Entertainment Books

Book SynopsisMcNeil pursues the possibility that coordinated rhythmic movement—and the shared feelings it evokes—has been a powerful force in holding human groups together. As he has done for historical phenomena as diverse as warfare, plague, and the pursuit of power, he brings a dazzling breadth and depth of knowledge to his study.Trade ReviewIn his imaginative and provocative book...William H. McNeill develops an unconventional notion that, he observes, is 'simplicity itself.' He maintains that people who move together to the same beat tend to bond and thus that communal dance and drill alter human feelings. -- John Mueller * New York Times Book Review *Every now and then, a slender, graceful, unassuming little volume modestly proposes a radical rethinking of human history. Such a book is Keeping Together in Time...Important, witty, and thoroughly approachable, [it] could, perhaps, only be written by a scholar in retirement with a lifetime's interdisciplinary reading to ponder, the imagination to conceive unanswerable questions, and the courage, in this age of over-speculation, to speculate in areas where certainty is impossible. Its vision of dance as a shaper of evolution, a perpetually sustainable and sustaining resource, would crown anyone's career. -- Penelope Reed Doob * Toronto Globe and Mail *McNeill is one of our greatest living historians...As usual with McNeill, Keeping Together in Time contains a wonderfully broad survey of practices in other times and places. There are the Greeks, who invented the flute-accompanied phalanx, and the Romans, who invented calling cadence while marching. There are the Shakers, who combined worship and dancing, and the Mormons, who carefully separated the functions but who prospered at least as much on the strength of their dancing as their Sunday morning worship. -- David Warsh * Boston Sunday Globe *[A] wide-ranging and thought-provoking book...A mind-stretching exploration of the thesis that `keeping together in time'--army drill, village dances, and the like--consolidates group solidarity by making us feel good about ourselves and the group and thus was critical for social cohesion and group survival in the past. * Virginia Quarterly Review *[This book is] nothing less than a survey of the historical impact of shared rhythmic motion from the paleolithic to the present, an impact that [McNeill] finds surprisingly significant...McNeill moves beyond Durkheim in noting that in complex societies divided by social class muscular bonding may be the medium through which discontented and oppressed groups can gain the solidarity necessary for challenging the existing social order. -- Robert N. Bellah * Commonweal *The title of this fascinating essay contains a pun that sums up its thesis" keeping together in time, or coordinated rhythmic movement and the shared feelings it evokes, has kept human groups together throughout history. Most of McNeill's pioneering study is devoted to the history of communal dancing...[This] volume will appeal equally to scholars and to the general reader. -- Doyne Dawson * Military History *As with so many themes [like this one], whether in science or in symphonies, one wonders (in retrospect) why it has not been invented before...[T]he book is fascinating. -- K. Kortmulder * Acta Biotheoretica (The Netherlands) *This scholarly and creative exploration of the largely unresearched phenomenon of shared euphoria aroused by unison movement moves across the disciplines of dance, history, sociology, and psychology...Highly recommended. * Choice *Table of ContentsMuscular Bonding Human Evolution Small Communities Religious Ceremonies Politics and War Conclusion Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThe definitive celebration of the visual imagery of the French New Wave.

