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[[Category:New Reviews|Biography]]__NOTOC__<!-- Remove INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Dominic Pearce1788360702|title= Henrietta MariaCharles, The Alternative Prince: An Unauthorised Biography|author=Edzard Ernst|rating= 4.5|genre= HistoryBiography|summary=For over forty years, Prince Charles has been an ardent supporter of alternative medicine and complementary therapies. ''Charles, The phrase Alternative Prince'tragic Queen' is an often overused onecritically assesses the Prince's opinions, but beliefs and aims against the French princess who became background of the second Stuart Queen Consort scientific evidence. There are few instances of Britain surely his beliefs being vindicated and his relentless promotion of treatments which have no scientific support has as strong a claim as any done considerable damage to the title. In British history she was unique in that she not only lived reputation of a man who is proud of his refusal to see her husband defeated in civil warapply evidence-based, but also sentenced logical reasoning to death and in effect judicially murderedhis ambitions.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1445645475</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Philip Weinstein1739805100|title=Jonathan FranzenLoving the Enemy: The Comedy Building bridges in a time of Ragewar|author=Andrew March|rating=34.5

|summary=''Jonathan Franzen: The Comedy of RageLoving the Enemy'' makes frequent mention tells the quite extraordinary story of Franzenauthor Andrew March's attendance at Swathmore College in Pennsylvaniagrandparents, where he graduated who first met when grandfather Fred Clayton went to Dresden to teach in 1977 and where the author, Philip Weinstein was, until last year Professor early days of English. An earlier graduate, the novelist James A. Michner left his entire estate of some 10 million dollars to the college and the proceeds from his works, including Nazi regime in the one on which ''South Pacific'' was founded1930s. It was at Swarthmore that Franzen met his wifeFred, where she had been a gifted classmate. Weinsteinsensitive and thoughtful man, had some vague ideas of "building bridges" which may guard against the author who teaches there, has personally known Franzen for over two decades and growing hostilities between nations unfolding in Europe at the latter has given him a personal interview and been otherwise in contact with him for some considerable time. If this all seems just a little blurred in its boundaries, not Fred's attempts to say incestuous, then that might not matter. However, Franzenseparate individual people from ideology weren's work closely concern itself with shame, guilt, incest, rage and humiliation.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1501307177</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Adam Sisman|title= John le Carre: The Biography|rating= 5|genre= Biography|summary=Some twenty years ago David Cornwell, better known as novelist John le Carré, told a couple of would-be writers about him that t universally successful but he did not believe in 'authorised' biographies or critiques. Adam Sisman, who has since then been granted exclusive access to the man make friendships and his private archive, can therefore consider himself a lucky man.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408827921</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Catherine Hewitt|title= The Mistress of Paris|rating= 4|genre= Biography|summary= Born into poverty, no-one could have guessed connections that the girl who would one day be known as Valtesse de la Bigne would have achieved greatness. This is the tale of her rise to wealth and power – starting in lasted for a dress shop as a thirteen year old, but fast becoming a courtesan who would be fought over by some of the greatest men of her time. A woman who kept an air of mystery about many details of her life, Catherine Hewitt nevertheless paints an incredible story around the gaps, and this proves to be both a full and intriguing biography, and a fascinating portrait of the time periodlifetime. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848319266</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Despina StratigakosWill Brooker|title=Hitler at HomeThe Truth About Lisa Jewell

