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[[Category:New Reviews|Biography]]__NOTOC__<!-- Remove INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE--> {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert A Caro1788360702|title=Charles, The Years of Lyndon JohnsonAlternative Prince: Means of Ascent|rating=5|genre=Autobiography|summary=It's only a matter of days since I finished listening to [[The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power by Robert A Caro|The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power]], the first part of Robert A Caro's definitive work on the President and despite having just spent over forty hours on the book I wanted to learn more. I was torn though - the second book in a series is not often as good as the first and it struck me that these might not be the most exciting years in Johnson's life. Was this book going to be the link which took us on to the more exciting times? Not a bit of it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B00GSHD0U6</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewAn Unauthorised Biography|author=Robert A Caro|title=The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Path to PowerEdzard Ernst|rating=54
|genre=Biography
|summary=Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th President For over forty years, Prince Charles has been an ardent supporter of alternative medicine and complementary therapies. ''Charles, The Alternative Prince'' critically assesses the United StatesPrince's opinions, preceded by John F Kennedy beliefs and succeeded by Richard Nixon, with both being remembered most for aims against the background of the way they left officescientific evidence. His five-year term in office was overshadowed at the start by the Kennedy assassination There are few instances of his beliefs being vindicated and increasingly blighted by his relentless promotion of treatments which have no scientific support has done considerable damage to the debacle which was Vietnam, but there was something about Johnson which always intrigued me: how does reputation of a poor boy from Texas hill country without an exceptional (or even 'good') education become president of the United States? 'The Years man who is proud of Lyndon Johnson: The Path his refusal to Power' tells you all that you need apply evidence-based, logical reasoning to knowhis ambitions.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B00GSHTJZQ</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1739805100|title=Born Loving the Enemy: Building bridges in Siberiaa time of war|author=Tamara Astafieva, Michael Darlow and Debbie SlaterAndrew March
|rating=4.5
|genre=Biography
|summary=Gabriele d’Annunzio was a strange and perhaps fortunately unique character''Loving the Enemy'' tells the quite extraordinary story of author Andrew March's grandparents, a kind of 20th century Renaissance man who almost defies posterity first met when grandfather Fred Clayton went to Dresden to pigeonhole him. At various times he was a poet, novelist, dramatist, journalist, adventurer, self-styled demagogue and philanderer. Although he lost several friends during teach in the early days of the First World War, as well as Nazi regime in the sight of one eye when his plane was shot down1930s. Fred, he had a passion for warsensitive and thoughtful man, seeing bloodshed as manly and death in battle as glorious self-sacrifice. He had the dodgiest some vague ideas of moral compasses, and yet was hardly "building bridges" which may guard against the Adonis he believed himself to be. One French courtesan who firmly rebuffed his physical advances later called him ‘a frightful gnome with red-rimmed eyes and no eyelashes, no hair, greenish teeth, bad breath and growing hostilities between nations unfolding in Europe at the manners of a mountebank’time. Had he been alive today, Fred's attempts to separate individual people from ideology weren't universally successful but he would have probably been an instant celebrity did make friendships and media personality with connections that lasted for a very short shelf-life. One half Jeremy Clarkson, one half Russell Brand, one might saylifetime.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007213964</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John Van der KisteWill Brooker|title=Alfred: Queen Victoria's Second SonThe Truth About Lisa Jewell|rating=45
|genre=Biography