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Book SynopsisExactly what does a conductor do in front of an orchestra? Internationally renowned conductor Christopher Seaman offers lively and informative answers in this wise yet humorous book. What does a conductor actually do? How much effect does he or she have? Can the orchestra manage without one? Why don't the players look at the conductor more? Is it necessary for the conductor to play every instrument? What about interpretation? What happens at rehearsals? Why do some conductors "thrash around" more than others? Who's the boss in a concerto: the soloist or the conductor? These are some of the questions that receive lively andinformative answers in this book by renowned conductor Christopher Seaman. Composed of short articles on individual topics, it is accessible and easy to consult. Each article begins with an anecdote or saying and ends with quotations from musicians, often expressing opposing views. There are many books on the art of conducting, but none like this. Music lovers wondering what the figure on the podium actually does, and aspiring conductors eager to learn more about the art and craft of leading an orchestra, will all treasure this wise yet humorous book. Christopher Seaman has been successful at both ends of the baton. After four years as principal timpanist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, he was appointed principal conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and has enjoyed a busy international conducting career for over forty years. He is now Conductor Laureate for Life of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, New York, and he continues to bring great music and wise words to audiences, students, and readers around the world.Trade Review[Seaman's] experience is wonderfully crystallized in the pithy observations here. TLS [Michael Downes] -- Michael Downes * TLS *Engaging, uncomplicated overview of the conductor's role ... Very readable, with some good jokes, hoary anecdotes and nice analogies. * CLASSICAL MUSIC's Books of the Year, December 2013 *Chosen by Financial Times as a Classical Music Book of the Year * . *One of Classical Music's Best Books of the Year * . *With humor, clarity, and wisdom, Christopher Seaman gives insight into the mind of a conductor. A feast of inside scoops for music lovers. -- -- Yo-Yo Ma, cellist and Artistic Director of the Silk Road Project * Yo-Yo Ma, cellist and Artistic Director of the Silk Road Project *This book is simply typical Christopher, something I would consider one of the highest compliments. Typical of Christopher to combine so much wisdom with so much wit. Required reading, I think, and one of the friendliest books about music ever penned. -- -- Sir Simon Rattle, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra * Sir Simon Rattle, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra *To hear the human truths from an experienced music director, enriched by examples from his life, is marvelously illuminating. I learned many little things and some big ones. -- -- Norman Lebrecht, author and criticChristopher Seaman, who is renowned for his teaching work at the Guildhall School of Music, and has conducted at the highest level, provides a barrage of straight answers. Most are directed towards real would-be conductors, rather than bedroom-mirror amateurs, but there's plenty for the outsider looking in. . . . The conductor's work is not often discussed in such plain detail. Conducting is 'like riding a horse not driving a car'. A tighter grip on the baton produces a harder tone. Keeping the arms moving upward very slowly can restrain an audience's desire to rush to clap after a quiet ending. . . . Demystifies the art and the figure of the conductor. -- James McConnachie http://www.spectator.co.uk/books/8966601/inside-conducting-by-christopher-seaman-a-review/'>Full Review * THE SPECTATOR *The art of conducting is hard to nail but Christopher Seaman does just that in exemplary fashion. . . . Interesting reading for all lovers of music, students of conducting as well as fellow professionals. . . . Serious practical application and in-depth musicological insight laced with the author's engaging humour. Highly recommended. -- Christopher Fifield * MUSICWEB-INTERNATIONAL *Table of ContentsBackground Harmony Memory Perfect Pitch Training Conductors Youth Orchestras Balance Choral Works Concerto Accompaniment Ear Eye Contact Opera Rehearsing Baton Beat Behind-the-Beat Playing Directing from the Harpsichord Economy of Gesture, Cueing, Use of the Left Hand Auditions Chamber Orchestras Chief Conductor Friend or Boss? Orchestral Playing Role of Concertmaster Solos in an Orchestral Piece Stage Settings Strings Winds Timpani and Percussion Composers Learning Scores, Interpretation Marking Parts Performance Practice Shape and Structure Tempo and Metronome Addressing the Audience Applause, Platform Demeanor, Coughing Program Planning Career and Agents Critics Gender Guest Conducting Orchestra Managements Recording Travel and Packing Concentration Control and Power Ego Languages Nervousness Our Heritage: Some Ancestors and My Links with Them Suggested Reading Musical Example Credits A Note on the Illustrations Index of Conductors

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Book SynopsisThis series uses the integration of films to develop linguistic competencies through progressive acquisition of vocabulary and grammar structures. A variety of activities target the four communicative goals: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

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Book Synopsis(Faber Piano Adventures ). The 2nd Edition Level 4 Lesson Book follows Piano Adventures Level 3B. The book is arranged by related major and minor keys, grounding the repertoire. The emphasis on root position V7 chords, arpeggios, and "Power Scales" links applied theory to the pieces being studied. Expressive repertoire selections build a strong foundation in harmony and technique.

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Book SynopsisBlack Flag were the pioneers of American Hardcore and this is their blood-spattered story.

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Book SynopsisMANHATTAN ON FILM 2

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Book SynopsisEvery developing guitarist wants to know how to produce those amazing sounds familiar to us all - the awesome solos and guitar virtuosity, the signature riffs of the most memorable songs. This is the ideal book for anyone who can't get enough of those classic styles. Split into genres – blues, heavy metal, punk and indie, and even country and jazz – each section has an introduction which captures the main artists and their styles. Then try your hand at any of the notation or TAB examples of riffs in the style of everyone from Ritchie Blackmore and Jimmy Page to Slash and Kurt Cobain. Classic Riffs is part of our highly successful series of practical ring-bound guides to playing music. Supported online by the Flame Tree Music website. Now you can see the chord, then reach for your phone and hear the chord or scale. Using any free QR code reader app (Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Windows) a web site opens automatically and you can listen to the chord as a strum, an arpeggio (each note played separately) and hear it as a piano chord.

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Book SynopsisThe Classical Music Encylopedia, now fully updated, traces the development of Western music from medieval times through to the twenty-first century. Each chapter begins with an Introduction to the era, followed by an A to Z of the key composers and musicians of the era, with an expert's recommended recording for each entry. Within these, the musical greats – from Mozart to Stravinksy – have more extensive entries. The Styles and Forms sections discuss the many different styles of music, from the earliest notation to the minimalism of the twentieth century, while the development of each era's Instruments is also extensively investigated. Written by many of the world's leading experts in the field, this invaluable encyclopedia is comprehensive, easy-to-use and highly informative – an essential guide for readers of all levels.

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Book SynopsisThis must-have book for Star Trek fans goes behind the scenes on the latest movie in the billion dollar franchise, Star Trek Beyond, presenting a jam-packed book celebrating Star Trek's 13th big screen outing and revealing all about the making of the movie.

