Biography Books

Book SynopsisSomaly Mam was abandoned as a baby and looked after by her grandmother until she disappeared. She was then taken into the care of a man she called 'grandfather', but was treated no better than an unpaid servant. sold. Raped at twelve, Somaly was forced to marry at fifteen and then sold to a brothel. She endured years of abuse before managing to escape. The Road of Lost Innocence is a moving account of a traumatic childhood and also the inspirational story of a determined and courageous woman devoted to helping other girls caught up in the illegal sex trade and violent underworld in Cambodia.In 1997 Somaly Mam co-founded AFESIP to combat trafficking in women and children for sexual slavery.Trade Review** 'Sold into prostitution in Cambodia as a small child, Mam has survived a trauma that is almost beyond the imaginative reach of memoir ... driven by a sense of purpose greater than the self, and related with a haunting directness * GUARDIAN *** 'Somaly Mam is my candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. She is living proof that one woman can change the fate of others * AYAAN HIRSI ALI *** 'Written deftly and sparely, this story easily transcends the current rash of 'misery * life-stories. Somaly Mam has no truck with sensationalism or self pity: action for change is patently what she is all about.’ *GOOD HOUSEKEEPING * ** 'This is a book about how one person's courage can make a difference’ *

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Book SynopsisLocked-in syndrome: paralysed from head to toe, the patient, his mind intact, is imprisoned inside his own body, unable to speak or move. In my case, blinking my left eyelid is my only means of communication.'In December 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor-in-chief of French Elle' and the father of two young children, suffered a massive stroke and found himself paralysed and speechless, but entirely conscious, trapped by what doctors call locked-in syndrome'. Using his only functioning muscle his left eyelid he began dictating this remarkable story, painstakingly spelling it out letter by letter.His book offers a haunting, harrowing look inside the cruel prison of locked-in syndrome, but it is also a triumph of the human spirit. The acclaimed 2007 film adaptation, directed by Julian Schnabel, won Best Director at Cannes and was nominated for the Palme d'Or.Trade Review‘The most remarkable memoir of our time.’ Cynthia Ozick ‘Read this book and fall back in love with life.’ Edmund White ‘A staggering piece of work. It represents an almost inconceivable act of generosity, the gift of the mind and the spirit for which writing was designed.’ A. L. Kennedy ‘One of the great books of the century.’ Financial Times ‘Everyone in the country should own at least one copy.’ Guardian ‘We listen, because what he has to say goes to the core of what it means to be human.’ Robert McCrum, Observer ‘The most extraordinary book of the year.’ Daily Telegraph 'Life-enhancing and devastating in equal measure – everyone should read it.' Gloss magazine

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Book SynopsisThis ground-breaking biography is as much about Sun Ra's music as it is about his passionate, often wildly unorthodox views on the galaxy, black people and spiritual matters. With the various incarnations of his inimitable Arkestra, his repertoire ranged from boogie-woogie to swing to be-bop to fusion to New Age, and his influence extended throughout the jazz and rock worlds. While Sun Ra made a lifelong effort to obscure many of the facts of his early years, he did acknowledge that he was born on the planet Saturn. John Szwed has succeeded brilliantly in delving into and evoking the life and work of this extraordinary artist.Trade ReviewThose who read this book will be spellbound * * The Voice * *a brilliant book, a sprawling, curlicued, swinging account of anextraordinary man's great adventure with a bunch of ideas that madesense to him out of a senseless world * * Independent on Sunday * *this is the year's best jazz biography * * Evening Standard * *one of the best books ever written about anything * * The Idler * *Quite possibly the most inspirational music biography ever written - Essential. * * MUZIK * *

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Book SynopsisGene Wilder defined film comedy in the 1970s and ''80s. But this is no traditional autobiography, rather it''s an intelligent, quirky, humorous account of key events that have affected him in search for love and art.In this very personal, fascinating book, Wilder gives a great insight into the creative process on stage and screen. He discusses his experiences of working with the very best of movie talent, including Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Sidney Poitier and Richard Pryor, and tells how he developed his own unique style from his early days at The Actors'' Studio with Lee Strasberg.Amongst other incidents, he describes his time in the UK, which he has great fondness for, studying at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol. During this period he came top of his class at fencing and doorstepped Sir John Geilgud to ask him to explain the use of iambic pentametre.Wilder also talks amusingly about his failed love life off-screen (including 4 marriages) and is candid about much darker times sucTrade Review‘Funny, unusual and completely convincing.’The Mail on Sunday 'Wilder's prose is as probingly honest as his best performances.’Sunday Times 'Like it's author, it has great charm and intelligence.'Daily Mail – Critic's Choice 'Pure Gene Wilder! Uproarishly funny and at times very moving. It made me want to go out and see every Gene Wilder movie again.'Mel Brooks

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Book SynopsisA Second Edition of Thomas Friedman's stunning book, the first edition of which won the American National Book Award.If you're only going to read one book on the Middle East, this is it.' Seymour HershIn this lucid, incisive and memorable book, acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic, Friedman reaches deeper into the traumatic and complex recent history of the conflicts in the Middle East than any previous writer.For this new edition, Friedman has added a further two chapters that bring the book up to 1995 and the unfolding and stalling of the Middle Eastern peace process.From Beirut to Jerusalem is wonderully shrewd, surprisingly funny and indispensable to anyone seeking a fuller understanding of the political causes and psychological effects of the seemingly endless strife which besets this embattled region.Trade Review‘Jubilantly intelligent – a dashing hybrid of autobiography and journalism… a lifeline to the sane, a beacon to the hopeful.’Michael Coren, The Times ‘Friedman fills the yawning gap between verbiage and understanding with grace, precision and insight.’Economist. ‘A striking achievement.’Financial Times.

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Book SynopsisJohn Healy''s The Grass Arena describes with unflinching honesty his experiences of addiction, his escape through learning to play chess in prison, and his ongoing search for peace of mind. This Penguin Classics edition includes an afterword by Colin MacCabe.In his searing autobiography Healy describes his fifteen years living rough in London without state aid, when begging carried an automatic three-year prison sentence and vagrant alcoholics prowled the parks and streets in search of drink or prey. When not united in their common aim of acquiring alcohol, winos sometimes murdered one another over prostitutes or a bottle, or the begging of money. Few modern writers have managed to match Healy''s power to refine from the brutal destructive condition of the chronic alcoholic a story so compelling it is beyond comparison.John Healy (b. 1943) was born into an impoverished, Irish immigrant family, in the slums of Kentish Town, North London. Out of school by 14, pr

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Book SynopsisSex, intrigue and adultery in the world of high politics and huge wealth in late eighteenth-century England.Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire was one of the most flamboyant and influential women of the eighteenth century. The great-great-great-great aunt of Diana, Princess of Wales, she was variously a compulsive gambler, a political savante and operator of the highest order, a drug addict, an adulteress and the darling of the common people.This authoritative, utterly absorbing book presents a mesmerizing picture of a fascinating world of political and sexual intrigues, grand houses, huge parties, glamour and great wealth always on the edge of being squandered by the excesses and scandals of individuals.Trade Review‘Mesmerizing’Antonia Fraser, Literary Review ‘Well-written, extensively researched and highly readable… Gripping’Stella Tillyard, Mail on Sunday ‘An outstanding debut by a young biographer fully in control of her sources, and with an easy and elegant writing style’Roy Strong, Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisThe definitive account of Whitney Houston's astonishing life, ground-breaking career and tragic death complete with never-before-seen photographs from the only one who truly knows the story behind the headlines: her mother, Cissy Houston.Cissy has said little publicly about Whitney's heart-breaking death. Now, for the first time, she opens up and shares the unbelievable story of her daughter's life, as well as her own, and addresses Whitney's brightest and darkest moments.A legendary Grammy Award-winning gospel singer in her own right, Cissy Houston shows how the lessons from her own musical journey helped to shape Whitney's career from teaching Whitney to use her voice, to keeping her level-headed throughout her meteoric rise to fame.With candour and respect, she sets the record straight about Whitney, exploring both her turbulent marriage and her misunderstood struggles with drug abuse. Cissy goes behind the tabloid headlines to show fans around the world the true, human side of a strong, successful yet flawed musical icon who died much too young.Includes a Foreword by Dionne Warwick.Trade Review‘Essential reading for anyone who wants the inside angle on one of the greatest musical careers of the 20th Century.’ Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisThis is not a manifesto against men in general. Nor is it a manifesto against Arab men in particular. It is, however, a howl in the face of a particular species of men: the macho species, Supermen, as they like to envision themselves. But Superman is a lie. In this explosive sequel to I Killed Scheherazade, Joumana Haddad examines the patriarchal system that continues to dominate in the Arab world and beyond. From monotheist religions and the concept of marriage to institutionalised machismo and widespread double standards, Joumana reflects upon the vital need for a new masculinity in these times of revolution and change in the Middle East.Trade Review'A blast of fresh, fiery air - Haddad has produced a vital, topical must-read for all sexes, races and cultures. Her book is a timely and completely unique addition to the commentary surrounding misogynist oppression, religion, politics and social freedom which have ignited commentators, activists and politicians around the world. The revolution and its backlash are not just being fought in the streets, squares and elections across the Middle East, but also on the faces and bodies of millions of Arab women and their sisters across the world. Haddad speaks for all of us. It's time to listen.' Bidisha 'Joumana Haddad, a Lebanese poet and journalist, has written a bold and often very funny polemic on patriarchy in the Arab world.' Lucy Popescu, The IndependentTable of ContentsContents: Once upon a time - 11 Why this book? 17 The poem Lost and found The rant In praise of egoism The narrative Note to the reader How it all started (in general) 23 The poem Beginning again The rant Heads or tails The narrative Genesis, not the way they'd like to think it occurred How it all started (for me) 31 The poem A love metaphor The rant In and out The narrative Close encounters with the second kind The disastrous invention of monotheism 45 The poem Saying grace The rant Why not The narrative Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife nor donkey The disastrous invention of the original sin 61 The poem All over again The rant Politically incorrect questions The narrative The bad, the evil and the ugly The disastrous invention of machismo 73 The poem Think again The rant The macho's rule book The narrative Balls come with a price The disastrous invention of the battle of the sexes 91 The poem I am a woman The rant He says she says The narrative 'Arab Spring', they claim The disastrous invention of chastity 111 The poem Recipe for the insatiable The rant Penis: directions for use The narrative Abandon all innocence ye who enter here The disastrous invention of marriage 125 The poem Still The rant Dynamics of a millenary gaffe The narrative I take thee to be my temporary love The disastrous invention of getting old 145 The poem The artichoke theory The rant So what? The narrative We can all be Peter Pan Their beautiful voices in my head 155 Letter to my sons 163 Happily ever after - 167 Further reading 169 Acknowledgements 171

