Entertainment Books

Book SynopsisGet ready to quake in fear with this revised and expanded edition of our history of horror cinema. This chilling volume packs 640 pages full with the finest slashers, ghosts, zombies, cannibals, and more, curating the very creepiest screen creations from the flickering spooks of the 1920s to the special-effect terrors of the 21st century. Across 10 illustrated chapters, the compendium gets under the skin of some of horror’s favorite figures and themes, whether the vampire, the haunted house, the female killer, or the werewolf. Each classic device is explored in aesthetic and historical terms, probing horror’s manipulation of archetypal human fears as much as socially and culturally specific anxieties. A subsequent Top 50 movies section brings readers up close and trembling with 50 horror showpieces, from black-and-white classics like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Godzilla to Rosemary’s Baby, The Wicker Man, The Shining, The Blair Witch Project, and much, much more. Throughout, the book’s featured images include movie posters, set designs, film stills, and on-set shots.Trade Review“The ideal volume for every movie buff’s bookshelf.” * Art Journal *

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Book SynopsisMaster the popular art of Japanese Amigurumi and take your skills to the next level with this enchanting illustrated guide for creating pandas, rabbits, penguins, and other animals from the author of Ami Ami Dogs, Ami Ami Dogs 2, and Ami Ami Kittens.The Japanese art of Amigurumi—which translates to knitted stuff toy—is a crocheting technique that creates adorable stuffed animals with large heads and small bodies. In her previous books, Mitsuki Hoshi taught crocheters how to make cute Amigurumi dogs and cats. Now, she shows them how to knit a range of popular animals, including a chick, chicken, parakeet, penguin, panda, frog, pig, rabbit, mouse, and bear.Super Easy Amigurumi begins with basic crochet techniques to create four animals, each increasing in complexity: the chick, chicken, parakeet and penguin. Clear and easy photos demonstrating the fundamental crochet skills accompany and guide you through the instructional crochet charts. Starting off with basic crochet techniques for beginners and developing into more challenging patterns for experts, Super Easy Amigurumi is perfect for knitters of any level!

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Book SynopsisThis officially licensed, finely detailed light-up collectible replica of the crystal ball from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry''s divination class is a perfect gift for fans of the Wizarding World.* SPECIFICATIONS: Mini crystal ball set on an intricately designed elephant base; ball and base are approximately 3 inches tall* LIGHTS UP: Ball illuminates when light switch is turned on* BOOK INCLUDED: Set includes mini book of quotes and behind-the-scenes information from the Harry Potter films, featuring full-color photography throughout* PERFECT GIFT: A unique gift for fans of the wizarding world* OFFICIALLY LICENSED: Authentic collectible

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Book SynopsisThe rollicking autobiography of the iconic guitarist who took thrash metal behemoths Megadeth from the edge of collapse to their highest peak before departing to Japan for the joy of J-Pop.

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Book SynopsisRelive the magic of Disney’s beloved 2002 film Lilo & Stitch with this collectible tiny book featuring story art from the film.One of Disney’s animated favorites, Lilo & Stitch instantly charmed audiences with its story of family and friendship, exciting animation, and enchanting characters. Now, fans can keep Lilo and her spunky pal Stitch close to their hearts with this tiny storybook retelling of the iconic film, illustrated with art and imagery pulled straight from the screen. Part of Insight’s ongoing series of miniature storybooks based on popular Disney films, this tiny book is a unique collector’s item that Disney fans will treasure for years to come.

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Book SynopsisDark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History is the definitive collection of rare artwork, interviews, and on-set photos from the beloved Jim Henson fantasy classic.A true masterpiece brought to life by the ingenious puppetry and peerless storytelling of Jim Henson, Dark Crystal is revered by an entire generation of fans. For the first time, this deluxe and highly comprehensive book tells the complete story of this deeply personal Henson project, highlighting the unique creative journey and groundbreaking techniques that brought the film to the screen. Drawing from unseen archive interviews with Jim Henson and new interviews with the film's behind-the-scenes creative team, Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History leaves no stone unturned in chronicling the entire production, from the initial concept based on themes close to Henson's heart to the ingenious conceptual design, puppet construction, and logistics of the shoot itself. The book also delves into the wider world of Dark Crystal, exploring the creation of comics, novels, and other official projects inspired by the film. This deluxe coffee-table book contains an in-depth look at the day-to-day production of the film and showcases a huge range of incredible visuals, including candid set photography, previously unseen concept art, storyboards, production notes, and more. The book also features a plethora of amazing removable items, such as script pages, notes and sketches from Henson, and other unique treasures. Definitive, enthralling, and revelatory, Dark Crystal: The Ultimate Visual History is the last word on an enduring modern classic and the book that fans of the film have been waiting for.

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Book SynopsisOne of the best guide books ... all that you need to ensure a thoroughly enjoyable do-it-yourself Outlander tour.' – Outlander Home Page 'Beautifully presented ... and the print quality of the book is top-notch.' – Scottish Field 'Billow and breeze, islands and seas, Mountains of rain and sun...' Since 18th-century Highland warrior Jamie Fraser and resourceful 20th century medic, Claire Randall first met on screen in 2014, millions of viewers have been swept away by the Outlander TV series to the wild hills and craggy castles of Scotland. Now you can follow in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie with this guide to the inspiring locations where Diana Gabaldon’s novels were set and the hit tv show were filmed. From the ancient cobbled streets, gabled palace and herb garden of Culross, which became fictional Cranesmuir, to the iconic 1960s Pathfoot Building at the University of Stirling, which Claire’s daughter Brianna visits on her first trip to Scotland, you can time-travel through centuries. In Scotland, different eras coexist and collide – just as they do in Outlander. Focusing on easy day trips from the characterful cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow – themselves jam-packed with Outlander locations – this guide will tell you about the most rewarding sights, when to visit them and how to get there.Trade Review'It’s beautifully presented, the text is light and informative, and the print quality of the book is top-notch.' Book Review Scottish Field ‘One of the best [Outlander] guide books … For the keen fan, this book, reasonably priced and readily available, was all that was needed to ensure a thoroughly enjoyable do-it-yourself Outlander tour.’ Outlander Home Page

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Book SynopsisCelebrate 100 years of magic and wonder with this official Disney colouring book!This stunning collection of illustrations will take you on a journey through the last 100 years of Disney magic. Specially curated by the staff at the Walt Disney Archives, the book features much-loved characters, icons, Disney theme park concept art, posters, maps, movie art, vintage colouring book pieces and more to ensure there is something for every Disney fan - young or old!The perfect way to celebrate 100 years of Disney, this book will keep you entertained for hours. Also available: Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Colouring Book, Disney The Fashion Collection Colouring Book, Disney Hocus Pocus Colouring Book, Disney The Christmas Collection Colouring Book and Disney The Vintage Poster Collection Colouring Book.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Twenty years after his death, River Phoenix remains as enigmatic and elusive as ever. Last Night at the Viper Room tells the heart-shredding story of how this haunted actor left such a big impression in such a brief time." -- Rob Sheffield, New York Times bestselling author of Love Is a Mix Tape "What Edwards does do impeccably is reveal the life of an extraordinary young man, whose idealism and dedication to his family, despite crippling childhood conditions, set him apart from the rest of the rising star pack." -- USA Today

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Book SynopsisBorn in Manchester in 1977, Anthony Kavanagh's rise to fame was stratospheric, scoring a record deal at the age of just sixteen and winning the much-coveted Smash Hits Male Artist of the Year Award in 1997, all the while appearing on countless magazine covers, performing on Top of the Pops and gigging alongside the Spice Girls. The stuff that dreams are made of. But Anthony - or Kavana as he had been christened - was also trying to keep his sexuality a secret while navigating his way through an industry where image was everything; where his success depended on him having to be exactly who he wasn't. What followed was a dark and dangerous spiral into addiction, an illness that would doggedly hound and baffle him for years to come. Popscars chronicles the highs, the lows, the lies, the debauchery, the hitting rock bottom and then finding out that rock bottom has a basement. Thirty years on, Anthony is ready to tell his jaw-dropping story. Pop Scars is a book about stardom, fame, addiction, grief and - ultimately - survival and sobriety.

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Book SynopsisDescribed as 'the one authentic masterpiece of rock 'n' roll writing' by Peter Guralnick, this portrait of the 60s has cemented itself in the literary and musical canonTrade ReviewStanley Booth's book is the only one I can read and say, 'Yeah, that's how it was' -- KEITH RICHARDSIf you've never bought a book about rock and roll, no matter - this is the one you've been waiting for * * Playboy * *The most brutally compelling book about rock'n'roll and its casualties ever written * * Guardian * *An epic, behind-the-scenes record of life with the greatest rock band in the world, capturing both the carnivalesque excess and the mundane grind of the rock tour * * Observer * *Stanley Booth's affection for the band did not keep him from writing about the seamy underside of the Stones' world in the Sixties . . . It is the only book about the Stones that I would recommend both to the general reader and to the most devoted fan. Booth will find an epiphany on almost every page * * New York Times Book Review * *By far the best book on its subject (including Richards's own well received effort), Booth's book is also easily the most convincing account of life inside the monster created by the rock revolution of the 1960s * * Guardian * *Shattering . . . Booth has found his voice and momentum with a pitch and passion I've never seen equalled in pop journalism . . . His book outdistances anything the Stones have wrought since Let It Bleed * * Los Angeles Herald Examiner * *Remains one of the most gripping accounts ever written about the band . . . so awash with tumult and drama it at times has much in common with reportage from the front lines of the war in Vietnam, like Michael Herr's Dispatches * * Uncut * *Booth's strong, sound prose brings to life the out-of-control process through which an age intoxicated by its own passions found a hard-driving music to live hard by. In all the annals of the '60s, there is nothing on paper that so evokes those days and nights * * Salon * *Astonishing . . . part oral history and part midnight diary in a world where midnight goes on forever * * Los Angeles Reader * *One of the truly great rock books * * Hot Press * *A marvellous book, Booth is a fine writer, and has a strong style that perfectly complements his engaging subject. Canongate have also included an introduction from Greil Marcus, a fine writer in his own right, which just adds to the value of this fine book. Highly recommended to anyone who now only loves music, but an engaging story well told * * Destructive Music * *

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Book SynopsisA vivid and revealing memoir from the leader and founder of one of the most revered indie rock bands of the 1980s.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the truth behind the headlines in Victoria Beckham''s fascinating memoir, Learning to Fly.''Juicy and compelling'' Heat''Extraordinary... compelling and honest, devastatingly frank... like a rummage through a close friend''s private diary'' Daily Mail''The sensational autobiography of one of the most photographed and talked-about women in the world'' Mail on SundayFrom the time she saw the movie Fame, Victoria wanted to be a star. A line from the theme song stayed with her - ''I''m gonna live for ever, I''m gonna learn how to fly.'' With this amazing book she gives us the chance to fly alongside her on her journey from lonely teenager to international star.This is the real Victoria Beckham, telling us what it''s like to be part of the most watched couple in Britain. Standing up for herself, David and Brooklyn, and setting the record straight about controversies that have surrounded her. She reveals t

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Book SynopsisDesign is at the essence of storytelling, but how does a production find its style and identity? This book explains how to approach design, whether for film, television, video promo or commercial making, and introduces the techniques needed to make ideas happen. Through theory and practical exercises, it looks at design in a different way and shows how the simplest decisions can become powerful ideas on screen.

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Book SynopsisJoin Marvel's fan-favourites Rocket and Groot in this delightfullyspooky graphic novel adventure!

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Book SynopsisThe space battles, the lightsaber duels, and the startling delineation of alien cultures and environments in Star Wars have fascinated generations of viewers, but it is the psychological richness of the characters that give the movies an emotional resonance. This book features script pages, concept art, storyboards, on-set photography, and more.