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Book SynopsisWhen Carrie Fisher discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved - plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naiveté, and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Now her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a teenager with an all-consuming crush on her co-star, Harrison Ford. With these excerpts from her handwritten notebooks, The Princess Diarist is Fisher’s intimate and revealing recollection of what happened on one of the most famous film sets of all time – and what developed behind the scenes. Fisher also ponders the joys and insanity of celebrity, and the absurdity of a life spawned by Hollywood royalty, only to be surpassed by her own outer-space royalty. Laugh-out-loud hilarious and endlessly quotable, The Princess Diarist brims with the candour and introspection of a diary while offering shrewd insight into the type of stardom that few will ever experience.Trade ReviewSmart and funny...the pages crackle with one-liners * Guardian *It’s an eye-opener for fans, but it also shows a gifted writer even at a young age. There was a lot going on between Princess Leia’s hair buns. * USA Today *An unflinching, sometimes painful, sometimes hilarious look inside the mind of a 19-year-old … It’s invasive, juicy, sad, nostalgic and gripping all at once. It’s as if you’ve knocked the lock off of your cooler older sister’s journal and discovered she’s been sleeping with the hottest boy in school this whole time. * LA Times *Fisher offers a thoughtful, sardonic meditation on the price of fame, cost-of-living adjustments included. -- J.D. Biersdorfer * The New York Times Book Review *[The Princess Diarist] is a radical truth bomb -- Julia Felsenthal * VOGUE.com *Carrie Fisher was so real it was dangerous…. My God, girls, we owe her a lot. -- Sharon HorganShe didn't need The Force. She was a force of nature, of loyalty and of friendship. -- Steven Spielberg

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Book SynopsisFrom the Renaissance commedia dell''arte to today''s Second City comedy troupe, improvisation has been a hit. Learn the structure behind the spontaneity of comedy improvisation in this improv theatre text. Over 35 performance-tested improv structures and performance tips in this book help even a beginner tackle this off the cuff humor with confidence. Learn the elements of successful improvisation: setting, characters, conflict and action, dialog, and humor. Then have fun polishing your new skills in comedy clubs, coffee houses, or acting classes. Instructions on loosening up, writing routines, coping with audiences, and protecting original routines through contracts and copyrights are also included.

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Book SynopsisMARCEL MOYSE VOICE OF THE FLUTE

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Book SynopsisPeter Sallis is known to millions as Norman Clegg in the classic BBC series Last of the Summer Wine, and to millions more - whether they realise it or not - as the voice of Wallace in the Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit. Peter was to raise the curtain on richly diverse in the most unlikely of circumstances; as an amateur actor whilst serving on the RAF groundcrew during World War 2. A scholarship to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts followed, and it was from these humble beginnings that Peter would go on to become one of Britain's best loved actors.

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Book SynopsisThe action adventure 300: Rise of an Empire is the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2007 international blockbuster 300.Based on Frank Miller''s latest graphic novel Xerxes, 300: Rise of an Empire is produced by Gianni Nunnari, Mark Canton, Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Bernie Goldmann, and directed by Noam Murro from a screenplay by Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad. Told in the breathtaking visual style of 300 this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield--on the sea--as Greek general Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. 300: Rise of an Empire pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Artemisia (Eva Green), vengeful commander of the Persian navy.300: Rise of an Empire also stars Lena Headey, Hans Matheson, and David Wenham, and will be released

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Book SynopsisThis new edition is the ultimate exploration of the upstart instruments ä and their unique analog growls and screams ä that paved the way over the last four decades for today''s fast-paced electronic music world. Explores the development of the modern synthesizer from 1962 on with in-depth interviews with pioneering designers Bob Moog and Alan R. Pearlman of Moog Music and ARP Instruments fame. These and other designers reveal their initial ideas reflect on their hits and misses and discuss how star performers have used their creations. Histories of groundbreaking instruments examine modular analog & digital synths and samplers plus more unusual instruments like the Mellotron. Noted synthesist Keith Emerson and composer Wendy Carlos ( Switched-On Bach ) offer musical insights and performance techniques. Includes fully updated pricing and production info and more than 200 photos and a stunning color section.

