North Face Of Soho Signed Edition

From Fleet Street to the television, North Face of Soho is the fascinating and hilarious fourth volume of memoir from much-loved author, poet and broadcaster Clive James. '[James] delivers his gags with honed elegance' – Sunday Times It is 1968. Newly married, dressed in the style of the times ('a frenzy of bad judgement'), Clive James is leaving the cloistered world of Cambridge academia and setting his sights once again on the lights of literary London. Luckily for him and us, this crack at the big city would go rather better than last time. Still writing songs, directing sketch shows and trying to break into the movie business, with very mixed success, Clive eventually lands a weekly TV column at the Observer, finds his metier and rapidly becomes a household name. Credited with inventing a genre, Clive turns his attention to the previously critically disregarded medium of television to comment on the entire culture. Through the Seventies and early Eighties, from Fleet Street to Hollywood, from Russian department stores to Paris fashion shows, this is the hilarious, entertaining and honest story of a life lived to the full. North Face of Soho is the fourth book of memoir from Clive James. Continue his story with The Blaze of Obscurity.

“A truthful and learned treasury of musings on the miracle drug.”—Beryl Bainbridge

‘If you are vacillating over whether a couple of bottles of pinot blanc might, in the short run, prove more fun than a poetry book, then just flick to the first page and the title poem of this volume. James writes with exquisite perception and surgical precision; he is a poet of powerful argument and emotional force’ – The Times. The reputation of Clive James as a poet was slow to form, perhaps because he was too famous as a star journalist and television entertainer. There was also the drawback that his poetry was so entertaining it was hard for many critics to take seriously. But after the notoriety achieved by a single self-satirizing poem, The Book of My Enemy Has Been Remaindered, one of the most anthologized poems of recent times, James’s poetic output became impossible to ignore, and his 1985 collection Other Passports was greeted with praise for its thematic scope and technical accomplishment, even by critics who still doubted his seriousness. Since then, James emerged unarguably as one of the most prominent poets of his generation – and The Book of My Enemy (which includes Other Passports) shows why. His other poetry collections include Collected Poems, Angels Over Elsinore and Sentenced to Life.

Defenders Of The Faith is what heavy metal fans have been waiting for. This epic biography of Judas Priest includes over 50 interviews with prominent musicians, producers, record company personnel, journalists, childhood friends and ex-band members. From their deprived beginnings in late-sixties West Bromwich, through the numerous line-up changes of the 1970s to the controversial sell-out US tours in the 1980s, here is the complete history of the band up to and beyond their meltdown in the 1990s. The story continues with their re-invention in 1996 after the defection of Rob Halford... and Halford's eventual return to the fold in 2003. Defenders Of The Faith is also about the music. From the band's earliest demos to their contentious contract with Gull Records and breakthrough success with CBS, every album and tour is examined and assessed in detail. The result is the fullest and most authentic portrait of Judas Priest there has ever been!

Dante's immortal vision of Hell shines "as it never did before in English verse" (Edward Mendelson) in Clive James's new translation of Inferno. The most captivating part of perhaps the greatest epic poem ever written, Dante's Inferno still holds the power to thrill and inspire. The medieval equivalent of a thriller, Inferno follows Dante and his faithful guide, Virgil, as they traverse the complex geography of Hell, confronting its many threats, macabre punishments, and historical figures, before reaching the deep chamber where Satan himself resides. Now, in this new translation, Clive James communicates not just the transcendent poetry of Dante's language but also the excitement and terror of his journey through the underworld. Instead of Dante's original terza rima, a form which in English tends to show the strain of composition, James employs fluently linked quatrains, thereby conveying the seamless flow of Dante's poetry and the headlong momentum of the action. As James writes in his introduction, Dante’s great poem "can still astonish us, whether we believe in the supernatural or not. At the very least it will make us believe in poetry."