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Book SynopsisThe West End edition of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical.

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Book SynopsisIn the new edition of this highly successful book, Harold Schonberg traces the consecutive line of composers from Monteverdi to the tonalists of the 1990s through a series of fascinating biographical chapters. Music is a continually evolving art, and there have been no geniuses, however great, who have not been influenced by their predecessors. The great composers are here presented as human beings who lived and related to the real world. All of the important figures - Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Verdi, Wagner, Mahler, and many others - are included, their lives woven into a fabric rich in detail and anecdote. For this new edition, Schonberg has extended the book''s coverage with informative and astute descriptions of later composers. What has not been changed is the character of the book, which remains an object of delight to all music lovers.Trade ReviewExtremely readable... well founded in scholarship and well written * TLS *Panoramic, wittily detailed... equally pleasing to read from end to end, to dip casually, or to consult * NEW YORK TIMES *Packed with fruity anecdotes * OBSERVER *Peerless ... the first book any young music lover should read * GUARDIAN *

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Book SynopsisTHE CAPTIVATING EIGHT NOVEL IN THE MULTI-MILLION BESTSELLING OUTLANDER SERIES - NOW ON AMAZON PRIME!''A series that will keep you turning the pages long into the night'' Rebecca Yarros***** ''Jamie & Claire fans should not be disappointed''''Epic, magical, and deeply romantic. A true gift to all readers'' Ali Hazelwood***** ''Of course I loved it! Did you have any doubt? I mean, it''s Diana mad skillz Gabaldon and it''s an OUTLANDER book! Could it be anything less than magical?''''Adventure. Drama. History. Time travel. Romance. An epic story that grabs you by the throat and doesn''t let go'' Kristin Hannah***** ''Diana Gabaldon poured her heart along with some of her own blood into this book!!''''Outlander remains a treasure to be enjoyed and shared'' Ian Rankin____________It is June 1778, and the world seems to be turning upside-down.The British Army is withdrawing from Philadelphia, with George Washington in pursuit, and for the first time, it looks as if the rebels might actually win. But for Claire Fraser and her family, there are even more tumultuous revolutions that have to be accommodated.Her former husband, Jamie, has returned from the dead, demanding to know why in his absence she married his best friend, Lord John Grey. Lord John''s son, the ninth Earl of Ellesmere, is no less shocked to discover that his real father is actually the newly resurrected Jamie Fraser, and Jamie''s nephew Ian Murray discovers that his new-found cousin has an eye for the woman who has just agreed to marry him.And while Claire is terrified that one of her husbands may be about to murder the other, in the 20th century her descendants face even more desperate turns of events. Her daughter Brianna is trying to protect her son from a vicious criminal with murder on his mind, while her husband Roger has disappeared into the past . . .____________''An utter delight to experience. Open the pages and prepare to be swept away.'' Rebecca Ross''A stone-cold classic'' Katherine Arden''An unforgettable, unparalleled love story that will leave you craving more.'' Olivie Blake''An enchanting escape for new readers and destined for countless rereads.'' Jennifer L. ArmentroutTrade ReviewHistory comes deliciously alive on the page - NEW YORK DAILY NEWSA grand adventure written on a canvas that probes the heart, weighs the soul and measures the human spirit across ten generations - CNNA blockbuster hit - WALL STREET JOURNALRiveting. Gabaldon has a true storyteller's voice - GLOBE AND MAILGabaldon is a born storyteller - LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS

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Book SynopsisRemain in Love tells the story of two bands and a love story (and marriage) that survived them bothTrade ReviewFrom the first time I saw Talking Heads live (CBGB, 1976), I've had a huge thing for Tina Weymouth. And since then I've been biding my time, waiting for the right moment to make my move. But after reading Remain in Love: Talking Heads: Tom Tom Club: Tina by Chris Frantz, it's become pretty clear to me that she's already in a relationship (see pages 1, 3-7, 9, etc.), and what's more, it looks to be serious (pages 18, 20-26, and especially 114). But you know something? That's OK. I'm happy for Tina, and for Chris, a great drummer who has written a great book, though I wish he'd done it a few years earlier -- Bill Murray[Remain in Love] has great storytelling and amazing detail about adventures that Chris and I have shared in our parallel universes. As the Brits say: I'm gobsmacked. I devoured this book and all the memories and all the love Chris has for Tina . . . One of the most potent examples of living the dream -- Debbie Harry, musician and author of 'Face It'Crackling with verve, comedy, calamity, crisp detail, forward motion, and abiding affection, speckled with an all-star cast of punk legends and pop idols, Chris Frantz's Remain in Love is a rock music memoir like none other--a candy kiss with a kick to it. From the grime and tumult of CBGB to the Valhalla gloriosky of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Remain in Love gives the reader a magic carpet ride on the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club express. It is also a valentine to Frantz's wife, creative partner, and bass guitarist in excelsis, Tina Weymouth, before whom we all gladly curtsey -- James Wolcott, author of the memoir 'Lucking Out'This swift-paced, well written book has the upbeat tone of dreams coming true. Frantz conveys the excitement of his adventures from boyhood to art school to international rock-stardom with honesty and enthusiasm. He didn't miss much in these cherished years. That he managed to keep his joyous spirit alive (and "remain in love") as his various bands accelerate across the globe is a testament to his intelligence and decency. I dare any drummer to write a better book! -- Duncan Hannah, author of '20th Century Boy'Heads and drums and funk and roll: herewith Chris Frantz outs himself as a Writing Head and Raconteur First Class, bringing it on an engaging narrative which combines an enchanting love story with an eye-opening disquisition on the upsides and downsides of being in bands with unsual people -- Charles Shaar Murray, author of 'Crosstown Traffic: Jimi Hendrix and Post-War Pop'I commend Remain in Love to discerning rock fans everywhere * Observer *Frantz has done an effective job of rebalancing the Talking Heads story, offering an angle on the band that fans will relish * Sunday Times *A revealing inside account of the highs and lows of a band who looked and sounded like nobody else -- Olivia Laing * Guardian *a memoir as sharp and sometimes caustic as the music they made * Daily Express *Amidst the bad blood, Frantz offers charming detail of the band's early years * Uncut *A book by a man who is giving the best impression of someone having all the fun * The Herald *The drummer with Talking Heads, one of rock's trailblazing bands, has written a memoir as sharp and sometimes caustic as their music. It's a love letter to both Talking Heads and his wife, the band's bassist Tina Weymouth . . . The book captures 1970s New York, with cameos from Andy Warhol, Brian Eno and James Brown, and makes being in a band sound the most exciting job ever * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis fresh approach provides a thorough up-to-date analysis, in straightforward language, of exactly what puppetry is all about for the new generation of puppeteers. -- Ray Da Silva, British Puppet & Model Theatre Guild Newsletter * British Puppet & Model Theatre Guild Newsletter *