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Book SynopsisLucy Kerbel's 100 Great Plays for Women is an inspiring guide to a hundred plays that put female performers centre stage, dispelling the myth that 'There just aren't any good plays for women'. With a foreword by Kate Mosse. Women buy the majority of theatre tickets, make up half the acting profession, and are often the largest cohort of any youth theatre or drama club. And yet they have traditionally been underrepresented on stage. 100 Great Plays for Women seeks to address this gap by celebrating the wealth of drama available for women to perform. Theatre director Lucy Kerbel's myth-busting book features compact and insightful introductions to 100 plays, each of which has an entirely or predominantly female cast, with the female characters taking an equal or decisive role in driving the on-stage action. Also included are ten plays for solo female performers. The result is a personal but wide-ranging reappraisal of the theatrical canon, a snapshot of the very best writing – from ancient times right up to the present day – that has female protagonists at its heart. A fascinating mixture of familiar and less well-known works dealing with a broad range of themes, it is an essential resource for all directors and producers looking for plays to stage, writers seeking inspiration and actors trying to track down a new audition piece. It is also an exciting provocation that will have readers, both male and female, championing their own personal favourites. The book is the culmination of a project by Tonic Theatre and the National Theatre Studio. Tonic Theatre was founded by Lucy Kerbel in 2011 to support the theatre industry in achieving greater gender equality in its workforces and repertoires; it partners with leading theatre companies around the UK on a range of projects, schemes and creative works. The National Theatre Studio provides support and resources for both emerging and established theatre-makers of outstanding talent, and contributes to the National’s ongoing search for and training of new artists. 'A gem of a book… Lucy Kerbel has done hard-working directors and artistic directors, of spaces large and small, a great service.' Kate Mosse, from her forewordTrade Review'Essential... impressive scope and sweep... exhilarating. With luck, theatres will take note and playwrights will be inspired' * Times Literary Supplement *'Highly readable... remarkably eclectic... What makes this such a good read is the author's passion for her subject but also an ability to summarise the guts of a play in very few words, while at the same time putting them into a historical and social context.' * British Theatre Guide *'A remarkable assemblage... will prompt many a new production in the years ahead' * Michael Quinn, The Stage's Books of the Year 2013 *'Rich and rewarding... this is an intelligently assembled collection, each play insightfully interrogated, its claims for inclusion persuasively argued. Producers, directors and actors will find much here to intrigue and excite.' * The Stage *'Whether you are looking for a thought-provoking play to liven up the amateur repertoire, a play for a room above a pub or one to fill a provincial stage, this book will ensure that you are spoilt for choice.' * Drama Resource *'A cornucopia of riches. Lucy Kerbel has done theatre writing great service with this book of significance' * Theatre in Wales *'A must-have for any teacher or director... the long-overdue first step on the path to redressing an age-old imbalance' * Teaching Drama Magazine *'Wonderful... the perfect blend of academic and creative forces' * Female Arts *'A marvellous record or social history of society and its attitude and representation of women through the ages... full of surprises, discoveries and jogs to our memory' * ReviewsGate.com *

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Book SynopsisA practical guide for actors who want to find work in the corporate sector, by a veteran with over 1400 corporate events to his credit. Thousands of actors in the UK make their living not from treading the boards but in the conference centres and training rooms of the nation’s corporate sector. In this, the first book to be published about the increasingly accessible and lucrative business of corporate acting, Paul Clayton shows how this sort of work – training, coaching, role-plays, Forum Theatre and live events – can keep you in paid employment, and your skills sharp, whilst you look for other acting opportunities. He takes you through every aspect of the industry, with a series of practical examples and invaluable tips at every stage, including: What sort of work is available – and how you can get it The various role-play techniques you’ll encounter The dos and don’ts for offering constructive feedback to your clients What Forum Theatre is – and how to do it How to handle live events – and escape with your dignity intact Written with humour and great insight, So You Want To Be A Corporate Actor? encourages you to look at your skills from a business point of view, enabling you to take control over your own career. It is a must-read for any actor wishing to broaden their skills and make themselves more employable at all stages of their career. ‘For actors wishing to utilise their theatrical skills within the corporate world, this book should be their bible. It is crystal clear, informative and irreverent – and lays out in simple terms how actors need to think and present themselves to be employable.’ Janet Rawson, Co-founder of Steps Drama Learning DevelopmentTrade Review'A real insight into the skills and preparation you need in order to succeed in the corporate world' * The Stage *'Yet another helpful volume in this handy series... Clayton covers every kind of corporate gig imaginable... where it really scores is in relating the necessary skills for this job to those more familiar to actors, thus helping to make the transition that much easier' * British Theatre Guide *

