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Book SynopsisCharles King is Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University, Washington DC. His numerous books include the New York Times bestseller The Reinvention of Humanity (published in the US as Gods of the Upper Air), which was winner of The Francis Parkman Prize and shortlisted for the British Academy Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award; Midnight at the Pera Palace: The Birth of Modern Istanbul; and Odessa: Genius and Death in a City of Dreams, which was winner of a National Jewish Book Award. His writing has appeared in the TLS, New York Times, Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, The New Republic and other publications.

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Book SynopsisAs a co-founder of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, Chris Hillman is arguably the primary architect of what's come to be known as country rock. He went on to record and perform in various configurations, including as a member of Stephen Stills's Manassas and as a co-founder of The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band. In the 1980s he formed The Desert Rose Band, scoring eight Top 10 Billboard country hits. He's released a number of solo efforts, including 2017's highly acclaimed Bidin' My Time - the final album produced by the late Tom Petty. In Time Between, Hillman shares his quintessentially Southern Californian experience, from an idyllic, rural 1950s childhood; to achieving worldwide fame thanks to hits such as "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and "Eight Miles High"; to becoming the first musician to move to Laurel Canyon. Featuring behind-the-scenes insights on his time in The Byrds, his productive but sometimes complicated relationship with Gram Parsons, his role in launching the careers of Buffalo Springfield and Emmylou Harris, and the ups and downs of life in various bands, music is only part of his story. Within the pages of Time Between, Hillman reveals the details of his personal life with candor and vulnerability, writing honestly about the shocking tragedy that struck his family when he was a teenager, his subsequent struggles with anger, and how his spiritual journey led him to a place of deep faith that allowed him to extend forgiveness and experience wholeness. Chris Hillman is much more than a rock star. He is truly a founding father of American music and a man who has faced down the challenges of life to discover what really matters.Trade Review"Chris was a true innovatorthe man who invented country rock. Every time the Eagles board their private jet Chris at least paid for the fuel." Tom Petty"THIS IS A GREAT JOURNEY INTO THE MAGIC AND MADNESS OF THE TIME. . . . [A] REMARKABLE BOOK." American Songwriter"Hillman is A BONA FIDE PIONEERING GODFATHER TO GENERATIONS OF MUSICAL SOULS who've sought inspiration at that divine crossroads where rock & roll, country, bluegrass, folk, honky tonk, and gospel music intersect and harmonize. He's a national treasure." Marty Stuart"A CLEAREYED, EVENHANDED TALE FROM A PIVOTAL FIGURE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRY ROCK." Kirkus Reviews"This book brought back a lot of great memories: the humorous origins of The Byrds and subsequent adventures." Roger McGuinn"Time Between is a thankful and engaging account of an extraordinary life, an insider's view of the pop culture explosion." UNCUT"Chris Hillman [is] the unvarnished gem of every band he has inhabited. IT'S TIME TO APPLAUD HIS LEGACY." Bernie Taupin

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Book SynopsisThe Philosophy of Modern Song is Bob Dylan’s first book of new writing since 2004’s Chronicles: Volume One — and since winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016.   Dylan, who began working on the book in 2010, offers his extraordinary insight into the nature of popular music. He writes over 60 essays focusing on songs by other artists, spanning from Stephen Foster to Elvis Costello, and in between ranging from Hank Williams to Nina Simone. He analyses what he calls the trap of easy rhymes, breaks down how the addition of a single syllable can diminish a song and even explains how bluegrass relates to heavy metal. These essays are written in Dylan’s unique prose. They are mysterious and mercurial, poignant and profound, and often laugh-out-loud funny. And while they are ostensibly about music, they are really meditations and reflections on the human condition. Running throughout the book are nearly 150 carefully curated photos aTrade Review‘The acidity, acuity and cynicism in [Dylan’s] writing is to be expected (indeed, welcomed). It is the love, enthusiasm, whimsicality and lightly worn wisdom that delight too. That, and the sheer depth and breadth of his dogged scholarship and restless inquisitiveness’ * Sunday Times *‘Discursive, unpredictable, but always illuminating. Characteristically Dylan, in fact… It is not just the breadth of Dylan’s musical knowledge on display here, but the depth of his listening. He has an unerring ability to pinpoint what sets a song – or a singer, or a group – apart’ * Observer *‘Its lavishly and wittily illustrated 350 pages are an excuse for the great man to write with joyful zest, piercing profundity and flamboyant imagination about whatever crosses his mind, offering startlingly and frequently laugh-out-loud riffs on art and life… This book is lightning in a bottle’ * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES and INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERIn Face the Music, Paul Stanley—the co-founder and famous “Starchild” frontman of KISS—reveals for the first time the incredible highs and equally incredible lows in his life both inside and outside the band. Face the Music is the shocking, funny, smart, inspirational story of one of rock’s most enduring icons and the group he helped create, define, and immortalize.Stanley mixes compelling personal revelations and gripping, gritty war stories that will surprise even the most steadfast member of the KISS Army. He takes us back to his childhood in the 1950s and ’60s, a traumatic time made more painful thanks to a physical deformity. Born with a condition called microtia, he grew up partially deaf, with only one ear. But this instilled in him an inner drive to succeed in the most unlikely of pursuits: music.With never-before-seen photos and images throughout, Stanley’s memoir is a fully realized and unflinching portrait of a rock star, a chronicle of the stories behind the famous anthems, the many brawls and betrayals, and all the drama and pyrotechnics on and off the stage. Raw and confessional, Stanley offers candid insights into his personal relationships, and the turbulent dynamics with his bandmates over the past four decades. And no one comes out unscathed—including Stanley himself.“People say I was brave to write such a revealing book, but I wrote it because I needed to personally reflect on my own life. I know everyone will see themselves somewhere in this book, and where my story might take them is why I’m sharing it.” —Paul StanleyTrade Review"Paul Stanley proves himself as an artist in music and on canvas and now with a great book." -- Jimmy Page "Both honest and inspirational. Amazing tales from one of rock's great frontmen." -- Sir Elton John "Paul is a great man who has achieved great things. From the Popcorn Club all the way to the Hall of Fame, his story is inspiring and motivating for anyone who dreams big." -- Dave Grohl "An entertaining yet piercingly honest journey from self-conscious child to the world's most visually famous rock band, to, finally-with the makeup wiped away-a place of peace as a father and a man. Paul Stanley's story is both ordinary and extraordinary, which makes it inspiring." -- Mitch Albom, author of The First Phone Call From Heaven and Tuesdays With Morrie "For years the members hid their true identities behind cartoon personas and hard rock anthems... After years of carefully maintaining his Starchild superhero identity, Stanley lets down his guard and unleashes a torrent of pent-up feelings that erupt and flow over 400 pages like molten lava." -- Guitar World Magazine "KISS' flamboyant "Starchild" unplugs his high-wattage amps and introduces fans to an even more intriguing character: Stanley Harvey Eisen... [Face the Music is] an indispensable part of KISStory." -- Kirkus Reviews "Elegantly and thoughtfully, Stanley takes us behind the mask of Starchild, his KISS persona, and shares intimately his own insecurities about his physical appearance and his emotional life." -- Publishers Weekly "Most people will probably not associate sensitivity with the flamboyant heavy-metal rock band KISS, and yet in his memoir, front man, rhythm guitarist, and cofounder Paul Stanley succeeds in making a connection with the reader, KISS fan or not." -- Booklist