|genre=HistoryBiography|summary=Meet [[:Category:Lisa Jewell|Lisa Jewell]], one of the most successful British authors I''Please do not make Hitler look goodve never knowingly read.'' Words to live by that Now meet Will Brooker, one of the author thousands of this volume received from her mother, a Kefalonian who knew Nazi abuse when she saw itless successful authors I quite confidently never have read. Rest assured that the This book does not do that, but it certainly provides a much fresher, more eloquent and interesting look at certain aspects of his life, and introduces us to someone else from starts with the Nazi times – Gerdy Troosttwo meeting each other, who might as well be summarised as Hitler's interior designer. In picking apart the entire life of Troost, the nature of her work and shows how 2021 drew the buildings two closer and décor she surrounded Hitler in became a part of his propagandacloser together. The meeting was some unspecified combination, we get a refreshingly new yet authoritative bookit seems, that for those with an interest in this side of our recent history will easily be considered one ofher anecdote about cup cakes, if not thewords of her latest book she was reciting, best book of the year. The person who does come out and her being in a ''black lace mini-dress with gold brocade'' (certainly a get-up never commonly worn at the laurels worn highest is our author.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>030018381X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Elizabeth Norton|title= The Temptation Of Elizabeth Tudor|rating= 4.5|genre= Biography|summary= Lifeevents I get to attend), or rather survivalbut pulled Brooker, in Tudor England was a precarious business. Being close to the crown was anything but a guarantee professor of safetycultural studies who has swallowed Roland Barthes, as down the fate of two of King Henry VIII's Queenrabbit-hole that is Jewell's amply demonstrateddiverse output. His second daughter Elizabeth led a charmed life and went on Brooker decides he'd like nothing more than to reign as Queen for over forty years, but she too had some narrow escapes when follow her liberty if not her very existence was under threat.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1784081728</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|through a year in the published author= Jeffrey James|title= Edward IV: Glorious Son of York|rating= 4.5|genre= History|summary= Medieval England's own game of thrones, The Wars of the Roseslife, was at the centre of a turbulent age. In retrospect much of the history of medieval England, between the Norman conquest and the advent of the Tudors, seems working to have been make a chronicle success of instability often verging on and sometimes erupting into rebellion or civil war. The fifteenth-century conflicts between the houses of Lancaster and York, lasting intermittently for thirty yearslatest title, were more protracted and even more brutal than the rest, struggling with several fierce battles and sudden changes of fortune for the two rival families, both descended from King Edward III. The rise, fall and rise again of King Edward IV was a constant theme of the wars.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1445646218</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Spencer Leigh|title= Frank Sinatra: An Extraordinary Life|rating= 4|genre= Entertainment|summary= Frank Sinatra was undoubtedly a legendnext in line. In a notoriously precarious professionJewell, he managed to stay at the topdue diligence appropriately done, or very close to it, for a remarkably long timeagrees. Despite a few half-hearted flirtations with other styles which may have strayed a little from his comfort zone, he remained true to his musical style, won And this is the respect of younger generations, and never really went out of fashionresult.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857160869</amazonuk>1529136024

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Neil HegartyMartha Leigh|title= FrostInvisible Ink: That Was The Life That Was: The Authorised BiographyA Family Memoir

|summary= Just a glance at this Martha Leigh begins her book is enough to make us realise, or remind us, that Sir David Frost was talking about a towering presence childhood spent in the world of television for around half a centuryslightly eccentric, immediately recognisable upper middle class English family. From the days when he stormed the barricades of cosy light entertainment at the start of the swinging sixtiesHer father is a Cambridge don, to forever clacking away on his major political interviews and his position typewriter as one he edits the complete correspondence of the founding fathers of TVphilosopher Jean-amJacques Rousseau, he was his life's work. Her mother is a cornerstone concert pianist who practises for hours every day. Neither parent is hugely interested in the practicalities of the industrylife. Without him, There is love in the history of broadcasting during house but also darker undercurrents that period would surely have been very differenta child does not fully understand but knows is there.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0753556707</amazonuk>1800460384

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John Van der KistePolly Barton|title=Jeff Lynne: The Electric Light Orchestra - Before and AfterFifty Sounds

|genre=BiographyPolitics and Society|summary=Jeff Lynne grew up in a Birmingham suburb right at Where do I start? I could start with where Barton herself starts, with the end of 1947: even as question ''Why Japan?'' Japan has been on my radar for a child he was passionate about music while and was a much respected guitarist as a teenagerif the world hadn't gone into melt-down I would have visited by now. I may get there later this year, but I am not hopeful. He was a member And like Barton, I don't know the answer to the question ''why Japan?'' She explains her feelings in respect of various semi-professional groups - critical acclaim came when he fronted Idle Race the question in the late sixties and popularity and a degree of commercial success arrived when he joined first essay, which is on the popular group The Move. Whilst still playing with that group he co-foundedsound ''giro' '' – which she describes as being, along with Roy Woodamong other things, the groundbreaking Electric Light Orchestra, but it was with Woodsound of ''every party where you have to introduce yourself''s departure that Lynne turned what had been an occasionally uneasy fusion of classical and rock into a successful and popular act.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1781554927</amazonuk>1913097501

