Biography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisRossini’s success in Italy in the early 1820s was certainly not echoed in France, where he was regarded as “an ill-bred parvenu, whose cheap popularity was an insult to a great musical tradition”. Stendhal was the first of his contemporaries to recognize the genius of this important Italian composer. Besides being a fascinating and penetrating account of the Italian composer’s most creative years, and of contemporary musical events and opinions, this work is one of the finest items in the Stendhalian literary canon. Details of Rossini’s early life are followed by penetrating discussions of the operas, libretti, personalities of the period and Rossini’s own character.Trade ReviewLovers of Rossini, of Stendhal, even of Mozart, will all be delighted. -- Cyril ConnollyNo more informative or thorough book on Rossini is ever likely to be written. * The Guardian *The best appreciation of Rossini ever written. -- Ernest Newman

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Book SynopsisRenowned for his contribution to the development of the motion picture, Eadweard Muybridge was a pioneering photographer. Alongside his remarkable photographic achievements, his personal life was riddled with melodrama, including a near-fatal stagecoach accident, a betrayal and a murder trial. Marta Braun's new biography traces the sensational events of Muybridge's life against his personal reinventions as artist, photographer, high-minded researcher and showman. Muybridge's opportunity in photography came in the 1870s, when his skills were enlisted by a racehorse breeder to prove the 'unsupported motion controversy' - the theory that during a horse's stride, there was a moment when all four of its legs left the ground. The resulting collection 'Motion Studies' gave Muybridge a taste for the scope of his trade; photography could be more than landscapes, and he went on to apply it to the realm of scientific research. He invented the 'zoopraxiscope' as a means of capturing movement too quick for the human eye to record.Simulating motion through a series of stills, his pioneering use of sequence photography served as a forerunner to the introduction of cinematography in the 1890s, and his work has gone on to influence the worlds of art, science and photography. Featuring newly discovered information about the photographer and his masterpiece Animal Locomotion this illuminating study examines the character of the man whose influence has resounded through generations. In Eadweard Muybridge, Braun considers why he was and is so central to the history of art, science, photography and motion pictures.Trade Review'Braun's meticulous study is rich in detail' - Guardian 'tells [Maybridge's] story with clarity and economy and is particularly good on the battle between science and art in his photographs' - The Art Newspaper 'Braun's detailed study of the life and work show a complicated man, a combination of "technical wizard, show-business pioneer, popular scientist and artist", whose work transformed or understanding of the human form.' - New Statesman 'Marta Braun has a grasp of enormous amounts of detail concerning the history of photography, as well as a lively understanding of the social and cultural history in which her subject existed. Her slim book punches above its weight.' - Literary Review of Canada 'Marta Braun's engrossing account of Eadweard Muybridge offers a new perspective on his life and work. Her detailed analyses provides rich insight and correct previous misinterpretations of Muybridge's locomotion photography. Braun offers us an intriguing account of the first person to record photographic evidence of movement in split-seconds. A valuable first-rate work that's a pleasure to read.' - Edward Burtynsky "As one might have expected from her definitive "Picturing Time", Marta Braun"s book on Eadweard Muybridge will be a fundamental contribution to the history of the photographic representation of locomotion." - Jonathan Miller

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Book SynopsisAlkan: lonely 19th century genius, virtuoso pianist and also composer of some of the most difficult and disturbingly powerful piano music. After a long period of neglect his piano music is being discovered by an ever-widening public and played and recorded by some of the world's leading pianists. This edition, in two parts, was originally published in two separate volumes - the first dealth with the man, and the second was devoted solely to his music. With this reprint in one volume the books have been extensively revised, with two extra appendices added, and new bibliographies and discographies included.Trade Review'This book, which contains a number of fascinating illustrations, should interest all lovers of 19th century piano music and introduces us to an uniquely historic figure.' - Humphrey Searle, HiFi News; 'This is a book to linger over and savour, and from which to gain much more knowledge of some of the greatest piano music ever written.' - Harold Truscott, Music & Musicians; 'I found this book completely absorbing.' - Max Harrison, Musical Opinion; 'I'll tell you how good this book is: it kept me from piano practice before an important engagement. I'm sure its wisdom will inform my future piano practice and compensate for what it stole today.' - Ronald Stevenson, Piano; "This is an excellent overview of the life and works of the greatest pianist who ever lived by one of his foremost interpreters. Even Liszt was intimidated by the thought of playing in front of Alkan! It is strongly recommended for all lovers of classical music, but for pianists, it is indispensible."Table of ContentsBook 1: Alkan - The Man, Acknowledgements, Introduction, 1. Prodigy, 2. Virtuoso, 3. Delaborde, 4. A Lost Symphony, 5. The "Grande Sonate", 6. Marmontel, 7. Recluse, 8. Prometheus Bound, 9. Les Petit Concerts, 10. The Final Years, 11. The Death of Alkan, 12. Rescue of a Lost Cause, 13. Personality and Appearance, 14. The Reluctant Virtuoso, 15. The MusicIndex, Index of Alkan's Works, List of Illustrations, Family Tree of Alkan Morhange, Book 2: Alkan - The Music, Introduction and Acknowledgements, 1. Early Works, 2. The Concerti da Camera, 3. The Crystallisation of Style, 4. The Miniatures, 5. The Thirty Chants, 6. The Grande Sonate and Sonatine, 7. Trois Grandes Etudes Op.76, 8. Douze etudes Op.35, 9. Douze etudes Op.39, 10. Miscellaneous piano music, 11. Transcriptions and Cadenzas, 12. Chamber Music, 13. Orchestral and Vocal Music, 14. Organ or Pedal-piano? 15. Alkan's Creative Personality

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Book SynopsisHenri Gaudier-Brzeska (1891-1915) was one of the leading figures of European avant-garde sculpture. Gaudier played an important role in the development of modern sculpture in Britain, working alongside Ezra Pound, Jacob Epstein, Roger Fry, Wyndham Lewis and others. Like many artists of his generation, his career was tragically cut short by the war. Having volunteered for the French army in the summer of 1914, he was killed in action the following year, at the age of just twenty-three. In 1930 Jim Ede, who three years earlier had acquired almost all of Gaudier’s work, published a biography of the sculptor. Entitled A life of Gaudier-Brzeska, the book was re-issued a year later with the title Savage Messiah. Ede’s book played an important role in re-establishing Gaudier’s reputation at a time when he was at risk of fading into obscurity. This new edition, published in 2011 to mark the centenary of Gaudier's arrival in Britain from France, includes previously unpublished material and new essays that re-contextualise the book art historically. It draws from the 1929 manuscript version of Ede's book, now in the archive at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, reproducing many of the drawings and photographs first used by Ede.