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Book Synopsis ‘This book will delight both New Order-ites and general rock readers’ MojoA ROLLICKING, NO-HOLDS-BARRED ACCOUNT OF NEW ORDER'S ENTIRE HISTORY. Two acclaimed albums and an upcoming US tour – Joy Division had the world at their feet. Then, on the eve of that tour, the band’s troubled lead singer, Ian Curtis, killed himself. The next time they got together, they were a new band. That band was New Order – their label was Factory Records, their club The Haçienda. Their distinctive sound paved the way for the dance music explosion that followed, earning them the reputation as one of the most influential bands of their generation, and changing the course of popular music. Following on from his bestselling titles The Haçienda and Unknown Pleasures, Peter Hook has written a rollicking, no-holds-barred account of the band's entireTrade Review‘Rock writing rarely tells us properly what a band treading water or in slow decline feels like from the inside. Hook does so memorably.’ * Guardian *‘The 768 pages will delight both New Order-ites and general rock readers, revealing the astonishing human bathos behind this group's godly future-rock […] The way Joy Division and New Order combined high art with base behaviour is well established but this book rides that tandem to new dimensions […] there's much more than carnage’ * Mojo *‘Set against a lurid backdrop of orgiastic tours, awash with drink, drugs, and a debauched retinue of dealers, hookers and mad roadies, Hook drawing from a seemingly bottomless well of outrageous anecdotes, many of them hilarious and told with the same droll voice that delighted readers of The Haçienda: How Not to Run a Club’ * Uncut *‘Epic rock tale of sex, drugs and jealousy … A must for fans, it's wildly funny and revelatory' * The Sun *‘A rollicking read’ * Record Collector *‘You don’t have to be an ardent fan of Manchester music to enjoy this doorstopper … engrossing’ * Cheshire Life *‘Substance chronicling the original four-piece’s history is as mammoth and downright idiotic as the band deserves … something hilariously daft happens on nearly all of Substance’s 750 pages’ * Classic Pop *

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Book SynopsisWith his twinkling eyes, boundless energy and unrivalled natural wit, Robin Williams was the comedian who brought laughter to a generation. Through roles in cherished films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, Aladdin and Hook, he became the genial face of family comedy. His child-like enthusiasm was infectious, sweeping viewers away. Allied to his lightning-quick improvisation and ability to riff lewdly off any cue thrown at him, Robin was that rare thing - a true comic genius who appealed to adults and children equally. He could also play it straight, and empathetic depth came to him naturally. A poignant performance in Good Will Hunting won him an Academy Award whilst his masterfully chilling turn in psychological thriller Insomnia shocked audiences and hinted at a darker side. What truly caught the imagination, though, was his good-heartedness. Warmth radiated from him on-screen, but he was legendary for his off-screen acts of selfless generosity. Where most Hollywood A-listers demand outrageous pampering in their contract riders, he always insisted that the production company hire a full quota of homeless people to help make his movies. But behind the laughter lay a deeply troubled man, and tragedy would follow. At midday, on 11 August 2014, Robin Williams was pronounced dead at his California home. The verdict was suicide. He had battled depression and addiction for many years and was allegedly beset by financial difficulties. Emily Herbert's sensitive and thoughtful biography celebrates his genius and warmth, but also attempts to understand what could have driven such a gentle and gifted man to so tragic an end. This is Robin Williams, the life, the laughter, and the deep sorrow of the man who made the world smile.

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Book SynopsisLearn about the world''s greatest classical compositions and musical traditions in The Classical Music Book.Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Classic Music in this overview guide to the subject, brilliant for novices looking to find out more and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Classical Music Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of Classical Music, with:- More than 90 pieces of world-famous music - Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts- A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout- Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understandingThe ClassicaTrade ReviewIt really is a fantastic book. * Steve Wright BBC Radio 2 *An engaging and informative read. * BBC Music Magazine *If you enjoy classical music and want to know more, The Classical Music Book is for you. * People's Friend *

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Book SynopsisChristian Bale and Hugh Jackman play rival magicians in turn-of-the-century London who battle each other for trade secrets, a rivalry so intense that it turns them into murderers.

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Book SynopsisOfficial art book revealing the process of making the Winter 2024 stop-motion animated film Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, featuring concept art, sketches, behind-the-scenes photography and interviews with Aardman?s key creatives.In Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Gromit?s concern that Wallace is becoming too dependent on his inventions proves justified when Wallace invents a ?smart? gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own. When it emerges that a vengeful figure from the past might be masterminding things, it falls to Gromit to battle sinister forces and save his master… or Wallace may never be able to invent again!A story about the danger of letting technology compromise our humanity and get in the way of our relationships.Explore the wonderful world of Aardman?s newest film with The Art of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. This captivating book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the film''s creation, featuring concept art, Nick Park''s sketches, and interviews with key crew members. Explore the meticulous craftsmanship and boundless creativity that bring Wallace and Gromit''s latest escapade to life and discover the magic behind stop-motion animation at its finest.

