating exposé of wild nights and celebrity scandals at Hollywood's iconic hotel * GRAZIA *An irresistible, deliciously dishy deep-dive . . . told in prose so witty and alive, you feel you're sitting at the bar with Dominick Dunne. This is a book worthy of its glamorous, alluring subject -- Wednesday Martin, author of PRIMATES OF PARK AVENUE: A MEMOIRHollywood and Beverly Hills were separated by two miles of unpaved road when the Chateau Marmont - modelled on a Loire Valley castle by its owner Fred Horowitz - was completed in 1929. Levy's witty, intimate account describes how the flowering of hotspots on the Sunset Strip beginning in the 1930s made the Marmont a show-business magnet -- Jane Ciabattari, BBC Culture
£9.49
AuthorHouse Mums the Word
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£11.66
House of Anansi Press Ltd ,Canada In Too Deep
Book SynopsisThe unlikely story of a bunch of small-town Canadian punks who conquered the global music industry.After punk found commercial success in the '90s, with bands like Green Day, the Offspring, and Blink-182, a new wave of punk bands emerged, each embodying the DIY spirit of the movement in their own way. While Southern California remained the spiritual home of punk rock in the early 2000s, an unexpected influx of eager punks from Canada took the world by storm, changing the genre forever. Drawing on exclusive interviews and personal stories from nine artists of the era, In Too Deep explores how Canada became the improbable birthplace of a new age of punk icons. Covering the rowdy punk rock of Gob and Sum 41, the arena-sized ambitions of Simple Plan and Marianas Trench, the reinvention of the popstar by Avril Lavigne and Fefe Dobson, and the quest to bring hardcore into the mainstream by Billy Talent, Silverstein, and Alexisonfire, In Too Deep traces the evolution of a music scene that challenged notions of who and what should be considered punk while helping to define Millennial culture as some of their generation's first superstars.
£15.19
University Press of Mississippi Mark Gruenwald
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£14.24
Stanford University Press Unknown Past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim Star
Book SynopsisA biography of the "Cinderella" of Egyptian cinema—the veneration and rumors that surrounded an unparalleled career, and the gendered questions that unsettled Egyptian society. Layla Murad (1918-1995) was once the highest-paid star in Egypt, and her movies were among the top-grossing in the box office. She starred in 28 films, nearly all now classics in Arab musical cinema. In 1955 she was forced to stop acting—and struggled for decades for a comeback. Today, even decades after her death, public interest in her life continues, and new generations of Egyptians still love her work. Unknown Past recounts Murad's extraordinary life—and the rapid political and sociocultural changes she witnessed. Hanan Hammad writes a story centered on Layla Murad's persona and legacy, and broadly framed around a gendered history of twentieth-century Egypt. Murad was a Jew who converted to Islam in the shadow of the first Arab-Israeli war. Her career blossomed under the Egyptian monarchy and later gave a singing voice to the Free Officers and the 1952 Revolution. The definitive end of her cinematic career came under Nasser on the eve of the 1956 Suez War. Egyptians have long told their national story through interpretations of Murad's life, intertwining the individual and Egyptian state and society to better understand Egyptian identity. As Unknown Past recounts, there's no life better than Murad's to reflect the tumultuous changes experienced over the dramatic decades of the mid-twentieth century.Trade Review"A fascinating and fun read, Unknown Past carefully documents Layla's story, fills voids, and makes important interventions into debates on her life and legacy. Just as Layla's life was bigger than the screen, this book goes beyond the history of cinema to illuminate questions about religion, society, gender, and politics."—Beth Baron, The Graduate Center and City College, City University of New York, author of The Orphan Scandal"Bringing together biography and history, Unknown Past examines transformations in midcentury Egypt through the life of the hugely popular Layla Murad. Unraveling rumors and debunking myths, Hanan Hammad draws attention to the social pressures Murad faced as a working woman, as a Jew, as a wife, and as a mother."—Deborah Starr, Cornell University, author of Togo Mizrahi and the Making of Egyptian Cinema"Unknown Past is meticulously researched and vividly written. Hanan Hammad unpacks, in a careful, clear-headed, and brave manner, all the myths surrounding Egypt's beloved star Layla Murad, from her career's entanglement in the Arab-Israel conflict to her premature retirement. An essential read."—Ted Swedenburg, University of Arkansas, editor of Palestine, Israel, and the Politics of Popular Culture"Unknown Past: Layla Murad, the Jewish-Muslim Star of Egypt is a descriptively compelling and detailed account of the life and work of a culturally, artistically, and politically influential Egyptian woman through modern Egypt's complicated and perilous times. A consummate work of impeccable scholarship, no Egyptian Cinema or 20th Century Egyptian Biography collection would be complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of a copy of Unknown Past." -Julie Summers, Reviewer's Bookwatch"This is the kind of book any aspiring scholar should want to write at least once during their career: Hammad both lucidly engages relevant academic literature and tells a fascinating story for nonspecialist readers new to one of the dizzying number of disciplines into which she intervenes."—Abe Silberstein, Cineaste"[Unknown Past is] a story not only about religion and ethnicity in the Arab world, but also one about how being female can amplify the effects of being a minority in a society that is not as 'modern' as it prides itself on being."—Lauren Hakimi, The Forward"This engaging text sheds new light on old questions and provides greater depth to this Golden Age star.... Ultimately, readers see Murad as a complex, multidimensional individual—acelebrity, wife, lover, mother, and businesswoman. Recommended."—M. L. Russell, CHOICETable of ContentsIntroduction: Why Layla Murad? 1. The Schoolgirl: Making Layla Murad 2. The Country Girl: Branding Layla Murad 3. Adam and Eve: Interfaith Family, Fame, and Gossip 4. The Blow of Fate: The Politics of Boycotting Israel 5. The Unknown Lover: Layla Murad and the Free Officer 6. The Starling of the Valley: Remembering Layla Murad Conclusion: Can an Egyptian Be a Single Mother and a Jew?
