#biography
#biography

Hardy Women by Paula Byrne review where love and fiction collide

Thomas Hardy burned his personal documents and wrote his own biography in the third person to maintain control of his narrative.

This book delves into the personal and complex lives of working-class Victorian women who were central to Hardy's work. [ more ]

The New York Review of Books

The Dress Form | Kathryn Hughes

Histories of clothing and fashion can provide unique insights into the lives and experiences of historical figures like Jane Austen.

The enduring fascination with Jane Austen and her novels can be attributed to the relatability and timelessness of her characters and themes. [ more ]

www.berkeleyside.org

4 months ago

Charmian London, literary adventurer, galloped through the Berkeley Hills in 1890s

Charmian Kittredge London was a trailblazing author, feminist, and advocate of socialism and free love, and was also Jack London's second wife and collaborator.

Charmian played a significant role in Jack London's writing, helping to write the women's parts in his books and even co-authoring some of his works. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Tim Hilton obituary

Tim Hilton, renowned biographer of John Ruskin, has passed away at the age of 82.

Hilton's biography of John Ruskin is considered a masterpiece, with the first volume published in 1985 and the second in 2000. [ more ]

www.npr.org

12 books that NPR critics and staff were excited to share with you in 2023

CM attempts to write a biography of her enigmatic artist wife, X, in an alternate-universe United States.

Abraham Verghese's The Covenant of Water is an epic family drama set in South India. [ more ]

The Art Newspaper - International art news and events

Design

The top art books of 2023-chosen by The Art Newspaper's book team

The importance of travel for artist Betye Saar is explored in a full-color volume.

A beautiful catalogue on sculptor Canova combines scholarship, analysis, photography, and design.

The book series Illuminating Women Artists sheds light on forgotten careers, such as 17th-century painter Elisabetta Sirani. [ more ]

moreart

The Nation

Keith Haring and the Downtown Art Revolution

Understanding the impact of AIDS on artists' lives and creations. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

The Quality of Love by Ariane Bankes review delicious portrait of the Paget twins

The biography of twin sisters Celia and Mamaine Paget focuses on their intriguing private lives and relationships rather than just their external accomplishments. [ more ]

Document Journal

The sincere glamor of Candy Darling

Candy Darling's talent and divahood is reconsidered, depicting her as a superstar and career woman who faced endless disappointments. [ more ]

The Art Newspaper - International art news and events

3 weeks ago

The Nazi collaborator who sheltered nearly 300 Van Gogh works during the war: Sam van Deventer's story is now told

The biography reveals the director of the KrÃ¶ller-MÃ¼ller Museum's collaboration with the Nazis during WWII. [ more ]

Dodger Blue

LA Dodgers

'The Last Of His Kind' Book About Clayton Kershaw Out Now

Clayton Kershaw's biography delves into his career achievements and struggles, showcasing his dominance in MLB history. [ more ]

Dodger Blue

LA Dodgers

'The Last Of His Kind' Book About Clayton Kershaw Coming Out May 7

Clayton Kershaw's biography by Andy McCullough delves into his career highlights and challenges. [ more ]

www.cbc.ca

3 weeks ago

Europe politics

The Incredible Life of Ben Johnson: World's Fastest Man* | CBC Sports

Ben Johnson's incredible sense of time and downfall from Olympic champion are vividly portrayed in Mary Ormsby's book. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Major League Baseball

Pete Rose Cooperated With the Author of This Book Until He Didn't

Pete Rose's complex and controversial character is explored in Keith O'Brien's book, showing a self-centered individual with a history of deceit and questionable moral decisions.

The book delves into the life of Pete Rose through a mix of fan perspective, investigative journalism, and historical context, painting a detailed picture of his rise and fall in baseball. [ more ]

San Francisco Bay Times

SF LGBT

Lit Snax: 4.4.24 - San Francisco Bay Times

1. Judith Butler's accessible book addresses the targeting of gender freedom.

2. 'Idlewild' by James Frankie Thomas explores queer coming-of-age in the aftermath of 9/11. [ more ]

AnOther

The Story of Candy Darling, a Trans Icon and Warhol Superstar

Candy Darling was a trans pioneer and glamorous figure in the 1970s.

