Biography Books > 10 GBP to 14 GBP Biography Books

Advantages: Will last you a long time! Entertaining, humourous, and poignant.
Disadvantages: Not a quick read.

...of Bennett's life. Sections include: Untold Stories; Written on the Body; Seeing Stars; Diaries 1996-2004; Theatre & Plays; Radio & TV; Art, Architecture and Authors; and Ups & Downs. Another useful feature of the book is an index - many keywords which feature throughout the book are noted with page references for easy referral. People, places, and motifs are included. Alan Bennett - Untold Stories ISBN: 0-571-22831-3 Faber and Faber; Profile ... Read review

Advantages: Amazingly rich in detail, easily accessible
Disadvantages: Ever so slightly Henry dominated

...has to be one of the best biographies I've ever read on Henry VIII's wives. Antonia Fraser takes them out of their conventional stereotypes and re-creates them for a new generation of readers as individual women in their own right. The language is easily accessible to all who care to pick up the book and read it, and is rich is descriptions of the times in which these women lived. The book explores the women's personalities, as well as their relationship ... Read review

Advantages: Informs without dictating
Disadvantages: Difficult to read (emotionally)

...would be her final takeoff. Finding Amelia aims to separate the facts from the mountains of fiction and piece together Amelia's final days as far as we can ascertain. Part of the fascination with Amelia Earhart is due to her status as a feminist icon, despite not being an unusually talented pilot. As Gillespie says: "Earhart's piloting skills were average at best, but good looks, good luck, genuine courage, a talent for writing... made her one of ...
...a challenge to others." Finding Amelia can be difficult reading at times, not least because of the amount of misinformation and lack of communication involved. That's the real tragedy: that if the numerous mistakes hadn't been made, there is a good chance that the rescue mission would have been successful. Amelia was blamed for all kinds of things that weren't her fault, such as rejecting a suggestion that she use lower radio frequencies - a suggestion ... Read review

Advantages: Honest, compelling and good natured.
Disadvantages: Very sad in places.

I decided to read this book because i was curious to see what a 23 year old could possibly have to say about her life that fills a whole book. It cannot be denied that Billie Piper has done more in her time than most of her age, but it was not until i read this book that i understood just how much. I am not old enough to remember her as a popstar, infact the first i knew of her was in doctor who, but this book offers an incredibly honest and compelling ...
...with Billie, and the book made me laugh and cry in places. This book tells the story of an ordinary girl who was thrown in at the deep end and struggled to resurface for a long time. It is incredibly moving and i now understand why so many young celebrities end up in rehab. The book also contains a lot of pictures which enhance the experience, and just go to show that as long as you keep smiling, nobody suspects trouble. ... Read review

Advantages: Really interesting, personal account of revolutionary times
Disadvantages: Contains descriptions of torture -not for the faint hearted.

Out of the Night is a first-hand account of Germany from the end of the First World War to the Second World War, as seen through the eyes of Richard Krebs, alias Jan Valtin. It is a gripping read, but it is not always easy going - especially as it contains harrowing accounts of his time in a concentration camp and torture by the Gestapo. The book was originally released in 1941. It was banned in Russia, Germany and Italy. Passages were removed from ...
...book). The book itself was out of print for a long time and can only be found on two websites: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/books/booklisting.htm (hbk £9.95) www.akpress.org/2004/items/outofthenight (pbk $16.95) The edition I have is by Fortress Books (from the top website). it contains an excellent introduction by Peter Taaffe and historical photographs are included in a section to provide a context for some of the events in the book. The ... Read review