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jean FindlayFrederic Gros|title=Chasing Lost TimeA Philosophy of Walking|rating=4.5|genre=BiographyPolitics and Society|summary= A Catholic convert and a homosexual, a socialite party goer yet deeply lonely, a secretive spy and a public man I confess I picked this one up from the library in my pre-lockdown forage of letters, Scott Moncrieff was random stuff. Now I have to go out an enigmabuy my own copy so that I can turn down the pages I have marked and return to its varying wisdom when I need to. Some books draw you in slowly. His translation of Proust’s This one had me in the first two pages, wherein Gros explains why ''A La Recherché du Temps Perduwalking is not a sport'' was highly praised, and Moncrieff was also celebrated as a decorated hero of World War One. Here, his great-great niece Jean Findlay skilfully retells the life of an intriguing man – and one whom I was utterly charmed by. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099507080</amazonuk>1781688370

{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Desmond SewardSharon Blackie|title= Renishaw Hall: the story of the SitwellsIf Women Rose Rooted|rating= 4.5

|summary= Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire, has been the home I normally say that you can tell how much a book means to me by how many pages have corners turned down. Perhaps an even greater measure of impact is setting out to buy my own copy before I've finished reading the Sitwells since 1625one I've borrowed. Though the history of the house and its family go back I want to the early Stuart era, as Seward tells us in a few wonderfully concise chapters, avoid clichés like 'powerful' 'inspiring' 'life-changing' – although it is really with definitely the appearance of first two and only time will tell about the eccentric Sir George Sitwell third – but clichés exist for a reason and his three famous children that the narrative comes into its ownI'm not sure I can succinctly put it any better.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>178396183X</amazonuk>1912836017

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Peter Finn and Petra Couvee0241446732|title=The Zhivago AffairOur House is on Fire: The KremlinScenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis|author=Malena Ernman, the CIAGreta Thunberg, Beata Thunberg and the Battle over a Forbidden BookSvante Thunberg

|summary=One The path of Clara Dorothy Bewick's life was probably determined when her family emigrated to the USA. At the many things to come out time she was just three-years-old but because of this incredibly clear and readable book is that we Britssome childhood ailment, for all our literary heritage, have got nothing like an equivalent she wasn't allowed to Boris Pasternaksail with her parents and three brothers. He or Instead, she remained with her grandparents, who doted on her and saw that she would have to sell like Rowlingreceived a good education, regularly capture both in and out of school. She was the only child in the enjoyment household and spirit her childhood was glorious. By contrast, her family had become pioneer farmers in the mid-west of the nation a la Danny Boyle's Olympics ceremoniesUnited States and life was hard, as Clara was to find out when she and at her grandparents eventually went to join the same time have the cultural heft of Larkinfamily. Clara would only know her mother for a few months: she was married for fifteen years, Rushdiehad ten pregnancies, Graham Greene seven surviving children and more combineddied in childbirth not long after Clara arrived. Someone connected with choosing recipients of the Nobel Prize declare him here to be As the Soviet TS Elioteldest girl, but thata heavy burden would fall on Clara and Wisconsin was a rude awakening.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1789017977|title=Ronnie and Hilda's nothing likeRomance: Towards a New Life after World War II|author=Wendy Williams|rating=4|genre=History|summary=Ronnie Williams was the son of Thomas Henry Williams (known as Harry) and Ethel Wall. So the reader probably has There's some doubt as to stretch herself whether or not they were ever married or even Harry's birthdate: he claimed to see someone so well-respected have been born in 1863, but he was already many years older than Ethel and he might well-loved for have shaved a few years off his verse, who spent twelve years and more on age. For a hugewhile, societythe family was quite well-to-defining novel, only for do but disaster struck in the country 1929 Depression and five-year-old Ronnie had to nix every plan adjust to a very different lifestyle. One thing he did inherit from his father was his need to get it publishedbe well-turned-out and this would stay with him throughout his life. He joined the army at eighteen in 1942.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099581345</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Marlena de BlasiPatti Smith|title=The Umbrian Thursday Night Supper ClubYear of the Monkey