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Book SynopsisFor the millions of Colleen Hoover fans, this officially licensed journal gives you a space to write and reflect on your favorite quotes, characters, and scenes of the novel and its movie adaptation starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.Celebrate your love for It Ends with Us with this beautiful, official journal! The It Ends with Us Journal is the perfect place to keep all your thoughts and feelings as you watch the movie. Featuring art inspired by the movie, this journal includes 192 pages of high-quality ruled paper, printed end sheets, an elastic closure, a ribbon placeholder, and tons of space to record your musings. Perfect for fans of the novel—and its movie adaption—this journal will be a treasured keepsake.

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Book Synopsis''Too often we treat popular music as wallpaper surrounding us as we live our lives. Jude Rogers shows the emotional and cerebral heft such music can have. It''s a personal journey which becomes universal. Fascinating'' Ian Rankin''Moving and absorbing, The Sound of Being Human mixes memoir, analysis, anecdote and personal chronicle into a mosaic that evokes what music means to the individual and the human tribe. A candid, beautiful read'' Stuart MaconieThe Sound of Being Human explores, in detail, why music plays such a deep-rooted role in so many lives, from before we are born to our last days. At its heart is Jude''s own story: how songs helped her wrestle with the grief of losing her father at age five; concoct her own sense of self as a lonely adolescent; sky-rocket her relationships, both real and imagined, in the flushes of early womanhood, propel her own journey into working life, adulthood and parenthood, and look to the future.Shaped around twelve songs, ranging from ABBA''s ''Super Trouper'' to Neneh Cherry''s ''Buffalo Stance'', Kraftwerk''s ''Radioactivity'' to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas'' ''Heat Wave'', the book combines memoir and historical, scientific and cultural enquiry to show how music can shape different versions of ourselves; how we rely upon music for comfort, for epiphanies, and for sexual and physical connection; how we grow with songs, and songs grow inside us, helping us come to terms with grief, getting older and powerful memories. It is about music''s power to help us tell our own stories, whatever they are, and make them sing.Trade ReviewToo often we treat popular music as wallpaper surrounding us as we live our lives. Jude Rogers shows the emotional and cerebral heft such music can have. It's a personal journey which becomes universal. Fascinating -- Ian RankinA stunning hybrid of memoir and music, soundtracking the indelible nature of sound. Rogers' moving, lyrical sentences sing and stop you in your tracks -- Sinéad GleesonI absolutely loved this book. It's a fabulously moving memoir, gorgeous and unique, and beautifully written - tender, funny, nostalgic and insightful, elegantly revealing so much about the power of music. It's given me a completely new take on the songs I have loved in my life and why I love them. What a joy. * Ruth Jones *Moving and absorbing, The Sound Of Being Human mixes memoir, analysis, anecdote and personal chronicle into a mosaic that evokes what music means to the individual and the human tribe. A candid, beautiful read -- Stuart MaconieI've not read a warmer, deeper or truer evocation of the intense and unique connection between person and song. In untangling her own life, Jude Rogers helped me understand mine. This book is truly beautiful -- David WhitehouseA beautifully written memoir of love, loss and the ways in which music can move us in unseen ways. Jude is a rare talent -- Sirin KaleJude Rogers is one of our very finest music writers, and The Sound of Being Human shows us exactly why: tender, whip-smart, passionate and meticulous. All music fans will relish this book -- Laura BartonThere are books that have made me cry and books that have taught me about the psychological effects of music, but Jude's is the only one that has done both. It's a wonderful thing - real food for the heart and head. A book that lots of people will treasure -- Mat OsmanJude Rogers is one of my favourite writers and one of my favourite people. Having been interviewed by her many times I'm always bowled over by her constant passion for music, new and old, and the way she can take you to a time and a place in a few words. This is a beautiful memoir about how music can shape your life, sometimes change your life, and I defy anyone not to have a little cry along the way -- Sarah CracknellBoth heavy and light, dark and sweet - I very much like this book -- Kristin HershEvocative, intelligent and touching. So brilliant on that rush you get from the music that shapes, describes, soundtracks & changes your life. I love Jude's writing and her power to conjure the emotions you felt when you first heard a certain song -- Mhairi McFarlanePersonal but universal, The Sound Of Being Human is a moving, funny and very smart exploration of what music does to you and how it does it -- Alexis PetridisTracing the relationship between music, memory and emotions - Jude Rogers has created a finespun weave of heartfelt memoir, keen insights into the inner workings of pop music, merging into mind-expanding chunks of science. An absorbing and poignant book -- Philip ClarkA beautifully written book offering fresh insight into the way the mind processes music as well as giving a glimpse into Jude's own life as a writer, mother and broadcaster -- Ralph Moore, Mixmag magazine/Worldwide FMJude Rogers takes on one of the most intriguing questions of all: how some songs come to mean so much to us, curling themselves around our memories of that blissful summer or bleak winter. As I read this warm and honest book, I realised its true subject is not pop music, not really. It is rather an exploration of love - how it is formed and maintained, and what it leaves behind -- Aditya Chakrabortty, Senior Commentator, the GuardianA brilliantly unjaded exploration of the power of songs to intoxicate, enthuse and reassure * Guardian *Fascinating read, which, far from reducing music, enriches it * Mojo *A moving meander through Rogers' musical memories * Big Issue *Her writing brims with the lively, engaged intelligence of someone who lives in her material * Record Collector *

