Biography: arts and entertainment Books

Book SynopsisOne of the silver screen’s greatest beauties, Greta Garbo was also one of its most profound enigmas. A star in both silent pictures and talkies, Garbo kept viewers riveted with understated performances that suggested deep melancholy and strong desires roiling just under the surface. And offscreen, the intensely private Garbo was perhaps even more mysterious and alluring, as her retirement from Hollywood at age thirty-six only fueled the public’s fascination. Ideal Beauty reveals the woman behind the mystique, a woman who overcame an impoverished childhood to become a student at the Swedish Royal Dramatic Academy, an actress in European films, and ultimately a Hollywood star. Chronicling her tough negotiations with Louis B. Mayer at MGM, it shows how Garbo carved out enough power in Hollywood to craft a distinctly new feminist screen presence in films like Queen Christina. Banner draws on over ten years of in-depth archival research in Sweden, Germany, France, and the United States to demonstrate how, away from the camera’s glare, Garbo’s life was even more intriguing. Ideal Beauty takes a fresh look at an icon who helped to define female beauty in the twentieth century and provides answers to much-debated questions about Garbo’s childhood, sexuality, career, illnesses and breakdowns, and spiritual awakening. Trade Review“In this scrupulously researched book, Lois Banner brings a novel and insightful approach to the study of film icon Greta Garbo by examining her life and relation to standards of beauty, as well as surfacing previously unheralded issues: those who found her unattractive, the role of “Garbo Maniacs” in her star discourse, her power at MGM, the toll of her hidden illnesses, the place of religion in her life, the celebrity world in which she circulated post-Hollywood retirement. Thus, Ideal Beauty combines biography, film analysis, and social/feminist history in a scholarly yet approachable fashion. A must for all Garbo aficionados.”— Lucy Fischer, Distinguished Professor Emerita, University of Pittsburgh "While Garbo captivated audiences with her beauty and mysterious persona, [Ideal Beauty] offers an insightful portrait of her private life, interrogating her feminism, sexuality, mental health, and more. Garbo rose to fame on the silent screen, but this new biography gives voice to her life in unparalleled fashion."— Entertainment Weekly "[D]ifferent and highly worthwhile...[Ideal Beauty] captures well the milieu in which Garbo became a star, but, more to the point, places her in the context of what beauty meant in the era in which Garbo thrived."— Air Mail "[An] enriching and immersive biography...Banner meticulously examines Garbo’s 'ideal beauty' as a canvas onto which filmmakers could project their creative vision...The result is a rewarding look at an enigmatic star."— Publishers Weekly "[A] reconsideration of Greta Garbo as a template for analyzing tropes about 20th-century women...[Ideal Beauty] presents a truly different approach for both lay and academic readers. It expertly offers an understanding of an elusive figure within the context of the film industry."— Library Journal, STARRED Review Exclusive Excerpt: "Greta Garbo, the 'Furious Lesbian,' and a Classic Hollywood Love Triangle". — Vanity Fair "In this illuminating biography of Greta Garbo, Lois Banner brings her skills and talents as a perceptive feminist, accomplished historian, and keen cultural observer to move beyond the myths and stereotypes to uncover the life and times of this iconic Hollywood beauty. A great read!" — Lary May, author of Screening out the Past and editor of Recasting AmericaTable of ContentsPROLOGUE Who Was Greta Garbo? PART I. THE STEICHEN PHOTO 1 GARBO GLORIFIED AND DEMONIZED PART II. MATURING 2 CHILDHOOD 3 PUB, DRAMATEN, AND MIMI POLLAK 4 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Garbo and Stiller PART III. THE STAR 5 HOLLYWOOD 6 THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY Garbo and John Gilbert 7 FRIENDS AND LOVERS; ANNA CHRISTIE AND GARBO’S ACTING PART IV. CHOOSING SIDES 8 UNDERSTANDING ADRIAN From Flapper to Glamour 9 THE PRE-CODE ERA 10 BREAKING FREE Queen Christina 11 DENOUEMENT PART V. CELEBRITY 12 SUCCESS AND FAILURE 13 NEW YORK 14 SUMMING UP Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisBlack women have long recognized the power of film for storytelling. For far too long, however, the cultural and historical narratives about film have not accounted for the contributions of Black women directors. This book remedies this omission by highlighting the trajectory of the culturally significant work of Black women directors in the United States, from the under-examined