THE LONDON BOYS | DAVID BOWIE, MARC BOLAN & THE 60s TEENAGE DREAM

 

TITLE - THE LONDON BOYS | DAVID BOWIE, MARC BOLAN & THE 60s TEENAGE DREAM

WRITTEN BY - MARC BURROWS

GENRE - '60s BRITISH MUSIC/BIOGRAPHY

PUBLISHED BY - PEN & SWORD 

PUBLICATION DATE - 30TH OCTOBER 2022

“The London Boys” is a penetratingly thorough history of the deep but often turbulent friendship/rivalry between the nascent rock stars David Bowie and Marc Bolan, from their early years to their eventual first flush of fame. The introduction sets the scene with a depiction of the historic yet chaotic reconciliation of Bowie and Bolan on the latter’s TV show “Marc”, mere days before his death. The book evokes the shattered post-WWII London landscape that both Bolan and Bowie grew up in through vivid descriptions, and explores how the city and its rapid cultural development in the ‘60s shaped their future careers. 

On the whole, “The London Boys” is a very detailed and workmanlike biography of both legends, but also a deep and intoxicating (it may even be eye-opening to a millennial reader) social history of Britain and its cultural heritage and development, hugely influenced by American music. There are also some very entertaining footnotes in which many myths are busted. Special mention must be given to chapter nineteen which has a unique structure that got made this old Bowie fan giddily excited, but you’ll have to read it yourself to find out why. 

A dense, deep book but immensely scholarly and readable, with an uplifting ending (really, “the beginning”) “The London Boys” is an original, fabulous and moving, even slightly irreverent, addition to the written history of both artists, both of whom burst from the page so vividly that we get to know them better than ever.

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HAROLD WILSON | THE WINNER

TITLE - HAROLD WILSON | THE WINNER

WRITTEN BY - NICK THOMAS-SYMONDS

GENRE - POLITICS/BIOGRAPHY/BRITISH HISTORY

PUBLISHED BY - W&N

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW 

I’ve always been fascinated by this period of Britain’s political history as it was a little before my time, even as a child of the ‘70s. At such a young age I had no concept of politics and the shenanigans going on in the country (but I knew Harold Wilson smoked a pipe). So, when I heard about Nick Thomas-Symonds’ book I saw an opportunity to fill the gaps in my knowledge. However, I should add that due to my being unfamiliar with the political history of the time, I am not in a position to comment on the author’s conclusions about Wilson’s policies etc. I am simply reviewing the book on its merits as a biography.

Symonds has had unprecedented access to Harold Wilson’s handwritten notes, letters and various other papers which have been hitherto unavailable, which have enabled him to perform a timely reevaluation of one of the most progressive Prime Ministers the United Kingdom has ever had, dealing with issues that will resonate today - membership of the EEC, women’s rights, British involvement in conflicts overseas etc.

An academic youngster with an exemplary record of scholastic achievement, with an unwavering childhood dream to go into politics and become Prime Minister, (a prescient photo shows the young Harold outside No. 10 Downing Street) Wilson leads an almost charmed life to get to the position he is best remembered for. He was, it seems, always the “winner” of the book’s title. Even the seemingly spontaneous quips and retorts in the Commons that he became famous for were the result of determined hard work and practice, having been accused of giving stuffy and boring speeches.

Symonds recounts Wilson’s political career in riveting detail, and whilst the political jargon can get complex at times, he has an accessible style that shouldn’t put off the casual reader without a grounding in politics. Much more fluid and easier to read than I expected, but not lightweight by any means, “The Winner” is an enjoyable and informative book, but not without its faults. I frequently got the impression that the author believes Wilson could do no wrong and that any failures or shortcomings in the Wilson government were the fault of other people. At times the book borders on hagiography. The reader is left in no doubt that NT-S is a big fan, even taking into account the fact he is a Labour MP, and I think it will be a matter of personal opinion whether this impresses or grates.

Overall, NT-S does a thorough job of reassessing Harold Wilson for a new generation and giving him his due credit for the enduring societal changes he brought about; he also humanises and rediscovers Wilson for those born too late to see him in action. This was truly a different time: today it generally follows that if you lose an election, you lose the leadership, but back then it was normal for the same person to remain leader even after a defeat. If nothing else, Symonds’ book proves that, with the current Labour Party now an inept shadow of the party Harold Wilson so successfully led, we will probably never see his like again.

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FURY OF PAST TIME | A LIFE OF GWYN THOMAS

TITLE - FURY OF PAST TIME | A LIFE OF GWYN THOMAS

WRITTEN BY - DARYL LEEWORTHY 

GENRE - WELSH WRITERS/ BIOGRAPHY 

PUBLISHED BY - PARTHIAN BOOKS 

PUBLICATION DATE - OCTOBER 2022 

Gwyn Thomas once admitted that whilst his novels were full of the love of people, they were not full of the love of life, an effect of the nihilistic worldview inherited from his mother. It was this cynicism, albeit with a strain of dark humour running through it, that coloured his life as a coruscating writer and celebrated raconteur. 

In the most in-depth biography of Gwyn Thomas yet published, Daryl Leeworthy makes use of letters and documents, many published for the first time, to deliver an unprecedented portrait of a complex and often contradictory man. Fiercely political (at least in his heart) with communist leanings, Gwyn Thomas was an angry young man who experienced the “split-personality” due to the dwindling use of the Welsh language in his hometown and own home, in a sense growing up as both Welsh and English.

Affected at a young age by the early death of his mother which gave Thomas a cynical, often bleak worldview which informed his written work. Ill-health, both physical and mental, and the widespread unemployment and decline of his native South Wales also marked his writing. But the humour that would see him become a popular mainstay of ‘70s television never wavered. He drifted through a multitude of jobs, most of which drove him to various kinds of utter despair, before settling into married life and teaching in Barry.

Thomas’ skilful and lyrical way with words bursts from the page thanks to the many, sometimes lengthy, quotes from Gwyn’s letters and books, and his voice is clear and resonant throughout. There is also a wealth of welcome information about the many foreign editions of Gwyn’s novels, and his vast influence in Europe and the USA in general, although he was banned in Ireland. The longest chapter in the book is devoted to Thomas’ famed television and radio appearances, the media in which he made his biggest and best remembered impact. There is also deep insight into his mostly successful yet chequered life as a playwright. 

Part biography and part savage, excoriating political and social history of South Wales and the wider world in the mid-20th century, Daryl Leeworthy makes a bold attempt at capturing Gwyn Thomas the man, but, through no fault of the author, he remains somewhat elusive. Nevertheless, this is an excellent and readable book, and as thorough a biography of the towering man of Welsh letters as we’re ever likely to get.

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ELIOT AFTER THE WASTELAND

TITLE - ELIOT AFTER THE WASTELAND 

WRITTEN BY - ROBERT CRAWFORD

PUBLISHED BY - JONATHAN CAPE 

PUBLICATION DATE - 2ND JUNE 2022

“The Waste Land” by T. S. Eliot is one of my favourite poems, although anyone who has read it will know that the epithet “poem” barely does it justice. Eliot stands virtually alone in the pantheon of British poetry, creating verse that challenged the conformity and traditions of the time. 

I am a devotee of T. S. Eliot and I prepared for this book by reading Robert Crawford’s equally excellent first volume, 2015’s “Young Eliot: From St. Louis to The Waste Land”, in which he charted Eliot’s childhood and education, examining the eclectic (and often esoteric) influences on his burgeoning poetry that led to his epic poem. This second volume, entitled “Eliot After the Wasteland”, takes up Eliot’s life after the publication of that tumultuous, iconoclastic work; a period when he would write some of his most celebrated works, including “Four Quartets” and “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” and several successful plays. 