|summary=Prince Alfred was Meet [[:Category:Lisa Jewell|Lisa Jewell]], one of the second son most successful British authors I've never knowingly read. Now meet Will Brooker, one of Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert the thousands of Saxe-Coburg Gothaless successful authors I quite confidently never have read. At This book starts with the time of his birth he was second in line to the throne after his brothertwo meeting each other, as well, and shows how 2021 drew the Prince of Wales two closer and was generally known within the family as Affiecloser together. In his early teens he joined The meeting was some unspecified combination, it seems, of her anecdote about cup cakes, the Royal Navy words of her latest book she was reciting, and her being in a ''black lace mini- dress with gold brocade'' (certainly a get-up never commonly worn at his own request - and whilst his family and status was undoubtedly no disadvantage the author events I get to himattend), but pulled Brooker, he worked hard and had a genuine talent for professor of cultural studies who has swallowed Roland Barthes, down the navy, eventually receiving his Admiralrabbit-hole that is Jewell's baton and visiting all five continents diverse output. Brooker decides he'd like nothing more than to follow her through a year in the course published author's life, working to make a success of his service. He was created Duke of Edinburgh (along the latest title, and struggling with various other titles) by the queennext in line. His marriage - to Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia - was not a happy unionJewell, due diligence appropriately done, with his wife being not well-liked in society and obsessed by her precedenceagrees. They had six children (one of whom was stillborn) but only one son - 'young Affie' who committed suicide at And this is the age of twenty fourresult.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>178155319X</amazonuk>1529136024
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{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=The Trip to Echo Spring: Why Writers Drink Martha Leigh|authortitle=Olivia LaingInvisible Ink: A Family Memoir|rating=45|genre=Biography|summary=Coming from Martha Leigh begins her book talking about a childhood spent in a slightly eccentric, immediately recognisable upper middle class English family with an alcoholic background. Her father is a Cambridge don, Olivia Laing became fascinated by forever clacking away on his typewriter as he edits the idea of why and how some complete correspondence of the greatest works of twentiethphilosopher Jean-century literature were written by those with a drink problemJacques Rousseau, his life's work. The list soon became Her mother is a long one – Dylan Thomas, Raymond Chandler, Jack London, Jean Rhys, to name but a few, instantly came to mindconcert pianist who practises for hours every day. In the spring of 2011 she crossed the Atlantic to take a trip across the USA, from New York City and New Orleans to Chicago and Seattle by hired car and train, Neither parent is hugely interested in the course practicalities of which she took a close look at the link between creativity and alcohol which inspired the work of six authors, namely Flife. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, John Berryman, John Cheever, and Raymond Carver. Taking her title from a character There is love in Williams’s play ‘Cat on the house but also darker undercurrents that a Hot Tin Roof’ who says he child does not fully understand but knows is taking a trip to echo spring, an euphemism for the liquor cabinet, she travels to the places which were pivotal in their often overlapping lives and workthere.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847677940</amazonuk>1800460384
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{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Hanns and Rudolf: The German Jew and the Hunt for the Kommandant of AuschwitzPolly Barton|authortitle=Thomas HardingFifty Sounds|rating=4.5|genre=BiographyPolitics and Society|summary=This dual biography concernsWhere do I start? I could start with where Barton herself starts, as with the question ''Why Japan?'' Japan has been on my radar for a while and if the title makes clearworld hadn't gone into melt-down I would have visited by now. I may get there later this year, two menbut I am not hopeful. One was from an inherently GermanAnd like Barton, rich Jewish family – they had a powerboat so he could waterski on I don't know the lake at their country cottage – who fled answer to the rise question ''why Japan?'' She explains her feelings in respect of the Nazis early question in the 1930sfirst essay, and got away moderately lightlywhich is on the sound ''giro' '' – which she describes as being, only losing properties and a large and successful medical career. The among other was from an inherently German familythings, who signed up for First World War service before his age, but only really wanted the sound of ''every party where you have to be a farmer and family man, yet who ended up running probably historyintroduce yourself's worst slaughterhouse. Both had a connection and a shared destiny that was largely unknown before this book was researched, there's a chance that both of them had the blood of one man and only one man directly on their hands from WWII service, and both of them – again, as the title makes clear – are given the dignity of the familiar, first name throughout this incredible book.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0434022365</amazonuk>1913097501
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{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Penelope Fitzgerald: A LifeFrederic Gros|authortitle=Hermione LeeA Philosophy of Walking
|rating=5