pioneers of the silent era, to the documentarians who sought to highlight the voices and struggles of Black women, and the contemporary Black women directors in Hollywood. Applying a Black feminist perspective, this book examines the ways that Black women filmmakers have made a way for themselves and their work by resisting the dominant cultural expectations for Black women and for the medium of film, as a whole. Trade Review"In showcasing the incredible range of films made by Black women directors from the silent era to the present day, Christina N. Baker masterfully reveals the rich diversity of their work, their astounding creativity, and their impressive resilience in the face of an often-hostile industry." -- Allyson Nadia Field * co-editor of L.A. Rebellion: Creating a New Black Cinema *"Christina N. Baker offers an engaging study on the vibrant and, yet, overlooked contributions of Black women directors. With astute and accessible prose, Baker deftly reveals a rich cinema history that highlights forgotten, groundbreaking, independent, and mainstream Black women filmmakers. This compact and resourceful text will inform and inspire." -- Samantha N. Sheppard * author of Sporting Blackness: Race, Embodiment, and Critical Muscle Memory on Screen *“This eloquently written book is an essential read for those who want to learn about Black women behind the camera. Baker skillfully weaves Black feminist theory with the ideals and goals of Black women directors from the beginnings of cinema to contemporary times. Her careful consideration of how pioneer Kathleen Collins influenced the women of the LA Rebellion and Ava DuVernay is thoughtful and illuminating.” -- Zeinabu irene Davis * Professor and Independent Filmmaker, University of California, San Diego *"Recent Books of Interest to Women Scholars" * Women in Academia Report *"In showcasing the incredible range of films made by Black women directors from the silent era to the present day, Christina N. Baker masterfully reveals the rich diversity of their work, their astounding creativity, and their impressive resilience in the face of an often-hostile industry." -- Allyson Nadia Field * co-editor of L.A. Rebellion: Creating a New Black Cinema *"Christina N. Baker offers an engaging study on the vibrant and, yet, overlooked contributions of Black women directors. With astute and accessible prose, Baker deftly reveals a rich cinema history that highlights forgotten, groundbreaking, independent, and mainstream Black women filmmakers. This compact and resourceful text will inform and inspire." -- Samantha N. Sheppard * author of Sporting Blackness: Race, Embodiment, and Critical Muscle Memory on Screen *“This eloquently written book is an essential read for those who want to learn about Black women behind the camera. Baker skillfully weaves Black feminist theory with the ideals and goals of Black women directors from the beginnings of cinema to contemporary times. Her careful consideration of how pioneer Kathleen Collins influenced the women of the LA Rebellion and Ava DuVernay is thoughtful and illuminating.” -- Zeinabu irene Davis * Professor and Independent Filmmaker, University of California, San Diego *"Recent Books of Interest to Women Scholars" * Women in Academia Report *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Recognizing the Pioneers 2. Women of the L.A. Rebellion 3. Moving into the Mainstream 4. More than Mainstream Acknowledgments Further Reading Selected Filmography Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisBlack women have long recognized the power of film for storytelling. For far too long, however, the cultural and historical narratives about film have not accounted for the contributions of Black women directors. This book remedies this omission by highlighting the trajectory of the culturally significant work of Black women directors in the United States, from the under-examined pioneers of the silent era, to the documentarians who sought to highlight the voices and struggles of Black women, and the contemporary Black women directors in Hollywood. Applying a Black feminist perspective, this book examines the ways that Black women filmmakers have made a way for themselves and their work by resisting the dominant cultural expectations for Black women and for the medium of film, as a whole. Trade Review"In showcasing the incredible range of films made by Black women directors from the silent era to the present day, Christina N. Baker masterfully reveals the rich diversity of their work, their astounding creativity, and their impressive resilience in the face of an often-hostile industry." -- Allyson Nadia Field * co-editor of L.A. Rebellion: Creating a New Black Cinema *"Christina N. Baker offers an engaging study on the vibrant and, yet, overlooked contributions of Black women directors. With astute and accessible prose, Baker deftly reveals a rich cinema history that highlights forgotten, groundbreaking, independent, and mainstream Black women filmmakers. This compact and resourceful text will inform and inspire." -- Samantha N. Sheppard * author of Sporting Blackness: Race, Embodiment, and Critical Muscle Memory on Screen *“This eloquently written book is an essential read for those who want to learn about Black women behind the camera. Baker skillfully weaves Black feminist theory with the ideals and goals of Black women directors from the beginnings of cinema to contemporary times. Her careful consideration of how pioneer Kathleen Collins influenced the women of the LA Rebellion and Ava DuVernay is thoughtful and illuminating.” -- Zeinabu irene Davis * Professor and Independent Filmmaker, University of California, San Diego *"Recent Books of Interest to Women Scholars" * Women in Academia Report *"In showcasing the incredible range of films made by Black women directors from the silent era to the present day, Christina N. Baker masterfully reveals the rich diversity of their work, their astounding creativity, and their impressive resilience in the face of an often-hostile industry." -- Allyson Nadia Field * co-editor of L.A. Rebellion: Creating a New Black Cinema *"Christina N. Baker offers an engaging study on the vibrant and, yet, overlooked contributions of Black women directors. With astute and accessible prose, Baker deftly reveals a rich cinema history that highlights forgotten, groundbreaking, independent, and mainstream Black women filmmakers. This compact and resourceful text will inform and inspire." -- Samantha N. Sheppard * author of Sporting Blackness: Race, Embodiment, and Critical Muscle Memory on Screen *“This eloquently written book is an essential read for those who want to learn about Black women behind the camera. Baker skillfully weaves Black feminist theory with the ideals and goals of Black women directors from the beginnings of cinema to contemporary times. Her careful consideration of how pioneer Kathleen Collins influenced the women of the LA Rebellion and Ava DuVernay is thoughtful and illuminating.” -- Zeinabu irene Davis * Professor and Independent Filmmaker, University of California, San Diego *"Recent Books of Interest to Women Scholars" * Women in Academia Report *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Recognizing the Pioneers 2. Women of the L.A. Rebellion 3. Moving into the Mainstream 4. More than Mainstream Acknowledgments Further Reading Selected Filmography Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisMore than perhaps any other major filmmaker, Martin Scorsese has grappled with the idea of the American Dream. His movies are full of working-class strivers hoping for a better life, from the titular waitress and aspiring singer of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore to the scrappy Irish immigrants of Gangs of New York. And in films as varied as Casino, The Aviator, and The Wolf of Wall Street, he vividly displays the glamour and power that can come with the fulfillment of that dream, but he also shows how it can turn into a nightmare of violence, corruption, and greed. This book is the first study of Scorsese’s profound ambivalence toward the American Dream, the ways it drives some men and women to aspire to greatness, but leaves others seduced and abandoned. Showing that Scorsese understands the American dream in terms of a tension between provincialism and cosmopolitanism, Jim Cullen offers a new lens through which to view such seemingly atypical Scorsese films as The Age of Innocence, Hugo, and Kundun. Fast-paced, instructive, and resonant, Martin Scorsese and the American Dream illuminates an important dimension of our national life and how a great artist has brought it into focus.Trade Review"Martin Scorsese is a preeminent American filmmaker, and Jim Cullen is a preeminent historian of American culture. Spanning from the director's youth on the mean streets of Manhattan to the closing scene of The Irishman, this book is teeming with brilliant insight into some of the most important films of the last 50 years. Highly recommended for cinephiles and for anyone interested in the story of the American Dream." — Jonathan D. Cohen, co-editor of Long Walk Home: Reflections on Bruce Springsteen "Jim Cullen is one of the most acute cultural historians writing today. This sweeping analysis of Martin Scorsese’s films through the lens of the American Dream is a must read for the many fans of the director’s work." — Louis P. Masur, author of The Sum