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Book SynopsisThe essays in "The Resistible Demise of Michael Jackson" consummately demonstrate that writing on popular culture can be both thoughtful and heartfelt. The contributors, who include accomplished music critics as well as renowned theorists, are some of the most astute and eloquent writers on pop today. The collection is made up of new essays written in the wake of Jackson's death, and includes Barney Hoskyns' classic "NME" piece written at the time of "Thriller", and contributions from Ian Penman, David Stubbs, Paul Lester, and Chris Roberts.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThese five new translations . . . take to its logical, lively conclusion the long-held but oft-ignored reality that Plautus and Terence were writers for the stage. These versions have verve: playability, liveliness, accessibility, unlike anything on library shelves today. Of modern-day attempts at Plautus-inspired music, for example, only Stephen Sondheim has excelled the inspired zaniness of Douglass Parker’s lyrics. There is much virtue to be measured here. . . . After reading these plays we might spend considerable thought on the possibility that conservative translations in the style of Barsby are less authentic--if such a thing can be measured--than those of Berg and Parker. . . . This is a deceptively important book, meriting a wide, attentive readership. . . . [Berg and Parker's] theater-friendly versions offer a vision of the future of Roman comedy, both scholarly and popular. The profession will be well repaid to take an appreciative look. --David Frauenfelder, North Carolina State UniversityDeena Berg and Douglass Parker’s Plautus & Terence: Five Comedies is a fascinating postmodernist rendition of some of the most postmodernist--metatheatrical, self-referential, sophisticated, stylized--literature classical antiquity has to offer. The sparkling and eminently performable translations are a hard act to precede, but the translator’s delightful introductions are a worthy match for their subjects. . . . Highly recommended. --John Wright, Northwestern UniversityThis splendid sampling of Roman comedy is particularly welcome because Parker and Berg have combined the best known (and perhaps finest) comedies of Plautus and Terence (The Brothers Menaechmus, here 'Double Bind,' and Miles Gloriosus, here 'Major Blowhard,' and Adelphoe, 'The Brothers') with two rarer and rather special comedies: 'The Wild Wild Women,' Plautus' exuberant Bacchides, and 'The Mother-in-Law' (Hecyra), perhaps Terence's most modern comedy, important as evidence from ancient comedy for the evolution of the sentimental or psychological drama of everyday life. The translators are to be congratulated on their choices and their truly up-to-date versions; Parker is a veteran whose punning wit and swashbuckling idiom in his very actable Plautus scripts contrast nicely with the simple elegance of Berg's Terence." —Elaine Fantham, Princeton UniversityTable of ContentsMajor Blowhard = Miles Gloriosus. Double bind = Menaechmi. The wild, wild women = Bacchides / Plautus -- The mother-in-law = Hecyra. The brothers = Adelphoe / Terence.

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Book Synopsis"A largely untold, much more controversial story… anything but a hagiography. A fresh, incisive take on the band." - MOJO **** "Fink's ability to overcome the Youngs’ code of Scottish-Australian omert? is impressive… a cut above other AC/DC tomes, and Fink knows it." - Classic Rock **** 1Z2 With sales of over 200 million albums, AC/DC is not just the biggest rock band in the world, it's a family business built by three brothers: George, Malcolm and Angus Young. As with any business, some people prospered, while others got hurt along the way. The Youngs: The Brothers Who Build AC/DC is unlike any AC/DC book you've read before. Less a biography, more a critical appreciation, it tells the story of the trio through 11 classic songs and reveals some of the personal and creative secrets that went into their making. Important figures from AC/DC's long journey to the top open up for the very first time, while unsung heroes behind the band's success are given the credit they are due. Accepted accounts of events are challenged while sensational new details emerge to cast a whole new light on the band's history - especially their early years with Atlantic Records in the United States. Former AC/DC members and musicians from bands such as Guns N' Roses, Dropkick Murphys, Airbourne and Rose Tattoo also give their perspectives on the Youngs' brand of magic.Trade Review"'An excellent writer and storyteller.' (The Daily Telegraph) 'Fink can take a moment and turn it into a vivid experience.' (The Australian) 'Fink makes enemies like Bill Gates makes money, but his in-your-face style is exactly what makes his blogs so good.' (Alpha) 'One of Asia's best football writers.' (The National (Abu Dhabi)) 'The best book I've ever read about AC/DC.' (Mark Evans (AC/DC bass player, 1975-77)) 'I loved it.' (Jerry Greenberg (president of Atlantic Records, 1974-80)) 'Using 11 classic tracks as his starting point, Jesse Fink delivers a fresh biographical take on AC/DC. The accomplished journalist balances a serious appreciation for the music with a driving desire to cut through the mystery and misinformation shrouding this seminal rock and roll band. Fink's book should satisfy both diehard fans and those who love reading good biographies.' (iTunes 'Editors' Notes') 'Being an all-round nice guy is no prerequisite to getting rich. Jaw-dropping reinforcement of this point is about to hit your local bookstore in the form of The Youngs by Jesse Fink... this version of the George, Malcolm and Angus saga includes testimony to the power of the music - Fink is a huge AC/DC fan and credits their songs with getting him through a divorce - but of most interest is the sheer business bloody-mindedness of the trio. Fink tracks down former bandmates, managers and associates who feel they were cut adrift by the Youngs once their financial usefulness had past. He also details a web of tax shelters and savvy merchandising deals that belie the brothers' yob-rock image. One casualty along the Youngs' road to the top was the guy who designed their iconic logo in 1977, Gerard Huerta. A Rosetta Stone of rock, the logo has undoubtedly made many of the Youngs' millions by itself, but Huerta has never received royalties.' Michael Bailey, BRW (Sydney) 'Compelling.' (Mornings with Steve Austin, 612 ABC Brisbane) 'A great read.' (Leila McKinnon, Weekend Today, Channel Nine) 'The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC promises to be... essential AC/DC history.' (Loudwire (New York)) 'Three brothers, 40 years and some 200 million albums - this is the story of George, Malcolm and Angus Young, the boys behind AC/DC. While a lot's been written about them over the years, this provides a definitive history of the trio, with accounts from rockers Guns N' Roses, among others.' (GQ Australia's "Essential Summer Reading") 'Sometimes it seems as if all the shocking rock and roll stories have been told, but [in The Youngs] there was a revelation that has genuinely raised eyebrows and opened mouths... Mark Evans, bassist in AC/DC until 1977, confirmed that Bon Scott overdosed on heroin in 1975 and was almost sacked from the band, a moment which would have changed the course of rock history. With this taster, Jesse Fink's book sounds like essential reading.' (MetalTalk.net (London)) 'Jesse Fink has taken a fresh approach in his latest book, The Youngs, looking at the Young dynasty through a clutch of their best songs, complete with brutally honest critical analysis along the way... the deeper Fink goes down the rabbit hole to unearth the truth behind the Young Brothers... the more it becomes clear that many "truths" exist and since the principals aren't saying a word to anyone, what develops is a Rashomon-like tale... it's an approach that pays dividends.' (Shane Pinnegar, 100PerCentRock.com (Australia))"