|genre=BiographyPolitics and Society|summary=Penelope Fitzgerald came I confess I picked this one up from an earnest and renowned academic family, the Knoxes, which included several prominent clerics; her grandfather was the Bishop library in my pre-lockdown forage of Manchesterrandom stuff. A considerable biographer herself, she wrote a book on the Knox brothers, these included two Oxford pastors (one of whom, Ronald Knox, converted Now I have to Catholicism, was famous as a biblical translator and whilst chaplain at Trinity College became a mentor to the future prime minister, Harold Macmillan), a top Bletchley cryptographic analyst and Penelope's go out an buy my own eminent father, 'Evoe' who was editor of Punch. Fitzgerald wrote prolifically from childhood and fulfilled some of these high expectations by gaining a brilliant First at Somerville. Graduating in 1938, she was already known for her membership of copy so that I can turn down the smart set, for her student journalism pages I have marked and a reticent, indeed peremptory mannerreturn to its varying wisdom when I need to. Women could not actually graduate at Oxford until a statute was passed Some books draw you in 1920. Hence she was amongst Oxford's early women graduatesslowly. Her striking appearance within the smart set earned her the nickname of the ''blonde bombshell''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701184957</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=John Freeman|title=How to Read a Novelist: Conversations with Writers|rating=4.5|genre=Biography|summary=As a book reviewer there are certain people whom I hold in high regard and This one of these is John Freeman. Not yet forty he has an enviable record as an editor to some of the big names had me in literature and it seems that every book of note for a decade and a half has been greeted by his review. Don't be misled by the title first two pages, wherein Gros explains why ''How to Read walking is not a Novelistsport'' - this isn't a guide to literary criticism, but a collection of Freeman's interviews with eminent authors. There are fifty six in total, ranging from literary giants such as Toni Morrison, Ian McEwan, Gunter Grass and Kazuo Ishiguro through to popular crime fiction writers such as Donna Leon.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1472109376</amazonuk>1781688370
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{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Inside The Centre: The Life of J Robert OppenheimerSharon Blackie|authortitle=Ray MonkIf Women Rose Rooted
|rating=5
|genre=Biography|summary=Thinking back I normally say that you can tell how much a book means to the early 1960s, Bertrand Russell, the subject of another prize winning biography me by Ray Monk, was frequently seen on black and white television declaring his concerns over Nuclear Weaponshow many pages have corners turned down. He stated, Perhaps an even greater measure of impact is setting out to buy my own copy before I'Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under ve finished reading the influence of a great fearone I've borrowed. I want to avoid clichés like ' For nearly seventy years, mankind has wondered in the words of Sting, powerful' 'inspiring'How can I save my boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy?life-changing' As concerns about nuclear proliferation in relation to Iraq, Pakistan and North Korea escalate – although it is salutary to return to a thorough biography of definitely the man, known as the father of first two and only time will tell about the bomb, that felt third – but clichés exist for a deep reason and urgent need to be at the centre and to belong, J Robert OppenheimerI'm not sure I can succinctly put it any better.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099433532</amazonuk>1912836017
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{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0241446732|title=Magic WordsOur House is on Fire: The Extraordinary Life Scenes of Alan Moorea Family and a Planet in Crisis|author=Lance ParkinMalena Ernman, Greta Thunberg, Beata Thunberg and Svante Thunberg
|rating=5
|genre=BiographyPolitics and Society|summary=I don't think that I ever saw [[:Category:Alan Moore|Alan Moore]] when I lived in Northampton, and I don't think I coincided with the publication of ''Maxwell the Magic Cat'' in the local newspaperThe Ernman / Thunberg family seemed perfectly normal. So I missed out Malena Ernman was an opera singer and Svante Thunberg took on most of the memorable frame parenting of someone else who is six foot their two, albeit a generation older and looking so hirsute he would seem to be afraid of scissorsdaughters. But I certainly would not have been alone in not recognising him for Then eleven-year-old Greta stopped eating and talking and her sister, Beata, then nine years old, struggled with what he iswas happening. How many Northampton housewives flicked past In such circumstances, it's natural to seek a solution close to home, but eventually, it became clear to the daily panels of family that they were ''Maxwellburned-out people on a burned-out planet'' in complete ignorance of who Alan Moore actually is? – With no idea that the years he spent drawing that cartoon for £10 . If they were to find a week – later way to live happily again their solution would need to be £12radical.50 – were just him gearing up to be the biggest man of letters in the comic book world?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781310777</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0648684806|title=Alan Turing (Real Lives)Clara Colby: The International Suffragist|author=Jim EldridgeJohn Holliday