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Book SynopsisIsabella Stewart Gardner was a force to be reckoned with. She routinely went toe-to-toe with major museums and titans of industry to purchase masterpieces, created a museum unlike any other, and was famous for consistently flouting the social conventions that governed women of her time. However, this book shows another side of Isabella that readers may not expect: her love of dogs. Richly illustrated with images from the collection and museum archives, this volume allows readers to meet Isabella’s favorite dogs (Kitty Wink and Patty Boy), see the litters of puppies she bred, and discover how her dogs were a comfort toward the end of her life. Usually stern in photographs, Isabella - like many people - could not help grinning when posing for photos with puppies. This enthusiasm for dogs is also evident in her correspondence. As she wrote excitedly to her art advisor Bernard Berenson: “Part of my morning’s work has been to try to induce two 9 days old fox terrier pups to open their eyes again. They did once; and then clapped them to, with a vim that seemed to say that the box they found themselves in was not the ideal they had come to this world to see!” Even the dogs of celebrities - both celebrities she knew personally, and others she admired from afar - drew her attention. This book also features some of the many photographs she collected of notable people and their dogs, like the painter Anders Zorn and his adorable pup Mouche and Caesar, the regal and loyal terrier who belonged to King Edward VII and even marched in the monarch’s funeral parade. From gathering Renaissance masterpieces to raising Fox Terriers, this book shows that Isabella approached all her tasks with enthusiasm and dedication. By learning about her love of her canine companions, this book presents a more human side of Isabella than typically on display.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing legendary and inspirational guitarists and the equipment they used. This fully illustrated, beautifully produced hardback explores the history of the pioneering British guitarists – their background, career and equipment. Includes many exclusive interviews. From the mid-20th century, no other musical instrument developed faster or had a greater impact than the electric guitar. In Britain, many young lads became enthralled by the look and the sound, leading them to take up the guitar to entertain their peers. Several dozen were able to master the instrument sufficiently to gain national and international recognition, enjoying careers spanning decades which has resulted in a number being awarded Queen's honours. British Guitarists 1952-1972: Electric Pioneers examines a number of musicians that were part of a first wave of new popular music in the second half of the 20th century. A focus is placed on the guitars, amplifiers and effects used by the artists. Starting from their early days, the book looks at the evolution of the guitarist's equipment and how this has impacted on their music. The guitarists featured are: Martin Barre, Syd Barrett, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Marc Bolan, Joe Brown, Eric Clapton, Dave 'Clem' Clempson, Dave Davies, Lonnie Donegan, Andy Fairweather Low, Peter Frampton, Robert Fripp, David Gilmour, Peter Green, George Harrison, Tony Hicks, Steve Howe, Tony Iommi, Brian Jones, Paul Kossoff, Albert Lee, Alvin Lee, John Lennon, Phil Manzanera, Hank Marvin, John McLaughlin, Tony McPhee, Micky Moody, Jimmy Page, Alan Parker, Mike Pender, Andy Powell, Keith Richards, Mick Ronson, Mick Taylor, Pete Townshend, Bert Weedon, Ronnie Wood.

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Book SynopsisBrenda Chamberlain lived a life of artistic engagement with the world. She published a compelling body of literary work and held solo exhibitions in London and Wales, while her work was shown in over thirty group shows. Her brilliance was mirrored by the journey of her personal life, including marriage to fellow artist and Royal Academy student John Petts, the long relationship with the Frenchman Jean Van der Bijl, the life-long friendship with the German aristocrat Karl von Laer and her eventual journey to Hydra where she lived for many years before returning to Bangor, Wales. Jill Piercy draws upon extensive research gathered from public and private collections and from interviews with Chamberlain’s friends in Britain, Germany and Greece.

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Book SynopsisGary Barlow'sPath to Fame came to an abrupt halt when his career slumped in the mostspectacular way. Until his solo career crumbled, his pathway had been linedwith gold. Quite simply, he was a musical prodigy as a teenager growing up inthe small Cheshire town of Frodsham.

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Book Synopsis‘You haunt me everywhere.’ So wrote Edward Burne-Jones to Frances Graham, his muse for the last 25 triumphant years of his life: ‘I haven’t a corner of my life or my thoughts where you are not’. He drew her obsessively, included her in some of his most famous paintings, and showered her with gifts. Even when she betrayed him to marry, he would return to her. To him ’all the romance and beauty of my life means you.’ This is the first biography of his muse. In a discreet, subtle, human way, her life is a study in power – artistic, social, political, familial, local – and all the more fascinating for being played out from a perennial position of weakness. What makes a muse? The word conjures up for the artist a human cocoon of sexual allure and worship: part inspiration, part lover and protector. Yet however beguiling, demanding and volatile a muse could be, it remained a life surrendered to the art of another. In Victorian England, this was especially so with the hierarchies between the sexes so firmly entrenched. The life of a muse to a Pre-Raphaelite artist was no different: Ruskin and Effie Gray, Rossetti and Lizzie Siddal, both powerfully destructive relationships that ended respectively in divorce and death. The one who survived was Frances Graham. She had a restless, irrepressible intelligence, able to mix at her small dinners politicians and aristocrats with writers, artists and the up and coming, be they Oscar Wilde or Albert Einstein. In time, she became the confidante of three government ministers, including Asquith, the Liberal leader. 'The Portrait of a Muse' is the tale of a remarkable woman living in an age on the cusp of modernity.

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Book SynopsisPRE:FAB! is the captivating memoir of Colin Hanton, telling of his early years as a musician and his career with John Lennon's Quarry Men. Colin drummed with the band for three years between 1956-1959, during which time both Paul McCartney and George Harrison joined the group. In 1958, Colin played on the very first single that John, Paul and George ever recorded-their versions of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day" and a Paul and George composition: "In Spite Of All The Danger". Co-written over a two-year period by Colin Hanton and Colin Hall, custodian for Mendips (John Lennon's childhood home), PRE:FAB! tells the story of these history-in-the-making days . Colin Hanton's memories serve as an insight not only into his early musical adventures with John, but also into the social history of war-time and post-war Liverpool. PRE:FAB! has also been made into a feature-length, documentary film that is COMING SOON!Trade Review"PRE:FAB! is a brilliant social commentary as well as being a thoughtful and insightful look behind the scenes of the formation of the biggest band ever - The Beatles!" Bob Harris