of Our Dreams: A Concise History of AmericaTable of ContentsPreface A Martin Scorsese Feature Film Chronology Introduction: The Provincial Cosmopolitan 1 The Elizabethan Era 2 Redeeming Dreams 3 Impressive Failures 4 Dream Critiques 5 Recurring Dreams Conclusion: Dream of Life Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisGeorge Clayton Johnson was an up-and-coming short story writer who broke into Hollywood in a big way when he co-wrote the screenplay for Ocean’s Eleven. More legendary works followed, including Logan’s Run and classic scripts for shows like The Twilight Zone and Star Trek. In the meantime, he forged friendships with some of the era’s most visionary science fiction writers, including Ray Bradbury, Theodore Sturgeon, Richard Matheson, and Rod Serling. Later in life, Johnson befriended comics journalist and artist Henry Chamberlain, and the two had long chats about his amazing life and career. Now Chamberlain pays tribute to his late friend in the graphic novel George’s Run, which brings Johnson’s creative milieu to life in vividly illustrated color panels. The result feels less like reading a conventional biography and more like sitting in on an intimate conversation between friends as they recollect key moments in pop culture history, as well as the colorful band of writers known as the “Rat Pack of Science Fiction.” Trade Review"George Clayton Johnson was one of the most brilliant and important writers of the twentieth century, creating classic episodes of The Twilight Zone and Star Trek, as well as coauthoring Logan's Run and Ocean's Eleven. George's Run spectacularly and charmingly invites you on the amazing journey of his life and legacy, from 1929 through the fifties and sixties to 2015 and beyond. It's a trip down Memory Lane via time machine and rocket ship — and it will definitely blow your mind!"— Marc Scott Zicree, author of The Twilight Zone Companion “Telling the story of postwar popular culture through the eyes of a pivotal writer, George’s Run offers fresh insights into pop culture history from a deeply personal perspective. Capturing the voice of a writer who helped shape our collective imagination, Chamberlain’s graphic novel highlights how a generation of creatives aspired to reshape our collective vision. This story calls attention to the creative community that shaped American culture. Whether you are a fan of television or intrigued by the creative communities that define a pivotal moment in U.S. entertainment history, this story of a writer’s journey will engage and inform.”— Julian C. Chambliss, Professor of English, Michigan State University "George Clayton Johnson’s limitless imagination fueled the foundations of sci-fi that made me the genre geek I am today. Filtered through Henry Chamberlain’s whimsical art, George’s Run is an intimate look at a personable writer’s journey and inspirations behind his iconic tales."— David Weiner, director of In Search of Darkness and editor in chief of Famous Monsters of Filmland “In this surprising and inventive graphic book, Henry Chamberlain looks deeply into the life and writing of George Clayton Johnson. What he finds is a truly American story that blends fact and fiction to describe the life of an underappreciated voice in 1960s Hollywood.”— Bart Beaty, author of Twelve-Cent Archie and Comics Versus ArtTable of ContentsForeword A Touch of Strange A Historical Portal A Remembrance Afterword Interview with George Clayton Johnson

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Book SynopsisPynchon's Sound of Music is dedicated to cataloging, exploring, and interpreting the manifold manifestations of music in Thomas Pynchon’s work. An original mix of close and distant readings, this monograph employs a variety of disciplines—from literary studies and musicology to philosophy, media theory, and history—to explain Pynchon through music and music through Pynchon. Encyclopedic and eclectic in its approach, Pynchon’s Sound of Music discusses the author’s use of instruments such as the kazoo, harmonica, and saxophone and embarks on close readings of the most salient and musically tantalizing passages. Zooming out to a bird’s eye view, Christian Hänggi puts Pynchon’s historical musical references and allusions into perspective to trace the trends and tendencies in the development of the author’s interest in music. A treasure trove for fans and an invaluable source for future scholarship, this book includes the Pynchon Playlist, a catalog of over 900 musical references in Pynchon’s oeuvre, and an exhaustive index of more than 700 appearances of musical instruments.

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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.