|rating=4
|genre=Biography
|summary=Having looked at The path of Clara Dorothy Bewick's life was probably determined when her family emigrated to the title and subUSA. At the time she was just three-title, the latter being no more than the twoyears-word title of one old but because of some childhood ailment, she wasn't allowed to sail with her parents and three brothers. Instead, she remained with her latter-day hitsgrandparents, I assumed this was going to be who doted on her and saw that she received a fairly comprehensive biography good education, both in and out of school. She was the American singeronly child in the household and her childhood was glorious. The sub-title, ''Strong Enough''By contrast, taken from one of her latterfamily had become pioneer farmers in the mid-day hit singleswest of the United States and life was hard, reveals nothingas Clara was to find out when she and her grandparents eventually went to join the family. Not until I Clara would only know her mother for a few months: she was married for fifteen years, had almost finished itten pregnancies, a little puzzled at it seven surviving children and died in childbirth not being quite what I had expected, did I finally look at the blurb on the back – at which point all became clearlong after Clara arrived. This was not As the full story of eldest girl, a showbiz career which has lasted close heavy burden would fall on half Clara and Wisconsin was a century, but for the most part an extraordinarily detailed account of her 1975 TV variety showrude awakening.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0859654842</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1789017977|title=Empress Dowager CixiRonnie and Hilda's Romance: Towards a New Life after World War II|author=Jung ChangWendy Williams|rating=54|genre=BiographyHistory|summary=It’s easy to see why Jung Chang selected Cixi as Ronnie Williams was the focal point for her study son of China’s tumultuous modern historyThomas Henry Williams (known as Harry) and Ethel Wall. Cixi is a truly fascinating woman, one of few human beings whose existence can be honestly said There's some doubt as to have shaped the course of history. Cixi’s biography is whether or not only a fascinating read due they were ever married or even Harry's birthdate: he claimed to her own political machinationshave been born in 1863, but also because of the immense transformations that occurred in China during her lifetimehe was already many years older than Ethel and he might well have shaved a few years off his age. Jung Chang offers For a detailed exploration of while, the period from Cixi’s entrance family was quite well-to court -do but disaster struck in 1852 the 1929 Depression and five-year-old Ronnie had to her death in 1908, during which time the ancient dynastic customs of China gave way adjust to a very different lifestyle. One thing he did inherit from his father was his need to be well-turned-out and this would stay with him throughout his life. He joined the advent of the industrial agearmy at eighteen in 1942.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224087436</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Bertie: A Life of Edward VIIPatti Smith|authortitle=Jane RidleyYear of the Monkey|rating=54
|genre=Biography
|summary=Several On the coast of Santa Cruz, Patti Smith enters the main facts about King Edward VII (1841lunar year of the monkey -1910) are reasonably well-knownone packed with mischief, sorrow, and unexpected moments. Considered oversexed by his parentsIn a stranger's words, Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort''Anything is possible: after all, he was blamed by the former for breaking the latterit's heart and causing his early death with the news that he (Edward) had enjoyed himself with a lady year of the nightmonkey''. He was notoriously unfaithful to his charming but prematurely deaf and lame wife AlexandraAs Smith wanders the coast of Santa Cruz in solitude, hated reading books and learning but became she reflects on a firstyear that brings huge shifts in her life -class unofficial ambassador to courts loss and countries abroadageing are faced head-on, and despite low expectations of others and poor health he made an excellent King for as it the last nine years of his lifeshifting political waters in America.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099575442</amazonuk>1526614758