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Book SynopsisThe love triangle of Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas and Jackie Kennedy was as volcanic as the eruption of Stromboli that staggered Aristotle and Maria at the beginning of their romance. Had they lived in the sixteenth century, Shakespeare would have written a play about them — it was too good a story to miss. Two myths have persisted in the decades since their marriage. The first is that Onassis was a rich but likeable rogue who avoided taxes but was otherwise, at heart, a decent and generous man. The second is that Jackie Onassis was a shameless gold-digger and spendthrift, motivated by little other than greed and personal ambition. The truth was very different. Onassis was a vicious, drunken bully who beat his wives and mistresses until they were bloody and forced them to have abortions. When he tired of them, he smeared them in the media, tapped their phones and publicly humiliated them. His business empire was built largely on bribery, corruption and contempt for the law. He signed contracts in disappearing ink, reviled any politician who could not be bought, did business with dictators, and habitually lied. His children were so frightened in his presence that they peed themselves. His brutal treatment of his mistress, Maria Callas, led her to a suicide attempt and the abortion of her only child. Her early death at the age of only fifty-three was — in part — caused by the unhappiness that he inflicted on her.Table of ContentsCHAPTER 1 Jackie, How Could You? CHAPTER 2 The Burning of Smyrna CHAPTER 3 A Bad Omen CHAPTER 4 A Country of Opportunity CHAPTER 5 Pater Familias CHAPTER 6 A Look of Destiny CHAPTER 7 A Shipboard Romance CHAPTER 8 A Marriage of Convenience CHAPTER 9 Richer than Croesus CHAPTER 10 A Turn of Providence CHAPTER 11 A Man with a Compulsion CHAPTER 12 Dukes, Princes and Kings CHAPTER 13 Omertà CHAPTER 14 A Formidable Clan CHAPTER 15 The Baroness Who Would Not Be Bought CHAPTER 16 A Son Is Lost CHAPTER 17 The Aftermath Postscript References Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFrom The Inside is a thorough revised and expanded re-working of Hayward's previous books, Tin Pan Alley: The Rise of Elton John and From Tin Pan Alley to the Yellow Brick Road. From The Inside is not just an ordinary biography. It is effectively an oral history using interviews conducted over a fifteen-year period with just about every musician, producer, sound engineer, manager and key figure that worked with Reg Dwight, before and when he was Elton John, both in Britain and America, up to 1979. It is their story, From the Inside; how they contributed to the success of Sir Elton during that time, and how they played an unwitting part in his rise to fame. It is a collection of stories from the music makers, managers, executives and musicians that makes this book possible. They are the people who were there, observing what was going on and, in some cases, in close proximity to Sir Elton. It really is the story of those who still see him as an acquaintance or as a friend. It is the first time some of them have spoken out about their years working and sharing Sir Elton's life. Sadly, some of those contributors have passed now but their words and contributions live on in this book.

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Book SynopsisFor half a century, the Murdoch media empire and its polarising patriarch have swept across the globe, shaking up markets and democracies in their wake. But how did it all start? In September 1953, 22-year-old Rupert Murdoch landed in Adelaide, South Australia. Fresh from Oxford with a radical reputation, the young and brash son of Sir Keith Murdoch had arrived to fulfill his father’s dying wish: for Rupert to live a ‘useful, altruistic, and full life’ in the media. For decades, Sir Keith had been a giant of the Australian press, but his final years were spent bitterly fending off rivals and would-be successors. When the dust settled on his father’s estate, Rupert was left with the Adelaide-based News Ltd and its afternoon paper The News — a minor player in a small, parochial city. But even this inheritance was soon under siege, as the left-wing ‘Boy Publisher’ stared down his father’s old colleagues at the city’s paper of record, The Advertiser, and a conservative establishment kept in power by a decades-old gerrymander. Led by Rupert’s friend, ally, and editor-in-chief Rohan Rivett, the fledgling Murdoch press began a seven-year campaign of circulation wars, expansion, and courtroom battles that divided the city and would lay the foundations for a global empire — if Rupert and Rohan didn’t end up in custody first. Drawing on unpublished archival material and new reportage, Young Rupert pieces together a paper trail of succession, sedition, and power — and a fascinating time capsule of Australian media on the cusp of an extraordinary ascension. Trade Review‘Ruthless, ambitious, a purveyor of intrigue and scandal for whom loyalty is just a pit stop on the way to a business deal, this is the young Rupert as you’ve never seen him before. A riveting, rollicking tale.’ -- Jenny Hocking, author of The Palace Letters‘The breadth and depth of Marsh’s research, his eye for detail and his truly exceptional storytelling brings what may have been a dry history into vivid relief.’ -- Kurt Johnson * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘From schoolboy socialist to boy publisher to mogul on the make: Young Rupert offers a revelatory glimpse of Murdoch becoming Murdoch.’ -- Jeff Sparrow, author of Crimes Against Nature‘Young Rupert is a vivid, revelatory portrait of a young man in a hurry. Deeply researched and sharply written, Marsh summons a vanished era to life and chronicles the intricate manoeuvres and shifting character of a man whose whims and grudges have dominated, for better and worse, the media landscape for seventy years. This is an engrossing and insightful study of raw power, shameless politics, and the powers of the press.’ -- Patrick Mullins, author of Tiberius with a Telephone‘A fascinating account of the early days of one of the most notoriously influential men Australia has produced. Marsh skilfully brings forgotten episodes of this country’s history to life, and reminds us just how important, cutthroat, and thrilling the news business can be.’ -- Sean Kelly, author of The Game‘There’s an art to writing the journalistic yarn, and Walter Marsh has it … Marsh sketches fine portraits … Consistent throughout Young Rupert is Marsh’s talent for research, which involves not only seeking the right sources but also using them correctly. He is careful with his conclusions, never peddling glib fantasies as facts.’ -- Damon Young * The Saturday Paper *‘Young Rupert is a scrupulously well-researched history that examines the power of the press in the 20th century and its influence on politics. Rupert Murdoch remains largely elusive, yet new research shows glimpses of a man under pressure and unable to enjoy his success. Readers interested in Australian politics and publishing will find much to satisfy here.’ -- Chris Saliba * Books+Publishing *‘Adelaide journalist Walter Marsh’s gripping new account of Rupert Murdoch’s origin story is more than a biography of the mogul — it uncovers media and political dynamics that remain powerful … Meticulously researched … both densely detailed and a rollicking read … it combines detailed history, including fascinating side journeys — into Murdoch’s personal reportage on outback Aboriginal communities (eye-opening in many ways), a firebrand activist’s tragic-heroic trajectory, a literal fist-fight between Packer and Murdoch interests to gain control of a Sydney press — with the narrative drive of a thriller … This is a distinguished work — essential for anyone who wants a greater understanding of Murdoch, his empire, and the contemporary history of South Australia.’ -- David Washington * In Review *‘[A] perceptive account of the first 30 years of media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s life … Thoroughly reported and novelistic in detail … this provides keen insight into the business magnate’s formative years.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Journalist Marsh presents meticulous reporting on the tangled fortunes of the Murdoch news business … An authoritative … history of the early Murdoch media empire.’ * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe Great Indian School Bazaar deals with a wide range of topics, including what drives parents to admit their children to certain schools, issues faced by principals, bullying, disciplining, and how school can be made fun''. There is also a section on the relevance of our education system in the current global context, in addition to an area that is very rarely discussed: the transition from school to college.Devahiri brings in his decades of experience as an educator in India as well as in the United States to reassess the education we are providing our children.

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Book SynopsisSafdar Hashmi (19541989) became a national icon of resistance after his death on 2 January 1989, following a brutal attack while performing a street play. The firebrand artist, actor, playwright, poet, and activist was at the forefront of the development and subsequent popularity of street theatre, and his group, Jana Natya Manch (Janam), is still considered a leader in the genre of political theatre. There is little reliable scholarship on the history of theatre in India and on Safdar Hashmi's contribution to Indian theatre. This book fills both gaps through a close look at Safdar's career, from his early life and the influences that formed him; to his first forays into theatre in Delhi in the 1970s; to the mature work he produced in the 1980s until his life was cruelly cut short; and finally, the legacy he left behind. Examining the cultural and political environment of the time, Anjum Katyal places Safdar and Janam in the context of the larger history of Indian political theatre. She argues that with the development of a powerful, thought-provoking, and effective street theatre, Safdar was moving towards a vision and practice of democratic theatre.

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Book SynopsisTabla virtuoso, composer and percussionist Zakir Hussain is an international music phenomenon. The eldest son of the legendary Ustad Allarakha, Zakir gave his first public concert at the age of seven and was immediately hailed a child prodigy. In later years, his masterful dexterity and creative genius led to his becoming one of the most sought-after accompanists to the very best of Hindustani classical musicians and dancers. Zakir Hussain is equally recognized as one of the foremost contemporary jazz and world music percussionists; he has performed at innumerable concerts both as a solo artist and with renowned jazz musicians on the grand stages of the world, from the Royal Albert Hall to Madison Square Garden. He has acted in James Ivory''s Heat and Dust and Sai Paranjpye''s Saaz, and scored music for directors such as Bernardo Bertolucci (Little Buddha), Aparna Sen (Mr. & Mrs. Iyer) and Ismail Merchant (In Custody, The Mystic Masseur); he has also played the tabla for countless 1960s Hindi film soundtracks. In an in-depth conversation with Zakir Hussain, Nasreen Munni Kabir takes the readers through the story of his life: how he was deemed an ''unlucky'' child; the early years of growing up in Mahim; his training from age four with his extraordinary father; and his experiences and memories working with a host of legendary musicians, including Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Ustad Vilayat Khan.

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Book SynopsisUnflinching and even ruthless, alcoholic and irresponsible, an irrepressible genius, a master of the craft of film-making and a relentless innovator: these fifty essays-by his collaborators and family, academics who study him and writers who admire him-celebrate Ghatak on his centenary through reflections and expressions of love.

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Book SynopsisShuvaprasanna: A Man for all Seasons attempts to bring together the complete oeuvre of the versatile modern Indian artist Shuvaprasanna Bhattacharya, in a single volume. The book also traces his life and career and the significant events that shaped his artistic sensibilities. This volume features Shuvaprasanna's multifaceted work, be it painting, drawing, portraiture, printmaking, illustrations, installations, sculpture and murals, through his artistic timeline, and his contributions as a socio-political activist in building cultural institutions. Shuva-da, as he is popularly known, was actively involved with the Calcutta Painters Group in the 1970s; he founded the College of Visual Arts in 1975 and thereafter the vibrant and internationally known Arts Acre Foundation in 2008. The in-depth textual description of the artist's creative evolution is accompanied by images of over 80 of Shuvaprasanna's impactful artworks from different phases of his career, including paintings of the city of Kolkata, to his signature charcoal drawings of birds, to his latest collection, The Mystique of the Epic', which comprises striking depictions of characters and episodes from the Mahabharata.

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Book SynopsisDetermined, imperious, flighty, charming, Beryl McBurnie was born in Trinidad and went to New York in the early 1940s to study dance and drama. She also made a name for herself as a dancer and singer, Belle Rosette. But she turned her back on the bright lights to return to Trinidad. There she continued the work she had begun before World War II, researching and performing the dances of the Caribbean, especially those that drew on African traditions. She was part of an anticolonial movement that recognized the unique culture of the country and the region and eventually led Trinidad and Tobago to independence.Artistically, McBurnie's work influenced dancers throughout the region and beyond. She also devoted years to building the Little Carib Theatre. Intended as a home for folk dance, it also housed Derek Walcott's Theatre Workshop and became a crucible for the performing arts.This book portrays the woman, explores the influences that shaped McBurnie and those whom she influenced in turn, and tells of her struggle to realize a vision she nurtured for decades.Judy Raymond is a writer and editor based in Trinidad. She works as a journalist and is the editor in chief of the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. She is the author of Barbara Jardine: Goldsmith; Meiling: Fashion Designer and The Colour of Shadows: Images of Caribbean Slavery.

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Book SynopsisOf the many Cold War radio DJs who broadcast to the USSR, Seva Novgorodsev must be near the top of the list. A masterful BBC presenter, Seva was considered a sage of rock ‘n’ roll. His programs introduced forbidden western popular music and culture into the USSR, rendering him an “enemy voice” and ideological saboteur to the Central Committee of the Communist Party. Despite KGB threats and constant media pillorying, Seva remained on the air for 38 years, acquiring millions of listeners all across the breadth of the USSR and beyond. He became a cult phenomenon, dismantling the Soviet way of life in the hearts and minds of youth. This is the story of Russia’s first and best-known DJ.Trade Review"Michelle Daniel's book is more than a biography of the legendary DJ who brought western musical culture to the Soviet Union via BBC radio. It is, by turns, insightful political, cultural, and social history. Compelling features include testimony from Seva's listeners and Daniel’s speculation on just why he became so central a feature of Soviet life. A fascinating read for all interested in understanding the final years of the Cold War, the power of radio, or the role of what has been termed Soft Power in international relations."— Nicholas J. Cull, Professor of Public Diplomacy, University of Southern California“With the creation of any new medium—newsprint, radio, television—propagandists learn first how to exploit it for their own purposes. In our own era of ‘fake news,’ disinformation, and the ongoing political assault on truth, we’ve seen this play out over the Internet. But be careful: because the ‘soft power’ of popular familiarity with any new technology often undermines the clunky, cloying voice of the ideologue, in favor of the cool, revolutionary voice of popular culture. In this engaging tale of the life of Seva Novgorodsev—and how his popular BBC broadcasts helped lead to the downfall of the Soviet empire—Michelle Daniel weaves a narrative tale that is compelling and instructive, full of lessons about how the human need for truth and authenticity triumphs. While this book will surely appeal to Russia scholars and historians alike, it deserves a wide audience, for it reads like a novel and tells a story that is especially important in our own cultural moment. What can we learn from the early ‘weaponization’ of radio to amplify propagandistic falsehoods—then seeing this turned back on itself as young people discovered the pleasure of listening to rock ‘n’ roll music—that can be applied to today's disinformation war? Plenty, for we now face an age-old beast in new clothing: the human desire to lie for political profit, up against the indomitable spirit of today's young people, whose heroes are still emerging in this digital era.”— Lee McIntyre, author of Post-Truth“Rock 'n' roll was a revolutionary movement in the West. Behind the Iron Curtain, however, it also played an inordinate role in helping to change culture, politics, and society. Michelle Daniel's book is a welcome volume that adds to our understanding of how music and radio waves—amplified by Seva Novgorodsev—were able to work their way through the semi-permeable membranes of otherwise seemingly impenetrable Cold War borders and mindsets.”— Markos Kounalakis, Ph.D., former Radio Sweden International shortwave radio producerTable of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: Radio, Rock ‘n’ “Role” Part One: 1917-761. The Great Wireless Experiment2. The Sounds of War3. Big Waves4. Birth of the Cool5. Rocket Around the Clock6. Between Jazz and a Hard Rock Place7. After ‘While, KrokodilPart Two: 1976-918. Smoke on the Water9. Round Midnight10. It’s a Hard Rock Life11. The Barbarossa of Rock ‘n’ Roll12. Red Waves on the “Cinderella Hour” 13. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction14. Highway to Hell15. Welcome to the Jungle16. It’s the End of the World as We Know ItConclusionAcknowledgementsBibliography