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Book SynopsisAuster''s tale of obsession from the author of contemporary classic The New York Trilogy: ''a literary voice for the ages'' (Guardian)The Book of Illusions, written with breath-taking urgency and precision, plunges the reader into a universe in which the comic and the tragic, the real and the imagined, and the violent and the tender dissolve into one another.One man''s obsession with the mysterious life of a silent film star takes him on a journey into a shadow-world of lies, illusions, and unexpected love. After losing his wife and young sons in a plane crash, Vermont professor David Zimmer spends his waking hours mired in grief. Then, watching television one night, he stumbles upon a lost film by silent comedian Hector Mann, and remembers how to laugh . . .Mann was a comic genius, in trademark white suit and fluttering black moustache. But one morning in 1929 he walked out of his house and was never heard from again. Zimmer''s ob

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Book SynopsisA sweet and funny collection of Star Wars messages of love and friendship—a little hug in book form. Tell the person you love that Yoda One For Me with this sweet book featuring beloved Star Wars characters and heartfelt, funny sentiments and artwork on the theme of love and friendship. From BB-8 holding a rose (“I am the droid you are looking for”) to an Obi-Wan For Me box of chocolates, a retro videogame style Vader surrounded by hearts, Boba Fett as Cupid, and Chewbacca holding the Woo Key to your Heart, this charming collection of art created by Lucasfilm staff and fan favorite artists Jeffrey Brown and Katie Cook is the perfect gift for a special someone in your own galaxy, not so far away. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. Used Under Authorization I LOVE YOU. I KNOW. Let your special someone know how you feel through the words and pictures of your favorite Star Wars characters. A SWEET GIFT FOR YOUR VALENTINE: This cute little book will be the perfect fun, funny present. PERFECT FOR: Fans of Jeffrey Brown’s Darth Vader and Son series and fans of all ages who love the sweet and funny side of Star Wars and are looking for a gift book for Valentine’s Day or any day! FAN FAVORITE ARTISTS: Includes art by Jeffrey Brown and Katie Cook!

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Book SynopsisDownton Abbey: The Official Film Companion is a stunning memento, bringing the world and the characters of our favourite fictional country house to life. Featuring a foreword by creator Julian Fellowes, spectacular photographs from the production, interviews with the cast and crew, and a look into the historical and geographical backdrop of the film, this official guide to the Downton Abbey film is made to be treasured and loved by fans across the globe.With the film revolving around the visit of the King and Queen in 1927, it not only sees the return of all the main cast from the final television series, but also introduces some great British actors to the world of Downton, as we meet the royal family and their retinue. Join Emma Marriott as she returns to Highclere, discovers the new sets at Shepperton and introduces other locations the length and breadth of England that are now part of the Downton story. Hers is a unique behind-the-scenes looTrade Reviewhilarious behind-the-scenes revelations * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe Collected Works of Jim Morrison is a revelation for fans, particularly those eager to look beyond the Lizard King Lothario persona. — People As thought-provoking as it is provocative and, beyond the priapic bluster, Morrison is ­elegiac, too. — inews.co.uk Morrison wrote that 'we had a great visitation of energy,' proclaimed that 'the ancient ones' time has come again,' urged readers to 'enter again the sweet forest/enter the hot dream.' While he deliberately drove down toad-squirmy backroads of primal terror, ecstasy was often naked in the shotgun seat, spinning jeweled pinwheels, peeling a peach. — Tom Robbins, from the foreword, “Fireflies of the Apocalypse"