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Anthony Summers1912242052|title=Not In Your Lifetime: The Assassination of JFKO Joy for me!|author=Keir Davidson|rating=4.53|genre=True CrimeArt|summary=Originally published as ''The Kennedy Conspiracy'', Anthony Summers has massively revised the text, updated it with the latest evidence and it's been republished as Oh Joy for me!''Not in Your Lifetime: The Assassination of JFKgives Coleridge credit for being '' which refers the first person to walk the statement made by Chief Justice Earl Warren who was asked if the truth about what happened would come out. He said that it wouldmountains alone, but added the rider that ''it might not be in your lifetime''. Fifty years on most of the people directly involved are now deadbecause he had to for work, as a miner, quarryman, shepherd or pack-horse driver, but the truth has not officially emerged. In fact, it's difficult because he wanted to avoid the thought that the US government would prefer that it did not see the light of dayfor pleasure and adventure. Further documents are due to be released in 2017His rapturous encounters with their natural beauty, butand its literary consequences, in changed our view of the meantime Anthony Summer has examined what is available, investigated on his own behalf and given us this comprehensive bookworld''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755365429</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Graff_Find|title=The Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Murder That Changed the WorldFind Another Place|author=Greg King and Sue WoolmansBen Graff|rating=3.5|genre=BiographyAutobiography|summary=Possibly no assassination in history can have had such momentous consequences for the history of the world as that When Ben Graff's grandfather Martin handed him a plastic folder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and handwritten notes from his wife Sophie in Sarajevojournal, he didn't take much notice of it. At the capital age of Bosnia24, in June 1914. It was their killing which led directly to Graff didn't realise the outbreak gravity of the First World War, just six weeks laterpages he was holding.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230759572</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1789016304|title=Red War and Love: The Story A family's testament of an East German Familyanguish, endurance and devotion in occupied Amsterdam|author=Maxim LeoMelanie Martin
|rating=5
|genre=Biography
|summary=Chances are there have been major disagreements Melanie Martin read about what happened to Dutch Jews in occupied Amsterdam during World War II and splits was entranced by what she discovered, particularly in your family. One black sheep might have supported the wrong football team. Some of you will be strictly ''StrictlyThe Diary of Ann Frank'', the rest ''X Factor'but then realised that her own family's stories were equally fascinating. But probably nothing compares to what went on in A hundred and seven thousand Jews were deported from the city during the Leo household over decades in Eastern Berlin. One of our author's grandfatherswar years, Gerhard, was too Jewish but only five thousand survived and bourgeois Martin could not understand how this could be allowed to survive life happen in Germany, fled a country with liberal values who were resistant to France, and came back a Communist having fought against NazismGerman occupation. His counterpart Werner ended Most people believed that the war with some semblance of PTSDoccupation could never happen: even those who thought that the Germans might reach the city were convinced that they would soon be pushed back, and more or less landed that the Amsterdammers would never allow what happened to escalate in Communist Berlin due to facts of administrationthe way that it did, yet became a fully-fledged Party activist. Author's mother Anne worked but initial protests melted away as a journalist on the Communist mouthpiece newspaper, even if she managed to doubt things she was forced to write during the Prague Spring and organisers became morecircumspect. Her husband Wolf – WernerIt's son – in an atrocity on a similar industry was involved in sort-vast scale but made up of tens of Photoshopping for propaganda, and often sabotaged his own output. He was violent, awkward, but very anti-establishment. And if you can't see how having a non-Communist in such a family in the heightened times thousands of Cold War Berlin would be, you certainly will after reading this gripping collective biographyindividual tragedies.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1908968516</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Barbara A Perry1786893452|title=Rose Kennedy: The Life and Times of a Political MatriarchUngrateful Refugee|author=Dina Nayeri
|rating=4.5
|genre=Biography
|summary=It's Here in the West, we see news reports about immigrants on a regular basis – some media welcoming them, some scaremongering about fifty years since the assassination them. But all of President John F Kennedy those stories are written by journalists – almost always western, and it was he (and particularly his death) who brought almost always, no matter how deep the Kennedy family investigative journalism they carry out, outsiders to the attention of a new generationworld and the situations that refugees find themselves in. An earlier generation had been split about It's rare that we find out the journeys from the virtues (or otherwise) of his fatherrefugees themselves – and this is a rare opportunity to do that, Joe Kennedyin this intelligent, multi millionaire powerful and United States Ambassador to Great Britain. But behind both moving work by Dina Nayeri -someone who was born in the middle of these men was mother and wifea revolution in Iran, Rose Kennedy and Barbara A Perry has produced fleeing to America as a superb biography using letters, diaries and other archived material recently made availableten-year-old.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0393068951</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0857058320|title=Eminent ElizabethansLord Of All the Dead|author=Piers BrendonJavier Cercas and Anne McLean (translator)