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Book SynopsisThe Tales of Hoffmann (1951) is a unique and important film, both in the history of British cinema and in the history of interdisciplinary art-making. It is the first full-throttle presentation of an opera on screen: a Technicolor exploration of romance, fantasy, and failure, more danced than sung.Trade ReviewLike the best in the BFI Film Classics series, William Germano's study is at once brisk and lush. The book's virtues include how vividly it establishes a context for understanding its subject, a context that includes the opera on which the film is based; the stories on which the opera is based; other films by Powell and Pressburger (most crucially The Red Shoes); other films, from the silent Waxworks to George Romero's zombie cycle; live opera (and here Germano's knowledge is especially deep and illuminating); and painting. The book ranges widely but it also plunges deeply into an engrossing, moment-by-moment descriptive analysis of Powell and Pressburger's film. Here the interdisciplinary approach the author takes infuses his close consideration of such cinematic techniques as camera movements, off-screen space, and editing. Through his intent focus on one film, Germano has produced a rich, tightly circumscribed meditation on much broader subjects, from the nature of cinema to the nature of opera to what happens when the two are interfused in Powell and Pressburger's unique cinematic reworking—and transposition into spatial terms—of the essentially vocal material that is their source. Coupled with the Criterion DVD, Germano's book provides a rare opportunity for a concentrated, sensuous, and intellectual excursion into one of the stranger and more hallucinatory territories ever mapped out on film. -- Case Western Reserve University * Professor Rob Spandoni *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments .- 1. The Archers Take Aim .- 2. Three Tales of and about Hoffmann .- 3. Film and Opera after Hoffman .- Technical Details .- Notes .- Credits .- Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisStanley Kubrick hailed The Shining as 'the scariest horror film of all time' before its release in 1980. Though the film opened to poor reviews, it has since become one of the most admired horror films in cinema history. Exerting an enormous influence on popular culture, The Shining has spawned a vast array of interpretations and conspiracy theories. Roger Luckhurst's illuminating study explores the film's themes, tropes and resonances through a detailed analysis of sequences and performances. Situating The Shining in a series of fresh contexts, Luckhurst looks at the complex nature of horror cinema at the end of the 1970s and early 80s. Taking the maze of the haunted hotel as a key motif, he offers numerous threads with which to navigate the strange twists and turns of this enigmatic film. This limited edition features original cover artwork by Mark Swan.Table of Contents'The Shining' Notes Credits Bibliography

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Book SynopsisFeatures a modernised text of Marlowe's play with annotation on the page, a comprehensive Introduction, and related texts, including selections from Machiavelli's "Prince", Gentillet's "Anti-Machiavel", and Bacon's "The Advancement of Learning".Trade ReviewA provocative edition, one which belongs on the shelves of student and scholar alike. --Martha Oberle, Frederick Community College, Maryland, in The Sixteenth Century Journal

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Book SynopsisMost people know that Bob Marley (1945–1981) was a singer-songwriter who popularised reggae music and whose Jamaican culture and Rastafarian beliefs have attained worldwide influence. What, perhaps, they don’t know is that his music inspired 7,000 prisoners of war to escape; that after running out of money he was forced to spend two years living in London; that he has sold more than 75 million records around the world; and that he was shot twice while trying to bring peace between two political groups. Biographic: Marley presents an instant impression of his life, work and legacy, with an array of irresistible facts and figures converted into infographics to reveal the musician behind the music.

