Biographies & Memoirs - Books

Love of My Life

Biographies & Memoirs

'EYEWITNESS GOLD' SUNDAY TIMESWHO - OR WHAT - WAS THE REAL LOVE OF FREDDIE MERCURY'S LIFE? THE SENSATIONAL NEW BIOGRPHAY OF QUEEN'S FRONTMAN Millions of Queen and screen fans who watched the Oscar-winning film Bohemian Rhapsody believe that Mary Austin, the woman he could never quite let go of, was the love of Freddie Mercury's life. But the truth is infinitely more complicated.Best-selling biographer and music writer Lesley-Ann Jones explores the charismatic frontman's romantic encounters, from his boarding school years in Panchgani, India to his tragic, final, bed-ridden days in his magnificent London mansion. She reveals why none of his love interests ever perfected the art of being Freddie's life partner.In Love of My Life, the author follows him through his obsessions with former shop girl Mary, German actress Barbara Valentin and Irish-born barber boyfriend Jim Hutton. She explores his adoration of globally fêted Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé. She delves into his intimate friendship with Elton John, and probes his imperishable bonds with his fellow band members. She deconstructs his complicated relationship with the 'food of love' - his music - and examines closely his voracious appetite for - what some would call his fatal addiction to - sex. Which of these was the real love of Freddie Mercury's life? Was any of them? Drawing on personal interviews and first-hand encounters, this moving book brings to the fore a host of Freddie's lesser-known loves, weaving them in and out of the passions that consumed him. The result, a mesmerising portrait of a legendary rock star, is unputdownable. Love of My Life, published during the year of the 30th anniversary of his death and that would have seen his 75th birthday, is Lesley-Ann's personal and compassionate tribute to an artist she has revered for as long as she has written about music and musicians.

Harry White and the American Creed

Biographies & Memoirs

The life of a major figure in twentieth‑century economic history whose impact has long been clouded by dubious allegationsAlthough Harry Dexter White (1892–1948) was arguably the most important U.S. government economist of the twentieth century, he is remembered more for having been accused of being a Soviet agent. During the Second World War, he became chief advisor on international financial policy to Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, a role that would take him to Bretton Woods, where he would make a lasting impact on the architecture of postwar international finance. However, charges of espionage, followed by his dramatic testimony before the House Un‑American Activities Committee and death from a heart attack a few days later, obscured his importance in setting the terms for the modern global economy. In this book, James Boughton rehabilitates White, delving into his life and work and returning him to a central role as the architect of the world’s financial system.

The Works of John Adams Vol. 10

Biographies & Memoirs

John Adams was the second President of the United States, ruling the country from 1797 to 1801, and one of the Founding Fathers. He was also a major leader of American independence from Great Britain. This is volume ten out of ten of his works, this book containing letters and state papers from 1811 through 18125 The text is annotated with more than 90 endnotes.

George Brown

Biographies & Memoirs

George Brown was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, politician, Fathers of Confederation. A noted Reform politician, he was also the founder and editor of the Toronto Globe, which is today (having merged with other newspapers) known as the The Globe and Mail.

Treno di vita

Biographies & Memoirs

Priska guardò sua figlia, che fino a quel momento era stata nascosta nella sua pancia, relativamente al sicuro. Ora di colpo era fuori - priva di tutto, nuda, vulnerabile - in un mondo dominato dai nazisti. "Mia Hana" disse con gli occhi umidi, ricordando la conversazione sussurrata con il marito nel vagone merci, durante il loro viaggio da incubo ad Auschwitz: "Se è una femmina la chiameremo Hana". Sentì nascere un sorriso sulle labbra. "Pensa solo a cose belle" le aveva detto il marito appena prima che li separassero. Sconosciute l'una all'altra ma accomunate dallo stesso destino, tre donne sono scampate alla morte e alla follia di Mengele ad Auschwitz riuscendo miracolosamente a nascondere di essere incinte. Costrette ai lavori forzati in una fabbrica di armi vicino a Dresda, e poi stipate con altre migliaia di vittime sul treno della morte diretto a Mauthausen, riescono a difendere caparbiamente la vita che portano in grembo. Una di loro dà alla luce una femmina appena prima del viaggio, un'altra un maschietto sul treno in condizioni disumane, e la terza varcando il cancello del campo. Luogo di nascita Mauthausen, riportano i certificati di nascita dei tre neonati. Tramontate le tenebre della guerra, per oltre sessant'anni ognuno dei tre bambini, ormai cresciuti, crede di essere l'unico uscito vivo dall'inferno in quelle condizioni. Ma le sorprese nella loro incredibile storia non sono ancora finite. Una storia che è un inno all'amore, alla resistenza e alla vita.

TIME Nelson Mandela

Biographies & Memoirs

Join TIME to explore the full story of Nelson Mandela, the remarkable man whose incandescent smile, forgiving spirit and work for reconciliation made him one of the most significant leaders of the 20th century and one of the most admired people in the world. TIME Nelson Mandela traces the twin journeys of Mandela and his nation away from the hateful system of racist apartheid to the creation of a modern South Africa where all people are free. Here is Mandela's journey in full detail: his birth in a grass hut as a prince of the Thembu tribe ... his work as an inspiring young lawyer fighting for civil rights for blacks ... his years as an underground freedom fighter ... and the 27 years he spent in jail as a political prisoner. And here is his incredible return to freedom, when he moved the world by vowing to forgive his captors and to reconcile all the people of his land, steering his nation away from a racial war. TIME Nelson Mandela features a personal and insightful introduction by TIME managing editor Richard Stengel, the co-writer of Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. Here is history as only TIME can tell it: rich, clear, incisive and filled with the details that bring the story of one of our great modern heroes to fresh, inspiring life.

Luchino

Biographies & Memoirs

Considerato perduto, questo straordinario ritratto di Luchino Visconti, steso da Giovanni Testori, è inaspettatamente riemerso. Era stato elaborato nei primi mesi del 1972, dopo “Morte a Venezia” e mentre era in corso la lavorazione di "Ludwig”. Di lì a poco una memorabile rottura tra i due con la decisione, dichiarata (ma evidentemente non portata a termine), di distruggere il manoscritto. “Luchino” costituisce un profilo, a più strati, di una delle grandi personalità della cultura del XX secolo, osservata da chi si era trovato in più occasioni a collaborare con lui (dalla sceneggiatura di “Rocco e i suoi fratelli” alle messinscene di “L’Arialda” e “La Monaca di Monza”). Testori fa venire a galla tratti caratteriali, esigenze espressive, modi di vivere e di amare di Visconti, nel tentativo di centrarne quella che una volta si sarebbe chiamata la “poetica”. Nella strabordante letteratura che riguarda il regista milanese questa voce si staglia per rigore di analisi e lucidità di sintesi. Il libro, che doveva uscire verosimilmente da Feltrinelli nel 1972, è accompagnato da un saggio introduttivo, una postfazione e da note di commento, stese da Giovanni Agosti, che, da un lato, aspirano a chiarire le molteplici allusioni disseminate nel testo e, dall’altro, si pongono come punti di partenza o di verifica per indagini sulle interferenze tra i due autori, Visconti e Testori, e sui loro mondi, contigui ma distanti, con affondi sulle case, le collezioni d’arte, le amicizie... Completano il volume molte immagini inconsuete.

It's More Than the Music

Biographies & Memoirs

Bill Gaither shares the amazing story of his life revealing triumph and tragedies that everyone can learn from.

Bibliomaniac

Biographies & Memoirs

In this warm and witty celebration of the written word, the popular comedian and presenter takes the reader on a journey across Britain as he explores his lifelong love of books and bookshops.Why play to 12,000 people when you can play to 12? In Autumn 2021, Robin Ince's stadium tour with Professor Brian Cox was postponed due to the pandemic. Rather than do nothing, he decided he would instead go on a tour of over a hundred bookshops, from Wigtown to Penzance; from Swansea to Margate.Packed with anecdotes and tall tales, Bibliomaniac follows Robin up and down the country in his quest to discover just why he can never have enough books. It is the story of an addiction and a romance, and also of an occasional points failure just outside Oxenholme.

All the Way

Biographies & Memoirs

The NFL icon who first brought show business to sports shares his life lessons on fame, fatherhood, and football. Three days before the 1969 Super Bowl, Joe Namath promised the nation that he would lead the New York Jets to an 18-point underdog victory against the seemingly invincible Baltimore Colts. When the final whistle blew, that promise had been kept. Namath was instantly heralded as a gridiron god, while his rugged good looks, progressive views on race, and boyish charm quickly transformed him - in an era of raucous rebellion, shifting social norms, and political upheaval - into both a bona fide celebrity and a symbol of the commercialization of pro sports. By 26, with a championship title under his belt, he was quite simply the most famous athlete alive. Although his legacy has long been cemented in the history books, beneath the eccentric yet charismatic personality was a player plagued by injury and addiction, both sex and substance. When failing knees permanently derailed his career, he turned to Hollywood and endorsements, not to mention a tumultuous marriage and fleeting bouts of sobriety, to try and find purpose. Now 74, Namath is ready to open up, brilliantly using the four quarters of Super Bowl III as the narrative backbone to a life that was anything but charmed. As much about football and fame as about addiction, fatherhood, and coming to terms with our own mortality, All the Way finally reveals the man behind the icon.

La trilogia della luna

Biographies & Memoirs

Il romanzo di chi misura il mondo camminando La trilogia della luna raccoglie i volumi Kualid che non riusciva a sognare, Il mago del vento e La scatola dei calzini perduti. Un ragazzino guarda dall'alto la conca di Kabul immersa nella notte, svegliato dal ricordo della luna che disegna un serpente sulla parete della sua stanza. Ha dieci anni, lo sguardo vispo, due incisivi un po' sporgenti, e un cruccio che lo accompagna. Un giovane uomo cammina per le vie di una Baghdad che sembra deserta, avvolta in un tempo dilatato e sospeso. Avanza nel nulla, poi con la mano afferra un bastone lungo e sottile. Non appena lo alza, centinaia di piccioni spuntano dal niente del cielo e iniziano a danzare attorno a quel bastone, al ritmo di una musica che nessuno può sentire. Gli strilli di un bambino infrangono l'atmosfera di un grande magazzino alla vigilia delle feste. E dall'enorme costume rosso di Babbo Natale riemerge Madut, il ragazzo del Sudan, l'uomo nero fuggito dalla sua terra in fiamme, giunto attraverso strade insolite e rocambolesche fino a Roma, per trovare il suo angolo di quotidianità in una lavanderia a gettone. Tre storie poetiche per raccontare l'umanità che misura il mondo camminando, spesso in fuga dai tormenti della guerra e dalla miseria che porta con sé. Una riuscita alchimia di relazioni e personaggi che sa tratteggiare vicende straordinarie e minuscole, esistenze sospese tra passato e presente, tra qui e altrove, che giungono a fondersi e a confondersi con quelle del nostro Paese. Tre storie che intrecciano culture raffinate e quotidianità difficili in una fantasmagorica esplosione di colori, tra desideri, ansie, rabbia, rassegnazione, emozioni e umori. Rammentandoci che non appena gli occhi di un uomo incrociano i nostri, quello sguardo ci rende entrambi responsabili.

The Lives of Twelve Caesars - Complete

Biographies & Memoirs

As private secretary to the Emperor Hadrian, Suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them (along with eye-witness accounts) to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history. The Twelve Caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over Rome, from the foundation of the empire under Julius Caesar and Augustus, to the decline into depravity and civil war under Nero, and the recovery that came with his successors. A masterpiece of anecdote, wry observation and detailed physical description, The Twelve Caesars presents us with a gallery of vividly drawn — and all too human — individuals. (Goodreads)

Shout It Out!

Biographies & Memoirs

From the author of the groundbreaking exposé Gomorrah comes a book that encourages and challenges the people to stand up for themselves and to not be fooled by the coercive nature of political power. Featuring short biographical sketches of a surprising mix of admired and deplored figures and works from history, this is a book that demands of readers to open one’s eyes and be outraged.The iconic Italian author Robert Saviano’s latest work of nonfiction is an urgent cry for people to stand up for themselves and the things they believe in, featuring those who have most inspired him—Russian poet Anna Akhmatova, Martin Luther King Jr., the Calipygian Venus, immortalized in marble—alongside those whose actions were most deplorable—Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels and Rwandan radio host Kantano Habimana, who encouraged the 1993-’94 genocide there.Saviano quotes the Italian author and Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi: “I write what I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone.” Saviano, like Levi, embraces his readers within a similar protective halo of intimacy, taking us in his arms to warn us.Other lives and works that Saviano evokes in Shout It Out! areHypatia, the murdered Alexandrian philosopher, mathematician and astronomer; political theorist Carl Schmitt; trailblazing Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya; Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi; NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden; 16th century astrology and alchemist Giordano Bruno, burned at the stake by the Inquisition in 1600; Russian poet Anna Akhmatova who chose silence rather than collaboration; Émile Zola; the Brothers Grimm; Martin Luther King; murdered anti-corruption activist Daphne Caruana Galizia; the ancient roman statue of the Callipygian Venus; Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan); American actress Jean Seberg; Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini; Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels; Rwandan radio host Kantano Habimana; Settimia Spizzichino, one of 50 from the Rome ghetto sent to Auschwitz, and the only survivor; Chinese poet and factory worker Lizhi Xu; Italian-American saint Sister Francesca Saverio Cabrini; Italian architect and London fire victim Gloria Trevisan; George Floyd.Shout It Out dives into world history—and Roberto Saviano’s mind—in a way that constantly surprises.

Haatchi & Little B

Biographies & Memoirs

#1 International BestsellerWhen Owen met Haatchi, the lives of one adorable little boy and one great, big dog were destined to change forever.Owen-known to his family as "little buddy" or "Little B"-has a rare genetic disorder that leaves him largely confined to a wheelchair. Before being united with Haatchi, Little B was anxious and found it difficult to make friends. Haatchi-an adorable Anatolian Shepherd puppy-was abused and left for dead on railroad tracks. He was struck by an oncoming train, and although his life was saved, his leg and tail were partially severed. Haatchi was left massively disabled and totally dispirited.But kind-hearted Will and Colleen Howkins, Little B's father and step-mother, decided to introduce the big dog and the little boy to each other, and an unbelievable bond was formed that transformed both boy and dog in miraculous ways.Wendy Holden's Haatchi & Little B is the true story of an astonishing little boy, a very special dog, and the inspiring, inseparable pair that they make together.

All Creatures Great and Small

Biographies & Memoirs

From a Yorkshire veterinarian and a “wise and wonderful writer”: The New York Times bestseller and basis for the beloved BBC series of the same name (The Boston Globe). In the rolling dales of Yorkshire, a simple, rural region of northern England, a young veterinarian from Sunderland joins a new practice. A stranger in a strange land, he must quickly learn the odd dialect and humorous ways of the locals, master outdated equipment, and do his best to mend, treat, and heal pets and livestock alike. This witty and heartwarming collection, based on the author’s own experiences, became an international success, spawning sequels and winning over animal lovers everywhere. Perhaps better than any other writer, James Herriot reveals the ties that bind us to the creatures in our lives.

Longitude

Biographies & Memoirs

The dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of one man's forty-year obsession to find a solution to the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day--"the longitude problem." Anyone alive in the eighteenth century would have known that "the longitude problem" was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day-and had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Thousands of lives and the increasing fortunes of nations hung on a resolution. One man, John Harrison, in complete opposition to the scientific community, dared to imagine a mechanical solution-a clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had ever been able to do on land. Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of Harrison's forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. Full of heroism and chicanery, it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking, and opens a new window on our world.

Narrative of Sojourner Truth

Biographies & Memoirs

One of the most famous and admired African American women in U.S. history, Sojourner Truth sang, preached, and debated at camp meetings across the country, led by her devotion to the antislavery movement and her ardent pursuit of women's rights. Born into slavery in 1797, Truth fled from bondage some 30 years later to become a powerful figure in the progressive movements reshaping American society. This remarkable narrative, first published in 1850, offers a rare glimpse into the little-documented world of Northern slavery. Truth recounts her life as a slave in rural New York, her separation from her family, her religious conversion, and her life as a traveling preacher during the 1840s. She also describes her work as a social reformer, counselor of former slaves, and sponsor of a black migration to the West. A spellbinding orator and implacable prophet, Truth mesmerized audiences with her tales of life in bondage and with her moving renditions of Methodist hymns and her own songs. Frederick Douglass described her message as a "strange compound of wit and wisdom, of wild enthusiasm, and flint-like common sense." This inspiring account of a black woman's struggles for racial and sexual equality is essential reading for students of American history, as well as for those interested in the continuing quest for equality of opportunity.