|summary= Author Marlena de Blasi lives in On the (as far as I can tell from having a quick google)coast of Santa Cruz, beautiful small Italian city Patti Smith enters the lunar year of Orvieto – deep in the beautiful Umbrian countrysidemonkey - one packed with mischief, sorrow, and unexpected moments. Having lived there for some timeIn a stranger's words, she gradually becomes aware ''Anything is possible: after all, it's the year of the Umbrian Thursday Night Supper Club – a group monkey''. As Smith wanders the coast of Italian ladies who meet once Santa Cruz in solitude, she reflects on a week for supper, and to talk. Whilst it takes year that brings huge shifts in her some time, Marlena eventually manages to be accepted into the group, and begins to cook and eat with these unique and fascinating ladies, sharing both tales of life, love, - loss and deathageing are faced head-on, and taking part as it the shifting political waters in delicious home cooked mealsAmerica. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0091954304</amazonuk>1526614758

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Peter Ackroyd1912242052|title=Charlie ChaplinO Joy for me!|author=Keir Davidson|rating=4.53|genre=BiographyArt|summary=Charlie Chaplin dominated ''Oh Joy for me!'' gives Coleridge credit for being ''the formative years of first person to walk the cinemamountains alone, not because he had to for work, as actor and directora miner, like no other. As we are told in an early chapter of this bookquarryman, on his first visit to America in 1910shepherd or pack-horse driver, but because he is alleged wanted to have shouted, ‘I am coming to conquer youfor pleasure and adventure. Every man woman His rapturous encounters with their natural beauty, and child shall have my name on their lips!’ Within a few years he had indeed conquered its literary consequences, changed our view of the entire movie-going world|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099287560</amazonuk>''.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sean SmithGraff_Find|title=Tom Jones - The LifeFind Another Place|author=Ben Graff|rating=43.5|genre=BiographyAutobiography|summary=Few singers have sustained When Ben Graff's grandfather Martin handed him a career over half a century and appealed to succeeding generations in the way that the former Thomas John Woodward plastic folder of Treforest has managed to do. Almost written off during a lean period or twohandwritten notes from his journal, he proved himself didn't take much notice of it. At the master age of re-invention24, and now in his mid-70s Graff didn't realise the gravity of the pages he is loved and revered as something of a national treasurewas holding.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>000810445X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Derek Niemann1789016304|title=War and Love: A Nazi in the Family: The Hidden Story family's testament of an SS Family anguish, endurance and devotion in Wartime Germanyoccupied Amsterdam|author=Melanie Martin

|summary=I'm sure someone somewhere has rewritten The Devil's Dictionary Melanie Martin read about what happened to include the following – ''family: noun; place where the greatest secrets are kept''. The Niemann family is no exception. It was long known that grandfather Karl was Dutch Jews in Germany occupied Amsterdam during the Second World War, people could easily work that out from the family biography. Yet little II and was spoken ofentranced by what she discovered, apart from him being an office-bound worker, either particularly in logistics or finance. Since the War two ''The Diary of three surviving siblings had relocated to the Glasgow environs, and there was even a family quip concerning Goebbels and Gorbals (Ann Frank''but then realised that her own family: noun; place where the worst things are spoken in the best way'')s stories were equally fascinating. What was a surprise to our author, A hundred and many of his relatives, was that things seven thousand Jews were a lot closer to deported from the former than had been expected, for Karl was such an office worker – for city during the SS. With a lot of family history finally out of the closet of silent mouthswar years, but only five thousand survived and Martin could not understand how this could be allowed to happen in a country with incriminating photographic evidence revealed in unlikely ways, the whole truth can be knownliberal values who were resistant to German occupation. But this is certainly not just of interest to Most people believed that one small family.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780722222</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Miranda Richmond Mouillot|title=A Fifty Year Silence|rating=4.5|genre=Biography|summary=The story follows the narrator’s quest to find out why her mother’s parents abruptly parted and occupation could never reconciled, or happen: even spoke another word to one another. We follow Miranda as she goes backwards and forwards between her Grandmotherthose who thought that the Germans might reach the city were convinced that they would soon be pushed back, whom she is very close that the Amsterdammers would never allow what happened toescalate in the way that it did, and her Grandfather, whom she has always found but initial protests melted away as the organisers became more circumspect. It's an atrocity on a difficult character. She is determined to get to the bottom vast scale but made up of tens of the story which takes her through terrible first hand accounts thousands of events leading up to and throughout World War Two and what Nazi occupied Europe was like for the Jewish. She is driven by the need to know what could cause two people to part so completely after going through so much together, and it’s become her academic life to find outindividual tragedies.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1922182583</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David Greene1786893452|title=Midnight in Siberia: A Train Journey into the Heart of RussiaThe Ungrateful Refugee|author=Dina Nayeri