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Book SynopsisThe significance of this book is its uniqueness. First, the book contains a collection of fourteen chapters that capture the personal, professional, and historical experiences of international global scholars and artists to which they were subjected in their native country and after they immigrated to the United States. What makes this book project highly unusual in comparison to other publications is that these international global scholars and artists experienced historical events of trauma and joy in their native country and in their newly adopted country of the United States that lie deeply buried in their sub-consciousness; that these memories are unforgettable and still painful for them; that these memories are a constant companion in their daily lives; and that the experienced historical events of trauma and joy have shaped their professional and personal lives to this very day. There exists a paucity in the global education literature of this far-reaching topic and, thus, it has the potential to enhance and diversify the global education literature.Second, the significance of this book lies in the pedagogical power of the oral history narrative tradition and its impact on students at the secondary and tertiary levels in education. When one's lived experiences of trauma or joy occur during a critical time in history, they rarely yield unforgotten memories and deeply held private knowledge that do not come to light without a storyteller. When first-hand accounts are shared publicly, they can bring powerful insights into past historic events to the very presence. Thus, the pedagogical strength of this book contributes to knowledge creation in the classroom as oral histories move students from abstract textbook descriptions to concrete and compelling "lived" stories associated with historical happenings. This pedagogy leads students to become more critical of historical events of the past and develops in them a deeper understanding of the past. Consequently, oral history narratives enable teachers and teacher educators to enrich the abstract text of textbooks with the authentic voice of the individual.A third significance of this book lies embedded in the rich historical perspective displayed by storytellers of non-native international global scholars and artists from around the world who portray their lived-through, first-hand experiences such as child labor, communism, hate, hunger, fascism, fear, intolerance, discrimination, prejudice, poverty, war, protest, and death. Finally, a major purpose of this book is to expose young learners from around the world to empowering non-native international role models in global education and the arts from nations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Eurasia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America who build bridges—not walls—between peoples and nations.

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Book SynopsisThe significance of this book is its uniqueness. First, the book contains a collection of fourteen chapters that capture the personal, professional, and historical experiences of international global scholars and artists to which they were subjected in their native country and after they immigrated to the United States. What makes this book project highly unusual in comparison to other publications is that these international global scholars and artists experienced historical events of trauma and joy in their native country and in their newly adopted country of the United States that lie deeply buried in their sub-consciousness; that these memories are unforgettable and still painful for them; that these memories are a constant companion in their daily lives; and that the experienced historical events of trauma and joy have shaped their professional and personal lives to this very day. There exists a paucity in the global education literature of this far-reaching topic and, thus, it has the potential to enhance and diversify the global education literature.Second, the significance of this book lies in the pedagogical power of the oral history narrative tradition and its impact on students at the secondary and tertiary levels in education. When one's lived experiences of trauma or joy occur during a critical time in history, they rarely yield unforgotten memories and deeply held private knowledge that do not come to light without a storyteller. When first-hand accounts are shared publicly, they can bring powerful insights into past historic events to the very presence. Thus, the pedagogical strength of this book contributes to knowledge creation in the classroom as oral histories move students from abstract textbook descriptions to concrete and compelling "lived" stories associated with historical happenings. This pedagogy leads students to become more critical of historical events of the past and develops in them a deeper understanding of the past. Consequently, oral history narratives enable teachers and teacher educators to enrich the abstract text of textbooks with the authentic voice of the individual.A third significance of this book lies embedded in the rich historical perspective displayed by storytellers of non-native international global scholars and artists from around the world who portray their lived-through, first-hand experiences such as child labor, communism, hate, hunger, fascism, fear, intolerance, discrimination, prejudice, poverty, war, protest, and death. Finally, a major purpose of this book is to expose young learners from around the world to empowering non-native international role models in global education and the arts from nations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Eurasia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America who build bridges—not walls—between peoples and nations.

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Book SynopsisMusical director to some of the biggest names in showbusiness, Johnny Harris is also a distinguished composer and arranger in his own right. Flamboyant and energetic as a conductor, he has earned countless accolades for his dynamic stage performances with Sir Tom Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey, Englebert Humperdinck, Lulu, Liza Minelli and Lynda Carter to name but a few. This biography, written by his daughter Julie Pearce-Martin, takes you on a journey from his student days at London's Guildhall and the Swinging Sixties to the present day and the star-studded Palm Springs Follies in the USA.

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Book SynopsisLa biografía definitiva en el centenario del mito.

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Book SynopsisAward-winning music historian Howard Pollack's biography of Marc Blitzstein deftly captures the fascinating life and career of an American composer who was openly gay and Marxist at a time when neither was acceptable to the American public.Trade ReviewThose interested in twentieth-century music, American music, musical theater, LGBTQ history, Jewish composers, music informed by considerations of politics including race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, and leftist musicians and artists are in Pollacks debt for this magnificent, richly detailed study. It will, I trust, prompt many more performances, critical editions of scores, and greater analytical engagement with Blitzsteins music, generating fresh views on a remarkable composer and person. * Journal of the American Musicological Society *This comprehensive book about the life and music of the sadly neglected composer Marc Blitzstein is, as well, an invaluable guide to the workings of American arts during the composer's lifetime. * Edward Albee, playwright *Marc Blitzstein was a friend, from the moment we first met in 1946 until he died eighteen years later. Now he lives again in Howard Pollack's pages. As a composer he was one of a kind, with his whistleable tunes encased in wise formality, and his bodily presence, so happy and so sad. * Ned Rorem, composer / author *A timely and invaluable study of a composer we need to know more about. I marvel at Howard Pollack's capacity * as with his biographies of Copland and Gershwinto digest and synthesize a wealth of information, copiously gathered.Joseph Horowitz, author of Classical Music in America: A History *A strong biography." PlaybillA brilliantly researched new biography. * Jewish Daily Forward *Beautifully written, drawing on new interviews with friends and family of the composer, and making extensive use of new archival and secondary sources, Marc Blitzstein presents the most complete biography of this important American artist. * Newreads *Now, Pollack has made Blitzstein happen, just as he succeeded in his comprehensive studies of Gershwin and Copland. * Jewish Herald Voice *[An] exceptionally researched, detailed, and important study of this fascinating, complex, and still relatively unknown composer who well deserves a book of this quality. * Notes *In this comprehensive, sensitive, and beautifully written biography, Howard Pollack scrutinizes every part of Blitzstein's complex personal as well as public life, sustaining his well-deserved reputation as our foremost biographer of American classical composers. * Judith Tick, Matthews Distinguished University Professor, College of Arts, Media, and Design, Northeastern University *Pollack has already told us everything we need to know about Copland and Gershwin. Now he scrutinises Blitzstein in the context of his entire cultural and political scene in fascinating and impeccably researched detail. * Peter Dickinson, Emeritus Professor of Keele and London Universities *A thorough biography. * DC Theatre Scene *Now, Pollack has made Blitzstein happen, just as he succeeded in his comprehensive studies of Gershwin and Copland". * Jewish Herald Voice 26 "Beautifully written, drawing on new interviews with friends and family of the composer, and making extensive use of new archival and secondary sources, Marc Blitzstein presents the most complete biography of this important American artist. " Newreads *The fluidity of prose, moving between established fact and new interviews and critical ideas, is remarkable, making for a book that is rivaled only by Pollack's biography of Aaron Copland...A momentous achievement indeed...Highly recommended. * Choice *An eventful and rewarding voyage of immersion into the life and work of an important American composer. * New Music Connoisseur *Especially valuable... * Dance Chronicle *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Chapter 1: The Boy from Philadelphia ; Chapter 2: Journeyman Years ; Chapter 3: Early Works (1924-1929) ; Chapter 4: Life with Eva, I (1929-1931) ; Chapter 5: From is 5 (1929) to the Piano Concerto (1931) ; Chapter 6: Life with Eva, II (1932-1936) ; Chapter 7: Critical Writings (1931-1940) ; Chapter 8: From the Serenade (1932) to The Chesapeake Bay Retriever (1936) ; Chapter 9: The Cradle Will Rock, I (1936-1937) ; Chapter 10: The Cradle Will Rock, II ; Chapter 11: From The Spanish Earth (1937) to Danton's Death (1939) ; Chapter 12: No for an Answer (1937-1940) ; Chapter 13: From Valley Town (1940) to Labor for Victory (1942) ; Chapter 14: To London and Back (1942-1945) ; Chapter 15: From Freedom Morning (1943) to the Airborne Symphony (1946) ; Chapter 16: From Goloopchik (1945) to The Guests (1949) ; Chapter 17: Regina, I (1946-1949) ; Chapter 18: Regina, II ; Chapter 19: The Threepenny Opera (1950-1954) and Other Adaptations ; Chapter 20: Reuben Reuben (1949-1955) and This is the Garden (1956-1957) ; Chapter 21: More Music for Shakespeare (1950-1958) ; Chapter 22: Juno (1957-59) ; Chapter 23: Final Years, I (1959-1961) ; Chapter 24: Final Years, II (1961-1964) ; Chapter 25: The Unfinished Operas ; Conclusion ; Abbreviations ; Notes ; Index