The Complete Unreliable Memoirs features all five volumes of Clive James's memoirs in one ebook omnibus. Including Unreliable Memoirs, Falling Towards England, May Week was in June, North Face of Soho and The Blaze of Obscurity. Unreliable Memoirs: In the first instalment of Clive James’s memoirs, we meet the young Clive, dressed in short trousers, and wrestling with the demands of school, various relatives and the occasional snake, in the suburbs of post-war Sydney. His adventures are hilarious, his recounting of them even more so, in this – the book that started it all . . . Falling Towards England: When we last met our hero in Unreliable Memoirs, he had set sail from Sydney Harbour bound for London, fame and fortune. Having arrived, he finds fame and fortune initially difficult to achieve. May Week was in June: In ‘Unreliable Memoirs III’, Clive details his time at Cambridge, including film reviewing, writing poetry, falling in love (often), and marrying (once) during May Week – which was not only in June but also two weeks long . . . North Face of Soho: Taking us from Fleet Street to Clive James on TV, from Russian department stores to Paris fashion shows — via fatherhood, some killer bees, and a satire starring Anne Robinson as Mrs Thatcher — North Face of Soho is the larger-than-life story of a life lived to the full. The Blaze of Obscurity: Perhaps his most brilliant book yet, The Blaze of Obscurity tells the inside story of his years in television, it shows Clive James on top form – both then and now.

The Big Book of Christmas Tales is an ambitious anthology that encapsulates the spirit of Christmas through a dazzling array of literary styles. From the haunting prose of Dostoevsky to the playful narratives of Beatrix Potter, this collection spans a vast landscape of literary traditions and periods, offering insights into the human condition and the universal significance of the holiday season. The anthology stands out for its inclusion of pieces that range from the deeply philosophical to the whimsically heartwarming, reflecting the multifaceted nature of Christmas itself. Notable are the contributions that explore themes of redemption, compassion, and familial bonds, weaving a rich tapestry of cultural and emotional resonance that transcends geographic and temporal boundaries. The diversity of the collection is its greatest strength, inviting readers to experience the holiday through a multitude of voices and contexts. The Big Book of Christmas Tales is enriched by the varied backgrounds of its contributing authors—Nobel laureates, pioneering women writers, and literary giants among them. Together, they represent a wide array of cultural, historical, and literary movements, from Victorian England's social critiques to the introspective American short story tradition. This amalgamation of voices not only deepens the anthology's thematic complexity but also highlights the shared human experiences underlying the festive season's celebrations worldwide. By integrating such a broad spectrum of perspectives and literary styles, the collection offers a unique lens through which to explore the essence of Christmas and its impact on individuals and societies over centuries. This anthology is recommended to anyone seeking to immerse themselves in the rich literary heritage that Christmas has inspired over the ages. The Big Book of Christmas Tales presents a unique opportunity to explore an extensive range of narratives that illuminate the joy, sorrow, humor, and profundity of the Christmas season. Readers eager to enrich their understanding of global literary traditions will find this collection an invaluable addition to their shelves, inviting a reflective engagement with the stories that shape our perception of one of the most beloved times of the year.

Within the pages of 'The Santa's Big Book of Christmas Tales: 500+ Novels, Stories, Poems, Carols & Legends' lies a treasure trove of carefully curated works, each contributing to the rich tapestry of Christmas literature across the ages. This anthology boasts an impressive array of literary styles, from the gilded narratives of Charles Dickens to the poignant verses of William Wordsworth, enveloping readers in the diverse and multifaceted celebrations of Christmas. Noteworthy for its inclusivity and breadth, the collection showcases a vast spectrum of emotional and thematic variations on the Yuletide spirit, making it a quintessential compendium for the holiday season. The collection stands out for its embracement of both the legendary, as seen in the fantastical tales of George Macdonald, and the intimately personal, as reflected in Emily Dickinson's delicately wrought poetry, offering a panoramic view of Christmas through the literary lens. The assembled authors, a veritable who's who of literary giants spanning centuries, bring together a harmonious blend of voices that reflect their respective eras, cultural backgrounds, and personal philosophies. From the romantic optimism of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to the critical social narratives of Charles Dickens, the anthology bridges the gap between past and present, making timeless themes of hope, generosity, and reflection accessible to a contemporary audience. The diversity of literary movements represented—from Romanticism to Realism and beyond—enriches the collection, providing a layered and nuanced exploration of Christmas traditions and their evolution. By delving into 'The Santa's Big Book of Christmas Tales,' readers are afforded an unparalleled opportunity to explore the depth and breadth of Christmas literature. The collection not only serves as a testament to the enduring allure of holiday storytelling but also as an educational journey through the landscapes of literary history. It is an essential addition to the libraries of scholars and enthusiasts alike, inviting a deepened appreciation for the artistic and cultural dimensions of the holiday season. Offering more than just entertainment, this anthology stimulates a dialogue between the classic and the contemporary, the solemn and the celebratory, encouraging readers to revisit and rediscover the enchantment of Christmas through the ages.