Author Cynthia Carr aims to honor the trans community through her biography of Candy Darling. [ more ]

The New Yorker

Briefly Noted Book Reviews

Martha Graham transformed American dance with philosophical rigor and innovative works.

Lauren Markham examines belonging and migration injustices through a Greek island's refugee camp fire incident. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Trailblazer: The First Feminist to Change Our World by Jane Robinson; A Dirty, Filthy Book by Michael Meyer review

Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon was a significant figure in Victorian literary circles and a co-founder of Girton College, Cambridge.

Her biography seeks to put her center stage and highlight her connections with prominent figures like Queen Victoria and Emmeline Pankhurst. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Trailblazer: The First Feminist to Change Our World by Jane Robinson; A Dirty, Filthy Book by Michael Meyer review

Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon was a prominent figure in Victorian literary circles.

Her biography seeks to bring her out of obscurity and highlight her connections to influential individuals. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Hardy Women by Paula Byrne review where love and fiction collide

Thomas Hardy burned his personal documents due to paranoia from a critical biography.

Hardy wrote his own life story in the third person to control the narrative. [ more ]

The New York Review of Books

The Dress Form | Kathryn Hughes

Hilary Davidson's book, Jane Austen's Wardrobe, provides a detailed look into the fashion of the Regency era and the significance of clothing in Austen's life.

Kathryn Hughes, a historian and biographer, discusses the enduring fascination with Jane Austen and the popularity of her novels. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

2 months ago

Photography

Two Lives Intertwined, on Both Sides of the Camera

Franny and Fuffy McLaughlin, twin fashion photographers, had intertwined lives and careers from childhood to their photography success.

The twins shared a close bond, graduating at the top of their class, attending Pratt Institute, and even sharing a boyfriend, photographer Jimmy Abbe. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

2 months ago

UK news

Keir Starmer: Key revelations from the new biography by Tom Baldwin

Keir Starmer's hard-work mentality and dedication from university days

His perseverance in fighting against antisemitism within the Labour Party during Jeremy Corbyn's leadership [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

2 months ago

UK news

Keir Starmer talks movingly of his father's death in new biography

Keir Starmer reflects on his father's pride and love despite their distant relationship.

Starmer regrets not expressing his feelings before his father's death. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

4 months ago

What we're reading: writers and readers on the books they enjoyed in December

Roger Lewis's biography of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, titled Erotic Vagrancy, delves into the gossipy and extravagant lives of the Hollywood stars.

Shirley Collins's book, America Over the Water, recounts her journey collecting music in the American rural south in 1959 and highlights the inequality and racism she witnessed during that time. [ more ]

KQED

The Best Books of 2023, According to NPR Staffers | KQED

NPR's annual year-end books guide, 'Books We Love', highlights popular titles among staff and critics

Biography of X by Catherine Lacey is a metafictional exploration of a spouse's attempt to write a biography of their enigmatic artist wife [ more ]

Oregon ArtsWatch | Oregon Arts & Culture News

OSU professor Tracy Daugherty's new book traces life of legendary Western author Larry McMurtry

Larry McMurtry was a prolific author, writing over 50 books of fiction and nonfiction in a 60-year career.

Tracy Daugherty's biography provides a captivating account of McMurtry's achievements and a probing description of his personality. [ more ]

Pitchfork

Arthur Russell Book Travels Over Feeling Announced

A new book about Arthur Russell, titled Travels Over Feeling: Arthur Russell, a Life, will be released in April 2024.

The book will feature handwritten scores, lyrics, photos, letters, and drawings from Russell's archives, along with new biographical text by Richard King and interviews with Russell's peers, family, and friends.

The book will be launched at the Barbican in London on May 25 with a performance by Lucinda Chua and the Speakers Corner Quartet. [ more ]

PublishersWeekly.com