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Book SynopsisBruce Springsteen might be the quintessential American rock musician but his songs have resonated with fans from all walks of life and from all over the world. This unique collection features reflections from a diverse array of writers who explain what Springsteen means to them and describe how they have been moved, shaped, and challenged by his music. Contributors to Long Walk Home include novelists like Richard Russo, rock critics like Greil Marcus and Gillian Gaar, and other noted Springsteen scholars and fans such as A. O. Scott, Peter Ames Carlin, and Paul Muldoon. They reveal how Springsteen’s albums served as the soundtrack to their lives while also exploring the meaning of his music and the lessons it offers its listeners. The stories in this collection range from the tale of how “Growin’ Up” helped a lonely Indian girl adjust to life in the American South to the saga of a group of young Australians who turned to Born to Run to cope with their country’s 1975 constitutional crisis. These essays examine the big questions at the heart of Springsteen’s music, demonstrating the ways his songs have resonated for millions of listeners for nearly five decades. Commemorating the Boss’s seventieth birthday, Long Walk Home explores Springsteen’s legacy and provides a stirring set of testimonials that illustrate why his music matters.Trade ReviewContributor Lou Maser interview on "One-on-One with Steve Adubato" http://steveadubato.org/bruce-springsteen-s-impact-on-music-history.html— One-on-One with Steve Adubato "E Street Radio" SiriusXM interview with contributors Daniel Wolff Lauren Onkey— E Street Radio - SiriusXM "Local Leaders Never Stop Reading" by Amanda Capps http://www.greenvillebusinessmag.com/2020/03/05/299879/local-leaders-never-stop-reading— Greenville Business Magazine "Springsteen at Seventy," by Wesley Stace https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2019/09/21/springsteen-at-seventy/— New York Review of Books "Long Walk Home endeavors to examine the impact the art and the artist have had on individual people around the world. The book fulfills this mission admirably. Individual contributions are of uniformly high quality. The collection as a whole is an engaging read that will interest scholars and fans alike." — Prudence Jones, BOSS: The Biannual Online-Journal of Springsteen Studies "Rutgers Univ. Press to celebrate Springsteen’s birthday with ‘Long Walk Home’ book," by Jay Lustig— NJ Arts "Relatable passages and...excellent writing."— Newark Star-Ledger "Growing Up With Bruce Springsteen: I wouldn’t be the man I am without him," by Eric Alterman http://www.publicseminar.org/essays/growing-up-with-bruce-springsteen/— Public Seminar "Dermot Bolger: 'As Bruce turns 70, I thank him for giving voice to my world,'" excerpt from Long Walk Home https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/dermot-bolger-as-bruce-turns-70-i-thank-him-for-giving-voice-to-my-world-38496573.html— Irish Independent “Long Walk Home: Reflections on Bruce Springsteen at 70 offers a comprehensive, timely overview of Springsteen’s life and work. The eminently qualified essayists in Sawyers and Cohen’s anthology astutely address Springsteen’s achievement in terms of the artist’s evolving legacy, with a valuable accent upon exploring his lasting contributions to twentieth- and twenty-first- century popular music and culture.”— Kenneth Womack, author of Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles "That’s the greatest joy of Long Walk Home—the little details from fan’s lives, intersecting with moments of historical and artistic significance."— Third Coast Review "Why Bruce Springsteen is the soundtrack of the 2020 primary," by Jonathan D. Cohen https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/09/23/why-bruce-springsteen-is-soundtrack-primary/— Washington Post "A killer collection of Boss studies and stories, as varied as Springsteen's own body of work and a fitting tribute to the man — at 70, both an American legend and an artist as vital as ever."— Christopher Phillips, Editor of Backstreets.com "Long Walk Home: Reflections on Bruce Springsteen did something I wouldn’t have thought possible: it deepened my appreciation for the artist by broadening my understanding of his relevance and influence. I’d long known that Bruce had wide, diverse, international appeal. Now I have a better understanding of why. Highly recommended."— E Street Shuffle "Springsteen at 70: Remembering When The Boss Rocked New Brunswick" by TAP into New Brunswick https://www.tapinto.net/towns/east-brunswick/articles/springsteen-at-70-remembering-when-the-boss-rocked-new-brunswick-8— TAP into New Brunswick "Celebrating Bruce at 70," by Tammy La Gorce— New Jersey Monthly "The Ties That Bind: Bruce Springsteen And The Wide Divide," excerpted from A.O. Scott's piece in Long Walk Home https://www.npr.org/2019/09/23/762803629/the-ties-that-bind-bruce-springsteen-and-the-wide-divide— NPR Books "The expanding field of Springsteen Studies is fascinating, and includes stellar volumes written by many of the contributors to this collection. Kudos to co-editors Jonathan D. Cohen (managing editor of “'BOSS: The Biannual Online-Journal of Springsteen Studies') and June Skinner Sawyers (editor of “Racing in the Streets: The Bruce Springsteen Reader”) for giving Springsteen fans an extraordinary new addition to that canon. Long Walk Home is worthy of its subject and a timely reminder of Springsteen’s promise in the 1999 anthem 'Land of Hope and Dreams' that 'dreams will not be thwarted/ faith will be rewarded.'”