Author:David Cairns
No artist's achievement connects more directly with early experience than that of Berlioz. David Cairns draws on a wealth of family papers to recreate in authentic and intimate detail the provincial milieu of Berlioz's boyhood, showing how the son of a village doctor was already transforming himself into the composer of the Fantastic Symphony. Berlioz's desperate attempts to win his father's approval for his vocation, his struggles to establish himself on the Parisian musical scene, and his passionate pursuit of love are all brought vividly to life in this first volume of David Cairn's award-winning biography.
One of the very few truly great musical biographies, which indeed matches the eloquence of Berlioz's own writing
—— Michael Berkeley , Private Passions, BBC Radio 3Magnificent ... one of the great feats of literary sympathy with an artistic genius, filled with a love, knowledge and understanding of his subject that flame up on every page
—— Max Loppert , Financial TimesThere is not a dull or redundant page in the whole book. Mr Cairns has lived, breathed and dreamt Berlioz for more than twenty years. He has visited the places Berlioz visited and read the books Berlioz read
—— Noel Malcolm , Sunday TelegraphEssential reading, not only for the ardent Berliozian but for anyone with an interest in the history of Romanticism ... unquestionably one of the most important composer biographies of our time
—— Hugh Canning , GuardianDavid Cairns has a wonderful story to tell and he tells it superbly well ...rich in detail and imbued with imaginative insights that stem from love. It is also written with an enviable blend of grace and energy
—— Peter Hayworth , ObserverExhaustively researched… If you think you know the history of CSN&Y then read this and, like me, you will be surprised at what you learn
—— Tom Povey , RNRDoggett…treasure[s] the band’s early oeuvre and writes with empathy about the group
—— Holly George-Warren , Times Literary SupplementThe Wham! star charts his treasured friendship with George Michael, from their meeting at school in 1975 to George's untimely death in 2016. The duo left a legacy of pop classics from the exuberant Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go to the evergreen Last Christmas, and Ridgeley's enthusiasm for life in a chart-topping band is as infectious as their music
—— Daily MirrorThis book is all you could want and more!
—— Magic Book ClubI couldn't put it down. Such a fantastic book
—— Chris Evans, Virgin RadioA great story
—— Saturday Live, Radio 4A lovely book. A love letter to George
—— Graham Norton, BBC1A touching and vivid nostalgia trip - with great photos
—— BestTop 50 gift picks for the book lovers in your life
—— The HeraldA fond look back at the Wham! star's life in the group that helped define Eighties pop
—— Choice MagazineWill no doubt appeal to the fanbase . . . Humorous and touching
—— Times Literary SupplementJoyful nostalgia
—— Daily ExpressAs a hard-nosed ex-detective, it was a source of much hilarity that I am such a Wham! fan but my copy of this is a prized possession
—— Peter BleksleyOne of the most interesting feminist voices in popular culture
—— The Pool
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