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Book SynopsisTHE 25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION WITH A NEW FOREWORD FROM WILLIAM DALRYMPLE''A book to read, reread, then read again to your children'' Independent on Sunday ''Once embarked upon the journey of the book, one is loath, sometimes unable to turn back'' Sunday Times''A book that makes the reader sit in a trance, lost in passionate desire to pack a suitcase and go to the fabulous place'' The Spectator The legendary story of how one man''s actions led to the birth of New York - and the beginning of the British Empire. In 1616, English adventurer Nathaniel Courthope stepped ashore on a remote island in the East Indies on a secret mission - to persuade the islanders of Run to grant a monopoly to England over their nutmeg, a fabulously valuable spice. This infuriated the Dutch, who were determined to control the world''s supply. For five years Courthope and his band of thirty men were besieged by a force one hundred times greater. His heroism set in motion a series of events that led to England owning Manhattan, culminating in the creation of New York and the launch of the British Empire. Beautifully told, Nathaniel''s Nutmeg is a modern classic of adventure, ambition and exploration.Trade ReviewA magnificent piece of popular history . . . This is a book to read, reread, then read again to your children * Nicholas Fearn, Independent on Sunday *Beautifully touching ... To write a book that makes the reader sit in a trance, lost in his passionate desire to pack a suitcase and go to the fabulous place - that, in the end, is something one would give a sack of nutmeg for. * Philip Hensher, The Spectator *Giles Milton tells his adventurous and sometimes grisly tale with relish ... The thoroughness and intelligence of his research underpins the lively confidence with which he deploys it. * John Spurling, Times Literary Supplement *A truly gripping tale... His research is impeccable... Once embarked upon the journey of the book, one is loath, sometimes unable... to turn back and abandon it. * Martin Booth, The Sunday Times *Milton has a terrific eye for the kind of detail that can bring the past vividly to life * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisWhen Freddie Mercury died in 1991, aged just 45, the world was rocked by the vibrant and flamboyant star's tragic secret that he had been battling AIDS. The announcement of his diagnosis reached them less than 24-hours before his death, shocking his millions of fans, and fully opening the eyes of the world to the destructive and fatal disease. In Somebody to Love, biographers Mark Langthorne and Matt Richards skilfully weave Freddie's pursuit of musical greatness with Queen, his upbringing and endless search for love, with the origins and aftermath of a terrible disease that swept across the world in the 1980s.With brand new perspectives from Freddie's closest friends and fellow musicians, this unique and deeply moving tribute casts a very different light on his death. An intimate read, like Freddie and his art, it will stay with you for a long time to come.

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Book SynopsisThe essential collection of critical essays from a twentieth-century master and author of 1984.As a critic, George Orwell cast a wide net.

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Book SynopsisNearly all the works Aristotle (384322 BC) prepared for publication are lost; the priceless ones extant are lecture-materials, notes, and memoranda (some are spurious). They can be categorized as practical; logical; physical; metaphysical; on art; other; fragments.

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Book SynopsisIn A War of Loves, David Bennett describes his unexpected journey from gay activism and a distrust of religion to becoming a follower of Jesus, a journey that included pivotal relationships, supernatural encounters with God, and ultimately a new reconciliation between his faith and his sexuality.Trade ReviewA refreshing and powerful book. This is one of the top books I will recommend to Christians who want to know how to better love their LGBTQI friends and also to seekers---whether gay or not---who are open to considering Jesus’ invitation. * Sean McDowell, professor, Biola University; speaker; author, Same-Sex Marriage *A timely, thoughtful, and often moving story which will be hugely helpful to a lot of people. David’s honesty and humanity shine through these pages, even as he handles difficult questions through the lens of his experience. This is a gift to the contemporary church. * Andrew Wilson, teaching pastor, King’s Church London *David Bennett’s book presents a particular lived Christian experience which deserves hearing. I am grateful to all who are contributing their learning, experience, study, and prayer to help us all to proclaim afresh the gospel of Jesus Christ. * Sentamu Eboracensis, Archbishop of York *David Bennett’s page-turning writing gripped me from beginning to end, and I feel sure that his perspective on what it means to give our sexuality to God is something that every Christian of our generation needs to consider. * Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, director, Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics *Here is a voice as countercultural as it is compelling, capable of engaging the whole Christian community, whether gay or straight, in a vital debate. I have no doubt that David Bennett’s story is going to become an essential part in a complex jigsaw for many. * Pete Greig, 24-7 Prayer International and Emmaus Rd, Guildford *I am particularly pleased to commend this book. It is an important contribution to the conversation. In a day when so often emotional story trumps thinking, David Bennett matches careful theological thinking with a truly compelling story. * Charlie Cleverly, rector, St. Aldates Oxford; member, General Synod of the Church of England *Many lesbian, gay, and bisexual people feel they cannot be true to both their sexuality and the Christian faith. David demonstrates that integrity and authenticity are possible for gay Christians, sharing beautiful insights about love, friendship, and following Jesus too. * Rev. Dr. Sean Doherty, Christian ethicist; author, The Only Way Is Ethics *One of the most significant books on one of the church’s most pressing subjects by one of today’s most inspiring young thought leaders. David Bennett is a prophetic witness, a truth teller, a tender pastor, and a faithful follower of Jesus. This generation needs to hear this man. * Rev. Simon Ponsonby, author; pastor of theology, St. Aldates Church, Oxford *Riveting, extraordinary---quite extraordinary! I really think I could give this book to any contact I have and they’ll be fascinated. I do wonder whether it will become a Christian classic of our time. * Rico Tice, All Souls Church London; author, Christianity Explored *This book is designed to make all of us think about our ultimate love and to work through how we should engage in a long debated area, whether inside of the church or outside of it. It is well worth the read. * Darrell L. Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary *This is an incredibly raw and authentic book! David paints a beautiful and compelling picture of what it looks like to desire Christ above all else. His affections for Jesus make me excited to be a Christian. * Preston Sprinkle, president, Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender *This is the searingly honest story of one romanced by God against all expectations. Bennett’s example of giving his whole self, including his sexual self, to the Christ who died for him is an act of Christian witness for our time. * Rev. Dr. Michael P. Jensen, rector, St. Mark’s Darling Point, Sydney; author, Martyrdom and Identity *Table of ContentsPart One: The Search 1. Coming Out 2. Psychics and Boyfriends 3. The LGBTQI Activist 4. The Gay World and Oxford Street 5. University and a Love Triangle 6. Worlds Clashing: Christmas Conflicts Part Two: The Encounter 7. Pub Prayers 8. The Film Festival 9. Prophecies and Coincidences 10. Torn 11. Marriage and Boyfriends 12. The Root of Bitterness Part Three: Sense and Sexuality: Wrestling with God 13. Living Under the Word: Did God Really Say? 14. Law Vs. Grace 15. Facing Facts 16. Idolatry or Celibacy? Resurrection Power and the Body 17. Romance in France Part Four: The New Identity 18. Acceptance and Affirmation 19. The Love of God: Eros and Agape 20. Broken Worship: From Orphan to Son 21. A Unique Sacrifice, a New Identity 22. Now but Not Yet: Suffering and Glory Conclusions 23. Worship: The Trinity and Image of God 24. What Now for the Church? A New Way 25. Intimacy and Beloved Friendship 26. Mutual Understanding: The Church and the Gay Community 27. Gift and Sacrifice: Homosexuality, Salvation, and Holiness

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Book Synopsis75 MILLION FANS. AN ANNUAL INCOME OF MORE THAN 500 MILLION. AND A STORY THAT HAS NEVER FULLY BEEN TOLD - UNTIL NOW. ''A wonderfully entertaining history'' Sunday Telegraph ''When historians 1,000 years from now try to fathom the cult of Manchester United Football Club, White will be a good place to start'' Financial Times MANCHESTER UNITED: THE BIOGRAPHY contains everything a football fan needs to know about the club, from its birth in the smog-bound mud of Newton Heath to the Theatre of Dreams. From the solid yeomanry of Lancelot Holliday Richardson, through the gilded days of Law, Best and Charlton, to the dazzling artistry of Cristiano Ronaldo and becoming 20-time English football champions.Award-winning journalist and lifelong red Jim White brings the history of this extraordinary club to life - unofficial and unbiased, it is written with the passion of a true fan.Trade ReviewA rich and thoroughly enjoyable tapestry Sunday Business Post All encompassing yet readable Irish Times **** London Metro A must read for anyone who takes football seriously RTE Guide

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Book Synopsis''The book is remarkable .... one of the most striking personal records of the period.'' - Max HastingsAs a 24-year-old lieutenant in the King''s Own Scottish Borderers, Peter kept an unauthorised journal of his regiment''s advance through the Low Countries and into Germany in the closing months of the war in Europe. Forbidden by his commanding officer from doing so for security reasons, Peter''s boyhood habit of diary keeping had become an obsession too strong to shake off. In this graphic evocation of a soldier at war, the images he records are not for the faint hearted.There are heroes aplenty within its pages, but there are also disturbing insights into the darker sides of humanity - the men who broke under the strain and who ran away; the binge drinking which occasionally rendered the whole platoon unable to fight; the looting, the rape, and the callous disregard for human life that happens when death is a daily companion. Hidden away for more than 50 years, this is a rare opportunity to read an authentic account of the horrors of war experienced by a British soldier in the greatest conflict of the 20th century.

