Selvbiografier

The King of Horror is the perfect comprehensive guide for young adults to the best-selling author considered to be the master of the horror genre. With a combination of photos, documents, and stories, this is not only a deep dive into the life of Stephen King, it’s also an examination of the influences and inspirations behind his brilliant body of work.

Denis Bradley was born and raised in Buncrana, just 12 miles from the border with Northern Ireland. On joining the priesthood he found himself assigned to the cathedral parish in Derry city, arriving in the summer of 1970 as the streets were descending into chaos with the outbreak of the Troubles. An eyewitness to the wanton violence of Bloody Sunday, Bradley was spurred to become involved in the ' backchannel' as one of three men who would provide a secret link between the IRA and the British government for thirty years. Fervent in their belief that dialogue would bring peace, they brokered the crucial 1993 meeting between IRA men Martin McGuinness and Gerry Kelly and a British Intelligence agent codenamed ' Fred' . This was a vital step on the road to negotiations which would lead to the ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement. Throughout it all, Bradley worked to combat addiction and homelessness in his adopted community, and made the difficult decision to leave the priesthood to marry. Once played out in the shadows, Bradley's pivotal role in Northern Ireland's peace process is finally illuminated in this engrossing memoir.

Essays that blend nature writing with memoir. On a wild and windswept stretch of the Durham coastline, there's treasure to be found: jewels of shining sea glass, swept in by the tide after years at sea. Gathered and displayed in a jar on the windowsill to sparkle in the light, each sea-worn glass pebble represents a moment in time, a breadcrumb trail of unknowable people and places. In Seaglass, Kathryn Tann brings together moments like these from her own life, portraying with powerful observation and moving honesty the journey of a young woman navigating modern adulthood. Each essay is rooted in a physical space, from Manchester to the South Wales coastline and out to the Thousand Islands in Canada's Saint Lawrence River. Traversing wilderness, natural history, travel, and water, Seaglass explores shared experiences, anxieties, connection, body confidence, and contentment.

In 25 witty and vibrant biographical essays, Firebrands introduces us to a selection of unjustly underrated women writers about whom every discerning reader should know.

Top Man is Geoff Twentyman's life story, the tale of a man who brought together the blue and red halves of Bristol together through the medium of football and sport. A Rovers hero through the 1980s, Geoff then carved a second career with the BBC. Whether on the pitch or the airwaves Geoff has been delighting fans for forty years.

For a special decade, from 1965 (when the author was 15 years old) to ten years later in 1975, David Chudwin was at the centre of many events which have shaped American life, culture and history. Like the fictional character Forrest Gump, he happened to be in the right place and time to experience first-hand great events and changes that have had a profound impact on society. From attending the Beatles concert in Chicago in 1965 to being tear-gassed during Vietnam War protests; from reporting on site the first Moon launch in 1969 to experiencing revolutionary changes in technology thereafter; from growing up in segregated Chicago to observing liberation movements for women, African-Americans and gay Americans-these were the times the author attended high school, college and medical school in 1965-75. In this book, he synthesizes by topic his memories of the time with brief histories of the events and their backgrounds, making this a unique personal memoir of a life-changing decade for many people in America

Narrow escapes from bouts with The Potato were just the beginningHaving had a number of odd brushes with death, Author Chester (Chet) L. Richards has always boldly gone where few have dared. His mantra: view all that comes your way - the good, the terrifying, and the ugly - as a series of adventures. Here are a few snippets his book, From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond: Memoirs of a Rocket Scientist: "It took much practice, and many accidents, before I got the hang of it. Even then, The Potato, in its death throes, did not always behave as a Proper Sacrifice should and blazing hot molten lead would explode out from the bubbling caldron." From The Potato"He swung his rifle around and pointed it towards my belly, his finger nervous on the trigger. I froze." From Land of Troubles"One day, Judy and I were taken for a walk. We wandered around for a bit, climbed a narrow flight of stairs and were ushered into the Sanctum Sanctorum. There, waiting for us, was Gene Roddenberry." From Star Trek"My last vision of the raft, before I was driven to the black bottom of the silty river, was of Terry, half overboard, his outside leg caught between a maverick oar and the side of the boat." From Lava Falls"'Three...two...one...fire!"...Hisssss...Pop! 'Uh, oh!' said the technician as the meters all swung to zero and red lights lit up down the length of the long control panel. My signals also had disappeared...'We just blew up the [rocket engine] test stand.'" From Rocket ScienceThe loss of the love of his life, Sarah, knocked the stuffing out of Chet initially. But writing these, the stories she loved, brought him back. May reading them bring you the zest for life the author regained from recalling them.

'One of the most original and audacious autobiographies ever written by a writer.' Le Monde Hand to Mouth tells the story of the young Paul Auster's struggle to stay afloat. By turns poignant and comic, Auster's memoir is essentially a book about money - and what it means not to have it. From one odd job to the next, from one failed scheme to another, Auster investigates his own stubborn compulsion to make art and, in the process, treats us to a series of remarkable adventures and unforgettable encounters. The book ends with three of the longest footnotes in literary history: a card game, a thriller about baseball, and three short plays. Hand to Mouth is essential reading for anyone interested in Paul Auster, in the figure of the struggling artist, in the nature of poverty, or in baseball.