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Book SynopsisImpassioned, witty and polemical, At Your Own Risk is Derek Jarman''s defiant celebration of gay sexuality.In At Your Own Risk, Derek Jarman weaves poetry, prose, photographs and newspaper extracts into a rich tapestry of gay experience in the UK. The buttoned-up repression of the fifties and sixties makes way for liberation and free love in the seventies, only to be chased by the terror and pain of HIV/AIDS. This is Jarman at his passionate best, written when he was already ill with HIV and in the midst of the moral panic surrounding the AIDS crisis. Defiant and furious, he not only celebrates his own sexuality but skewers wider society for its brazen homophobia. Reissued here 25 years after Jarman''s death, with an introduction by Straight Jacket author Matthew Todd, At Your Own Risk remains a singular work. It is a powerful reminder of how far we have come and how much further we have left to go.''It blew my mind quiteTrade ReviewIf there is any such thing as the literary equivalent of an incendiary bomb, then this is it... His semtex-packed sentences are welcome thunderflashes of dissent in the grey drizzle of a dispirited political climate * New Statesman *At Your Own Risk gives the reader access to something that is hard to articulate, the near asphyxiating pain, anxiety and rage which many gay people have felt living under the physical, legal and cultural attacks of the last few years * Observer *For all his anger, Jarman never seems brutalised. He retains his humanity and good humour. His is a wonderfully garrulous, mercurial, polymathic daemon * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisThe complete Blackadder scripts by Richard Curtis, Ben Elton, Rowan Atkinson and John Lloyd.Twenty-six years ago, Edmund Blackadder made his first appearance on our screens. Comedy has never been the same since (nor indeed has history). Gathered here - in this twenty-sixth anniversary commemorative edition - are the complete scripts of Blackadder''s adventures and, mostly, misadventures. Blackadder, Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third and Blackadder Goes Forth. Every word, every lie, every cunning plan and cock-up.From medieval nastiness, through Elizabethan and Regency glory, to the mud and sautéed rats of the First World War, Blackadder and his oafish underling Baldrick can be most definitely blamed for ruining England''s reputation as a country with a great history.This historical record has been set down by Mr Richard Curtis, Mr Ben Elton, Mr Rowan Atkinson and Mr John Lloyd.Richard Curtis is the writ

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Book Synopsis''The greatest rock ''n'' roll biography ever written'' Rolling Stone''You''re lookin'' at a livin'' legend.'' He said, and then fell silent for a moment. ''Y''know, that really worries me. I always thought a legend was somethin'' dead.''The tormented life of Jerry Lee Lewis is the most fabled in rock ''n'' roll history.Demon-shadowed and God-fearing, his relentless, all-consuming pursuit of self-destruction clouded his life and his music.Born in deep south Louisiana and raised on the Old Testament, ''The Killer'' was continually torn between a harsh Pentecostal God and the worship of alcohol, drugs, and rock ''n'' roll. Nick Tosches''s electrifying account chronicles the monumental highs and lows of the ever indomitable and ever wild Jerry Lee, who rises to dizzying heights as a rock ''n'' roll icon, only to lose it time and time again to his inner demons.Searing, mythic and gloriously written, Hellfire is an evocaTrade ReviewThe number one greatest music book ever * Observer *Quite simply the best rock and roll biography ever written * Rolling Stone *The best rock 'n' roll biography ever written . . . There is a novelistic intensity to this story of tragedy, triumph and love. Its portrayal of a society alien to mainstream America is riveting * Newsday *Brilliant . . . the best account we have of how the first rock and rollers were torn between salvation and the Devil's music * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisThe definitive collection of folk music - one of the great English popular art formsOne of the great English popular art forms, the folk song can be painful, satirical, erotic, dramatic, rueful or funny. This magical new collection brings together all the classic folk songs as well as many lesser-known discoveries, complete with music and annotations on their original sources and meaning. Published in cooperation with the English Folk Dance and Song Society, it is a worthy successor to Ralph Vaughan Williams and A. L. Lloyd''s original Penguin Book of English Folk Songs.Trade ReviewRefreshing ... beautiful ... academic but lively ... the book offers the experience of immersion into the strange, romantic and occasionally frightening world these songs were, and are, a part of ... A triumphant addition to the English folk canon, both as a source of reference and as an endlessly enjoyable collection to dip into * The Times *The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs couldn't be better timed ... an utterly indispensable collection of music for murder, wooing and wanton abandon * Record Collector *Compelling ... fascinating and refreshingly objective ... Free of any cloying romanticism ... An impressive and nourishing book, with an appeal far beyond the folk aficionado. Roud and Bishop have created something vital * Telegraph *A wonderful resource of knowledge and scholarship -- Tim Cumming * Independent *