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Book SynopsisTarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown bring together a dynamic group of Black writers, organisers, artists, academics and cultural figures to discuss the topics the two have dedicated their lives to understanding and teaching: vulnerability and shame resilience.Contributions by Kiese Laymon, Imani Perry, Laverne Cox, Jason Reynolds, Austin Channing Brown, and more.It started as a text between two friends.Tarana Burke, founder of the 'me too.' Movement, texted researcher and writer Brené Brown to see if she was free to jump on a call. Brené assumed that Tarana wanted to talk about wallpaper. They had been trading home decorating inspiration boards in their last text conversation so Brené started scrolling to find her latest Pinterest pictures when the phone rang.But it was immediately clear to Brené that the conversation wasn't going to be about wallpaper. Tarana's hello was serious and she hesitated for a bit before saying, "Brené, you know your work affected me so deeply, but as a Black woman, I've sometimes had to feel like I have to contort myself to fit into some of your words. The core of it rings so true for me, but the application has been harder."Brené replied, "I'm so glad we're talking about this. It makes sense to me. Especially in terms of vulnerability. How do you take the armour off in a country where you're not physically or emotionally safe?"Long pause."That's why I'm calling," said Tarana. "What do you think about working together on a book about the Black experience with vulnerability and shame resilience?"There was no hesitation.Burke and Brown are the perfect pair to usher in this stark, potent collection of essays on Black shame and healing. Along with the anthology contributors, they create a space to recognise and process the trauma of white supremacy, a space to be vulnerable and affirm the fullness of Black love and Black life.

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Book Synopsis''War'' is no exaggeration in discussing the bloodshed that has terrorized Mexico in the past decades. As rival cartels battle for control of a billion-dollar drug trade, the body count- 23,000 dead in five years - and sheer horror beggar the imagination of journalistic witnesses. Cartel gunmen have shot up schools and rehabilitation centers, and murdered the entire families of those who defy them. Reformers and law enforcement officials have been gunned down within hours of taking office. Headless corpses are dumped on streets to intimidate rivals, and severed heads are rolled onto dancefloors as messages to would-be opponents. And the war is creeping northward.El Narco is the story of the ultraviolent criminal organizations that have turned huge areas of Mexico into a combat zone. It is a piercing portrait of a drug trade that turns ordinary men into mass murderers, as well as a diagnosis of what drives the cartels and what gives them such power. Veteran Mexico corrTrade ReviewGrillo's clear-eyed, sobering account has authority and a flair for colourful anecdotes, making for disturbing but riveting reading * Metro *A superb report form the front lines of narco-violence * Independent *[A] shining example of dogged, impassioned and courageous reporting ... compelling ... his pace is furious, like driving at top speed along a wild mountain track in a pickup and there is no doubting his expertise, his compassion or his grit * Daily Express *It is hard enough to report the facts of Mexico's crazy death spiral of drug violence. Ioan Grillo goes much, much deeper. He explains why El Narco threatens the soul of this beautiful country. He tells us how we got here -- William Booth, bureau chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean * Washington Post *A fascinating and terrifying account * Sydney Morning Herald *Heartbreaking ... El Narco is a fine work of journalism * Irish Times *Remarkable * Houston Chronicle *Puts a human face on the bloodshed * Boston Globe *First-hand research over ten years, in which the author sometimes put his life at risk, and a tight focus on Mexico alone, make for an account which is vivid, disturbing, and sometimes brutal * Irish Examiner *In these vivid and engrossing books, Ioan Grillo proves himself a master of reportage, exploring territory few journalists have tread before him, and exposing the homicidal and hypocritical nature of America’s battlefields * Irish Examiner *

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Book Synopsis**By the presenter of the hit podcast EMPIRE**''Sophia is the sort of remarkable, almost unbelievable untold true story that every writer dreams of chancing upon. A wonderful debut, written with real spirit and gusto. Anita Anand has produced a winner'' William Dalrymple''A fascinating and elegantly written life of one of the unknown giants of women''s suffrage'' Katie Hickman, author of Daughters of BritanniaThe enthralling story of an extraordinary woman and her part in the defining moments of recent British Indian historyWinner of the Eastern Eye Alchemy Festival Award for LiteratureIn 1876 Sophia Duleep Singh was born into royalty. Her father, Maharajah Duleep Singh, was heir to the Kingdom of the Sikhs, a realm that stretched from the lush Kashmir Valley to the craggy foothills of the Khyber Pass and included the mighty cities of Lahore and Peshawar. It was a territory irresistible to the British, who plundered everything, inTrade ReviewSophia is the sort of remarkable, almost unbelievable untold true story that every writer dreams of chancing upon. A wonderful debut, written with real spirit and gusto. Anita Anand has produced a winner * William Dalrymple *Anita Anand’s gripping book is a sad story of dispossession and dislocation … The story is fast-paced and thrilling … A noble book **** * Daily Telegraph *A fascinating and elegantly written life of one of the unknown giants of women's suffrage * Katie Hickman, author of Daughters of Britannia *Vivid and compelling … Anand writes with the vigour and imaginative reach of a novelist. The many horrors of her enthralling narrative are lightened with judicious flashes of dry wit and a fine eye for detail … A gripping, emotionally powerful story * New Statesman *A groundbreaking work that at last tells the important story of Sophia Duleep Singh: unflinching princess-in-exile, doughty moderniser and tenacious suffragette. From the streets of India to the corridors of power, Sophia artfully examines the tensions between East and West; and one woman's choice between fighting for freedom and staying silent * Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire *Anita Anand has definitively restored to history one of the most important and charismatic figures in the suffragette movement. This thoroughly absorbing and deftly informative account instantly pulled me into the irresistible adventure and vitality of Sophia Duleep Singh’s defiant and innovative existence. Anand’s timely biography is a wonderful testament to Sophia’s lifetime of commitment to Indian independence and the advancement of women, and to the range and courage of her achievements * Rachel Holmes, author of Eleanor Marx *Anand is a strong, confident writer … A rollickingly enjoyable read: a comprehensively researched and zippy account of a profoundly unusual life * Evening Standard *Anand vividly paints the picture of a society girl turned revolutionary … With deftness and sensibility, Anand tells of the extraordinary contradictions at the heart of the relationship between the Queen and this family … Anand’s skill is to bring to life a character whose name does not figure in the annals of the suffragette movement * Observer *Sometimes you hear biographers complain that all the great figures have gone … In this book, her confident and compelling debut, the BBC journalist and presenter Anita Anand leaves that argument in shreds … Anand has triumphantly rescued Sophia from the pampered oblivion in which a fearful Raj sought to bury her. In doing so, she traces the excruciating double binds, emotional as much as political, that tied imperial Britain to the jewel in its crown * Boyd Tonkin, Independent Book of the Week *Anand in her latest book uncovers not just an intriguing female life, but also an important perspective on British-Indian colonial history … Fresh and well written … What a story, and what a successful telling of it * The Times *Sophia is so well researched that this is likely to remain a definitive account … Anand’s passion shines * Daily Express *Real entertainment. Shannon has continued to build on this imagined world with intricacy, and Paige’s voice comes through to deliver a suspenseful story * Washington Post *Fascinating biography-cum-history of a singular life * Independent *A terrifically absorbing read * Mslexia *Sophia and her family cannot be understood without understanding the context of developments in the British Empire in this period. Giving details on the development of Sikh traditions, revolutionary ferment in the Indian subcontinent, the British suffrage movement, the First World War, and the partition of India and Pakistan, Anand presents a comprehensive and valuable historical biography. Anand has gone into key archives at Windsor, the Museum of London and elsewhere to uncover the official records and surviving correspondence about Sophia, enriched by photographs and her own interviews. This is a necessary biography, drawing attention to the broader facets of the British suffragette movement and the depth of connections between the Indian subcontinent and Britain in the Victorian and Edwardian eras * The Times *Anita Anand’s Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary unearths the extraordinary story of a forgotten British-Indian suffragette who went from Queen Victoria’s goddaughter to militant activist * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisLeonard "Len" Keith and Joseph "Cub" Coates grew up in the rural New Brunswick village of Havelock in the early 20th century. The two were neighbours, and they clearly developed an inseparable relationship. Len was an amateur photographer and automobile enthusiast who went on to own a local garage and poolhall after serving in the First World War. Cub was the son of a farmer, also a veteran of the First World War, a butcher, contractor, and lover of horses. Their time together is catalogued by Len’s photos, which show that the two shared a mutual love of the outdoors, animals, and adventure. Photographs of Len and Cub on hunting and canoe trips with arms around each other’s shoulders or in bed together make clear the affection they held for each other. Their story is one of the oldest photographic records of a same-sex couple in the Maritimes.Len & Cub features Len’s photos of their life and tells the story of their relationship against the background of same-sex identity and relationships in rural North America of the early 20th century. Although Len was outed and forced to leave Havelock in the 1930s, the story of Len and Cub is one of love and friendship that challenges contemporary ideas about sex and gender expression in the early 20th century.Trade Review“A brilliant piece of historical detective work. Batt and Green have pieced together a rare portrait of two queer, rural New Brunswickers from the 1910s and 1920s. Historically significant, this exhaustively researched, beautifully written work is utterly absorbing given the rich photographic record included in the volume. But photos alone don't make history, it is the sensitive, analytically nuanced writing of Batt and Green that brings their world to life. This is a book for every rural queer kid who wondered if they were the only one and for queer historians eager for histories of same-sex experiences and culture beyond the cities.” -- Valerie J. Korinek, author of Prairie Fairies“An archive to treasure. This story of love and companionship pulls us across time and reminds us of the queer possibilities that have long blossomed in New Brunswick and beyond.” -- Craig Jennex, co-author of Out North“The photos alone make this book a must-have for those interested in uncovering the queer histories of rural New Brunswick. The affectionate photos of Len and Cub together convey the essence of a relationship never recognized during their lifetimes. An important contribution to Canadian queer historiography.” -- Ed Jackson, co-editor of Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer“The unapologetic gaze of Len Keith and Cub Coates endures in these amazing photographs, regardless of how we interpret their lives today.” -- Kelvin Browne * Literary Review of Canada *“How these men were treated and how their love was seen cannot be explained by it being a different time (though it remains profound and beautiful and unambiguous how deep lies the affection), but by the profound mystery of why ignorance and hate flourish, and how, somehow, healthy adult love can have a hierarchy or a class system.” -- Lara Rae * Winnipeg Free Press *“This is powerful, and instructive, for queer people who seek to be responsive to the suffering of those who may not be marginalised by virtue of their sexual orientation or gender identity but on account of their race, caste, or disability or diagnosis.” -- Chintan Girish Modi * News Nine *“This is a remarkable book and a work of public-facing scholarship in the purest sense. It takes something from behind closed doors and shares it with the world to change how we understand those that came before us and our own relationship with the past.” -- Maria Cichosz * Broken Pencil *