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Book SynopsisIn the early sixties at the Royal College of Art in London, three extraordinary personalities collided to reshape contemporary art and literature. Barrie Bates (who would become Billy Apple in November 1962) was an ambitious young graphic designer from New Zealand, who transformed himself into one of pop art's pioneers. At the same time, his friend and fellow student David Hockney - young, Northern and openly gay - was making his own waves in the London art world. Bates and Hockney travelled together, bleached their hair together, and, despite being two of London's rising art stars, almost failed art school together. And in the middle of it all was the secretary of the Royal College's Painting School - an aspiring young novelist called Ann Quin. Quin ghost-wrote her lover Bates's dissertation and collaborated with him on a manifesto, all the while writing Berg: the experimental novel that would establish her as one of the British literary scene's most exciting new voices. Taking us back to London's art scene in the late fifties and early sixties, award-winning writer Anthony Byrt illuminates a key moment in cultural history and tackles big questions: Where did Pop and conceptual art come from? How did these three remarkable young outsiders change British culture? And what was the relationship between revolutions in personal and sexual identities and these major shifts in contemporary art? From the Royal College to Coney Island and Madison Avenue, encountering R. D. Laing and Norman Mailer, Shirley Clarke and Larry Rivers, The Mirror Steamed Over is a remarkable journey through a pivotal moment in contemporary culture.Table of ContentsPrologue Part I: The Connection Part II: Flying Tiger Interlude: A Self-Portrait Part III: Mirror/Mirror Epilogue: America, 1964 Sources and Further Reading Illustrations Image Credits Index Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisOf the many Cold War radio DJs who broadcast to the USSR, Seva Novgorodsev must be near the top of the list. A masterful BBC presenter, Seva was considered a sage of rock ‘n’ roll. His programs introduced forbidden western popular music and culture into the USSR, rendering him an “enemy voice” and ideological saboteur to the Central Committee of the Communist Party. Despite KGB threats and constant media pillorying, Seva remained on the air for 38 years, acquiring millions of listeners all across the breadth of the USSR and beyond. He became a cult phenomenon, dismantling the Soviet way of life in the hearts and minds of youth. This is the story of Russia’s first and best-known DJ.Trade Review"Michelle Daniel's book is more than a biography of the legendary DJ who brought western musical culture to the Soviet Union via BBC radio. It is, by turns, insightful political, cultural, and social history. Compelling features include testimony from Seva's listeners and Daniel’s speculation on just why he became so central a feature of Soviet life. A fascinating read for all interested in understanding the final years of the Cold War, the power of radio, or the role of what has been termed Soft Power in international relations."— Nicholas J. Cull, Professor of Public Diplomacy, University of Southern California“With the creation of any new medium—newsprint, radio, television—propagandists learn first how to exploit it for their own purposes. In our own era of ‘fake news,’ disinformation, and the ongoing political assault on truth, we’ve seen this play out over the Internet. But be careful: because the ‘soft power’ of popular familiarity with any new technology often undermines the clunky, cloying voice of the ideologue, in favor of the cool, revolutionary voice of popular culture. In this engaging tale of the life of Seva Novgorodsev—and how his popular BBC broadcasts helped lead to the downfall of the Soviet empire—Michelle Daniel weaves a narrative tale that is compelling and instructive, full of lessons about how the human need for truth and authenticity triumphs. While this book will surely appeal to Russia scholars and historians alike, it deserves a wide audience, for it reads like a novel and tells a story that is especially important in our own cultural moment. What can we learn from the early ‘weaponization’ of radio to amplify propagandistic falsehoods—then seeing this turned back on itself as young people discovered the pleasure of listening to rock ‘n’ roll music—that can be applied to today's disinformation war? Plenty, for we now face an age-old beast in new clothing: the human desire to lie for political profit, up against the indomitable spirit of today's young people, whose heroes are still emerging in this digital era.”— Lee McIntyre, author of Post-Truth“Rock 'n' roll was a revolutionary movement in the West. Behind the Iron Curtain, however, it also played an inordinate role in helping to change culture, politics, and society. Michelle Daniel's book is a welcome volume that adds to our understanding of how music and radio waves—amplified by Seva Novgorodsev—were able to work their way through the semi-permeable membranes of otherwise seemingly impenetrable Cold War borders and mindsets.”— Markos Kounalakis, Ph.D., former Radio Sweden International shortwave radio producerTable of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: Radio, Rock ‘n’ “Role” Part One: 1917-761. The Great Wireless Experiment2. The Sounds of War3. Big Waves4. Birth of the Cool5. Rocket Around the Clock6. Between Jazz and a Hard Rock Place7. After ‘While, KrokodilPart Two: 1976-918. Smoke on the Water9. Round Midnight10. It’s a Hard Rock Life11. The Barbarossa of Rock ‘n’ Roll12. Red Waves on the “Cinderella Hour” 13. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction14. Highway to Hell15. Welcome to the Jungle16. It’s the End of the World as We Know ItConclusionAcknowledgementsBibliography

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Book SynopsisProkofiev, a compulsive diarist, gifted and idiosyncratic writer, possessed an incorrigibly sardonic curiosity about individuals and events. When he left Russia following the 1917 Revolution, his diaries were recovered from the family flat in Petrograd, and Prokofiev smuggled them out of the country after his first return to the Soviet Union in 1927. The later diaries, written in the West, were brought back by legal decree after the composer's death, to be kept in a special, closed section of the Russian State Archive. Eventually Prokofiev's son Svyatoslav was allowed to copy the voluminous contents; when he and his son Serge Jr moved to Paris they undertook the gigantic task of reproducing the partially encoded manuscript in an intelligible form.Volume I covers the bulk of Prokofiev's years at the St Petersburg Conservatoire, ending with his triumphant graduation. Simultaneously attached to and exasperated by the traditions exemplified at this time by such famous men as RimTrade Review'A fascinating record for posterity.' - Irish Times'This extraordinary achievement . . . Phillip's enthusiasm, tact and sympathy,not to mention his wide knowledge of music and history, haveproduced a work that everyone interested in music and Russian culture ofthe past hundred years should read.', Gerald McBurney, New Statesman

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Book SynopsisJohn Corcelli, author of Frank Zappa FAQ, takes a deep dive into the comedic artistry of George Carlin, one of America''s most important funny men. From his early radio days to his most successful comedy albums, Carlin changed the way stand-up comedy was written and performed. He was the king of all media: print, recordings, movies, television, and the thirteen quintessential HBO Specials that still resonate with fans. Carlin''s gift for gab was founded on his ability to understand the human condition and express his politically incorrect views with powerful insights. Carlin''s contributions to popular culture have had a salient and lasting impact as a result of their prescience and visionary nature. Along with Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor, Carlin is considered part of the holy trinity of stand-up comedy. He opened the door to what was possible in stand-up beyond simple joke telling. Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, and Stephen Colbert all owe a little something to their success tod

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Book SynopsisAn occasion to appreciate Dexter's resounding musical genius as well as his wish for major social transformation.Angela Y. Davis, political activist, scholar, author, and speakerSophisticated Giant presents the life and legacy of tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon (19231990), one of the major innovators of modern jazz. In a context of biography, history, and memoir, Maxine Gordon has completed the book that her late husband began, weaving his solo turns with her voice and a chorus of voices from past and present. Reading like a jazz composition, the blend of research, anecdote, and a selection of Dexter's personal letters reflects his colorful life and legendary times. It is clear why the celebrated trumpet genius Dizzy Gillespie said to Dexter, Man, you ought to leave your karma to science. Dexter Gordon the icon is the Dexter beloved and celebrated on albums, on film, and in jazz lore--even in a street named for him in Copenhagen. But this image of the cool jazzman fails to come to terTrade Review"Maxine Gordon astutely frames the fiery daring of Dexter Gordon’s generation of bebop innovators in the context of rising black consciousness and creative agency in midcentury America…“Sophisticated Giant” is a work of considerable sophistication, the first-person testimony of its subject employed with affectionate discipline, smartly contextualized and augmented by material from interviews Maxine Gordon conducted with the tenor saxophone masters Sonny Rollins and Jimmy Heath, the record producers Bruce Lundvall and Michael Cucsuna, and others." -- David Hajdu, * The New York Times *“Dexter Gordon’s deep tone, relaxed delivery—even the frequent witty musical quotations—seemed like extensions of his gravely playful speaking voice. That voice carries over on the page too. You can hear it when you read his written testimony and extracts from letters included in Maxine Gordon’s illuminating biography.” -- Kevin Whitehead, * NPR's Fresh Air *“‘Affectionate, enjoyable and informative, painting a portrait of a handsome, elegant, easygoing person and artist who refused to agonize about his past.” * Wall Street Journal *“A particularly intimate look at . . . career highs in this wonderful biography of the iconic jazzman. . . . Most striking for this reader was how, through her intimate, first-hand knowledge of her husband’s life, Maxine was able to convey how the art of jazz was far more than a career path for Dexter and his colleagues. “ * The Austin Chronicle *“[Gordon] displays firsthand knowledge of the political economy of jazz playing and the discrimination and grievances musicians endured...her honesty and passion bleed into her prose to create a lively and valuable look at the jazz giant and his world. Verdict: For jazz lovers first but enjoyable for general readers, too.” * Library Journal *"Throughout the book, Maxine provides rich descriptions of people, places, and events, often quoting from Dexter. Through her meticulous research, new information about him emerges. . . While meticulous about details, the author is also a good storyteller, so, aside from its scholarly discipline, the book is intriguing and leads the reader forward like an absorbing detective novel." * All About Jazz *“Maxine’s book shows us not only the world Dexter Gordon lived and breathed, but many other musicians we know, don’t know and should know. We see the reality of the Jazz world, the unthinkable hardships and struggles brought together through the common love of music. The book is incredible. Maxine Gordon is incredible. Her passion to share, explore and discuss the reality of the Jazz world is a true inspiration." * Jazz in Europe *“An informative, well-paced, suite like literary work that chronicles the saxophonist’s family, influences, inspirations, zeniths, and nadirs, and documents his legacy as one of the most influential saxophonists in jazz history.” -- Eugene Holley Jr., * Publishers Weekly *"Gordon’s life has previously been chronicled, but not with so much of his own achingly personal, brutally honest voice. Sophisticated Giant is not a critical analysis of his music; instead, Maxine has interwoven Dexter’s own letters and poetry with a broad spectrum of anecdotal accounts, plus her own meticulous scholarship and adoring reflections, to craft a vivid life story. . . . This is a must-read for jazz fans." * Jazz Times *"Blending forensic research with scholarly insight, Sophisticated Giant’s compelling story unfurls like one of Gordon’s sinuous sax solos. Essential reading for jazz fans." * Record Collector *“Dexter Gordon left us almost three decades ago, but his presence in 2018 has virtually brought him back to center stage." * All About Jazz *“There’s a major new biography out of saxophonist Dexter Gordon, and it’s worth checking out.” * Stereogum *“When I say that this is essential reading for anyone interested in modern jazz from the late thirties on, you'd better believe it!. . . . Tell your own true love that, this year, you don't want any more partridges in a pear tree, lords a-leaping or even five golden rings. No, what you want for Christmas this year is (apart from him/her) a Sophisticated Giant.” * bebop spoken here *“Offers a rare vantage point into the life of one of jazz’s most cherished figures.” * Jazziz *“Easy-to-read, well-written, superbly documented, much-anticipated. . . . One unique thing about the book is that it makes you feel like you are there with her listening to her talk, about her time in the jazz world with some of the best musicians on earth. But just when you get used to her writing like an excited jazz fan, she easily switches to a keen researcher and a solid scholar.” * Jazz Corner *“Maxine Gordon's recently released book ‘Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Times of Dexter Gordon’ is no ordinary jazz biography. It is a book that transports you into the reality of a Jazz musicians’ life, the highs and lows, the hardships and the inexplicable power of Jazz – beautifully written by an author whose passion for ensuring Dexter’s story is told honestly, is inspiring. Dexter Gordon was indeed a ‘Sophisticated Giant’ but when you read the book, you can’t help but feel there are actually two sophisticated giants here.” * The Jazz Room @ Style Quarterly Magazine *"Exceptional. . . . Maxine Gordon believes that 'the story of Dexter's life is nothing less than a cultural history of creative Black Americans in the interwar and postwar years.' In Sophisticated Giant, she's written a book that reflects this important truth." * New York City Jazz Record *“Sophisticated Giant paints a convincing picture of an extremely charming, intelligent, resilient, and talented man." * Arts Fuse *“This is a story that had to be told.” * KUVO/KVJZ *“An intimate, keenly-rendered new biography that will interest jazz enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in American popular culture. . . . It’s a warm, subjective story that trains an astute lens on the social and political circumstances that helped shape a career; and for that, it stand outs as a landmark contribution to the literature of the jazz.” * Seattle Times *“A work that’s both scrupulously researched history and intimate memoir.” * MOJO *Table of Contents1. The Saga of Society Red 1 2. An Uncommon Family 13 3. Education of an Eastside Altar Boy 26 4. Leaving Home 35 5. Pops 44 6. Blowin’ the Blues Away 51 7. Business Lessons 62 8. Mischievous Lady 77 9. Central Avenue Bop 87 10. Trapped 99 11. Resurgence 113 12. New Life 120 13. Very Saxily Yours 134 14. Trouble in Paris 144 15. The Khalif of Valby 155 16. Homecoming 167 17. Bebop at Work 179 18. Round Midnight 191