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Book Synopsis''Linn Ullmann has written something of beauty and solace and truth. I don''t know how she managed to sail across such dangerous waters'' RACHEL CUSKHe is a renowned Swedish filmmaker and has a plan for everything. She is his daughter, by the actress he directed and once loved. Each summer of her childhood, the daughter visits the father at his remote Faro island home on the edge of the Baltic Sea.Now that she''s grown up - a writer, with children of her own - and he''s in his eighties, they envision writing a book together, about old age, language, memory and loss. She will ask the questions. He will answer them. The tape recorder will record.But it''s winter now and old age has caught up with him in ways neither could have foreseen. And when the father is gone, only memories, images and words -- both remembered and recorded - remain. And from these the daughter begins to write her own story, in the pages which become this book.Heart-breaking Trade ReviewLinn Ullmann has written something of beauty and solace and truth. I don't know how she managed to sail across such dangerous waters * Rachel Cusk *This magnificent, elegant work is pure tour de force... one of the best things I've read in a long, long time * Ali Smith *[An] exquisite and warm novel ... Among Norway's contemporary writers, Ullmann might be the finest sentence by sentence * John Freeman *Unquiet is a wonderfully absorbing and moving family story told with a directness, naturalness, and grace that can only result from Linn Ullmann's close attention to the eloquent details of day-to-day life, her honest embrace of herself and the people close to her, and a keen sensitivity to language and the high demands of good writing * Lydia Davis *I've long admired Linn Ullmann's fiction, and Unquiet is her masterpiece. Based on her upbringing as the child of two great artists, it is the portrait of complex loves; of a youth divided and inspired by diametrically opposed creative influences; and of the ravages of age. Calm yet fierce, exquisitely rendered, this novel imprints itself indelibly?as if you, too, had been there * Claire Messud *Ullmann navigates the dangerous and fissile territory... with great power. I am in awe * Edmund de Waal *Effortlessly lucid, full of grace and restraint * Sunday Times *A powerful and unsettling hybrid of memoir, fiction and meditation ... The work of a lifetime * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis''Niven Govinden''s Diary of a Film, his sixth novel, is also his best yet. Smart, sexy and cinematic (in many senses), it is a love letter to Italy and to film'' Observer''Immersive . . . This is a wise and skilfully controlled novel that can be read in an afternoon, but which radiates in the mind for much longer'' Financial Times''A beautiful, poignant novel of love and longing'' TelegraphAn auteur, together with his lead actors, is at a prestigious European festival to premiere his latest film.Alone one morning at a backstreet café, he strikes up a conversation with a local woman who takes him on a walk to uncover the city''s secrets, historic and personal. As the walk unwinds, a story of love and tragedy emerges, and he begins to see the chance meeting as fate. He is entranced, wholly clear in his mind: her story must surely form the basis for his next film.This is a novel about cinema, flânTrade ReviewDiary of a Film is an achingly intimate novel--tender and wise like Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet through the lens of Luca Guadagnino. Govinden drops us into the fray of an Italian film festival only to reveal a secret garden of quiet and stolen moments with a director whose film is about to premiere. In hotel rooms, abandoned buildings, and in a whisper in front of the international press corps, joy blooms, ideas are born, liberties are taken. Trust holds it all afloat. A stunning meditation on the art of creation and the nature of the artist -- Saskia VogelDiary of a Film is about how art ravages and redeems. It is about the responsibility artists bear both for their art and the world that must contain it; about the imperative to create something substantial in a world that moves too quickly to capture beauty to one's satisfaction; it is about living an ideal, committing to a principle whatever the potential cost, leaping into love and trusting that it will hold you -- Stephen Kelman, author of Pigeon EnglishVicariously I experienced again the freedom to travel and visit a European city just to catch an exhibition, go dancing or merely escape the mundane for a weekend. Diary of a Film is about seeing the familiar in new ways, finding friends wherever we are and coming to terms with the past being the past. Set amongst the gourmet surroundings of a Northern Italian film festival, it reads like an elegy for a just-gone era -- Paul Mendez, author of Rainbow MilkA wonderful mediation on why we tell stories, and who gets to tell those stories - and the grief of your masterpiece belonging only to its audience once it's finished. Sentence by sentence, one of the most beautiful novels I've read all year -- Nikesh ShuklaA meditation on film-making, art, grief and privacy. Constructed with the skill of a watchmaker, with a precise, consistent pitch of intensity -- Keith RidgewayPrecision engineered European modernism from a master stylist. It walks us into a luminous and loving conversational drama, rich with complex erotics and interwoven private agonies. He writes exquisitely about art making, about obsession and responsibility. It's a gorgeous novel -- Max PorterGovinden has created a work of taut and enveloping beauty, which gets to the heart of what it is to live an artistic life caught in the never-present of the piece just made and the piece as yet uncreated -- Andrew McMillanA serious, elegant and elegiac novel: an evocative tribute to the lost world of high cinematic glamour and a lament for the artists' struggle towards greatness. When the time comes again, this is the book I'll carry to read during days spent wandering around the grandeur of a city, moving from cafe to cafe, dreaming of the beautiful life -- Preti TanejaI truly fell in love with this book. It gifts the reader, offering complex human relationships, beautifully-written; I felt a genuine sadness when each scene ended. Reading Diary of a Film, I was powerfully reminded of the depth of the human heart, and of the work which proceeds from it -- Okechukwu NzeluImmensely talented -- Sarah Hughes * i newspaper *Niven Govinden's Diary of a Film, his sixth novel, is also his best yet. Smart, sexy and cinematic (in many senses), it is a love letter to Italy and to film -- Alex Preston * Observer *One for literary fiction fans, Niven's prose is intoxicating * Cosmopolitan *Immersive . . . This is a wise and skilfully controlled novel that can be read in an afternoon, but which radiates in the mind for much longer * Financial Times *Govinden's prose flows with the smooth lilt of a moving camera . . . an outstanding, luxurious novel * The i *Fall into its rhythms, and a few nights at a film festival will become an existential exploration of the creative process * The Skinny *A beautiful, poignant novel of love and longing . . . This tale of a director beguilingly captures the agony of making a film - and letting the public see it -- Tim Robey * Telegraph *A sophisticated and sensitive book about storytelling and queer kinship * Attitude *Elegant . . . In a strong, clear tone that's unfettered by hyperbole, Govinden allows us access to the narrator's mind as he muses on love, work and who should tell whose stories * Monocle *A beguiling exploration of artistic obsession -- Colin Grant * The Guardian *It is a book about the dysfunctions of grief and about what rights the artist has to take liberties with somebody else's story. Gorgeously written, Diary of a Film is a book quite ripe, fittingly, for film adaptation * Literary Review *Because this is a novel of introspection - the narrator ponders his relationship to his lead actors, themselves embarking on a relationship with one another, and his life's work - its tone is one of intimacy and shared confidences that draws the listener ever further inwards * Financial Times *What a pleasure it is to read this love letter to art and to human connection (fragile, powerful, transforming), at a time when we're masked and lonesome and can't kiss our own hand without washing it afterwards -- Deborah Levy * New Statesman *Stole my heart . . . it captures a sense of the fragility and intimacy of human endeavour, but also the silence and resilience needed to survive as a woman, a man, as lovers and as artists in a market-driven world. -- Preti Taneja * New Statesman Book of the Year *A passionate director goes to an Italian film festival for the premiere of his latest work. He meets a young woman. They share a cigarette, talk for hours about coffee and gentrification, before she takes him to see a painted mural in an empty apartment block. If Diary of a Film is filmic in spirit, it is not a straightforward paean to art. The book continually returns to the inadequacy of art at representing real life, which, as the narrator realises, "would continue to burn long after the life of the film". Govinden handles it all with great subtlety, posing probing questions but never letting dogma get in the way of what is an outstanding, luxurious novel * i News, Best Books of the Year *Niven Govinden's sixth novel is an unequivocal triumph; everything in his practice has come together . . . With great subtlety, Govinden helps us see we are on a journey of discovery ourselves, as to who owns stories, and who has the right to tell them. -- Paul Mendez