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Book SynopsisA story of Irfan Orga's family's survival.Trade Review"This book is a little masterpiece" Robert Fox, Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe funny, warm and moving diaries of a man at the centre of one of the world''s most influential comedy troupes.Michael Palin''s diaries begin when he was newly married and struggling to make a name for himself in the world of television comedy. But Monty Python was just around the corner . . . This engaging volume is a window into the world of Monty Python, from the group''s early cult success to the global superstardom that followed. Amongst tales from the making of THE HOLY GRAIL and LIFE OF BRIAN are stories of the three-day week and the various trials of a peripatetic life, told with Michael''s trademark warmth and good humour.

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Book SynopsisFilled with stunning photographs, this fascinating tribute illustrates and illuminates Hepburn's life. From her early years as an ingénue to her status as an international icon of elegance, it reveals how her unique beauty made her a dream subject for designers and photographers alike. Featuring her collaborations with Givenchy, and stills from the sets of her most famous Hollywood films, The Little Book of Audrey Hepburn takes the reader on a journey through the actress's career and reveals just how powerfully her image resonates across the globe - even so long after her death. Table of ContentsIntroduction • A Star is Born • A Roman Holiday: Italian Style • Funny Face: Beauty and Makeup • Breakfast At Tiffany's: The Making of an Icon • My Fair Lady: The Photographer's Muse • Little Black Dress: The Style Staples • Romance and Marriage • Humanitarian Work • Legacy • Index • Acknowledgements.

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Book Synopsis'A tragic age and a tragic character, both seemingly compelled to destroy themselves...a chilling reminder of how little control we have over our fates' Damon Hill 'One of the greatest motor racing stories' Nick Mason 'Timely, vivid and enthralling … it’s unputdownable’ Miranda Seymour, author of The Bugatti QueenDick Seaman was the archetypal dashing motorsport hero of the 1930s, the first Englishman to win a race for Mercedes-Benz and the last Grand Prix driver to die at the wheel before the outbreak of the Second World War.   Award-winning author Richard Williams reveals the remarkable but now forgotten story of a driver whose battles against the leading figures of motor racing's golden age inspired the post-war generation of British champions. The son of wealthy parents, educated at Rugby and Cambridge, Seaman grew up in a privilegeTrade Review'Timely, vivid and enthralling in its close-up view of a world of heroes, Richard Williams’ splendid book corrects the many myths that cling to Dick Seaman’s name. Was he buried sitting upright in the car in which he died? Did his overbearing English mother light up the family’s ancestral home to guide Nazi pilots through the night? Williams has found a subject worthy of his rare combination of technical knowledge with compelling story-telling. It’s unputdownable.' -- Miranda Seymour * Author of The Bugatti Queen *'One of the greatest motor racing stories, about one of the greatest but least celebrated British drivers from an era that produced perhaps the most awesome - certainly the most fearsome - racing cars of all time, the original Silver Arrows.' -- Nick Mason'A fascinating story...as you'd expect from one of the finest sports writers of our lifetime, Williams advances our understanding of the subject by elegantly weaving a narrative that combines the Boy's Own derring-do of a between-the-wars hero with the suffocatingly stuffy expectations of British society...Gives you all the detail a purist would want from a racing biography, but it's also an easy-to-read yet fascinating social documentary of the era. -- Marcus Simmons * Autosport *'A tragic age and a tragic character, both seemingly compelled to destroy themselves...a chilling reminder of how little control we have over our fates' -- Damon Hill'To read A Race with Love and Death...is to smell the petrol that frequently caused conflagrations as cars burst into flame from leaks and collisions. Williams is the right man to tell [Seaman's story] - a fine sports writer.' -- Matt Dickinson * The Times *'Readers...will be familiar with the elegance of his prose and the breadth of his interests and expertise. All are on show here.' -- Sam Wollaston * Guardian *‘Richard Williams has written wonderful books…but this latest one tops them all for drama, insight and casting fresh light on old events.’ -- Colin Overland * Car *‘The gifted sports writer – Richard Williams recounts Seaman’s story vividly and with aplomb, ably calculating the spirit of the age.’ * GP Racing *‘The story of ‘Britain’s First Great Grand Prix Driver’ is expertly chronicled in A Race with Love and Death as journalist Richard Williams re-evaluates the speedster’s life and legacy.’ * The Sportsman *'Richard Williams’ charming account of Seaman’s life, will help...remind others of a time in Grand Prix racing when with grievous regularity...the fast died young and died often.' -- Michael Moritz * Financial Times *'Richard Williams – one of our most elegant sportswriters – has written a biography of Seaman that seeks to remind us of his unfairly expunged sporting achievements...once Seaman’s career takes off and he participates in bigger, more fully documented events, Williams’s gift for bringing a race to life in all its excitement comes into its own. He is a wonderfully lucid writer, and a sort of anti-Murray Walker in that he never tries to artificially ramp up the tension.' -- Jake Kerridge * Daily Telegraph *'Williams writes like a novelist, vividly creating scenes in order to swing the spotlight on a character who should perhaps have been remembered in the same way as Mike Hawthorn...It makes of a compelling read.' * Classic Cars *'Williams provides the contextual sensitivity that takes a lifetime to acquire... [His] research is nothing short of incredible... A remarkable and moving account, one that places you in every room with Dick, told with reason – matter of factly, rather than chasing sensationalism.' * Classic & Sports Car *'Williams skilfully and gently lays out the nuances of a life that ended violently... As it is, this exhaustively researched and immaculately written book can only feed such fascinating but ultimately sad speculation.' -- Maurice Hamilton * Sport 500 *

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Book Synopsis'Every journalist who is not too stupid or too full of himself to notice what is going on knows that what he does is morally indefensible' In equal measure famous and infamous, Janet Malcolm's book charts the true story of a lawsuit between Jeffrey MacDonald, a convicted murderer, and Joe McGinniss, the author of a book about the crime. Lauded as one of the Modern Libraries "100 Best Works of Nonfiction", The Journalist and the Murderer is fascinating and controversial, a contemporary classic of reportage.Trade ReviewOne of the best journalists writing in English anywhere * Financial Times *It is often overlooked how good a reporter Malcolm is, fearless in her questioning, ruthless in her pursuit of every last witness. The Journalist and the Murderer is a lesson in not courting your subject too much * Guardian *A spare and unsparing account of tragicomic human folly * The Times *A timely reissue for Janet Malcolm's 1990 classic, which caused a storm when it was first published for its uncompromising analysis of the ethics - and otherwise - within the slippery relationship between a journalist and her subject -- Claire Allfree * Metro *Malcolm's seminal 1990 work about the ethics of journalism is at once reportage, a scrutinising look at the practice and a cautionary tale of personal manipulation and betrayal * Big Issue *