A riotously funny memoir with lots of heart (and just the right amount of bitterness!), Helen Lederer pulls no punches, but every blow is wrapped in a laugh of recognition. Brilliantly written, revealing, and moving, Not That I'm Bitter is sweet, sour, laugh-out-loud, and addictive.

The Silenced Muse is the first full-length biography of Emily Hale, the longtime secret love of celebrated poet T. S. Eliot. This compelling story of the amateur actress and university professor finally tells Hale's side of the relationship, drawing on the 1,131 letters that Eliot sent Hale that were only recently made available to the public.

For 35 years, Edwin Barlow taught mathematics at his beloved Horace Greeley High School in Upstate New York. For 35 years, thousands of students passed through his classroom. Yet when he died, he remained as much an enigma as the day he arrived, for he deliberately shrouded his life in rumor and mystery.

Wednesday's Child, the autobiography of a retired Cardiologist, spans seven decades and is written in three parts: Youth, Manhood, and Old Age. It is an intimate vignette of incidents, personal and medical anecdotes, facts, and opinions.

In this 1902 work, teacher, historian and archivist James Bonwick (1817-1906) recalls a long life's contribution to the fields of education and historical writing. More than sixty publications can be attributed to Bonwick, who was elected a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in 1865. He traces his life from boyhood to the many years he spent in Australia, establishing, managing and inspecting schools. Bonwick stressed the need for observation and experimentation by the pupil rather than rote learning. He was also involved in the temperance movement, and was a sympathetic champion of the near-extinct Tasmanian aborigines. Upon returning to England in the early 1880s, Bonwick immersed himself in transcribing Australian source material, archived in London, that chronicled the British settlement in Australia. Many of his transcripts were subsequently used as the basis of works on the early history of Australia both by Bonwick himself and by others.

Lorenzo Sabine (1803-77) worked as a trader, in customs and for the Treasury Department before he was elected to the United States Congress in 1852. This work, published in 1847, is a series of biographical sketches (some very short, others extensive) of the American Loyalists - those men and women who took the British side during the American Revolution. The alphabetically arranged biographies are preceded by an essay in which Sabine describes the background to the War of Independence, examining geographical and economic as well as political factors. He argues that the documentary evidence from the period demonstrates that the arguments in favour of independence at the time were practical, and not simply the ideologically driven desire for 'liberty' which the founding myth of the United States had since proclaimed. The work is a fascinating reminder that large numbers of Americans stayed loyal to the Crown in 1776.

Henry Duff Traill (1842-1900) was a prolific journalist, satirist and author. The son of a magistrate, he was called to the Bar in 1869 but began working as a journalist at the Yorkshire Post soon afterwards. He contributed to several newspapers, acting as chief political leader writer at The Daily Telegraph from 1882 to 1897 and editing The Observer for two years. He later became the editor of Literature, holding this post until his death. Among his diverse published works were six biographies, of which the most in-depth was that of Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin. Published in 1896 and drawing on personal documents provided by the Franklin family, it provides a picture of Franklin's character and personal life, alongside a detailed account of his career. Written fifty years after Franklin's presumed death, this work also covers the aftermath of his final ill-fated voyage in search of a north-west passage.

A behind-the-scenes account from Muddy Waters's road manager and right-hand man during the bluesman's last great years

An illuminating record of fifty years as a pilot on the mighty Mississippi River

A study of the life and teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This volume is the precursor to Srila Prabhupada's translation of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta.

Celebrating the centenary of the birth of James Baldwin with this wide-ranging volume of short essays, reflections and poetry. This moving collection demonstrates the significant legacy of the writer and activist who spoke truth to power during the era of the fight for Black civil liberties in the US, and after.

Einojuhani Rautavaara, one of the most prolific composers of modern times, has been called Finland's most notable musical export after Sibelius. This biography discusses his life and works, showing his various style changes throughout his lifetime; it includes detailed information of stylistic analysis, libretto, provenance, and, often, reception.

"George Lucas is an innovative and talented director, producer, screenwriter, and filmmaker whose prolific career spans decades. While he is best known as the creative mind behind the Star Wars franchise, Lucas first gained notoriety with his 1973 film American Graffiti, which received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture. When Star Wars (1977) was released, the groundbreaking motion picture won six Academy Awards, became the highest grossing film at the time, and started a cultural revolution that continues to inspire generations of fans. Three decades and countless successes later, Lucas announced semiretirement in 2012 and sold his highly successful production company, Lucasfilm, to Disney. His achievements have earned him the Academy's Irving G. Thalberg Award, the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame and the California Hall of Fame, and a National Medal of Arts presented by President Barack Obama. Lucas: His Hollywood Legacy is the first collection to bring a sustained scholarly perspective to the iconic filmmaker and his legacy beyond the Star Wars films. Edited by Richard Ravalli, this volume analyzes Lucas's overall contribution and importance to the film industry, diving deep into his use and development of modern special effects technologies, the history of his Skywalker Ranch production facilities, and more. With clearly written and enlightening critiques by experts consulting rare collections and archival materials, this book is an original and robust project that sets the standard for historical and cultural studies of Lucas"--

A fascinating historical memoir from a Royal Air Force pilot detailing his personal experiences serving in the RAF during World War II and beyond, up until the early 1970s. A beautifully produced, full-colour coffee-table-sized volume, the book will be richly illustrated with numerous photographs, paintings, diagrams, maps and logbook entries ‿creating an incredible visual compendium. A tribute to a whole generation, part of the proceeds of the book will be donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund.