Author:Katie Derham
The ultimate celebration of the world’s favourite classical knees-up!
With a foreword from Katie Derham
Ever since Sir Henry Wood’s Proms were first broadcast in 1927, Last Night has become an annual appointment for classical music lovers and is enjoyed by millions around the world. This first and official miscellany explores the history and traditions that have developed on the last night of the world’s biggest and longest-running classical music festival. Learn about the origins of the Proms and how it first got its name. Discover the stories behind iconic Last Night songs such as ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Fantasia on British Sea Songs’, and prepare to Prom with our dos and don’ts guide for Last Night Prommers.
From flag waving and ‘Rule, Britannia’ to the most memorable conductors’ speeches, and the story of how the Proms survived the Blitz, Last Night of the Proms: An Official Miscellany, is the perfect tribute to a uniquely British institution.
King of the Universe . . . Comic genius . . . Entertainment incarnate
—— TelegraphIzzard is Wikipedia in heels. He's made his career out of hilarious, dizzying, surreal routines held up by their own daft logic . . . A force of nature
—— Radio TimesA comedy gem
—— GuardianIzzard has a knack for reducing centuries' worth of history to just a few exquisite words (the Romans were just 'fascist plumbers', for example)
—— Time OutThe funniest man in England
—— John CleeseThe funniest man in, well, pretty much all of the known universe
—— Los Angeles TimesA consistent intelligence underpins Izzard's whimsy
—— ChortleThe perfect present for music mums and dads
—— Daily MirrorFunny, enlightening, gossipy’
—— The HeraldSparks with admiration and grievances, lust and envy
—— Sunday TelegraphEngrossing
—— Mail on SundayThere have been many books about David Bowie ... but Dylan Jones's is among the best
—— ObserverThe definitive account of the great man’s life, in the words of those who knew him best … lively, funny and warm – and the story, even the well-known bits, still staggers and amazes. It’s a brilliant story, and it is tremendously well-told here
—— EsquireA magisterial compilation of startling insights
—— The OldieOne of the most colourful and intimate portraits yet painted of Bowie
—— VogueA vivid catalogue of anecdote, opinion, gossip and memoir
—— Telegraph MagazineThere is literally no better way to spend your time than by reading about the late, great, beautiful and brilliant David Bowie, brought to you by fellow superfan and GQ editor Dylan Jones
—— TatlerThis oral history is by far the best … It’s gossipy, fascinating stuff
—— The SunThe perfect accompaniment to roaring fires and languid winter evenings, this book
guarantees to see any man through the festive period
A must-have for Bowie fans
—— Daily MirrorRevelatory and surprising – perfect for the Ziggy completist
—— New York MagazineBeguiling … the fabulosity of Bowie’s life and times lends itself extraordinarily well
to the oral history form
An affectionate, sometimes surprising, always fascinating picture of a Star Man in the real world
—— STELLA magazineOf all the volumes to appear since Bowie’s death last year, this is perhaps the most useful
—— i paperA treat for enthusiasts […] it bulges with essential and telling Spinal Tappish gossip
—— GuardianAn intimate, detailed and gossip-spangled survey of the life of the great enigma
—— Strong Words magazineThere are sixty-two and a half million books written about David Bowie; this is the one that has been unanimously praised. Indeed, David Bowie: A life might be the only one that you really need.
—— Loud and Quiet MagazineYou can go to any page and read something really interesting. It’s the only book about another artist that I’ve really enjoyed.
—— Chris Difford , Daily Express