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Book Synopsis'Destined to be a classic' Sunday Independent'Gabriel Byrne tells his story brilliantly' - Edna O'Brien'Dazzles with unflinching honesty' Washington Post'An absolutely marvellous book' - Colm TóibínBorn to working-class parents and the eldest of six children, Gabriel Byrne harboured a childhood desire to become a priest. Four years later, Byrne had been expelled from an English seminary and he quickly returned to his native Dublin. There he took odd jobs as a messenger boy and a factory labourer to get by. In his spare time he visited the cinema, where he could be alone and yet part of a crowd. It was here that he could begin to imagine a life beyond the grey world of ’60s Ireland.It was a friend who suggested Byrne join an amateur drama group, a decision that would change his life forever and launch him on an extraordinary forty-year career in film and theatre. Moving between sensual recollection of childhood in a now almost vanished Ireland and reflections on stardom in Hollywood and on Broadway, often through the lens of addiction. Hilarious and heartbreaking Walking With Ghosts is a lyrical homage to the people and landscapes that ultimately shape our destinies.Trade ReviewThe wonder of this memoir is its unembellished truth. It is written by a man whose amazing story is the stuff of literature -- Edna O'BrienSo beautiful, it seems extraordinary that [Byrne] has kept this light under a bushel all this time . . . Gorgeous -- Graham Norton, BBC Radio 2An absolutely marvellous book . . . beautifully written, poetic . . . it’s a really riveting read -- Colm TóibínGabriel Byrne has written the most beautiful memoir. This is haunting prose and wondrous, sad, uplifting, my book of the year -- Claire KeeganWalking With Ghosts is lavish with lyricism, but presents a pretty unvarnished version of its author . . . The book is also a conscious departure: stylistically ambitious, purposefully (and successfully) so * The Guardian *Thoughtful, moving and without a trace of self-indulgence, this honest and beautifully-written book reads more like a novel than a memoir, drawing the reader into a narrative that is full of courage, humour and above all, humanity. I really loved Walking with Ghosts and can't recommend it highly enough -- Christine Dwyer HickeyImagine Séamus Heaney's eye falling on Hollywood's glare . . . it really did remind me of Séamus Heaney, it seemed to have that very sharp focus and also that wonderfully lyrical way of expressing it -- Richard Coles, BBC Radio 4Make no mistake about it: this is a masterpiece. A book that will wring out our tired hearts. It is by turns poetic, moving and very funny. You will find it on the shelf alongside other great Irish memoirs including those by Frank McCourt, Nuala O'Faolain and Edna O’Brien -- Colum McCann, author of Let the Great World SpinThe allure of Gabriel Byrne's memoir is that it persuasively humanizes what it is to be a big deal movie star. Byrne is wonderfully without cant or bluster or phony humility. Instead he leads with felicity, candor, humor and empathy. In the end, he seems to be somebody you'd be glad to know -- Richard FordByrne arrives at a truth greater than an honest and sensitive memoir; he verges on a profoundly touching articulation of our short time on earth, time that will make of each of us nothing more or less than a ghost -- Mia Colleran * Irish Independent *A wry and warm, swirling poetic reverie of a memoir -- Colin BarrettA joy of a book - full of heart and humour, beautifully told -- Sinéad GleesonDestined to be a classic . . . What makes Gabriel Byrne a great writer is that he knows that whether we are wicked or good, few of us get what we deserve * Sunday Independent *Reading the book was a beautiful experience; it’s superb. It really is a very special book so if you love someone buy it for them for Christmas -- Eamon DunphyStructured around an imaginary, haunted visit to the Dublin of his youth, the book does offer sketches from the movie wonderland – John Boorman being bossy on Excalibur, testy encounters with Laurence Olivier in the 1980s – but it is more to do with conjuring up a now-vanished Ireland. The smell of the Guinness brewery. Early acting experiences in a nativity play. The church, everywhere the church * Irish Times *The writing is so vivid it’s as if we are by Gabriel Byrne’s shoulder through the sorrowful times and the joyous moments. He weaves an intimate and absorbing tapestry of the poignant and the funny -- Kirsty WarkA working-class family memoir as well as a meditation on fame and its discontents -- Sena O'Hagan * Observer *Walking with Ghosts is exquisite. This book feels like the culmination of a long literary career and not the debut of a famous actor. Byrne makes himself fully vulnerable while in total command of language and form. There is great truth and great beauty in this close examination of a life and the passage of time. I’ve never read a memoir so raw and honest and literary and absolutely, staggeringly brilliant -- Lily King[Byrne] writes with much more depth than the typical celebrity memoirist, accessing some of Seamus Heaney’s earthiness and James Joyce’s grasp of how Catholic guilt can shape an artist . . . A melancholy but gemlike memoir, elegantly written and rich in hard experience * Kirkus (starred review) *Mercurial, ferociously honest and moving . . . A poignant symphony of memories and dreams, longing and loss, in a search for the immigrants most elusive prize, home -- Karl Geary, author of MontpelierA poetic journey into those secret realms of memory which dominate our lives, but are rarely spoken about. By revealing himself with such courage, compassion, and exquisite poise, Gabriel Byrne gives readers that rare gift of being able to see themselves in the feelings of another person. This book is more than a memoir—it’s a mirror that reflects the deepest parts of us in exile -- Simon Van BooyA remembrance of the Ireland Byrne left behind, one which is no longer there * Hot Press, '2020 Books of the Year' *Dazzles with unflinching honesty, as it celebrates the exuberance of being alive to the world despite living through pain. [Byrne's] portrait of an artist as a young boy is steeped in nostalgia of the best sort, re-creating the pull of home . . . With this tender book — full of warm and often funny stories — Byrne shows us the depth of his true character * Washington Post *In emotional, evocative prose, Walking With Ghosts describes the town outside Dublin where [Byrne] grew up, the oldest of six children crammed into a small house, their father working as a barrel-maker for the Guinness brewery, everyone in each other’s business. They were steeped in Catholicism . . . In passages that are horrifying, then funny, then both, he describes, for instance, learning the story of Adam and Eve from a fire-and-brimstone nun, in a lesson that ends with God declaring to the fallen pair: 'And by the way, your children will be miserable as well.' ('That’s why the world is such an unhappy place,' the nun adds.) . . . Can you go home again? That is the tantalizing question raised by Walking With Ghosts -- Sarah Lyall * The New York Times *This is a book about grief, loss, the secrets that we keep and the joys of creativity. It's also about dealing with addiction and the vertigo of fame. We always knew Gabriel Byrne was an astonishing actor but now we also know what an elegant, intelligent and dignified writer he is -- Mariana Enríquez, author of Dangers of Smoking in BedByrne is very honest and interspersed with all of the beautifully evoked sadness [in Walking With Ghosts] are very funny moments . . . you know he has a very good sense of humour but he probably wouldn’t admit it -- Jane SmileyIn pared down prose both luminous and raw, Walking with Ghosts is about first things—parents, siblings, loves, heartbreaks, parts, failure, success, loss, but most of all it is a tender embrace of the past as Byrne discovers and accepts the truth of who he is in all his human struggle to be at peace with oneself and one’s imperfections. In a voice full of warmth, compassion, humor and wonder, Byrne steps into the role of writer with the same assurance, humility and intensity that he brings to his acting roles. More, this debut marks a welcome new voice that blends memory and imagination for an all-encompassing and wise memoir that reads like a novel -- Vanessa Manko, author of The Un-AmericanIt is at times a heartbreakingly tender excursion between the living and the dead. The actor is an artist of the written as well as the spoken word -- Tommy Condren * Sunday Independent *A beautifully judged blend of sparkling anecdotes spliced with the darkest of memories -- Sarah Halliwell * The Gloss Magazine *The diary of a poet who also happens to be a famous movie star -- Monique RoffeyActor Byrne channels his fellow countrymen and Ireland's literary masters - Beckett, Heaney, Joyce, Yeats - to create an exceptionally lyrical and expressive memoir about his childhood and early career . . . Bracingly revealing about his struggle with alcoholism, achingly passionate about the Ireland of his youth, and piercingly frank about his acting life, Byrne is a vivid, evocative, and sumptuously compelling memoirist * Booklist *

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Book Synopsis1000-PIECE PUZZLE: Piece together the world of James Bond in this exciting jigsaw inspired by the iconic films. The perfect challenge for dedicated James Bond fans, lovers of cinema - or anyone who enjoys a good puzzle.FIND THE CHARACTERS: Featuring a cast of original Bonds, villains and supporting characters to spot as you race through shuttle launches and underwater lairs to island retreats and casinos.INCLUDES A PULL-OUT POSTER: With information about the featured characters, gadgets, locations and scenes on an illustrated poster bursting with 007 facts.SCREEN-FREE FUN: From one of the world's leading publishers of books and gifts on the creative arts. Laurence King works with the world's best illustrators, designers, artists and photographers to create beautiful books and gifts which are acclaimed for their inventiveness, beautiful design and authoritative texts.SUBSTANTIAL JIGSAW: Completed