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Book SynopsisThe history of Japan's unprecedented takeover of the global imaginary, as told through the eight packaged fantasies that charmed and changed the world most thoroughly from Hello Kitty and the Karaoke machine to the novels of Haruki Murakami.Trade ReviewA nerd- and generalist-friendly look at how Japan shaped the post-World War II world, from toys to Trump . . . A non-native's savvy study of Japan's wide influence in ways both subtle and profound * Kirkus *Amazingly well researched, fabulously informative and an awful lot of fun. If you love Japanese culture or are just curious to know more I can't recommend this book highly enough * Jonathan Ross *A work of startling originality . . . This is a wonderful book, exuberant and joyful, full of love for Japan but a deep appreciation of the sorts of links that get left out of popular accounts - political economies, human-interest stories and technological determinism -- Jonathan Clements * All the Anime blog *A classic in the making * Post magazine *

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Book Synopsis Sea of Strangers by Lang Leav picks up from her previous international bestselling books including Love & Misadventure, Lullabies, and The Universe of Us, and sets sail for a grand new adventure.  This completely original collection of poetry and prose will not only delight her avid fans but is sure to capture the imagination of a whole new audience. With the turn of every page, Sea of Strangers invites you to go beyond love and loss to explore themes of self-discovery and empowerment as you navigate your way around the human heart.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Gripping and fast-moving... the reporting and the level of detail are astounding… a riveting picture of a figure the world does not know very well, but should.” — Washington Post “Rempel assembles a dizzying amount of information about the deals that made [Kerkorian] one of the richest men in America… Now in this most exhaustive biography, he remains as he was in life, a man of great wealth, power, honor, and mystery.” — New York Journal of Books “The book provides a remarkably detailed and fascinating look at the career of an idiosyncratic tycoon.” — Booklist “Chockablock with dialogue and intimate detail assembled by deep research… All sorts of celebrities—in business, sports, and elsewhere—glide through the text… [The Gambler] is the compelling story of a Horatio Alger.” — Kirkus Reviews “an engrossing story of a self-made man.” — Publishers Weekly “I recommend that every Armenian buy a copy of Kirk’s biography and suggest it to their non-Armenian neighbors, friends and colleagues. Kerkorian’s incredible accomplishments bestow a great honor upon Armenians worldwide!” — The California Courier “A fast-moving, dramatic narrative of [Kerkorian’s] larger-than-life business career.” — Washington Times “The Gambler is an excellent tour de force biography of a true rags-to-riches impressario… A class act of a biography! — Seattle Book Review “Informative and entertaining...Rempel’s The Gambler does justice to Kerkorian’s life and legacy.“ — CDC Gaming Reports, Inc. “With The Gambler, Rempel has done Las Vegas and a generation of business entrepreneurs a great service, adding rich detail to the business titan’s deals and controversies. Kerkorian’s life is a reminder of how far Americans can go” — KNPR

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Book SynopsisHow to live a better life. One of the most important books on Western philosophy - a powerful and inspirational guide for the complicated world of today''Refreshing and restorative'' GUARDIAN''An ancient work of spiritual reflection which remains a powerful reminder of how we could live a more dignified life by avoiding deceit, vanity and greed'' OK MAGAZINEFew ancient works have been as influential as the MEDITATIONS of Marcus Aurelius. Filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behaviour, it remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. Marcus''s insights and advice - on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity and interacting with others - have made the MEDITATIONS required reading for statesmen and philosophers alike, while generations of ordinary readers have responded to the straightforward intimacy of his style.In GregorTrade ReviewAn ancient work of spiritual reflection from the Roman emperor, which remains a powerful reminder of how we could live a more dignified life by avoiding deceit, vanity and greed * OK MAGAZINE *MEDITATIONS is unaffected by time and offers plenty of wisdom * IRISH EXAMINER *Refreshing and restorative. They tell you the worst. And having heard the worst, you feel less bad * GUARDIAN *An ancient work of spiritual reflection from the Roman emperor, which remains a powerful reminder of how we could live a more dignified life by avoiding deceit, vanity and greed. * OK! MAGAZINE - HOT STARS SUPPLEMENT *Meditations is unaffected by time and offers plenty of wisdom. * IRISH EXAMINER *

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Book Synopsis''A hot-rod joy ride through mid-20th-century American history'' (The New York Times Book Review), this one-of-a-kind narrative masterfully recreates the rivalry between the two men who innovated the electric guitar''s amplified sound''Leo Fender and Les Paul''and their intense competition to convince rock stars like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton to play the instruments they built.In the years after World War II, music was evolving from big-band jazz into rock ''n'' roll''and these louder styles demanded revolutionary instruments. When Leo Fender''s tiny firm marketed the first solid-body electric guitar, the Esquire, musicians immediately saw its appeal. Not to be out-maneuvered, Gibson, the largest guitar manufacturer, raced to build a competitive product. The company designed an ''axe'' that would make Fender''s Esquire look cheap and convinced Les Paul''whose endorsement Leo Fender had sought''to put his name on it. Thus was born the guitar world''s most heated rivalry: Gibson versus Fender, Les versus Leo. While Fender was a quiet, half-blind, self-taught radio repairman, Paul was a brilliant but headstrong pop star and guitarist who spent years toying with new musical technologies. Their contest turned into an arms race as the most inventive musicians of the 1950s and 1960s''including bluesman Muddy Waters, rocker Buddy Holly, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton''adopted one maker''s guitar or another. By 1969 it was clear that these new electric instruments had launched music into a radical new age, empowering artists with a vibrancy and volume never before attainable. In ''an excellent dual portrait'' (The Wall Street Journal), Ian S. Port tells the full story in The Birth of Loud, offering ''spot-on human characterizations, and erotic paeans to the bodies of guitars'' (The Atlantic). ''the story of these instruments is the story of America in the postwar era: loud, cocky, brash, aggressively new'' (The Washington Post).Trade ReviewNew York Times Book Review Editors' Choice “In The Birth of Loud, Ian S. Port has sorted out the facts of the electric guitar’s much-mythologized genesis and cultural conquest. He turns them into a hot-rod joy ride through mid-20th-century American history. With appropriately flashy prose, he dismantles some misconceptions and credits some nearly forgotten but key figures. He also summons, exuberantly and perceptively, the look, sound, and sometimes smell of pivotal scenes and songs. The Birth of Loud rightfully celebrates an earlier time, when wood, steel, copper wire, microphones and loudspeakers could redefine reality. Tracing material choices that echoed through generations, the book captures the quirks of human inventiveness and the power of sound.” —Jon Pareles, New York Times Book Review“Fascinating . . . one of Port’s true strengths [is] his ability to marry an agreeably anecdotal writing style to a musician’s ear. The way a Telecaster snaps and sizzles, the way a Les Paul purrs with liquid, violin-like tones; he just gets it. . . The story of these instruments is the story of America in the postwar era: loud, cocky, brash, aggressively new.” —Washington Post“[An] excellent dual portrait . . . In the second half of the book, Mr. Port, a veteran music journalist, touches on the work of every major guitar player of rock’s golden age, from Muddy Waters to Buddy Holly—whose appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” electrified (the pun is unavoidable) Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney and John Lennon—and continuing through Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and, of course, Bob Dylan, whose notorious switch from acoustic to electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival scandalized his fans. Not everyone played a Fender or a Les Paul—the Beatles were Rickenbacker fans, and Gretsch guitars had a significant market share—but, as Mr. Port says, the wildfire popularity of those two guitars fueled a world-changing demand for electric guitars of every type.” —Wall Street Journal“Rich in description . . . full of imagist sound-summonings, spot-on human characterizations, and erotic paeans to the bodies of guitars . . . Port can write lovingly, such as when he describes an early, solid-wood model that belonged to the country twanger Merle Travis. . . And he can write with technical lyricism . . . He even made me like Eric Clapton for a minute. And from the fumbled genesis of the electric guitar to its expressive climax, he draws us a beautiful, educational arc.” —The Atlantic“Ian S. Port’s The Birth of Loud reframes the standard history of rock ’n’ roll around the dual creators of the modern electric guitar. . . . Instead of a parade of frontmen and songwriters dueling it out in the charts, Port presents a ground-up account of an at-times begrudging friendship between two Angelenos who created the sound of what we instinctively understand as ‘rock.’ . . . Port’s research is thorough and his prose is lucid. If the evanescence of the internet and the machine-like qualities of synthpop make you want to put words to that vague cultural hunger for something more tactile, more connected to physical reality, this is your book. . . . The Birth of Loud is a compelling addition to the misremembered history of the time.” —SF Weekly“[Tells] the story of the development of the electric guitar through the lives of its two most famous names….Port deftly toggles between their parallel paths, as if swiveling from one effects pedal to another.” —James Sullivan, San Francisco Chronicle“Ian S. Port knows a thing or two about guitar heroes. . . . [With] lyrical, evocative prose, The Birth of Loud includes vivid scenes of Muddy Waters inventing Chicago blues, the Rolling Stones' sex-drenched appearance on The T.A.M.I. Show, Buddy Holly's TV debut with Ed Sullivan, Bob Dylan going electric at Newport and more. Along the way, Fender and Paul hone their inventions to perfection, vie for endorsements from the hottest players, and engage in that age-old driver of American innovation: cutthroat competition.” —KQED “Arts”“A rip-roaring journey through the early days of rock 'n' roll, told through the lives of the men whose innovative guitars helped usher it into existence . . . A lively, difficult-to-put-down portrait of an important era of American art that enhances readers' appreciation for the music it depicts.” —Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)“A page-turning look at two central players [Leo Fender and Les Paul] in the sonic evolution of popular music. Port explores their trials and tribulations with an expert hand. This is a long-overdue cultural biography of music innovation. VERDICT: Thoroughly entertaining and deeply informative, this love letter to American creativity and rock and roll belongs in every library and should be read by all rock fans.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)“This smartly written and genuinely exciting book walks us through the bitter rivalry between Fender and Gibson and, since there is no way to tell this story without telling the story of rock ’n’ roll itself, also provides a jaunty if necessarily abbreviated history of rock. For music buffs, this one is special." —Booklist“[The] definitive history of the electric guitar and its two foundational personalities [Leo Fender and Les Paul]. Theirs is a fascinating and compelling story, especially in the hands of a writer as committed to lively narrative . . . Port can spin out evocative, succinct rock ’n’ roll writing with the best of them.” —The New York Journal of Books“Lushly descriptive and detailed…[the book] is richly illustrative in bringing these rock giants and the tools of their trade to life in a squall of beautiful feedback.” —Publishers Weekly“More than an essential, colorful, and gripping history of the electric guitar, The Birth of Loud introduces Ian Port, the best new non-fiction writer of the past twenty years.” —Daniel J. Levitin, author of This Is Your Brain on Music“Ian Port’s found a way to tell the story of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll—for some of us, among the postwar American stories, those that help define who we feel ourselves to be—in beautifully-evoked dual portraits of the men who made the instruments. In doing so, he re-situates this story in its context so neatly it is as if it had never been told before at all.” —Jonathan Lethem, author of Motherless Brooklyn and The Fortress of Solitude"Ian Port has created a perfect blend of popular history, social commentary, and enough guitar details to satisfy the most rabid six-string geek. This is a fascinating book." —Jonathan Kellerman, bestselling novelist and author of With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars"Guitar players are partly born, partly made, and every one has a story. So, too, are guitars, including the electric guitars that changed the world more than half a century ago. This is their story, and the story of their makers, well-told." —Gary Marcus, author of Guitar Zero“Long before Les Paul and Leo Fender were brand names who revolutionized music and changed culture, they were two guys—obsessively tinkering to recreate sounds in their heads. In The Birth of Loud Ian S. Port vividly captures the compulsion and competition that drove these fascinating oddballs to rock the world.” —Alan Light, former editor-in-chief of Vibe and Spin and author of The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley and the Unlikely Ascent of “Hallelujah” “It’s hard for me to think of an invention more crucial to my interior life than the electric guitar, so in a way The Birth of Loud, Ian Port’s moving, riveting account of the instrument’s development and rise to ubiquity, feels like a sacred text—the story of how I came to be. It’s also a rich and fascinating tale of obsession, ingenuity, and American abandon. Thank heavens for Les Paul, thank heavens for Leo Fender, and thank heavens for Ian Port.” —Amanda Petrusich, author Do Not Sell at Any Price: The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World's Rarest 78rpm Records“The Birth of Loud is more than history, journalism or criticism—it’s a killer rock ’n’ roll story, complete with money, egos, star power and, yes, electric guitars.” —Steve Knopper, author of MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson and Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age“The Birth of Loud channels trickles of intriguing new information into a confluence of big ideas about the history of the electric guitar. This book is essential reading for guitar history maniacs!” —Deke Dickerson, guitar historian, bandleader, and author of The Strat in the Attic

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Book Synopsis**Voted Wisden Cricket Monthly's best cricket book ever in 2019**WINNER, BEST CRICKET BOOK, BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2010_________________Golden Boy is a blistering exposé of the tumultuous Lillee/Marsh/Chappells era of Australian cricket, as viewed through the lens of flawed genius Kim Hughes._________________Kim Hughes was one of the most majestic and daring batsmen to play for Australia in the last 40 years. Golden curled and boyishly handsome, his rise and fall as captain and player is unparalleled in cricketing history. He played several innings that count as all-time classics, but it's his tearful resignation from the captaincy that is remembered.Insecure but arrogant, abrasive but charming; in Hughes' character were the seeds of his own destruction. Yet was Hughes' fall partly due to those around him, men who are themselves legends in Australia's cricketing history? Lillee, Marsh, the Chappells, all had their agendas, all were unhappy with his selection and performance as captain - evidenced by Dennis Lillee's tendency to aim bouncers relentlessly at Hughes' head during net practice.Hughes' arrival on the Test scene coincided with the most turbulent time Australian cricket has ever seen - first Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket, then the rebel tours to South Africa. Both had dramatic effects on Hughes' career. As he traces the high points and the low, Christian Ryan sheds new and fascinating light on the cricket - and the cricketers - of the times.Trade ReviewChristian Ryan's Golden Boy has this brawny lyricism ... It's really alive, that book. Like a great Australian novel. Hughes personifies something mercurial, ethereal, this artistic flair alongside these macho, rugged, brawny bruisers like Marsh and Lillee. It's told with such lyricism and tempo. I found it absolutely enthralling and a real revelation. -- William Fiennes, member of Wisden Cricket Monthly's Best Cricket Book Ever judging panelAt once unputdownable and also unpickupable, because if you pick it up you will eventually finish it, and what are you going to do then? -- Rob Smyth * Guardian *It made me laugh, it told me things, it reminded me why I love the subject I'm reading about and it put a series of images in my head that I won't ever forget. It's audacious, it's got chutzpah, it's done with a lyrical flourish. I didn't know cricket books could be written like this. -- Phil Walker, editor of Wisden Cricket MonthlyA cracking read ... An almost tragic but compelling tale of how Hughes tried hard - and failed - to fit his smiling personality into the hard-faced world of his country's uniquely macho and badly moustached team. * The Observer *Graphic ... Shocking ... Devastating ... If half of what we read here is true, two Australian legends should hang their heads in shame. -- Simon Wilde * The Times *A valuable archive of the professional cricketer's lot during the 1980s - paltry wages, petty officials, vermin-infested hotels and astonishing levels of alcohol consumption ... a fascinating account of Australian cricket's leanest years. * Times Literary Supplement *Absolutely superb, one of the best cricket books I've read. -- John Stern * The Wisden Cricketer *