The Life of Christopher Columbus

Biographies & Memoirs

History tells America was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa. But what do we really know about the man behind this name, the life behind the myth? Discover the man that experienced incredible adventures, the man with ferocious drive, but still a man of flesh and blood whose life story, spirit and destiny will move you in a way you didn't expect. This biographical book is a fascinating look at the life of Christopher Columbus , from his own letters and journals.

Últimas sesiones con Marilyn

Biographies & Memoirs

Marilyn Monroe en el diván.La actriz chispeante que enamoraba a la cámara, el sueño erótico de cualquier hombre, la mujer que encandiló a Arthur Miller... Pero también la criatura frágil y desequilibrada, la muñeca rota de Hollywood, la adicta a los barbitúricos fallecida prematuramente.Una de las personas que más se acercó a ella fue su psicoanalista Ralph Greenson. El 4 de agosto de 1962, con la muerte de Marilyn se truncaba una relación de treinta meses en la que él fue testigo privilegiado del naufragio emocional de una mujer perdida, solitaria y consumida por su imagen pública. A partir de aquellas sesiones, y a caballo entre la realidad y la ficción,Schneider busca descifrar el misterio insondable que escondía el mito más seductor y trágico que ha dado el séptimo arte.La crítica ha dicho:«Michel Schneider ha escrito una novela apasionante, que es también un ensayo apasionante, a través de una investigación y documentación apasionantes.»Le NouvelObservateur«Últimas sesiones con Marilyn es una novela suntuosa. Un escrito de seda. Un gota a gota de fina emoción. Una reflexión sin moraleja. El autor ofrecea Marilyn Monroe, a través de esta obra llena de nubes y matices, lo que ella siempre pidió en secreto a los hombres: el respeto.»Le Magazine Littéraire«Creada a base de fragmentos y de un ir y venir temporal constante, como queriendo abrazar el alma hecha trizas de una mujer herida por su infancia, este buenísimo libro nos entrega un retrato de una estrella fugaz.»Les Inrockuptibles«Michel Schneider se adentra en el misterio y el laberinto de un mito# Una Marilyn distinta: culta y sensible, ansiosa por conocer la verdad que no veía en el espejo.»Jesús Ruiz Mantilla, El País«Una Marilyn desmitificada y sorprendente.»Luis Alberto Álvarez, El Mundo«Como Truman Capote, Schneider logra atraparnos con la expectación de una trama haciéndonos olvidar que ya conocemos el desenlace.»José Antonio Gurpegui, El Cultural

Che hai fatto dei tuoi fratelli?

Biographies & Memoirs

Inizio anni sessanta, periferia di Parigi. Un palazzone nuovo, il segno del mondo che cambia. Claude è un bambino curioso e timido che ama leggere di nascosto, a letto, la sera, così come fanno i suoi fratelli grandi, immersi in Chateaubriand e Tucidide. Il padre, che vorrebbe coglierli sul fatto, scivola sul pavimento lucido e si spacca il naso. È con una scena insieme buffa, drammatica e simbolica che si apre il romanzo-memoir di Claude Arnaud. Che ha appena tredici anni quando esplode il Sessantotto e si getterà nelle braccia della controcultura, cambierà nome e pelle, assaggerà amori di ogni genere e l'estasi delle droghe. Intanto la famiglia si disperde, muore la mamma, Pierre precipita nella follia, Philippe va a fare il giro del mondo. Il vitalismo eccessivo e rischioso di una generazione, il contrasto fra euforia collettiva e drammi personali, la ricerca spasmodica dell'identità sono i temi-chiave di un libro sfaccettato e affascinante, scritto con slancio e precisione.

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