Rake At The Gates Of Hell

Rake at the Gates of Hell: Shane MacGowan in Context is a mix of Irish history and culture, biography, and music criticism. It explores Shane MacGowan "s art by juxtaposing details of his life with those elements of Irish culture and history that inform the themes in his work. The book presents MacGowan "s life chronologically, supplementing information on Irish history and culture at those points where it can best illuminate MacGowan "s story. His career with the Nips, the Pogues, and the Popes is covered extensively. The book includes critical assessments of significant live performances and all studio recordings made with each of these three bands. MacGowan "s life story is told warts and all. His hedonistic lifestyle and history of substance abuse is reported in a way that neither sensationalizes nor minimizes the facts. The text is enlivened by extensive quotations, primarily from MacGowan himself, which were either taken from conversations with the author or culled from published interviews. The book explores several themes prominent in MacGowan "s work. Foremost among these are Irish Republicanism, the Irish Republican Army, Irish emigration, and various factors that contribute to Irish emigration. While the discussion of these topics is not exhaustive, it is detailed enough to enhance appreciation of Shane MacGowan "s art. Moreover, Rake at the Gates of Hell: Shane MacGowan in Context is the only book yet written that chronicles MacGowan "s remarkable comeback with the Pogues, the band that fired him nearly two decades ago.

In a grimy London torn by racism and despair, John Constantine's battles with guilt lead him to help an ex-girlfriend, now hooked on heroin and forced into prostitution. Constantine finds himself facing the wrath, not only of the girl's pimp, but also of Satan, who intends to have his revenge.

October 1982: ABC, Culture Club, Shalamar and Survivor dominate the top twenty when the Pogues barrel out from the backstreets of King's Cross, a furious, pioneering mix of punk energy, traditional melodies and the powerfully poetic songwriting of Shane MacGowan. Reviled by traditionalists for their frequently fast, often riotous interpretations of Irish folk songs, the Pogues rose from the sweaty chaos of backroom gigs in Camden pubs to world tours with the likes of Elvis Costello, U2 and Bob Dylan, and had huge commercial success with everyone's favourite Christmas song, 'Fairytale of New York'. Yet, the exuberance of their live performances coupled with relentless touring spiralled into years of hard drinking and excess which eventually took their toll - most famously on Shane, but also on the rest of the band - causing them to part ways seven years later. Here, their story is told with beauty, lyricism and great candour by James Fearnley, founding member and accordion player. He brings to life the youthful friendships, the bust-ups, the amazing gigs, the terrible gigs, the fantastic highs and the dramatic lows in a hugely compelling, humorous, moving and honest account of life in one of our most treasured and original bands.

Waking up in a stranger's bed, Henrietta Markham encounters the most darkly sensual man she has ever met. The last thing she remembers is being attacked by a housebreaker--yet being rescued by the notorious Earl of Pentland feels much more dangerous Since the cataclysmic failure of his marriage, ice has flowed in Rafe St. Alban's veins. But meeting impetuous, all-too-distracting governess Henrietta heats his blood to the boiling point. When she's accused of theft, Rafe finds himself offering to clear her name. Can Henrietta's innocence bring this hardened rake to his knees?

A thrilling, harrowing novel of war, intrigue and dark, uncontrollable magic, Toll the Hounds is the new chapter in Erikson's monumental series - epic fantasy at its most imaginative and storytelling at its most exciting. In Darujhistan, the city of blue fire, it is said that love and death shall arrive dancing. It is summer and the heat is oppressive, but for the small round man in the faded red waistcoat, discomfiture is not just because of the sun. All is not well. Dire portents plague his nights and haunt the city streets like fiends of shadow. Assassins skulk in alleyways, but the quarry has turned and the hunters become the hunted. Hidden hands pluck the strings of tyranny like a fell chorus. While the bards sing their tragic tales, somewhere in the distance can be heard the baying of Hounds...And in the distant city of Black Coral, where rules Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness, ancient crimes awaken, intent on revenge. It seems Love and Death are indeed about to arrive...hand in hand, dancing. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

"But as A Drink with Shane MacGowan shows, the inspiration for his artistry and beliefs is as varied as his range of mind - embracing Ireland, religion, his family, esoteric philosophy and history."--Jacket.

Features the wrenching finale of Paul JenkinsÕs never-before-collected run on the title, as well as Garth Ennis and John HigginsÕs brutal five-issue coda, ÒSon of Man.Ó For a man as cynical and jaded as John Constantine, thereÕs only one kind of torment for which he is unprepared: contentment. But the fact is (even though he recently cut off a piece of his soul and marooned it in Hell to suffer for his sins), things are actually going pretty well. HeÕs got a new girlfriend that he hasnÕt yet killed or damned or driven insane; his surviving friends and family are, by all accounts, still alive and healthy; and his enemies, for the most part, are either dead or trapped in some form of eternal torment. Not a bad score, overall. Naturally, this means that itÕs time for everything to go up in flames. Because when youÕre as prolific at making enemies as John Constantine is, thereÕs always going to be a few that you donÕt know about, as well as one or two heavyweights who can afford to bide their time. When the two meet, itÕs best to get as far away as possibleÑthe collateral damage alone promises to be as deadly as it is indiscriminate. Collects HELLBLAZER #121-133.

Soon to be stepping from the shadows into his own live action movie (starring Keanu Reeves) comes a classic comics character: John Constantine, the enigmatic chain-smoking mystic! Rare Cuts assembles six spellbinding stories that have never before been collected, including the horrifying events of Newcastle, 1978, that ended with Constantine confined to an asylum and, amongst others, a tale of Constantine's rough-and-tumble childhood and the beginnings of his unique skills. Created by some of the most popular and critically-acclaimed writers and artists in comics. Also includes a Constantine timeline and a map of Constantine's London.