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Book SynopsisIn 1716, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's husband Edward Montagu was appointed British ambassador to the Sublime Porte of the Ottoman Empire. Despite discouragement from friends that feared for her safety, she accompanied her husband to Turkey and wrote an extraordinary series of letters that recorded her experiences as a traveller and her impressions of Ottoman culture and society. These letters, addressed primarily to her sister and to Alexander Pope, became the basis for a highly crafted text that was not published until 1763. Like many women who rebelled against gender conventions, Montagu was the target of vicious attacks from her contemporaries. But her status as a woman traveller is crucial to her distinctive perspective, and one can argue that her letters offer a feminist alternative to much of the orientalist writing of both the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This edition includes a broad selection of related historical documents on Turkey, women in the Arab world, Islam, and "Oriental" tales written in Europe.Trade Review“What a treat to see this indispensable and versatile text again available, lovingly edited by Teresa Heffernan and Daniel O’Quinn. They have followed the first edition, 1763 (illicitly published after a secret all-night copying session), while correcting their text from Montagu’s own manuscript. Her idiosyncratic, open-minded, proto-feminist responses to Islamic civilization are more fascinating today than ever, and the context that the editors supply for them is simply the best yet.” — Isobel Grundy, University of Alberta“Montagu’s famous Letter-book has at last received the attention it has long deserved as an important piece of eighteenth-century travel literature. The lively introduction constructs the historical and literary context of the work, while an impressive set of appendices illustrates not just her world, but also that of her interlocutors and her contemporaries.” — Virginia H. Aksan, McMaster University“In their superb Introduction to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s The Turkish Embassy Letters, Teresa Heffernan and Daniel O’Quinn write that “much like her letters, it is only more recently that her strategic and intelligent engagement with Ottoman culture is being mined.” Their edition is a timely and compelling reminder of the reasons why we should pay attention to the writing of this remarkable woman. They have produced what will no doubt be the definitive teaching edition for years to come.” — Suvir Kaul, University of Pennsylvania“Teresa Heffernan and Daniel O’Quinn’s remarkable edition of The Turkish Embassy Letters illuminates the intercultural dimensions of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu’s account of her travels through the Ottoman Empire. Heffernan and O’Quinn’s critical introduction offers a nuanced account of the text’s production and circulation and of the various discourses—about the East, about women, about Islam—that shaped its reception. Judiciously annotated, the volume offers an impressive range of well-selected contextual materials, embracing contemporary reviews, polemics from the small-pox engrafting controversy, selections from travel writings on the Ottoman empire, British accounts of Islam, contemporary portraits of Eastern women and the harem, and Oriental tales. This is sure to become the go-to edition for scholars and teachers interested in women’s writing, the history of cross-cultural contact, and the shifting thresholds dividing—and conjoining—Occident and Orient in the eighteenth century.” — Lynn Festa, Rutgers University“I have always wanted a solidly researched and well annotated paperback edition of the letters, with notes at the bottom of the page (rather than those cumbersome endnotes), a good introduction, and a wide-ranging bibliography. Not only does this edition have these, it offers an excellent apparatus that includes a chronology of events related to the life of Montagu, and more than one hundred pages of addition information, ranging from selections of other letters by her, to a discussion of her role in the history of smallpox inoculation, and brief excerpts illustrating European views of Islam … I will use it in my courses.” — Nabil Matar, The ScriblerianTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroductionLady Mary Wortley Montagu: A Brief Chronology of Her Life and TimesA Note on the TextThe Turkish Embassy LettersAppendix A: Front Matter for the 1763 EditionAppendix B: Further Correspondence and Verse Relating to Turkey Lady Mary Wortley Montagu to Mrs. Frances Hewet (1717) Lady Mary Wortley Montagu to Edward Wortley Montagu (1718) Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, The Genuine Copy of a Letter Written from Constantinople by an English Lady, Who WasLately in Turkey (1719) Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, “Verses, Written January 1718 in the Chiosk of the British Palace at Pera Overlooking the City of Constantinople, Dec. 26, 1718” Alexander Pope’s Correspondence with Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1716-17) Letters from Edward Wortley Montagu to Joseph Addison (1717) Appendix C: Reception The Annual Register (1763) Monthly Review (May 1763) From Baron de Tott, “Preliminary Discourse,” Memoirs of Baron de Tott (1786) From Lady Elizabeth Craven, Memoirs of the Margravine of Anspach (1826) From Fatma Aliye, “Madam Montagu,” Hanımlara Mahsus Gazete (1895) From Ahmet Refik, “Introduction” from Sark Mektuplari [Letters from the East] (1933) Appendix D: The Smallpox Inoculation Controversy Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, “Saturday. The Small Pox. Flavia,” from Six Town Eclogues. With Some Other Poems (1747) [Lady Mary Wortley Montagu], “A Plain Account of the Inoculating of the Small Pox by a Turkey Merchant,” Flying Post (13 September 1722) Anonymous, A New Essay on the Small-Pox with a View to Preserve This Nation from the Infection of That Distemper (1725) From Voltaire, Letters Concerning the English Nation (1733) Horace Walpole to Lady Elizabeth Craven (2 January 1787) Celebrating Lady Mary’s Struggle to Introduce Smallpox Vaccination to England, This Monument in Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire, Was Erected in 1789 Appendix E: Turkish Women and the Harem From Richard Knolles, The Generalle Historie of the Turkes (1603) From George Sandys, A Relation of a Journey Begun An: Dom: 1610 (1615) From Robert Withers (Ottaviano Bon), A Description of the Grand Signor’s Seraglio or Turkish Emperour’s Court (1650) From Sir Paul Rycaut, The Present State of the Ottoman Empire (1668) From Aaron Hill, A Full and Just Account of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire in All Its Branches (1709) Appendix F: Eastern Tales and Orientalist Fictions From Miguel de Cervantes, The History and Adventures of the Renowned Don Quixote (1755) From Antoine Galland, Arabian Nights Entertainments: Consisting of One Thousand and One Stories, Told by TheSultaness of the Indies (1713) From Joseph Addison, “The Vision of Mirzah,” The Spectator (1 September 1711) From Penelope Aubin, The Strange Adventures of the Count de Vinevil and His Family (1721) From Daniel Defoe, The Fortunate Mistress (1724) From Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre (1848)) Appendix G: Descriptions of Ottoman Governance and Society Letter from Safiye Sultana, Consort of Murad III and Mother of Mehmed III, to Queen Elizabeth (1594) From Evliya Çelebi, Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa in the Seventeenth Century (1834) From Sir Paul Rycaut, The Present State of the Ottoman Empire (1668) From Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws (1750) From Sir James Porter, Observations on the Religion, Law, Government, and Manners of the Turks (1771) From Baron François de Tott, “Preliminary Discourse,” Memoirs of Baron de Tott (1786) Appendix H: Accounts of Islam From Evliya Çelebi, Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa in the Seventeenth Century (1834) From Sir Paul Rycaut, The Present State of the Ottoman Empire (1668) From George Sale, “Preliminary Discourse” to The Koran, Commonly Called The Alcoran of Mohammed (1734) From David Hume, “The Natural History of Religion” in Four Dissertations (1757) From Sir James Porter, Observations on the Religion, Law, Government, and Manners of the Turks (1771) From Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1791) Appendix I: Illustrations Jean-Baptiste Vanmour, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu with Her Son, Edward Wortley Montagu, and Attendants (c. 1717) Jonathan Richardson (attr. to), Lady Mary Wortley Montagu in Turkish Dress with Page (c. 1725) Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Le Bain turc (1862) Rayhana, Daughter of Ka’b ibn Malik, Neglected by Her Husband, from the Life of the Prophet (Siyar-i nabi, Turkish and Arabic text) (1594-95) Works Cited and Recommended Reading

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Book SynopsisHILLARY RODHAM CLINTON''S INSIDE ACCOUNT OF THE CRISES, CHOICES AND CHALLENGES SHE FACED DURING HER FOUR YEARS AS AMERICA''S 67THSECRETARY OF STATE, AND HOW THOSE EXPERIENCES DRIVE HER VIEW OF THE FUTURE, INCLUDING A NEW EPILOGUE. ''All of us face hard choices in our lives,'' Hillary Rodham Clinton writes at the start of this personal chronicle of years at the centre of world events. ''Life is about making such choices. Our choices and how we handle them shape the people we become.'' In the aftermath of her 2008 presidential run, she expected to return to representing New York in the Unites States Senate. To her surprise, her formal rival for the Democratic Party nomination, newly elected President Barack Obama, asked her to serve in his administration as Secretary of State. This memoir is the story of the four extraordinary and historic years that followed, and the hard choices that she and her colleagues confronted. Secretary Clinton and President Obama had

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Book SynopsisTHE BRILLIANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER.  ‘A searingly honest account of the Arsenal legend’s quest to recover from alcoholism. Unflinchingly brave.’ Sunday Mirror Being Addicted was only half the story, now comes the stunning new autobiography from Tony Adams, now appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.      Tony Adams was a charismatic figure on the football field, a true leader for Arsenal and England. He won league titles in three separate decades, and after the Gunners moved to their new stadium at the Emirates, it was fitting that a statue of him was erected outside to celebrate his extraordinary career. But, for much of that time, he was also drinking heavily and eventually admitted in his book Addicted that he was an alcoholic. Now, in that book’s stunning successor Sober, Adams reveals what happened nextTrade Review"Addicted was like his football style - honest, brave, inspired and unwavering. It gave me the inspiration to deal with my own issues; here was a man openly talking about his problems and embracing life’s challenges. Reading it had a huge influence on me and I can’t wait to get stuck into Sober, I’m sure it will give many strength, myself included. Bless you Tony." -- Robbie Williams

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Book SynopsisCollective Winner of the 2019 Highland Book Prize Under the ravishing light of an Alaskan sky, objects are spilling from the thawing tundra linking a Yup'ik village to its hunter-gatherer past. In the shifting sand dunes of a Scottish shoreline, impressively preserved hearths and homes of Neolithic farmers are uncovered. In a grandmother's disordered mind, memories surface of a long-ago mining accident and a 'mither who was kind'. For this luminous new essay collection, acclaimed author Kathleen Jamie visits archaeological sites and mines her own memories - of her grandparents, of youthful travels - to explore what surfaces and what reconnects us to our past. As always she looks to the natural world for her markers and guides. Most movingly, she considers, as her father dies, and her children leave home, the surfacing of an older, less tethered sense of herself. Surfacing offers a profound sense of time passing and an antidote to all that is instant, ephemeral, unrooted.Trade ReviewNature in Jamie's writing is immediate, domestic and, well, natural... a book whose impact is accretive and, eventually, astonishing. -- Alex Preston * Observer *Notes detailing chance encounters, fleeting relationships and a shared pull towards a specific world, (are) deepened with autobiographical anecdote, then shaken up with a vivid and urgent present-tense noticing that electrifies her connections and surroundings. It is as if Jamie, wherever she goes, functions as a lightning rod, drawing past, present and future together * New Statesman *Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie really stood out -- Sinéad Gleeson * Irish Times, Books of the Year 2019 *"A beautifully produced essay collection that spirals back through interests and themes traced over the past 40 years of Jamie's career, as well as forwards into an unknown future... To read a Jamie essay is to be given a fresh lens through which to view the world -- Amanda Bell * Irish Times *