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Book SynopsisAn October 2022 IndieNext pick”[An] engaging and beautifully narrated quest for personal fulfillment and musical recognition...This is a fast-paced tale in which music and love always take center stage...A truly gifted musician, Price writes about her journey with refreshing candor.”—Kirkus, starred review”Brutally honest…a vivid and poignant memoir.”—The GuardianCountry music star Margo Price shares the story of her struggle to make it in an industry that preys on its ingenues while trying to move on from devastating personal tragedies. When Margo Price was nineteen years old, she dropped out of college and moved to Nashville to become a musician. She busked on the street, played open mics, and even threw out her TV so that she would do nothing but write songs. She met Jeremy Ivey, a fellow musician who would become her closest collaborator and her husband. But after worTrade Review[An] engaging and beautifully narrated quest for personal fulfillment and musical recognition...This is a fast-paced tale in which music and love always take center stage...A truly gifted musician, Price writes about her journey with refreshing candor. * Kirkus, starred review *[A] dazzling debut...Told with moving candor, Price’s tale of overcoming squalor and pain provides powerful emotional context to her hard-won country music stardom. Fans will adore this story of survival. * Publishers Weekly *[Maybe We'll Make It] documents [Price's] prolonged plight and the unsung truth of breaking into the biz: It’s not glamorous...Her candid memoir takes the reader on a life-affirming journey. * BuzzFeed News *Brutally honest…a vivid and poignant memoir. * The Guardian *Margo Price delivers an unflinching self-portrait of an artist striving to find her sound and make her Music City dreams come true...Artists of all creeds will find something relatable in Maybe We’ll Make It, with its raw depictions of the artist’s perennial dilemma: bridging the transcendental need to create with the very real need to survive. Beyond this, Price’s memoir offers a heart-wrenching account of her journey as a mother. * Chapter 16 *Price has a knack for telling stories and drawing readers into her life and experience, and Maybe We’ll Make It radiates with her bright candor; she’s not interested in hiding her heart in the shadows and covering her feelings with darkness. Price bares her soul and the jaggedness of her emotions, making Maybe We’ll Make It one of the best music memoirs so far this year. * No Depression *An astonishing tale of an incredible journey...Of its many notable successes, the book efficiently and effectively seals the chapter on popular, mainstream country music's divorce from its diverse, rustic roots. Plus, Price's tales highlight that split's honest, near-destructive impact on the genre's metaphorical orphaned children. Even deeper, these artists energizing themselves and their careers via digital-era globalization and DIY bootstrapping—amid East Nashville-residing marginalization from country music's mainstream industry—reads like the most authentic and timeless outlaw tale combining elements of punk rock and country's crossover into 70s-era rock and roll. * The Tennessean *The gritty struggle of how to get noticed in Nashville…Now established as a favourite songwriter of Willie Nelson, Margo Price had a hard ride to where she is today, her memoir reading like a soap opera borne from a song...As Price's music evolved, so her wisdom grows during the book, and at its heart is stoic love: for each other, for family and friends, and above all for music and creative freedom. * Mojo *Courageously frank, utterly moving...Price tells us, with breathtaking honesty and courage, her story to achieve a sustainable career as a singer-songwriter. Through all manner of struggles, humiliations, disappointments, and personal tragedies, Price maintains her perseverance despite being tested to the core. * The Current *Compelling, honest, and powerful...Maybe We’ll Make It should be required reading for anyone thinking about how music is made in the 2020’s. That applies not only to artists, but also (perhaps especially) to club owners, journalists, or record company executives. * Americana Highways *[A] stunning, emotional, inspiring new memoir…In her authentic, no-nonsense voice, Price shares the stories that became songs, and the small acts of love and camaraderie it takes to survive in a music industry that is often unkind to women. * Our Quad Cities *A rough, rowdy, and brutally honest story of dreams and frustrations, good and bad choices, pain and joy...Price’s willingness to be open and honest about her experiences and mistakes is one of the most fascinating aspects of the book. She also avoids the twin traps common to memoirists, neither amping up her tales for exploitative shock value nor casting her past in self-pitying justification. Instead, she presents her stories of substance abuse, bad choices, and infidelity as simple facts...While Price’s personal journey centers the book, a larger story unfolds alongside it. Price’s encounters with the 21st-century mainstream Nashville music-biz complex are informative, entertaining, and, at times, unsettling. * The Nashvillian *[Maybe We'll Make It] begins with Price’s childhood in rural Illinois and ends with her April 2016 appearance on 'Saturday Night Live.' Most of her fans have followed the music she’s made since then, but Maybe We’ll Make It sheds light on the long road that got her there. * Austin American-Statesman *Margo Price's memoir of grit and resilience is one of our favorites to come out on University of Texas Press's consistently quality American Music Series. The Nashville-based, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter relates the twenty years since she dropped out of college to become a musician with a keenly illustrative narrative voice and invokes a storyteller who 'quit trying to change the past' in order to share the lessons for 'the recent future.' * Rough Trade, "US Books of the Year 2022" *[Price’s] new memoir, which covers her childhood and her years struggling to start her career in Nashville, proves that she’s just as talented at penning prose as she is at writing songs – which is to say, really damn good. Reading this book feels like hanging out with one of your smartest, liveliest friends. * NPR, "2022 Books We Love" *Maybe We’ll Make It is a beautiful, soul-bearing memoir…Despite her elegant prose, Price does not hold back any of the ugly details of her starving artist lifestyle…Her unabashed commentary on the sexist undertones of the country music industry, and the grueling need to prove herself to record labels that are only too eager to cast her aside, reveal her fighter spirit...Even in her darkest moments, Price writes with crushing honesty and humility. Her story serves as a poignant reflection on finding courage in chaos and leaning on a support system when life is too difficult to shoulder alone. * SPIN, "9 Can’t-Put-Down Music Memoirs Of 2022" *[An] unflinching memoir...Price paints a vivid portrait of a musician who moves to Nashville with big dreams. * The Boot, "10 Best Country Music Books of 2022" *Maybe We’ll Make It never becomes a morality tale, which would be out of character for the artist and a poor interpretation of her life. Price’s early years become part of the complexity of who she is, not just as an artist but as a person...It might be unusual for an artist to pen a memoir so early in her career, but Price has never done things the normal way, and in this case, the choice to write was an excellent decision. * Spectrum Culture *[Maybe We'll Make It leaves] you hankering for a sequel this sharply remembered, keenly written and marvelously self-perceptive. * Variety, "Best Music Books of 2022" *Price is a forthright and spirited raconteur with a quick turn of phrase. Her affable, earnest nature draws in the reader, despite her occasional transgressions (and, at times, maybe even because of them). * Relix *This is the best music memoir of the year. As she does in her music, Price lays her soul bare here, pulling no punches in revealing her highs and lows, including her struggles with addiction and the faltering early days of her marriage, with bright candor. Price knows well how tell a story and draws us easily into the shadows and light of her life and music. * No Depression, "2022's Most Memorable Music Books" *[An] excellent memoir. * Rolling Stone *It would be an understatement to call her poignant, pulverizing memoir, ... Maybe We’ll Make It, soul-baring. Price practically plops her heart, spleen, and a couple of kidneys onto the page. * Jezebel *A riveting, often shocking read. * Clash Music *In terms of heartbreaking honesty, [Maybe We'll Make It] gives Prince Harry a run for his money. * The Irish Times *Much like [Price's] music, her memoir is written with an authentic, singular voice. She opens up more about loss, motherhood, drinking, her songs, and much more. * The Bluegrass Situation *[Maybe We'll Make It] offers a beautifully wrought narrative of cheerleading, waitressing, poverty, substance abuse, drunk tanks and grievous personal loss as she was rebuffed by the music business for over a decade. * The Telegraph *The writer and woman we find in the memoir is the same person we find in [Price's] music: candid and vulnerable with the ability to make you laugh with one line and make you cry with the next. Maybe We’ll Make It explores the balance of art and life, the ups and downs of 'making it,' profound love, and profound loss. Price’s writing is conversational, lyrical, and above all, human. You can hear the person behind the prose. * Literary Hub *[An] outstanding and unflinching memoir. * Nashville Scene *Price has to be praised for writing such an open and honest account of her early life as a musician, struggling to ‘make it’ in the modern day music business. Reading this book, you can’t help but think that every wannabe music star should be sat down and forced to read this before they embark on their first gig, because this is an incredibly honest account of just how difficult it can be to even get on the bottom rung of that long climb to the top...This book is every bit as compelling as her songs...[Maybe We'll Make It] is, quite simply, a great read. * Americana UK *'Singing is not a real job,' a guidance counselor once told a teenage Margo Price. What she shows us in her moving memoir is what a heck of a lot of work it is...Here, you sense, is someone who has fought every day for what she wants to do—and a reminder of how much unseen toil goes into a creative life. * Wall Street Journal, "Five Best Books on Country Music" *The story of [Price's] development as an artist—and a person—who, by almost any means necessary, is making it by sticking to her beliefs and doing it her way, makes for a interesting read. * Ft.Myers Magazine *Price’s music is the soundtrack to her courageous story in progress. In the best possible way, this book reads like the liner notes: honest, heartfelt, and profound. * Shepherd *She has never lost that early hunger, or her rebellious streak. Hers is a tale of committed endurance punctuated by euphoria, and gives insight into several unlikely influences – the Kinks and Sylvia Plath among them – on her irrepressible music. * Times Literary Supplement *Table of Contents Prologue Chapter 1. The Unpaved Road Chapter 2. Rearview Mirror Chapter 3. Fifty-Seven Dollars Chapter 4. Strays Chapter 5. Lay Around with the Dogs Chapter 6. This Town Gets Around (and Around and Around) Chapter 7. Black Water Chapter 8. Stealing from Thieves Chapter 9. Floating Chapter 10. Pearls to Swine Chapter 11. Hell in the Heartland Chapter 12. Everywhere Chapter 13. Mesa Boogie Chapter 14. C for California Chapter 15. Aimless Fate Chapter 16. Ball and Unchained Chapter 17. New Mama Chapter 18. Ezra and Judah Chapter 19. Drowning Chapter 20. Uppers, Downers, Out-of-Towners Chapter 21. Burn Whatever’s Left Chapter 22. Treading Water Chapter 23. Weekender Chapter 24. A Band of My Own Chapter 25. Midwest Farmer’s Daughter Chapter 26. One Dark Horse Chapter 27. The Recent Future Epilogue Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisAmos Vogel was one of America's most innovative film historians and curators. An émigré from Austria who arrived in New York just before the Second World War, in 1947 he created Cinema 16, a pioneering film club aimed at audiences thirsty for work "that cannot be seen elsewhere," and in 1963 was instrumental in establishing the New York Film Festival. He later embarked on an ambitious teaching career, synthesizing decades of experience and directing his ideas towards students and, eventually, the wider public. In 1974 he published the culmination of his thoughts – along with an extraordinary collection of stills – in Film as a Subversive Art. On his death, the New York Times wrote that Vogel "exerted an influence on the history of film that few other non-filmmakers can claim." Be Sand, Not Oil is the first book about Vogel, and includes uncollected writings, an unpublished interview, and new essays documenting his never-ending quest for what Werner Herzog, his friend of many decades, has described as "adequate imagery."Trade ReviewAn important new book. * The New Yorker *An indispensable study...If the book is invaluable for gathering together numerous never-before-collected or previously unpublished pieces by Vogel himself, the newly commissioned essays by various scholars are every bit as welcome. -- filmcomment