— Charleston Post & Courier "Bruce Springsteen Is Jew-ish: He may be Catholic, but to many fans—including this one—his lyrics speak to a different creed," by Eric Alterman https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/10/bruce-springsteen-almost-jewish/599146/— The Atlantic "In a collection as carefully compiled as a Springsteen album, Cohen and Booklist contributor Sawyers celebrate the Boss at 70....For more than four decades, Springsteen’s music has been part of our popular music and culture and will continue to be, long after his final album is released. As this compilation illustrates, his 'Glory Days' are far from over."— Booklist "The book nods to Springsteen’s international, intercultural popularity and success....The most thought-provoking essays in Long Walk Home are by writers who are not from the stereotypical Springsteen fan base."— Times Literary Supplement "Taken together, the 26 essays in Long Walk Home give readers a rich understanding of why the Boss matters so profoundly to his audience; how each of us has been moved, challenged, and shaped by Springsteen's music."— Roxanne Harde, co-editor of Walking the Line: Country Music Lyricists and American Culture "Rutgers Professor Reflects on Springsteen's Legacy ahead of ''The Boss's'' 70th Birthday," by Cynthia Medina https://news.rutgers.edu/qa/rutgers-professor-reflects-springsteens-legacy-ahead-bosss-70th-birthday/20190730#.XVavqehKiUm— Rutgers Today "Rutgers Professor Reflects on Springsteen's Legacy for ''The Boss's' 70th Birthday," by Cynthia Medina https://news.rutgers.edu/qa/rutgers-professor-reflects-springsteens-legacy-ahead-bosss-70th-birthday/20190730?utm_source=newsletterutm_medium=emailutm_campaign=rutgerstoday#.XYmJOOdKjq0— Rutgers TodayTable of ContentsIntroduction: Why Springsteen? Jonathan D. Cohen and June Skinner Sawyers Part I Springsteen Stories 1 Growing Up with Bruce Springsteen Eric Alterman 2 How Bruce Springsteen Made a Middle-Aged Woman Believe in the Magic of Rock and Roll Nancy S. Bishop 3 From the Backstreets to the Badlands: My Springsteen Journey Deepa Iyer 4 The Ripple Effect Frank Stefanko Part II Springsteen, Politics, and American Society 5 The Role of the Popular Artist in a Democratic Society Jefferson Cowie and Joel Dinerstein 6 Starting a Fire: Bruce Springsteen’s Political Journey from “Born in the U.S.A.” to “American Skin (41 Shots)” Gillian G. Gaar 7 Springsteen’s American Dream Louis P. Masur 8 At the River Paul Muldoon 9 The Ties That Bind A. O. Scott Part III Springsteen Live 10 Live at the Roxy Greil Marcus 11 The Magic Circle Wesley Stace 12 Twist and Shout David L. Ulin Part IV Springsteen the Artist 13 Brilliant Disguise: The Completely True Fictional Adventures of Bruce Springsteen Peter Ames Carlin 14 Interview with Martyn Joseph by Irwin H. Streight 15 This Train: Bruce Springsteen as Public Artist Colleen J. Sheehy 16 Born to Write: Bruce Springsteen, Flannery O’Connor, and the Songstory Irwin H. Streight 17 Ten Great Springsteen Moments (and Five Iconic Concerts) Kenneth Womack Part V Springsteen, Sex, Race, and Gender 18 Our Butch Mother, Bruce Springsteen Natalie Adler 19 Springsteen’s Women: Tougher Than the Rest Gina Barreca 20 Shackled and Drawn Lauren Onkey 21 American Skin: Springsteen and Blackness Elijah Wald Part VI Springsteen and Aging 22 Summer’s Fall: Springsteen in Senescence Jim Cullen 23 Work and Play: Mid-Life Music Daniel Wolff Part VII Springsteen beyond Borders 24 Bruce Springsteen’s River in Dublin Dermot Bolger 25 The Boss in Bulgaria Richard Russo 26 We Take Care of Our Own Wayne Swan Acknowledgments Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisOn the night of Sunday, April 23, 1961 Judy Garland made history. That's no hyperbole. Surrounded by a throng of ecstatic fans (3,165 to be exact), the legendary performer delivered a concert in Carnegie Hall the live recording of which became, upon release, an unlikely pop cultural phenomenon. Judy at Carnegie Hall, the two-disc set that captured all 25 numbers she performed that night, went on to spend more than 70 weeks on the Billboard charts, win four Grammy Awards--including Album of the Year (making it the first live music album and the first album by a female performer to win the category)--and become, in the process, the fastest-selling two-disc set in history. What the recording highlights, and what's made it an enduring classic in a class of its own, is the palpable connection between the songstress and her fans. Indeed, The New York Times reported in its review of the evening's proceedings, what actually was to have been a concert--and was--also turned into soTable of ContentsOverture Judy at Carnegie Hall Side 1 "When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You)" Side 2 "The Man That Got Away" Side 3 "Stormy Weather" Side 4 "Over the Rainbow" Encore "After You’ve Gone" Encore II Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography

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