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Book Synopsis''Tiepolo: the last breath of happiness in Europe''The eighteenth-century Venetian painter Giambattista Tiepolo spent his life creating frescoes that are among the glories of Western art, yet he remains shrouded in mystery. Who was he? And what was the significance of the dark, bizarre etchings depicting sacrifice and magic, which he created alongside his heavenly works? Roberto Calasso explores Tiepolo as the last artist of the ancien régime and at the same time the first example of the painter of modern life evoked by Baudelaire. He was the incarnation of that peculiar Italian virtue sprezzatura: the art of not seeming artful.Translated by Alastair McEwen''A brilliant, eccentric, provocative . . . and thoroughly splendid celebration of a great painter'' John Banville, The New Republic''Calasso is a myth-maker ... a book that treats paintings as a kind of sorcery'' Peter Conrad, ObserverTrade ReviewCalasso has written a brilliant, eccentric, provocative, annoying, and thoroughly splendid celebration of a great painter. * The New Republic *As one has come to expect of this polyglot and polymathic author, the range of references that inform his viewings is broad, deep and effortless * The Art Newspaper *The next best thing to visiting Europe and seeing the painter's work . . . Calasso is one of the most demanding and intoxicating critics writing today. * Los Angeles Times *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewSELECTED AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY: JIM CRACE, GUARDIAN – ‘A whole wide world of significance’ SARAH SANDS, NEW STATESMAN – ‘Sheer delight’ MICHAEL PRODGER, EVENING STANDARD – ‘Picaresque history’ DAN JONES, DAILY TELEGRAPH – ‘Tremendously inventive’ LEV GROSSMAN, TIME MAGAZINE – ‘Thrilling history’ CHLOE SCHAMA, NEW REPUBLIC – ‘Unadulterated delight’ KIRKUS – ‘Gripping’ MAIL ON SUNDAY – ‘Tragic’ ‘A book as delightful as it is unexpected … [an] extraordinary cabinet of drifting aerial wonderment, a book that will linger and last, as it floats ever upward in the mind’ Simon Winchester, Wall Street Journal ‘Holmes presents a full-blown, lyrical history of the same subject, investigating the strangeness, detachment and powerful romance of ‘falling upwards’ into a seemingly alien and uninhabitable element. He lovingly charts … a history full of awe and inefficiency … A truly masterly storyteller’ Evening Standard ‘Endlessly exhilarating … packed full of swashbuckling stories, as well as fascinating historical accounts of the use of balloons. It is also a singularly beautiful book, wonderfully designed and illustrated and quite clearly a product of love’ Mail on Sunday ‘What Holmes teases out … is that ballooning gave us, quite literally, a different point of view … This exhilarating book, wonderfully written, generously illustrated and beautifully published, captures all that and more’ Spectator ‘Holmes conjures an extraordinarily vivid, violent, thrilling history, full of bizarre personalities, narrow escapes and fatal plunges. A peerless prose artist, infectiously curious’ Time Magazine

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Book SynopsisTHE FOURTH VOLUME OF MICHAEL PALIN''S BESTSELLING DIARIESA new millennium, and a new chapter for Michael Palin unfolds. With a Hemingway travel project testing his confidence, doubts creeping in about his abilities as a writer, the death of his great friend George Harrison and the last of his children leaving home, the dawn of the twenty-first century sees Michael at his most reflective yet. ?Over the next ten years, we watch through Michael''s eyes as the world reels from?the successive shocks of September 11, the 7/7 bombings and the global financial crash. With the warmth and gentle empathy that have endeared him to millions of fans over the decades, Michael documents the day-to-day detail of living in a world buffeted by such powerful winds of change.?Amidst this turbulence, one thing remains constant: Michael''s irrepressible curiosity and thirst for adventure. These diaries follow his life as he comes and goes through the filming of four blockbus

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Book SynopsisJames O. Fraser was only twenty-two when he abandoned a promising career and went to China. Living among the people of the Lisu tribe, he felt an immediate affection for them, and for the rest of his life he laboured to bring them to Christ and to Christian maturity. Though he felt much heartache and disappointment, his prayers for the Lisu were answered as thousands came to Christ and churches began to spring up as the Lisu spread the Gospel among their own people. Packed with personal letters, insightful anecdotes and riveting stories of missionary life in China, this superb biography written by Fraser's daughter shines with God's constant faithfulness and power over evil. Content Benefits: This insightful and riveting account of James O. Fraser, who served as a missionary in China, will encourage you to live a life dependent on God. Inspiring story of a man of faith who trusted God Highlights the power of prayer Riveting account of a missionary's life in China Written by Fraser's daughter, Eileen Crossman Part of the new Classic Authentic Lives Series An inspiring and fascinating look at one of the heroes of the faith Ideal reading for those who have been inspired by Hudson Taylor and OMF Perfect book to encourage someone in their faith Ideal reading for anyone who loves to see God at work in the world Great gift idea for any occasion Binding - Paperback Pages - 262 Publisher - Authentic Media

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Book SynopsisThis is the intensely dramatic story of how God took a young, half-starved boy from a poor village in Henan Province and used him mightily to preach the gospel, despite horrific opposition. Brother Yun is one of China's house church leaders, a man who despite his relative youth has suffered prolonged torture and imprisonment for his faith. Instead of focusing on the many miracles or experiences of suffering, however, Yun prefers to emphasise the character and beauty of Jesus. This astonishing book will form a watershed in your spiritual life.Table of ContentsCONTENTSPreface 7Foreword 10Introduction 121. Humble Beginnings 152. A Hunger Fulfilled 233. “Go to the West and South” 334. God Blesses My Whole Family 425. The Path of Persecution 486. “The God of Peter is Your God” 597. God Wants All of My Heart 708. “Be Still and Know That I Am God” 789. Through the Valley of Death 9410. The Fiery Trial 10711. The End of the Fast 12212. God Gives Me a Son and Many Brothers 13213. A Precious Soul from the Lord 14114. Future Hope 15515. A Graveyard Covered With Thorns 16616. God Pours Out His Awesome Power 18317. Second Time in Prison 19618. A Painful Family Visit 20619. God’s Oil Station 21720. The Road to Unity 23221. Third Time in Prison – My Lowest Point 24122. A Miraculous Escape 25123. Leaving the Bamboo Curtain 26324. Back to Jerusalem 27825. Reflecting on Four Years in the West 29326. A New Kind of Persecution 30527. A Sudden Change of Plans 31428. A Seed in the Ground 32529. A Future as Bright as God’s Promises 342Index 349

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Book SynopsisIn this guided journal, master life coach Nancy Levin shows you how to tap into your desire and find the power you need to create lasting change.There''s an art to making change--and it''s nowhere near as hard as you think.Change begins with your commitment to your own evolution. As author and life coach Nancy Levin shares, when you practice the eight dimensions of reinvention, you can embody the art of change by consciously curating what you want to bring into your life and what you choose to release.Nancy will be with you every step of the way, coaching you through this guided journal as you move in the direction of your reinvention: a return to the essence of who you are instead of endless versions of who you think you need to be. By dissolving the obstacles in your way, you can tap into your desire and discover the power available to you for creating lasting change.Each week, you''ll explore one of the eight dimensions of reinvention through b

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Book SynopsisMeghan O'Rourke was thirty-two when her mother died of cancer on Christmas Day, 2008. As a writer, even in the depths of her grief, she was fascinated by what she observed of herself in the aftermath: the rage she felt, not only at what had happened to her mother, but also at the inability of people to acknowledge her pain; her sense that the meaning of her life had changed fundamentally with the loss of a parent; the way that the reassuringly familiar often became somehow completely new and strange. The Long Goodbye interleaves personal recollections of her much-loved mother with an examination of what it means to grieve in a society which no longer has the rituals - or even, most of the time, the desire - to engage with grief, to understand it, and to let it do both its worst - and its best.Trade ReviewEmotionally acute, strikingly empathetic, thorough and unstinting intellectually, and of course elegantly wrought. But it's above all a useful book, for life -- the good bits and the sad ones, too. Richard Ford 'A beautiful memoir about ...loss of a truly irreplaceable mother--yes, it is sad, it is in fact heartrending, but it is many things more: courageous, inspiring, wonderfully intelligent and informed, and an intimate portrait of an American family as well Joyce Carol Oates In her blazingly honest, relentlessly brave memoir Meghan O'Rourke takes on the strange, impossible time after a parent's death. I couldn't recommend this elegant and fearless book more highly to anyone who has, or has had, a mother. Katie Roiphe, author of Uncommon Arrangements

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Book SynopsisIn 1991, five wannabe Mancunian musicians came together and cracked a spark that was to ignite the explosion which became Oasis. The band went from obscurity to become a global phenomenon in the space of a year, achieving world-wide recognition and selling over 70 million records. Pre Oasis, drummer Tony McCarroll joined a band called The Rain, linking up with guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, bassist Paul McGuigan and singer Chris Hutton. Hutton was later replaced by Liam Gallagher who in turn brought brother Noel along. What started out as five young lads with a common dream of becoming rock stars eventually disintegrated into in-fighting, clashes of egos and finanical disputes. In 1995, following the release of Definitely Maybe - the fastest-selling debut of all time - things came to a head and Tony left the band. In this candid and hilarious book, Tony tells one of the most in-depth rock 'n' roll stories of modern times. He reveals the truth about the early years before the band was even formed; he tells of the drinking and drug consumption. Plus, he talks of his much-publicised rift with Noel Gallagher. Tony's recollections include stories involving David Beckham, Prince, Eric Cantona and John McEnroe.

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Book SynopsisAlice Cooper: Golf Monster is the full account of how Cooper became one of the biggest rock stars on the planet with hits like "School's Out" and "Elected", nearly lost it all to alcoholism, and then turned things around by finding a healthy obsession (golf) to replace his unhealthy addiction to alcohol. While most will be familiar with his wild, mascaraed visage and vaudevillian on-stage theatrics, perhaps few will have been aware of the double life Alice Cooper leads. He still tours the world with his band, playing a hundred gigs a year; snake coiled round his neck, beheaded by guillotine at the end of every show...but three hundred days out of that year, Cooper is on the course. Alice Cooper: Golf Monster is an unlikely and captivating tale of wretched excess, life-saving redemption, ghoulish make-up, power chords, and five-irons to the centre of the green. Both humorous and candid, this book reveals another dimension to a man who has epitomised rock 'n' roll for the last forty years.Trade Review'Clever, witty and perfect for dads who like metal (clubs)' The Times

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