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the incredible career of pop music’s biggest star in this sparkling biography.We’re all living in the Taylor Swift Era. Since her 2006 debut album she’s sold more than 200 million records, sold out countless arenas and become one of the most influential artists of her generation. Her Eras tour is on track to gross more than $1 billion by the time it concludes in December 2024, and her most recent studio album hit No. 1 in more than 25 countries.In this revealing and entertaining biography, author and music journalist Caroline Sullivan charts Taylor’s journey from budding country starlet to pop music phenomenon, encompassing her evolution as an artist, her high-profile relationships and the stories behind her songs. Each of Taylor’s Eras is explored in depth, detailing her influences, her collaborators and the aesthetics that have become such a crucial part of her performance.Fea

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Book SynopsisChairman at the Board is an intimate, funny, and absorbing look at the music business by an insider who has recorded a host of the greatest musical artists of the twentieth century. Bill Schnee takes the reader inside the studiobehind the curtainand through the decades with a cavalcade of famous artists as he helped them to realize their vision. After his high school band was dropped by Decca Records, Schnee began his quest to learn everything he could about making records. Mentored by recording legend Richie Podolor at his American Recording Studio and mastering guru Doug Sax, he immediately began recording the top acts of the day as a freelance engineer/producer in Hollywood. Clive Davis soon hired him to work for CBS where he partnered with famed music producer Richard Perry. Schnee went on to record and/or mix most of Perry''s biggest albums of the ''70s and ''80s, including those by Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, Art Garfunkel, and the Pointer

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