Craig Brown Bücher

John Updike verglich sie mit "der Sonne, die an einem Ostermorgen aufgeht", Bob Dylan machte sie mit Drogen bekannt. Leonard Bernstein bewunderte sie, Muhammad Ali nannte sie "kleine Weicheier", JRR Tolkien brüskierte sie, und die Rolling Stones kopierten sie. Die Beatles haben niemanden unberührt gelassen. Craig Brown erzählt das Leben der "Fab Four" mit literarischer Raffinesse, mitreißendem Schwung und unwiderstehlichem Witz. Sein Buch ist eine kunstvoll-wilde Mischung von Anekdoten, erzählenden Kapiteln und Reflexionen. Aus Partylisten, Tagebucheinträgen und Fanbriefen schlägt Craig Brown Funken, und auch skurrile Details nutzt er, um ins Herz seiner Geschichte vorzustoßen: der eigentlich zufälligen Verbindung von John, Paul, George und Ringo zur erfolgreichsten Band aller Zeiten. Es treten die verschiedensten Gestalten aus dem Orbit der Beatles mit ihren manchmal bizarren, manchmal unglücklichen Geschichten auf, von Fred Lennon und Yoko Ono bis zu dem psychedelischen Zahnarzt John Riley und dem berüchtigten Kriminalbeamten Norman Pilcher. Alle diese Geschichten funkeln für sich - zusammen erzählen sie fesselnd und bewegend von einer Band, die die Welt veränderte, vom Wahnsinn des Ruhms und von einer fieberhaften, unbändigen Zeit

Eine amüsante, charmante, nostalgische Zeitreise durch die Welt der Stars, ein Karussell der Eitelkeiten, voller komischer oder auch wehmütiger Anekdoten und haarsträubender gesellschaftlicher Katastrophen. 101 Begegnungen zwischen den Großen ihrer Zeit: Dichter, Politiker, Popstars, Schauspieler, Komponisten; gekrönte Häupter, die sich wie auf einer glanzvollen Dinnerparty sozusagen die Klinke in die Hand geben, denn nach einem ersten Zusammentreffen zweier Giganten wird einer von ihnen in einer zweiten Begegnung gezeigt, dessen Gegenüber dann wieder den nächsten Prominenten trifft, und so fort, dabei wild zwischen den Zeiten springend, bis zurück ins 19. Jahrhundert. Alles, was hier so großartig erzählt wird von dem genialen britischen Satiriker Craig Brown, ist wahr und basiert auf Memoiren, Tagebüchern und anderen Zeugnissen. Eine Auswahl der Partygäste: Rudyard Kipling, Mark Twain, Martha Graham, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, Alec Guinness, Evelyn Waugh, Igor Strawinsky, Walt Disney, Frank Lloyd Wright, Marilyn Monroe, Nikita Chruschtschow, Frank Sinatra, Leonard Cohen, Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, Allen Ginsburg, Truman Capote, Richard Nixon, Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Grigori Rasputin, Zar Nikolaus II, Harry Houdini, Theodore Roosevelt, Leo Tolstoi, Harpo Marx, J.D. Salinger, Ernest Hemingway, Marcel Proust, James Joyce, Mick Jagger, Gustav Mahler ...

WINNER OF THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE 2020 and recognized as a Book of the Year by multiple publications, this captivating biography explores the multifaceted lives of The Beatles. The legendary band, likened by John Updike to "the sun coming out on an Easter morning," influenced countless figures, from Bob Dylan, who introduced them to drugs, to the Duchess of Windsor, who adored them, and even Muhammad Ali, who dismissed them as "little sissies." The narrative delves into the unique personalities of the Fab Four—John as fire, Paul as water, George as air, and Ringo as earth—while also recounting the colorful and often bizarre stories of those around them, including Fred Lennon, Yoko Ono, and the eccentric Magic Alex. The author weaves together a rich tapestry of history, etymology, diaries, fan letters, and interviews, creating a vibrant portrait of an era defined by their music. As Queen Elizabeth II noted, the world would have missed something profound without The Beatles. This work captures the essence of their journey and the cultural impact they had on society, echoing the energetic chaos of their time.

'The most screamingly funny living writer' Barry Humphries, Mail on Sunday From the bestselling and award-winning author of Ma'am Darling and One Two Three Four, a selection of Craig Brown's finest writing collected together for the first time.

A hilarious collection of articles from the Blair era by Britain’s leading humorous satirist. The parody, whimsy and wit not only capture the essence of life under New Labour, but go far deeper into Tony’s Britain than mere political satire could.

She made John Lennon blush and Marlon Brando clam up. She cold-shouldered Princess Diana and humiliated Elizabeth Taylor. Andy Warhol photographed her. Jack Nicholson offered her cocaine. Gore Vidal revered her. John Fowles hoped to keep her as his sex-slave. Dudley Moore propositioned her. Francis Bacon heckled her. Peter Sellers was in love with her. For Pablo Picasso, she was the object of sexual fantasy. “If they knew what I had done in my dreams with your royal ladies” he confided to a friend, “they would take me to the Tower of London and chop off my head!” Princess Margaret aroused passion and indignation in equal measures. To her friends, she was witty and regal. To her enemies, she was rude and demanding. In her 1950’s heyday, she was seen as one of the most glamorous and desirable women in the world. By the time of her death, she had come to personify disappointment. One friend said he had never known an unhappier woman. The tale of Princess Margaret is pantomime as tragedy, and tragedy as pantomime. It is Cinderella in reverse: hope dashed, happiness mislaid, life mishandled. Combining interviews, parodies, dreams, parallel lives, diaries, announcements, lists, catalogues and essays, Ma’am Darling is a kaleidoscopic experiment in biography, and a witty meditation on fame and art, snobbery and deference, bohemia and high society.

The first comprehensive, single-volume account of Canada's history, this bestselling guide is a must-have reference for anyone curious about the country's fascinating past. Hundreds of engravings, lithographs, cartoons, maps, posters, and photographs complement the text, creating a sweeping chronicle of the country from its earliest times to the present day.

This biography offers a unique and humorous perspective on Queen Elizabeth II, crafted by an award-winning and bestselling author known for his wit. It promises to provide an unforgettable exploration of the Queen's life, blending insightful anecdotes with engaging storytelling. Readers can expect a captivating blend of humor and historical detail, reflecting the author's distinctive style.