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Book SynopsisBill Bryson's biography of William Shakespeare unravels the superstitions, academic discoveries and myths surrounding the life of our greatest poet and playwright.Ever since he took the theatre of Elizabethan London by storm over 400 years ago, Shakespeare has remained centre stage. His fame stems not only from his plays performed everywhere from school halls to the world''s most illustrious theatres but also from his enigmatic persona. His face is familiar to all, yet in reality very little is known about the man behind the masterpieces.Shakespeare's life, despite the scrutiny of generations of biographers and scholars, is still a thicket of myths and traditions, some preposterous, some conflicting, arranged around the few scant facts known about the Bard from his birth in Stratford to the bequest of his second best bed to his wife when he died.Taking us on a journey through the streets of Elizabethan and Jacobean England, Bryson examines centuries of stories, half-truths and downrTrade Review'A brilliantly funny and gently insightful travel guide to 16th century England. Bryson is great at picking out of the morass of Elizabethan fact the small details that illuminate and amuse…he also uncovers from the world that surrounded the theatre some fascinating examples of Elizabethan eccentricity…As an abbreviated tour around the world of Shakespeare, this could hardly be bettered' Sunday Times 'Less a biography than a delightful account of Shakespeare's elusiveness – and the extraordinary lengths people have gone to remedy it…the pairing of Bryson with Shakespeare is a happy on.’ TLS 'Bill Bryson jogs along in his own ineffable way, good–humoured, undoctrinaire, nodding respectfully at experts but confidently following his own inclinations…he is shrewd on telling detail’ Times ‘Bill Bryson has always been able to spot a market; and there ought to be a market for his latest book…an accessible, sensible Life of Shakespeare…surely a fine gift for someone encountering Shakespeare for the first time…Bryson is shrewd…and as funny as you'd expect…he sets down all the important bits of evidence, and assesses them in a measured scholarly way. He's good value too.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Measured, sensible and, at times, as wryly humorous as you'd expect’ Times ‘Bryson uses an inimitably light touch and squeezes a vast subject down to manageable proportions…he is a warm and funny guide through the whole complicated morass of Shakespearean scholarship’ Financial Times

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Book SynopsisA Times Book of the YearA Mojo Book of the YearA Louder Than War Book of the YearA Waterstones Book of the YearA Resident Book of the Year'A beautifully written, meticulously researched account. 4/5.' - CLASSIC POP1979. Months of industrial action throughout the winter have left the dead unburied and mountains of rubbish piling up in the streets.Punk has reached its bleak climax with the fatal heroin overdose of Sid Vicious while awaiting trial for the murder of his girlfriend.Unlikely alliances of outsiders prepare to seize power, set the political agenda and write the soundtrack for the years to come. Their figureheads are two very different kinds of dominatrices...As Margaret Thatcher enters 10 Downing Street, a handful of bands born of punk - Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division and the Cure - find a way to distil the diss

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Book SynopsisA practical approach to breaking through the barriers of restraint and incomprehension when faced with Shakespeare. Taking many of the techniques explored in her international bestseller Freeing The Natural Voice, in this companion volume Kristin Linklater shows how to apply them to the exploration and speaking of Shakespeare’s language. Beginning with exercises designed to break long-held habits and allow an emotional rather than intellectual relationship to Elizabethan language, she analyses Shakespeare's strategies for creating character, story and meaning through figures of speech, iambic pentameter, rhyme and the alternation of verse and prose. Using copious examples from the plays, Linklater offers her readers the tools to increase understanding and make Shakespeare's words their own.

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Book SynopsisBreathe the blues into your harmonica! Blues harmonica is the most popular and influential style of harmonica playing, and it forms the basis for playing harmonica in other styles such as rock and country. Blues Harmonica for Dummies gives you a wealth of content devoted to the blues approachspecific techniques and applications, including bending and making your notes sound richer and fuller with tongue-blocked enhancements; use of amplification to develop a blues sound; blues licks and riffs; constructing a blues harmonica solo; accompanying singers; historical development of blues styles; and important blues players and recordings. The accompanying website features all the musical examples from the book, plus play-along exercises and songs that let you hear the sound you're striving for. In-depth coverage of major blues harmonica techniquesBlues song forms, improvisation, and accompanying singersInformation on blues history and personalities If you're intrigued by the idea of uTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: So You Wanna Play Blues Harmonica? 7 Chapter 1: Connecting with the Blues 9 Chapter 2: Getting Your Harmonicas Together 17 Chapter 3: Deciphering the Code: A Blues Guide to Music Symbols 31 Part 2: Doin’ the Crawl: Your First Harmonica Moves 55 Chapter 4: Breathing Life into the Harmonica 57 Chapter 5: Moving Around with Single Notes 73 Chapter 6: Creating Blues Harmonica Licks and Riffs 85 Chapter 7: Progressing Through the 12-Bar Blues 97 Part 3: Beyond the Basics: Getting Bluesy 119 Chapter 8: Working with the Low and High Registers of the Harmonica 121 Chapter 9: Modulating and Punctuating Your Sound 133 Chapter 10: Enriching Your Sound with Textures 145 Chapter 11: Bending Notes: A Classic Part of the Blues Sound 163 Part 4: Developing Your Style 201 Chapter 12: Playing in Different Keys on a Single Harmonica 203 Chapter 13: Working Your Blues Chops in First Position 211 Chapter 14: Accelerating the Blues with Third Position 223 Chapter 15: Playing Blues Chromatic Harmonica in Third and First Positions 235 Chapter 16: Playing Blues in Minor Keys 251 Chapter 17: Groovin’ with Non-12-Bar Blues 263 Part 5: Taking It to the Streets: Sharing Your Music 273 Chapter 18: Developing Your Blues Repertoire 275 Chapter 19: Blues Harmonica Amplification: Making a Big Noise with a Tiny Little Thang 289 Part 6: The Part of Tens 307 Chapter 20: Ten Things to Know about Sharing Your Music with Others 309 Chapter 21: Ten Important Periods and Styles in Blues Harmonica History 321 Part 7: Appendixes 331 Appendix A: Tuning Layouts for All Keys 333 Appendix B: About the Website 339 Index 347

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Book SynopsisA candid, honest memoir from one of the most recognisable, influential, and beloved cinematic personalities in the world.Trade Review"The legendary action star gets candid telling his life story – in particular, recounting his many brushes with death both on and off screen. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Hollywood memoir with this much blood and (broken) bone. Chan’s stories are too fascinating to ignore." —Entertainment Weekly"This life story, as told in the star's impossibly colorful memoir Never Grow Up, (Gallery Books, 333 pp., 3 stars out of four), would have Charles Dickens speed-dialing Chan's film agent for movie rights—with tales of Chan's impoverished youth (from age 6, enrolled in the abusive China Drama Academy), lost loves, undying ambition fueled by his insecurity over his upbringing, true bravery and eventual glory." —USA Today"Like Chan's best films, his memoir is engaging and entertaining." —Shelf Awareness"The book is definitively warts (and cracked skulls and broken bones and gallons of blood) and all… but Chan also reveals a soulful, thoughtful side—just one you wouldn't want to mess with." —Kirkus Reviews"Undeniably fun... winningly upbeat... it provides a heck of a lot of entertainment." —Publishers Weekly"This is a worthy addition to library collections not only because of Chan’s worldwide fame but also for the value of a non-Western Hollywood success story." —Booklist"With 200-plus films, an honorary Oscar, and countless mind-blowing stunts to his credit, the martial arts master reflects here on his remarkable acting career. Chan shares how through the ups and downs, he was able to keep his grace, poise, and humility." —CBS Watch! Magazine"A legendary life, with many fascinating stories waiting for you to discover." —Jet Li"I was always a big fan of Jackie and working with him was like a dream come true. His innovative and creative ability was unmatched." —Chris Tucker"Jackie reminds me to make every summer count and to think with my heart, he leads by example and lights the way." —Adrien Brody"Working with Jackie Chan is maybe the most fun I've ever had working on movies." —Owen Wilson"Jackie Chan is one of the great and iconic movie stars of our time." —Jeffrey Katzenberg"Jackie Chan is my favorite person to duet with." —Kenny G"If you’re a fan of Jackie and even if you’re not, it’s a great look at the man’s life and the entertainment industry. And he is brutally honest, which is refreshing from someone in his field." —Red Carpet Crash

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“This beautifully written study combines sparkling expression with a bold argument. Some of the phrasing is not only memorable, but communicates with great clarity important features of the socio-religious landscape of Judaism around the turn of the eras.”—Paul Foster, The Expository Times ‘Book of the Month’Won the 2018 Prose Award in Theology and Religious Studies“Brilliant, elegant, and important––this volume reshapes an entire field of study. Here stands the finest history of the Apostle Paul to appear in generations.”—J. Albert Harrill, author of Paul the Apostle: His Life and Legacy in Their Roman Context

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Book SynopsisJohann Joachim Quantz''s On Playing the Flute has long been recognized as one of the primary sources of information about eighteenth-century performance practice. In spite of its title, it is not simply a tutor for the flute, but a fully-fledged programme for training musicians of all types, with detailed information on intonation, ornamentation, dynamics, the ''duties'' of the various accompanying performers, including the leader of the orchestra, and the principal forms and styles (French, Italian and German) of the time. Although Quantz is most often identified as the teacher of Frederick the Great, his musical roots were in Dresden, the most brilliant musical establishment in Germany; and his travels and studies in Italy, France and England gave him direct experience of most phases of European musical life in the 1720s and 30s. This reissue of the second edition provides a wonderfully complete and detailed picture of musical taste and performance practice in th

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Book SynopsisOnly 23-years-old when he directed his extraordinary début feature Gummo, Harmony Korine has since continued to serve notice that he is the riskiest, most radical young talent in independent US film. This collection of three screenplays displays his defiantly unorthodox approach to film form, as well as the unclassifiable imaginative energy that drives all of his work.

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Book SynopsisHelps young guitarists to start at beginner level and progresses to Initial/Preparatory Grade. This work explains the method in 15 stages and contains original pieces and traditional tunes in different styles including classical, folk and world music as well as favourite film and TV themes such as "James Bond", "Batman" and "The Flintstones".Trade ReviewDescribing yourself as 'landmark', as this edition does, might seem presumptuous – but there is much to recommend this new book. It is full of effective graphics, songs and clapping games, jokes that work and well-known movie and rock tunes (some using tab); in short, it does everything to engage the young pupil. Music Teacher, July 2010 Touted on the cover as a ‘landmark method for individual and group learning’ and aims to take young learners from absolute beginner to initial/preparatory grade for classical guitar. The book, which is attractively illustrated and moves with ease through the lessons, getting to grips with rhythm and then simple notation, building to the beginnings of repertoire, featuring original and selected tunes. MI Pro Magazine, May 2010Table of ContentsMulberry Boogie; Shaky; Totem Pole; Buzzing Bee; Spanish Bee; Open All Strings; Big Blue Bear; Easy Bees; The Dance Of The Clowns; Blues 'n' Shoes; Walking In The Rain; Groovy; On 'n' Off; Reggae GAGA; The Irish Washerwoman; Joe Cool; The House Of Doom; Spooky; I Spied A Spy; Mild Thing; Salsa Verde; Bees At Sea; Turkish Delight; The Soldier's March; The Finger Song; Rhyme Time; Hear The Train A-Comin'; Up And Down The Ladder; Rock The Boat; The Windmill Song; Hi D Hi; Chunk Of Funk; Batman; Falling Leaves; Canon; Sunday Morning; Run, Don't Walk; La Colombina; The Star; Beware Of Bears; It's So Easy; Calypso; Push And Shove; Bossy Nova; Easy Peasy; Safari; Cool Cat; Hannah's Mouse; My Grandad's Dog; Brother John's A Miner; Blue Who?; Scaly Fish; Skater Kid; Swing The Cat; In The Bleak Midwinter; Melody's Song; High In The Rockies; Up, Down, Flying Around; E For Elephant; Rock E And A; LemonADE; Rock School; Smoke On The Water; The Keystone Cops; Zoo Blues; Chinatown; D Rex; Hannibal's Elephants; The Lonesome Cowboy; The Irate Pirate; Shark Attack; Cool Cat; Turn It Up; Batman Riff; Tango Hideaway; Meet The Flintsones; James Bond Theme; Giulini And Aunty; Pig Jig; Fiesta; Guitar Basics.

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Book SynopsisIn her first health and fitness book, celebrated ballerina Misty Copeland shows you how to find the motivation to get healthier and stronger, and how to refine the body you were born with to be lean, strong and flexible, with step-by-step advice, meal plans, workout routines and words of inspiration.Misty offers her own time-tested, ballet-inspired movements that are perfect for women who want to lengthen and strengthen, but don''t want to run a marathon or lift weights. She also demonstrates the floor exercises that helped maintain her own ballerina body while recovering from an injury.Misty''s eating plan focuses on vegetables, fruits, plant fats, animal proteins and beneficial oils - all of which keep her energetic and in top shape. With simple and delicious recipes for Granola, Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad, Quick Salsa Chili, and even a Ballerina Smoothie, you''ll be satisfied and happy while getting leaner.To keep you motivated, Misty gives tips and wor

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Book SynopsisWhich Christmas film do you love the most? Which Christmas film do you hate the most? What even counts as a Christmas film? Argue out all these questions and more before you even open the ultimate Christmas Day family game book. Because from Love Actually to Home Alone, It's a Wonderful Life and beyond, every family has its favourites. But how much can we really remember about those films we watch every single year? Packed full of tricky, fun and entertaining quiz questions, Quiz Actually will test you and your loved ones this Christmas on the movies we love to watch every year. Get ready to find out who really knows their Christmas crackers from their Christmas turkeys, and their Miracle on 34th Street from their Nightmare On Elm Street. It's time to separate the Die Hards from the try-hards with the ultimate festive family film trivia book. Over 750 questions and featured films include:Love, ActuallyHome AloneIt's a Wonderful LifeElfThe GrinchThe Nightmare Before ChristmasScroogedBridget Jones's DiaryHarry PotterThe HolidayDie Hard (yes)and many, many more!

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Book SynopsisWhat is behind the phenomenal success of entertainment businesses such as Warner Bros., Marvel Enterprises and Manchester United - along with such stars as Jay-Z and Lady Gaga? Which strategies give leaders in film, television, music, publishing, and sports an edge over their rivals? Anita Elberse, Harvard Business School''s expert on the entertainment industry, has done pioneering research on the worlds of media and sports for more than a decade. Now, in this groundbreaking book, she explains a powerful truth about the fiercely competitive world of entertainment: building a business around blockbuster products - the movies, television shows, songs and books that are hugely expensive to produce and market - is the surest path to long-term success. Along the way, she reveals why entertainment executives often spend outrageous amounts of money in search of the next blockbuster, why superstars are paid unimaginable sums and how digital technologies are transformi

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Book SynopsisThe edition is taken from the original japanese text. it provides an insight into the mind of the master.

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Book SynopsisThe long overdue autobiography from guitar great and former member of Genesis, Steve Hackett. As with his music, Steve has written a highly detailed, entertaining and embracing tome that charts his life in full, but with a firm emphasis on his years with Genesis that saw the band's meteoric rise to become one of the most successful British bands of all time. Steve talks candidly about his early life, his time with Genesis, and in particular his personal relationships with the other four band members, with great insight into the daily goings on of this major rock band. Naturally A Genesis In My Bed also regales stories of Steve's career since leaving Genesis and the many different journeys that it has taken him on. With his flair for the creative, and a great deal of levity, A Genesis In My Bed is a riveting read. Indispensable for Genesis fans but also essential for general music lovers and avid readers of autobiographies full of heartfelt and emotive tales.

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Book Synopsis''Brilliantly funny.'' - Matt Lucas''You have to read this book.'' - Tim Harford''It''s funny, touching and gobsmacking in equal measure. At its heart is a breathtaking account of life on the COVID frontline.'' - Jay Rayner''Ed''s journey is funny, sad, harrowing, hilarious... I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO READ THIS.'' - Colin Mochrie''Very Funny.'' - Fern Brady''I love your book Catch your Breath, it just feels so personal and so refreshing.'' - Adil Ray, Saturday LiveA gut punch of a memoir by a doctor - and comedian - whose job is to keep people alive by putting them to sleep.Ed Patrick is an anaesthetist.Strong drugs for his patients, strong coffee for him. But it''s not just sleep-giving for this anaesthetist, as he navigates emergencies, patients not breathing for themselves and living with a terrifying sense of responsibility. It''s enough to leave anyone feeling numb.B

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Book Synopsis(The Little Black Songbook). A pocket-sized collection of 195 Beatles hits presented in chord songbook format. Includes complete lyrics, chord names & a handy chord box reference sheet. Including classic hits such as: All You Need Is Love * Can''t Buy Me Love * Day Tripper * Do You Want to Know a Secret * Eleanor Rigby * From Me to You * Get Back * Help! * Hey Jude * I Want to Hold Your Hand * Let It Be * Magical Mystery Tour * Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da * Please Please Me * Ticket to Ride * Twist and Shout * and more.

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Book SynopsisA deeply researched and beautifully illustrated study of saxophone legend John Coltrane's signature album. Written with the full co-operation of the Coltrane family and featuring the voices of musicians, producers and writers of the 1960s, Kahn has also unearthed rare, unpublished interviews with Coltrane and bassist Jimmy Garrison. The book also features commentary from contemporary music stars including Carlos Santana, Bono, Phil Lesh, Patti Smith, Ravi Shankar and Steve Reich.Trade ReviewWe get the man, the mission, the methodology ... a well-researched, transparently written, passionately felt book * Independent *One of the most accessible slices of jazz history you'll find...mixes biography, a forensic study of the recording process and an examination of the album's racial, political and spiritual legacy...a fine journalistic narrative -- John Lewis * Time Out *Kahn provides a historical and critical overview of Coltrane's life and work and has also carried out an impressive quantity of research. [It] is an enjoyable read, with great photographs. Coltrane's followers will have to get it * Guardian *Thoroughly absorbing * The Times *Ashley Kahn deftly unpicks the background, describing the context and making of what was to become the signature modern jazz album * Financial Times *Kahn's book puts you there in the studio, next to Elvin's kit -- Geoff Brown * Mojo *

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Book SynopsisPacy, witty and affectionate' GuardianRob Beckett never seems to fit in. At work, in the middle-class world of television and comedy, he's the laddy, cockney geezer but to his mates down the pub in south-east London, he's the theatrical one, a media luvvy. Even his wife and kids are posher than him.In this hilarious exploration of class, Rob tries to understand the life he lived growing up as a working-class kid in comparison to the life he lives now.Will he ever favour a craft beer over strong lager? When did it become normal for kids to eat sushi? Is he still working class? Why does he feel so embarrassed about success? And, will it ever be acceptable to serve pie mash on a wooden board?Tackling the questions big and small, A Class Act is a funny, candid, often moving account of what it feels like to be an outsider and why actually that's the best (slightly awkward) place to be.Trade Review ‘Pacy, witty and affectionate’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisAN ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEARFrom The Sopranos to streaming: the scandalous behind-the-screens story of the TV revolution by the author of the cult film classic Easy Riders, Raging Bulls. The revolution has been televized. From The Sopranos to Stranger Things, the shows we watch - and the ways we watch them - have been transformed over the past fifty years. Out of the bland wasteland of 'play-it-safe' broadcasting came astonishing stories of sex, violence, and corruption shown first on cable, and then by way of streaming. Today, the power of viewers to select what they want and when they want it is greater than ever before. In short, we are living in a new golden age of television, but golden ages don't last forever. Revolutions have a habit of eating their own, and the era of 'peak TV' may have an unhappy ending. Pandora's Box is a major new account of the small screen from cultural critic Peter Biskind. Through exclusive, candid and colourful interviews with writers, showrunners, directors and actors, Biskind brings us face to face with the people whose creations we encounter every day on our sofas, and reveals the dynamic interplay of art, commerce and technology. We follow executives down the corridors of power and see how their money and guile cultivate, then crush creativity; we witness the making - and unmaking - of TVs biggest hits. There has never been a more exciting time in entertainment history, and Peter Biskind, the ideal insider guide, captures it all.

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Book SynopsisTurn any piano or keyboard into an easy-to-play instrument with these helpful stickers! Place the stickers, each of which represents a musical note, on their corresponding keys to provide a quick and easy way to learn piano fingering technique. An extremely useful tool for beginning piano students of all ages.

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Book Synopsis'You never knew what you were going to be confronted with when you went on Later' Nick CaveLater is a voyage of discovery for us as well as the viewers' Dave GrohlDave Grohl and Alicia Keys loved it, Björk treasured it, Ed Sheeran's life was changed by it, Kano felt at home while Nick Cave was horrified but inspired, and they all kept coming back.This first-hand account of the BBC's Later with Jools Holland takes you behind the scenes of one of the world's great musical meeting places. Legends including Sir Paul McCartney, Mary J. Blige and David Bowie found a regular welcome, alongside the next generation of superstars including Adele, Ed Sheeran and Amy Winehouse. Part of what has made the show so special is the format all those bands, singers, stars and newbies brought together to listen as well as to perform in Jools' circle of dreams. But there's always been plenty of mayhem alongside the magic of convening a room full of musicians hosted by one of their own.Written by the show's co-creator and 26-year showrunner, music journalist Mark Cooper, this is the story of how Later grew into a musical and TV institution. It was Mark who had to explain to Jay-Z why he couldn't just do his numbers and split, who told Seasick Steve why he had to play Dog House Boogie' on the Hootenanny and persuaded Johnny Cash that he simply had to come in, even when The Man in Black wasn't feeling well.From Stormzy to Björk, from Smokey Robinson to Norah Jones, from Britpop to trip hop, here is the word on how Later began, evolved and has endured, accompanied by exclusive interviews with some of the show's regular stars as well as the unique pictorial record of Andre Csillag who photographed the show for over 20 years. A must-read for music fans everywhere, Later with Jools Hollandpulls back the curtain on classic performances to reveal that the show is just as magical, if even more chaotic, than you imagined.Trade Review‘Excellent’ Jools Holland

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Book SynopsisThe most authoritative, intelligent, diligently researched and unpretentious analysis of the British pop scene yet written'' Sunday TelegraphBlack Vinyl White Powder charts the amazing fifty year history of the British music business in unparalleled scale and detail. As a key player across the decades, Napier-Bell - who discovered Marc Bolan and managed amongst others The Yardbirds and Wham! - uses his wealth of contacts and extraordinary personal experiences to tell the story of an industry that is like no other. Where bad behaviour is not only tolerated but encouraged, where drugs are sometimes as important as talent, where artists are pushed to their physical and mental limits in the name of profit and ego. ''The Greatest Ever Book Written about English Pop-Breathtakingly Brilliant'' Julie Burchill''The cold print equivalent of a sparkling evening with a world-class raconteur.'' Charles Shaar Murray, IndependentBitchy, glib, fun and sTrade Review'Breathtakingly brilliant' - Julie Burchill'The definitive history of British pop * Observer Music Monthly *"one of the most fascinating, revealing and enjoyable journeys through 50 years of the UK record business" * Music Week *`Here you get a great autobiography of a very experienced man (he famously managed Wham!), who describes in great detail the advent of the pop industry and, of course, all the pitfalls that have become associated with it. -- Mousse T, singer * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe only way to appreciate the legendary Mark E Smith is to encounter the man in his own words.''Ranting, raging, burning...relentlessly splenetic, a long and sustained rant... may also be the funniest music book ever written'' - Observer''Unutterably funny... a riot of aimings and blamings and score-settlings. Smith manages to have a right laff, and reveal himself as a figure of dazzling sociological import'' - Independent on SundayThe Fall are one of the most distinctive British bands ever, their music - odd, spare, cranky and repetitious - an acknowledged influence on The Smiths, The Happy Mondays, Nirvana and Franz Ferdinand. And Mark E. Smith IS The Fall - 66 members came and went over the years yet he remained its charismatic leader until his death in 2018.''If it''s me and yer granny on bongos, it''s The Fall.'' - Mark E. SmithMark was a professional outsider and all-round enemy ofTrade ReviewRanting, raging, burning...relentlessly splenetic, a long and sustained rant...may also be the funniest music book ever written * Observer *Unutterably funny...a riot of aimings and blamings and score-settlings. Smith manages to have a right laff, and reveal himself as a figure of dazzling sociological import * Independent on Sunday *Remarkable, brilliant. A provocative joy. Smith's rant gushes like a furious fountain of razor-sharp invective over his childhood and the early days of The Fall, relationships/ marriage, the record industry/ musicians and his views on everything from football to mobile phones, from drinking and drugs to driving, from books to bankruptcy, from Paul Morley to pubs. Unbeatable' Time OutEngrossing, exhausting, dense with fascinating detail. As both memoir and cultural history, Renegade is a remarkable achievement * Daily Telegraph *A hoot * Hot Press *Stuffed with crazy wisdom * London Lite *Hilarious * Scotland on Sunday *A wide-ranging, eccentric set of fugitive opinions, a smart marshalling of numerous rambling pub conversations * The Times Literary Supplement *Vicious, funny, always contrarian * Daily Telegraph *Smith's about as reliable a narrator as the members of Motley Crue were in their depraved memoir The Dirt. And just as entertaining. Delving into Renegade is like listening to Smith hold court down the pub...it contains far too many astute, poetic observations to be dismissed as colourful ramblings from a committed curmudgeon * Scotsman *Unutterably funny...a riot of aimings and blamings and score-settlings. Smith manages to have a right laff, and reveal himself as a figure of dazzling sociological import * Independent on Sunday *

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