|summary=Was Grigori RasputinHere in the West, we see news reports about immigrants on a regular basis – some media welcoming them, some scaremongering about them. But all of those stories are written by journalists – almost always western, and almost always, no matter how deep the investigative journalism they carry out, outsiders to the Siberian peasant turned mystic world and the time bomb situations that refugees find themselves in. It's rare that we find out the journeys from the refugees themselves – and this is a rare opportunity to do that, in this intelligent, powerful and moving work by Dina Nayeri -someone who almost single-handedly precipitated was born in the collapse middle of the Russian Empire a revolution in 1917Iran, fleeing to America as a genuine holy man or an evilten-minded reprobate and total disaster?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178072232X</amazonuk>year-old.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes0857058320|title=HRC: State Secrets Lord Of All the Dead|author=Javier Cercas and the Rebirth of Hillary ClintonAnne McLean (translator)

|summary=Hillary Clinton initially came to our attention as First Lady and even then she might have faded into international obscurity had it not been for the way in which she managed to hold her head high during those unfortunate incidents with Bill - well, HRC wasn't 'Lord Of All the Dead'involved'is a journey to uncover the author' but Is lost ancestor'm sure you know what Is life and death. Cercas is searching for the meaning behind his great uncle'm talking abouts death in the Spanish Civil War. Then she re-emerged through the fog of Manuel Mena, Cercas' great uncle, is the George W Bush presidency with her bid to gain figure who looms large over the Democratic nomination, losing in a hotly contested series of primaries to Barack Obama - and went book. He died relatively young whilst fighting for Francisco Franco's forces. Cercas ruminates on to become why his Secretary of Stateuncle fought for this dictator. Now The question at the question centre of this book is whether or not she will make another run it is possible for President in 2016his great uncle to be a hero whilst having fought for the wrong side.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099594692</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Laura Thompson1788037812|title=Life in a Cold ClimateThe Fraternity of the Estranged: Nancy Mitford The BiographyFight for Homosexual Rights in England, 1891-1908|author=Brian Anderson

|summary=There can have been few more extraordinary families Originally passed in British society and cultural life during the early twentieth century than the Mitfords1885, the six daughters and one son of Baron Redesdalelaw that had made homosexual relations a crime remained in place for 82 years. The only sonBut during this time, killed in action during the Second World Warrestrictions on same-sex relationships did not go unchallenged. Between 1891 and 1908, led an unexceptional life away from three books on the headlines, but four nature of his sisters more than made up for himhomosexuality appeared. DianaThey were written by two homosexual men: Edward Carpenter and John Addington Symonds, wife of as well as the notorious Sir Oswald Mosley, never renounced her admiration for Hitler or heterosexual Havelock Ellis. Exploring the Fascist movement, while Unity, who shared her beliefs, shot herself margins of society and studying homosexuality was common on the day war broke out European Continent, but lingered pathetically for another brain-damaged eight yearsbarely talked about in the UK, and so the fiercely left-wing Jessica became an active member publications of these men were hugely significant – contributing to the American Communist Party. Compared to them Nancyscientific understanding of homosexuality, and beginning the eldest struggle for recognition and the subject of this biographyequality, seems leading to have been the most balanced and least eccentric milestone legalisation of them allsame-sex relationships in 1967.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1784082295</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alan KennedyBuckland_Zoo|title=Oscar & LucyThe Man Who Ate the Zoo: Frank Buckland, forgotten hero of natural history|author=Richard Girling