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Book SynopsisA compelling, fully illustrated account of the worldwide phenomenon of science fiction as depicted in film, literature and art, and the scientific advances and imagination behind it. Drawing on a wide range of examples from the literary and visual canons â short stories, novels, films, television programmes, video games, graphic novels, artworks and more â in both cult and popular culture, this extensively illustrated book examines how science fiction has provided a human response to science, exploring every reaction from complacency to exhilaration, and from hope to terror. Across five chapters this volume reviews the role played by science fiction in exploring our world and a multitude of ideas about our relationship with the human condition. This encompasses a fascinating range of themes â machines, travel, aliens (the Other), communication, threats and anxiety. Featuring a range of essays by experts on the subject as well as interviews with well-known science-fiction auTrade Review'An excellent guide to the importance of science fiction for complete beginners, and has plenty to interest the genre buff, or just the reader who has enjoyed science fiction on film but wants to explore the most resonant ideas and stories a bit more thoroughly' - The Arts Desk'A fascinating companion to the exhibition … very readable [and] colourfully illustrated' - Fortean Times'Stunningly illustrated' - Nature'Far from just a glossy tie-in to the exhibition, this book is a hugely ambitious attempt to show SF for what it is in 2022: the culturally dominant global literary and media form for an age of unprecedented social and scientific change' - Prospective Cultures'Excellent … definitely one for the school library regardless of any visit' - Schools Week'This sumptuous work features interviews with prominent thinkers, wonderful artwork and a gallop through sci-fi’s key works of literature, films and inventions. A timely reminder of how the genre has the power to provoke and prompt thought' - Teach SecondaryTable of ContentsForeword Introduction by Glyn Morgan People and Machines People as Machines / Machine People, Sherryl Vint In the Loop: Reordering Human–Technology Relations, Colin Milburn Interview, Ken Liu Travelling the Cosmos Prototyping the Future: Spaceflight as screen spectacle, Richard Dunn Beyond the Solar System, Rachael Livermore Interview, Charlie Jane Anders Communication and Language Communications, Roger Luckhurst A Century of Science Fiction from Around the World, Rachel Cordasco Interview, Vandana Singh Aliens and Alienation Alien Speculation: Science, Fiction and the Future, Amanda Rees Infinite Variation, Glyn Morgan Interview, Tade Thompson Anxieties and Hopes Science Fiction in the Atomic Age, Daniel Cordle Climate in Science Fiction, Caroline Edwards Interview, Kim Stanley Robinson

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Book SynopsisI am a composer. A composer of classical music. Quite honestly I am not quite sure how that happened to a girl born in Belize and brought up in Tottenham . . . It is clear that composing found me. It crept up on me and wouldn't let me out of its grasp.Now a leading international composer and a singer-songwriter, Errollyn Wallen is as much at home in jazz and pop as in the classical world. Part memoir, Becoming a Composer offers an intriguing glimpse into the mind and motivation of a composer and covers aspects of Wallen's sometimes troubled childhood, and her experiences of growing up as a black composer in the UK. It includes a collection of observations, diaries following the progress of new works and essays and seeks to shed light on the way a composer sees and hears the world.

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Book SynopsisJoin the superhero world of Lang Lang and come on a piano adventure with The Lang Lang Piano Method Level 1. Level 1 introduces complete beginners to: *different five-finger positions *note reading *moving around the keyboard *developing both hands equally right from the start.Trade Review....as I played through these books with my pupils I was pleasantly surprised and eventually delighted. They represent a credible and imaginative approach to learning the piano....It is pedagogically and technically very sound; clearly presented; and works quickly, thoroughly and (most importantly) enjoyably from beginner to beyond Grade 1 level I would use it myself. Fiona Lau, Music Teacher Magazine, March 2016 Factor in their great visuals, fresh new pieces and low cost, and these books are sure to win many friends. Andrew Eales, Pianodao (Online Blog)

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Book Synopsis Everything you need to know about Britain''s longest-running and most popular soap is found here in this impressive book. Celebrating 60 years since the show''s creation, this book is an exhaustive, compelling and entertaining history packed full of features and rare imagery. It takes you through every year in a unique timeline that highlights key plot lines, signficant production events, together with an impressive amount of photography. You''ll discover features on characters, famous actors, royal visits, births, deaths, marriages and murders, together with interviews with key actors, producers and production staff. There are even QR codes so you can not only read about iconic scenes, but view them as well.A special section on the show''s creator Tony Warren, shows how the programme evolved from page to screen and is illustrated with rare imagery and artefacts from his own archive. There are even special gatefold pages that open out showing how the set has dev

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Book SynopsisUpdated new edition 2021. The electric guitar is arguably the most important musical instrument of the modern age. This book explains how to buy the right instrument and set it up, and how to play. It demonstrates basic techniques and chords, and introduces genres such as rock 'n' roll, jazz, heavy rock, metal and blues.