|rating=4
|genre=Biography
|summary=''Eminent ElizabethansLord Of All the Dead'' is in effect a descendant of journey to uncover the author’s author's lost ancestor'Eminent Edwardianss life and death. Cercas is searching for the meaning behind his great uncle's death in the Spanish Civil War. Manuel Mena, Cercas'great uncle, is the figure who looms large over the book. He died relatively young whilst fighting for Francisco Franco's forces. Cercas ruminates on why his uncle fought for this dictator. The latter, a volume question at the centre of short biographies of four British iconic figures of the early twentieth century, was in turn inspired by Lytton Strachey’s barbed 'Eminent Victorians', published in 1918, this book is whether it is possible for his great uncle to be a debunking of four Victorian heroes whom hero whilst having fought for the iconoclast Strachey wished to demonstrate had feet of claywrong side.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099532638</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|titleisbn=Sisters of the East End1788037812|author=Helen Batten|rating=3.5|genretitle=Historical Fiction|summary=Katie Crisp had never intended to become a nun. Raised by non-religious parents, her family frowned upon organised religion and when Katie started secretly going to church, they strongly disapproved. When Katie ran to the aid The Fraternity of a stroke victim, she had a vision that changed her life. She saw herself dressed as a nun with a large silver cross hanging from her neck. She decided to follow her calling and join the community of St John the DivineEstranged: The Fight for Homosexual Rights in England, a group of Anglican nuns dedicated to nursing and midwifery. She thus shed her old identity and became known as Sister Catherine Mary.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091951771</amazonuk>}} {{newreview1891-1908|author=Jerry Oppenheimer|title=Crazy Rich: Power, Scandal and Tragedy Inside the Johnson & Johnson DynastyBrian Anderson|rating=35
|genre=Biography
|summary=Back Originally passed in 1885 three brothers were inspired by a speech by Joseph Lister, the pioneer of antiseptic surgerylaw that had made homosexual relations a crime remained in place for 82 years. But during this time, to create a range of surgical dressings - such things were previously unheard of restrictions on same- sex relationships did not go unchallenged. Between 1891 and this was 1908, three books on the beginning of Johnson & Johnson, providers nature of Band-Aids and baby powderhomosexuality appeared. It also brought phenomenal wealth to the founders They were written by two homosexual men: Edward Carpenter and a variety of trusts continued this down John Addington Symonds, as well as the yearsheterosexual Havelock Ellis. The first president Exploring the margins of society and studying homosexuality was common on the company was Robert Wood Johnson. NFL fans will be aware of his great grandsonEuropean Continent, Robert Wood Johnson IV (known as 'Woody')but barely talked about in the UK, owner so the publications of these men were hugely significant – contributing to the New York Jets. In between scientific understanding of homosexuality, and beginning the two - struggle for recognition and afterwards equality, leading to the milestone legalisation of same- there are a string of tragedies and scandals which put you sex relationships in mind of the Kennedy dynasty1967.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0312662114</amazonuk>
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{{newreview|title=America's Mistress: The Life and Times of Eartha Kitt|author=John L Williams|rating=4|genre=Entertainment|summary=Two quotes on the back of the dust jacket testify to the power and public perception of Eartha Kitt during her lifetime. Orson Welles once called her ‘the most exciting woman in the world’, while to the CIA she was ‘a sadistic nymphomaniac’.Frontpage|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857385755</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewBuckland_Zoo|title=Inferno Decoded: The essential companion to Man Who Ate the myths, mysteries and locations of Dan Brown's Inferno|author=Michael Haag|rating=4|genre=Entertainment|summary=Here be spoilers. Not so much in my review, but certainly in its subject, a very quickly produced companion guide to the latest [[Zoo:Category:Dan Brown|Dan Brown]] blockbuster. It's not so much a page-by-page guideFrank Buckland, but certainly serves as an educational and intelligent look at the background to the biggest-selling book forgotten hero of 2013.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781251800</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=Serving Victoria: Life in the Royal Householdnatural history|author=Kate HubbardRichard Girling
|rating=4.5
|genre=Biography
|summary=Biographies old and new As a conservationist in Victorian England before the term existed, Frank Buckland was very much a man ahead of Queen Victoriahis time. Surgeon, her husband and her children are plentiful enough. The vast majority of them are based to some extent on the diariesnaturalist, memoirs veterinarian and biographies of some of the most important figures who served hereccentric sums him up perfectly, and Kate Hubbard has put these as well as supplementary archive papers any biographer is immediately presented with a colourful tale to good use in presenting a thoroughly engrossing account of the royal household throughout the Queen’s lengthy reign. I might almost say ‘lively’, though that could be an exaggeration. The court of Victoria may have been homely after a fashion, but for the most part it was hardly livelytell.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099532239</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert SellersWilliams_Captain|title=What Fresh Lunacy is This?: The Authorised Biography of Oliver Reed|rating=5|genre=Biography|summary=For rather more Captain Ronald Campbell of his career than heBombala Station, his family and closest friends might have liked, the name Oliver Reed was a byword for booze, brawls and all types of laddish behaviour. As Sellers’ very full Cambalong: His Military Life and remarkably objective biography reveals, it was a funny yet sad life all at once. For although he repeatedly played up to the image of the lovable rogue which he had created, underneath the bad boy of popular legend he was at heart a professional actor who could always deliver a first-rate performance on the film set when required.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>147210112X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewTimes|author=Neal Thompson|title=A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert 'Believe It or Not' Ripley Ivor George Williams
|rating=4
|genre=Biography
|summary=Robert LeRoy Ripley was indeed a curious manIn March 1829 Ann Parker married Captain J A Edwards of the 17th Regiment of Foot. He throve was in command of the troops and convicts on curiosityboard a ship sailing from Plymouth to Sydney, Australia: his own wife and that of everyone elseyoung son accompanied him. By exploiting and never underestimating the public demand for triviaHe was not destined to live a long life, and by being in dying suddenly at the right place age of 34 at the right time just as the news and broadcasting media were beginning Bangalore, leaving his widow to develop raise their two young sons. Edwards' death left his widow in America into the unassailable forces they were by the end of the centurya difficult position: not only did she have their farm to manage, he became one of but she was also responsible for the most successful men of convicts who worked the ageland. Two years later she would marry Captain Ronald Campbell.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847947204</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Hermione LeePeacock_mountain|title=Edith Wharton|rating=4|genre=Biography|summary=Into The Mountain, A prolific author, Edith Wharton's published output included over twenty novels, one a Pulitzer Prize winner, and 85 short stories, as well as poetry and books on interior design and travel. Born in the United States in 1862, she travelled extensively throughout Europe, and settled permanently in France where she died in 1937.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845952014</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewLife of Nan Shepherd|author=Sylvie Simmons|title=I'm Your Man: The Life of Leonard CohenCharlotte Peacock
|rating=4.5
|genre=Biography
|summary=If you or I wanted Mostly we choose what books to write a story about an imaginary figure who began as a novelist read because there is so little time and poetso many books… I can understand the approach, then became acclaimed as a singer-songwriter in the swinging sixtiesbut I also think we sell ourselves short by it, made and lost a fortunewe sell the myriad lesser-known authors short as well. So while, became a monklike most other people I have my favourite genres, and returned to a musical career at an age when most mortals are well into retirementfavoured authors, and found himself not only more popular than ever but also playing to while, like most other people I read the largest audiences in his entire life, it would be dismissed as total fantasy. Nobody could make it reviews and follow up – and nobody needs toon what appeals, because in I also have a nutshell that is the life (so far) of Leonard Cohen, the subject of this biography and surely one of the music business’s most unique figuresthird-string to my reading bow: randomness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099549328</amazonuk>
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