|summary=With As a conservationist in Victorian England before the film about Alan Turingterm existed, Frank Buckland was very much a man ahead of his time. Surgeon, naturalist, ''The Imitation Game'' getting rave reviews veterinarian and award nominations righteccentric sums him up perfectly, left and centre, the sterling work done by the Bletchley Park cryptographers during WWII any biographer is quite high in our minds. But Enigma wasn't the only code broken and Turing wasn't the only one doing secret but heroic workimmediately presented with a colourful tale to tell. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>095646968X</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David LodgeWilliams_Captain|title=Lives in WritingCaptain Ronald Campbell of Bombala Station, Cambalong: His Military Life and Times|author=Ivor George Williams

|genre=EntertainmentBiography|summary=David Lodge Lives In March 1829 Ann Parker married Captain J A Edwards of the 17th Regiment of Foot. He was in Writing. So blares command of the cover of my editiontroops and convicts on board a ship sailing from Plymouth to Sydney, Australia: his wife and it's not far wrongyoung son accompanied him. When he's He was not entertaining us with his [[:Category:David Lodge|writing career]] (now in its third, more erudite and destined to me more serious stagelive a long life, after dying suddenly at the first third age of comic light touches34 at Bangalore, before he found leaving his metier – and fame with TV adaptations– with comedies about the social and sexual lives of academe) hewidow to raise their two young sons. Edwards's teaching about and around writing. When I death left his widow in a difficult position: not only did she have their farm to manage, but she was younger I also read around writing – literature books, in other words – and Lodge's were among those I turned toresponsible for the convicts who worked the land. So this book and its contents are a welcome step back down a very familiar roadTwo years later she would marry Captain Ronald Campbell.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099587769</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John Van der KistePeacock_mountain|title=Into The Prussian Princesses: The Sisters Mountain, A Life of Kaiser Wilhelm IINan Shepherd|author=Charlotte Peacock

|summary=Kaiser Wilhelm II Mostly we choose what books to read because there is well known so little time and not for the best of reasons and he's certainly over-shadowed his six younger siblings. John Van der Kiste's first biography was of his father, Kaiser Friedrich III and he has also written about Emperor Wilhelm II so he is well placed to write about many books… I can understand the three youngest children Kaiser Friedrich and Victoria, Princess Royal. Originally he intended to write about Friedrich's second daughterapproach, but I also think we sell ourselves short by it quickly became obvious that , and we sell the most satisfying biography myriad lesser- for reader and author - would be a biography of Victoria, Sophie and Margaret, their mother's ''kleebatt'' or trio, known authors short as they were knownwell.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B00QKROC9W</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Sarah Churchwell|title=Careless People Murder Mayhem and the Invention of the Great Gatsby|rating=5|genre=Biography|summary=In this accomplished literary biography Professor Churchwell expertly weaves together three guest lists- the Fitzgeralds and literary cast of New YorkSo while, like most other people I have my favourite genres, the sensationalist tragic murder victims and suspects of New Brunswickfavoured authors, New Jersey and the careless characters of F. Scott's novel using the Fitzgeralds' archiveswhile, newspaper clippings, literary scrapbooks,diary entries and anecdotes to link like most other people I read the stories reviews and chronicle the heedless hedonism of the 1920s. It is not only a meticulously researched tribute tracing the genesis of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s plot skeletonfollow up on what appeals, which he roughly sketched in pencil in the back of a book, entitled Man’s Hope, but it I also sparkles with sophisticated vocabulary fizzing with the effervescence of have a glass of champagne providing new treats for the reader with each inviting chapter.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1844087689</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=John Batchelor|title=Tennysonthird-string to my reading bow: To strive, to seek, to find|rating=4|genre=Biography|summary=Most readers, if they were asked to name the ultimate poet of the Victorian age, would almost surely choose Alfred, Lord Tennyson. He was Poet Laureate for over forty years of Queen Victoria’s reign, and inevitably her favourite versifierrandomness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845950763</amazonuk>