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Book SynopsisIn this spellbinding book, the man described by the Daily Telegraph as ''possibly the best living writer in Britain'' takes on his biggest challenge yet: unlocking the film that has obsessed him all his adult life. Like the film Stalker itself, it confronts the most mysterious and enduring questions of life and how to live.Trade ReviewOne of my favourite of all contemporary writers. -- Alain de BottonReading Dyer is akin to the sudden elation and optimism you feel when you make a new friend, someone as silly as you but cleverer too, in whose company you know you will travel through life more vagrantly, intensely, joyfully. * * Daily Telegraph * *There is no contemporary writer I admire more than Dyer, and in no book of his does he address his animating idea - The Only Way Not to Waste Time Is to Waste It - more overtly, urgently, emphatically and eloquently. -- David Shields, author of REALITY HUNGERFew books about film feel like watching a film, but this one does. We sit with Dyer as he writes about Stalker; he captures its mystery and burnish, he prises it open and gets its glum majesty. As a result of this book, I know the film better, and care about Tarkovsky even more. -- Mark Cousins, author of THE STORY OF FILMI loved this book. How can it possibly work - a book describing a film, more or less shot by shot? But it triumphantly does - i actually felt suspense, and revelation. And i'd never laugh at Stalker, but i did laugh all the way through this. -- Tessa Hadley, author of THE LONDON TRAINA restless polymath and an irresistibly funny storyteller, he is adept at fiction, essay and reportage, but happiest when twisting all three into something entirely his own. * * New Yorker * *A true original . . . [Dyer] never ceases to surprise, disturb and delight. -- William BoydA national treasure. -- Zadie SmithPerennially readable and wonderfully difficult to second-guess * * Bookseller * *Zona is penned with great linguistic flair, in a non-academic, conversational tone... It turns Zona from film criticism into a stranger, more amusing study and the section on why their journey is like the journey of writing a book is both intellectually neat and rather touching. * * Independent on Sunday * *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the full story behind every single song Beyoncé has ever released.From Destiny''s Child to Cowboy Carter, this is the definitive guide to one of music''s greatest ever talents, covering hundreds of songs including:- hit singles- hidden gems- soundtracks- cover versions - deep cuts...and much more besides.Award-winning music writer Annie Zaleski (Rolling Stone, Billboard, the Guardian) explores and explains the fascinating details of every song, from early group hit ''Say My Name'' to solo work such as ''Crazy In Love'' and ''Run The World (Girls)'' - and including the all-conquering Cowboy Carter.A journey through pop, hip-hop, R&B, gospel and even country, this is Beyoncé''s story told through her incredible music.

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Book Synopsis***If you loved Alan''s first memoir - Look Who It Is! - then his follow-up, Alanatomy, will take you further into the hilarious and bizarre world of the country''s favourite chatty man.***''As laugh out loud as his TV shows'' Daily MirrorIt must seem strange to you that I''ve called a book Alanatomy . . . For anyone who has taken the time to see my stand-up performances or watched my chat show, ''Chattyman'', knows that my body has hardly been kind to me - in fact there''ve been times when we''ve actually stopped talking to each other. Balding, myopic, often flaky with psoriasis, back fat that hangs suspended like a cape, a voice that could strip varnish, an increasingly dodgy hip and even dodgier teeth. Why would you draw attention to it? you must ask. Couldn''t you just call the book something else? Do you think the Great British Public is ready to pore over your body? Well, as I turn forty and take stock oTrade ReviewIf you loved Alan's first memoir - Look Who It Is! - then this follow-up, Alanatomy, will take you further into the hilarious and bizarre world of the country's favourite chatty man. * from the publisher's description *It's as winning as you'd expect from the chatty, heart-on-sleeve Carr * Sunday Express *As laugh out loud as his TV shows * Daily Mirror *If you loved Alan's first memoir - Look Who It Is! - then this follow-up, Alanatomy, will take you further into the hilarious and bizarre world of the country's favourite chatty man. * from the publisher's description *As laugh out loud as his TV shows * Heat *Praise for Look Who It is! by Alan Carr * Daily Mirror *Joyous stuff that most of us can relate to without it sounding clichéd, and it is delivered effortlessly by a comedian who owns the space he is working in so much, he could put up a flag * The Independent *Carr's comic timing works every bit as well on the page as it does on stage, making this easily the funniest book of the year * Heat *Sharp, sassy material with pitch perfect comic timing * The List *Bellyachingly funny * The Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisExam Board: AQA, Edexcel & EduqasLevel: AS/A-levelSubject: Modern LanguagesFirst Teaching: September 2017First Exam: June 2018Film analysis made easy. Build your students'' confidence in their language abilities and help them develop the skills needed to critique their chosen work: putting it into context, understanding the themes and director''s technique, as well as specialist terminology.Breaking down each scene, character and theme in El laberinto del fauno (Pan''s Labyrinth), this accessible guide will enable your students to understand the historical and social context of the film and give them the critical and language skills needed to write a successful essay.- Strengthen language skills with relevant grammar, vocab and writing exercises throughout- Aim for top marks by building a bank of textual examples and quotes to enhance exam response- Build confidence with knowledgeTrade ReviewThis is an excellent resource for students preparing Pan's Labyrinth. It does definitely help them to understand Del toro's masterpiece as the book is clear, well-structured and covers all the necessary topics: characters, themes, techniques, etc. -- Amazon reviewerSo helpful with my A level exams, recommended it to my teachers and they have now bought copies for the entire year! -- Amazon reviewer

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