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Book SynopsisThis biography of Benny Goodman's music and times attempts to recreate the colourful music world of the 1920s and 1930s, when Goodman was hailed the "King of Swing". The author offers insights into the character and music of a man who helped transform the Depression years into the Swing Era.Trade Review'The author gives a scrupulous account of Goodman's life and character, without indulging in excessive psychological speculation. He also presents an excellent survey of the rise of the big band.' Geoffrey Smith, Country Life'he has marshalled the available data very diligently ... a commendable work on the Jewish boy from the ghetto who made good' Jim Godbolt, Sunday Telegraph'his book leaves us with a sharply drawn, far from flattering portrait of the ambitious, totally self-centred clarinettist and band leader ... But Collier paints an enthralling picture of the whole American popular music industry through to the fifties ... Collier is an extremely able social historian ... His ensembles blow as hard as his solos making this book an indispensable companion to the records.' John Ellis, The Guardian'brilliantly chronicled by James Lincoln Collier in this in-depth study ... With its fine photographs, notes, index and discography, it belongs in every jazz fan's library.' Elaine Ives-Cameron, Jewish Chronicle`Collier... writes wonderfully well' Devon Life'Even with the benefit of all the diligent research that has made this book so gripping, Collier is unable to explain why Goodman could be so uniquely nasty ... a disturbing and revealing account of one of the most paradoxical lives in jazz.' Jazz FM'authoritative study ... The author gives a scrupulous account of Goodman's life and character, without indulging in excessive psychological speculation. He also presents an excellent survey of the rise of the big band.' Geoffrey Smith, Country Life'this is a substantial and recommendable read' Wire Monthly'Collier's probing of Goodman's personality and his assessment of the music it created is superior to his earlier studies of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.' Times Literary Supplement'the book gives a new and fascinating insight into Goodman's particular style of leadership and discipline ... This is, without a doubt, the most in-depth analysis of any band leader ... that you are ever likely to read.' Tony Parker, Oldham Evening Chronicle'the most reliable of Collier's three jazz biographies' Jazztimes, November 1991'Collier's book amplifies very extensively Goodman's autobiography, The Kingdom of Swing.' Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisThe Beatles as Musicians is a comprehensive, chronologically ordered study of every aspect of the group's musical life--composition, performance, recording and reception histories--in its transcendent late period, from 1966 to 1970. Richly authoritative interpretations are interwoven through a documentary study of many thousands of audio and other sources.Trade ReviewThe Beatles As Musicians is a well-researched, serious-minded scholarly work that stands easily as the best volume of its genre. Students enrolled in music education programs at the university level will benefit tremendously from many of professor Everett's astute observations and advanced theories concerning the music of The Beatles. As a college-level textbook, this book rates an A+. * Goldmine *Table of ContentsMap: The Beatles in London PRELUDE: One-Way Ticket, Yeah ONE: Another Kind of Mind There: The Meaning of Within (1966) INTERLUDE: I Know When It's a Dream TWO: Yellow Matter Custard, Green Slop Pie (1967) THREE: So Let It Out and Let It In (1968) FOUR: Let It Be (1969-1970) POSTLUDE: Whatever Happened To...? APPENDIX A: Instruments Played by the Late-Period Beatles APPENDIX B: Musical Friends of the Late-Period Beatles Table of Chord Functions Glossary of Terms Notes References Index of Names and Song Titles Index

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