Biography Books > R Biography Books > S > less than 5 GBP

Advantages: Introductory essay, clear and concise, beautiful illustrations
Disadvantages: None

...the poet and historian, Robert Southey in 1813. It has been revived and edited by Richard Holmes in a series of biographical books, Flamingo Classic Biographies series, released by HarperCollins on 17th September 2001. The book retails for £7.99. I attended a talk given by Richard Holmes promoting this set of short books (The Life of Nelson is just 300 pages) whilst at the Hay Festival this year. For the Talk, Holmes focused on another biography, ...
...At the time when Southey wrote Nelson’s biography, he was the Poet Laureate. The Life of Nelson was acclaimed as his greatest prose work. Southey meticulously researched his subject to avoid making any technical mistakes. The book is beautifully illustrated with 12 glossy prints of paints including the Battles of The Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar and the Death of Nelson. The front cover is a portrait of Nelson by Hopwood. Richard Holmes embarked ... Read review

Advantages: Insightful, honest, riviting
Disadvantages: nothing - unless you are easily offended

...S Thompson's work has taken the opportunity to write a book about the man himself following his (suicidal) death in early 2006. Stedman himself has admitted this was started as a form of therapy that allowed him to make sense of the hole this crazy man left when he put a gun to his head and left us forever. Very few people are as well placed as Stedman to tell us about the man who was Thompson but Stedman not only worked with him for 35 years but ...
...trip down memory lane that the reader is invited to join. The book starts where the legend of Gonzo began, in 1970 when Stedman was assigned to illustrate an article Thompson was doing on the Kentucky Derby. From the onset the relationship appears doomed after Stedman manages to offend both family and friends of Thompson's with his lewd and unflattering portraits. However, Thompson obviously recognized a man who against all odds, got him and matched ... Read review

Advantages: Cheap, fun and easy to read
Disadvantages: I want her life

I bought this book on a spur of the moment shopping trip, basically because I was interested to see how Coleen went from being a schoolgirl to a WAG in such a short space of time. I was amazed to read her story and see how down to earth she really was, even after being catapulted at amazing speed into the limelight. She was even thoughtful enough to come back to her book and update it with her wedding plans for the release of the paperback edition. ...
...quick life update, within which she includes girly pages with tips on make-up, fashion, nights out and quizzes, making it so much more like a diary. It is really easy to read and highly enjoyable to learn how down to earth she is and how she enjoys nothing more than snuggling on her sofa watching the soaps just like the rest of us. ... Read review

Advantages: Shows a reverse perspective.
Disadvantages: Heartbreaking at times.

...six, makes this sometimes a little difficult to read and comprehend. ( I have a six year old daughter and the idea of her seeing the atrocities that the author did is heartbreaking to me). Amongst all the fear, desperation, hunger and complete and utter exhaustion is the story of the true hero's of this book……. The people. The true humanitarian feeling you get throughout the entire book is astounding, the people who have nothing and nowhere to ...
...a stranger, the people who fear for their homes due to the "invasion" of the English and like, who at a moments notice, will have someone "billeted" to them, ( this is what they called the refugees, after they were allocated a bed or home in the village they happen to come across) and show the refugees unforgettable kindness by providing a warm bed for the night and a delicious meal to boot. This book is full of sadness, and the stories of the complete ... Read review

Advantages: Full account of life, family disputes, munich tragedy and world cup win.
Disadvantages: I paid high price - you wont.

I am not a Manchester United fan, I am a spurs fan and a passionate lover of football. I bought this book because I had a vague interest in his life and wanted to know more about the lives of one of the 1966 world cup winners. Sir Bobby charlton goes in depth into his accounts of the tragedy of Munich, recounts his memories of the Busby Babes, and through his book manages to actually take you through a timeline of British and European football from ...
...Newcaslte at a young age, his early football career, the heights of manchester United and the loss of a team in Munich. He recounts his stories of some of the greatest footballers e.g. Denis Law, George Best and Stanley Matthews, above all teaches us more about the lives of Duncan Edwards and other great footballers lost in Germany. He explains his sibling relationship with his brother Jack and the family problems he encountered in his life. Sir ... Read review