£21.59
Pan Macmillan Joan: Beauty, Rebel, Muse: The Remarkable Life of
Book SynopsisVolumes have been written by and about Patrick Leigh Fermor, but his wife Joan is almost entirely absent from their pages. Now Simon Fenwick, the first archivist to see the Leigh Fermor papers, reveals a woman hitherto only fleetingly glimpsed. A talented photographer, Joan defied the social conventions of her times and, though she came from a wealthy and well-connected family, earned her own living. Through her lover, and later editor of the TLS, Alan Pryce-Jones, she met and mingled with the leading lights of 1930s bohemia – John Betjeman, Cyril Connolly, Evelyn Waugh, Maurice Bowra (who adored her) and Osbert Lancaster, among others. She featured regularly in the gossip columns, not only for her affairs and her fashionable clothes, but for her intrepid travels to Russia and America.In 1936 she met and subsequently married the journalist John Rayner, but her belief in open marriage was not shared by her husband and their relationship foundered. Then, in 1944 in Cairo, where she was a cypher clerk, she met Paddy Leigh Fermor, lionized for his daring kidnap of the Nazi General Kreipe in Crete. They would remain together until her death in 2003.In this riveting biography, written with full access to Joan’s personal archive, Simon Fenwick reveals the extraordinary life of a woman who, until now, has been defined by the man she married and their famous friends. Here, at last, Joan is placed at the centre of her own story. It is also a riveting portrait of a marriage and a milieu, revealing the sexual and intellectual mores of that wartime generation who lived life at full tilt, no matter what the consequences.
£21.25
Pan Macmillan Handel in London: The Making of a Genius
Book Synopsis'How refreshing, to read a book about music written for a music lover and not a musicologist. In clear, lucid, entertaining prose, Jane Glover makes those of us who lack musical literacy better understand and appreciate Handel’s divinity.' - Donna Leon, author of Handel's Bestiary and the Inspector Brunetti mysteriesHandel in London tells the story of a young German composer who in 1712, followed his princely master to London and would remain there for the rest of his life. That master would become King George II and the composer was George Frideric Handel.Handel, then still only twenty-seven and largely self-taught, would be at the heart of musical activity in London for the next four decades, composing masterpiece after masterpiece, whether the glorious coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest, operas such as Giulio Cesare, Rinaldo and Alcina or the great oratorios, culminating, of course, in Messiah. Here, Jane Glover, who has conducted Handel’s work in opera houses and concert halls throughout the world, draws on her profound understanding of music and musicians to tell Handel’s story. It is a story of music-making and musicianship, of practices and practicalities, but also of courts and cabals, of theatrical rivalries and of eighteenth-century society. It is also, of course, the story of some of the most remarkable music ever written, music that has been played and sung, and loved, in this country – and throughout the world – for three hundred years.Trade ReviewRemarkable ... Glover's command of detail is impressive ... Her beautiful descriptions of Handel's music sent me again and again, in mid-chapter, to my LPs and CDs to play the arias she had just described ... Handel in London is a delight to read, -- Richard Stokes * Financial Times *Written in elegant prose that wears its author's scrupulous scholarship lightly ... Glover deftly weaves musical analysis into her biographical flow. Her greatest achievement, however, is to give life and music a political and social context. -- Richard Morrison * The Times *Beautifully written ... This book's main achievement, though, is to evoke with admirable clarity and sympathy the rich, interdependent symbiosis between Handel, his singers, his audiences, the royal family and the great capital city that housed their life and work. -- Jessica Duchen * Sunday Times *Lively and warm ... It's refreshing to read a chronicle of Handel's years in London written by a renowned conductor and musicologist ... She wants us to love Handel's music as much as she does and she writes convincingly and fully about each work, singling out her favourite arias for mention, but always in a way that's readable by a music-loving lay person. -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * Country Life *Inspiring and reassuring ... told with fluency * Spectator *Handel’s workload leaves one breathless. Reading, in Jane Glover’s beautiful prose, about the astonishing succession of masterpieces he composed is almost overwhelming. As is the schedule for the singers and musicians who learned one lengthy opera whilst performing another. I now have a much clearer picture of the man himself as he adapted his operas to suit the singers at his disposal, rewriting arias and nurturing young artists, and of his generosity in all he did for the Foundling Hospital. I’m full of admiration for the subject of the book, as I am for its author. -- Dame Felicity LottBehind Jane Glover's baton lurks a brilliant explainer in words, as well as music, able to unravel the threads of musical technique, performance history, and social and political events, exploring each before braiding them tightly together to weave a brightly coloured tapestry of Handel, of his music, and of the world about him. Handel in London is an education, and a delight. -- Judith FlandersAs an experienced international conduction who once told an interviewer that her ambition was to conduct Handel's entire dramatic oeuvre (has she yet achieved this? I wonder), Jane Glover is ideally placed to show us how these pieces continue to glitter ... [she] turns our gaze towards the creative artist, resilient and inspired, and asks us to listen ever more attentively to his tuneful voice. -- Jonathan Keates * Literary Review *Delightfully readable, informed and enlivened like no other Handel biography by Jane Glover’s understanding of a professional music director’s life. -- Dr Ruth Smith, author of Handel's Oratorios and Eighteenth-Century ThoughtJane Glover gives us a welcome portrait of Handel as a hard-working composer and conductor. She makes us feel the bruising schedule he set for himself, and for all who worked with him, from the point of view of a conductor who knows full well what it takes to mount Handel’s great opera or oratorios. She details Handel’s uncanny ability to choose his singers when given the opportunity, and she illustrates his amazing skill for writing to the strengths of all his singers, while also bringing to life the characters they portrayed. -- Professor Ellen T. HarrisHow refreshing, to read a book about music written for a music lover and not a musicologist. In clear, lucid, entertaining prose, Jane Glover makes those of us who lack musical literacy better understand and appreciate Handel’s divinity. -- Donna LeonGlover’s story sweeps us away with her practitioner’s musical insights, her attention to historical detail, and her placing of Handel’s work in social and political context, which few of his biographers have attempted before. Handel in London is an unputdownable read. -- Hugh Canning * Opera *Glover tells [Handel’s] story with easy scholarship, placing Handel in the midst of the city’s turbulent social life, beset by aristocratic factions and temperamental prima donnas. Out of this maelstrom, great music flourishes -- Richard Fairman 'Books of the Year' * Financial Times *Table of ContentsSection - i: List of Illustrations Section - ii: Foreword Section - iii: Author’s Note Section - iv: Preface Chapter - 1: EARLY YEARS ‘An infant rais’d by thy command’ [Saul] Chapter - 2: LONDON, 1710 ‘Populous cities please me then’ [L’Allegro] Chapter - 3: THE FINAL STUART YEARS ‘Cease, ruler of the day, to rise’ [Hercules] Chapter - 4: HANOVER IN LONDON ‘From mighty kings he took the spoil’ [Judas Maccabaeus] Chapter - 5: THE LAUNCH OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY ‘Music, spread thy voice around’ [Solomon] Chapter - 6: THE FORTUNES OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY ‘Ah! think what ills the jealous prove’ [Hercules] Chapter - 7: NEW BEGINNINGS ‘Now a different measure try’ [Solomon] Chapter - 8: NEW ENDINGS ‘Toss’d from thought to thought I rove’ [Alexander Balus] Chapter - 9: DEFIANCE ‘All danger disdaining’ [Deborah] Chapter - 10: RECOVERY AND REINVENTION ‘Strange reverse of human fate’ [Alexander Balus] Chapter - 11: ‘Hallelujah’ Chapter - 12: WINDING DOWN ‘Great in wisdom, great in glory’ [Judas Maccabaeus] Chapter - 13: THE FINAL ACT ‘With honour let desert be crown’d’ [Judas Maccabaeus] Section - v: Afterword Acknowledgements - vi: Acknowledgements Section - vii: Bibliography Section - viii: Notes Index - ix: Index
£21.25