As author Robert Crawford states in the introduction to this second volume of his biography, he proffers a deep dive into the life of T. S. Eliot; not only of the celebrated poet but also to the secret life of “Tom” as his friends and family knew him. Throughout, Crawford refers to Eliot as Tom. With unprecedented access to surviving letters and interviews with people who knew Eliot at the time (indeed, Crawford is the last biographer to interview anyone who knew Eliot when “The Waste Land” was first published). This is very much a book about T. S. Eliot the man. Crawford paints an unvarnished portrait of Eliot, brilliant but human. He does not ignore Eliot’s failings in favour of a hagiography; Tom’s bawdy racist poetry and almost casual anti-Semitism will no doubt shock the modern reader. 

It is easy to dive back into Crawford’s work and continue Eliot’s life story, who now feels almost like an old friend thanks to the detail with which the first book brought him to life. The distinguished gentleman gracing the cover is T. S. Eliot as we know him; a world away from the nervous-looking youth from the first volume. 

This volume picks up the Eliot’s story from the end of the previous volume with little preamble, so while there is no absolutely pressing need to read that book first, some readers may feel like they should. This is merely an observation, not a criticism: having read the first volume, I can put myself in the shoes of someone picking up this book fresh. And as the second volume of this work, it is to be expected. Crawford offers intelligent analysis of Eliot’s poetry throughout but confesses that this isn’t the main thrust of his biography. 

There are many developments in Tom’s life in this book - his continued yet hidden feelings for another woman, Emily Hale; the protracted breakdown of his marriage;  the subsequent death of his wife, Vivien; his life-changing involvement with the fledgling publishing company Faber & Gwyer (soon to become Faber & Faber, which publishes his first book of poems), his conversion to Anglo-Catholicism and full British citizenship. Indeed, religion is one of the main driving forces of Eliot’s life; so too is his surprisingly complicated love-life. But above all, the main constant and unwelcome companion of Eliot’s life was Vivien’s and his own ill-health. Sadly, in the latter part of his life this would continue, especially for Vivien. There are unflinching passages about her suffering, and also of Tom’s - one doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry at how often Tom gets struck down by influenza or some such ailment. He agonises over guilt that he may have in some way caused Vivien’s illness, even metaphorically “killing” her. 

Obviously, the Second World War looms large in this period of Eliot’s life, and we feel the national tension grow as conflict and even invasion becomes ever more likely. There is a lot of interesting detail about Eliot’s experiences as an ARP warden and it is fascinating to read how the war developed on an almost weekly basis through the prism of his life. By the end of the book, Eliot has become a major celebrity, warranting front page splashes in the Daily Mail when he married his much younger secretary, Valerie Fletcher, and finally finding happiness (and not a little eroticism). 

“Eliot After the Wasteland” is a remarkable achievement and I enjoyed it immensely, and will return to both it and its predecessor. However, there are a couple of factors that make this book an often difficult read. Firstly, Crawford frequently mentions that various organisations, collections of writing, even the recipients of books from Tom, contained few or no women. This may warrant a single mention, but continually drawing attention to it as some kind of grievous sin almost a century later is egregious, and can only be due to the author wishing to score a few Brownie points with a progressive modern readership. 

Secondly, like its predecessor, this book is a weighty tome that includes a lot of painstaking detail on every aspect of Eliot’s life, both literary and personal, (in the case of Vivien’s illnesses, rather embarrassingly so) and as such the text can be a little longwinded at times: expect to read about every illness, night out and holiday the poet ever had. 

Criticisms aside, T. S. Eliot was a very intelligent and complex person, often self-absorbed, and his life-story requires a book of this calibre. Despite many highbrow passages, the book is very readable and there are moments of great poignancy - this is biography done right. “Eliot After the Wasteland” is a superb continuation of a groundbreaking biography of T. S. Eliot that is as close to definitive as we are ever likely to get.

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YOUNG ELIOT - FROM ST. LOUIS TO "THE WASTE LAND"

TITLE - YOUNG ELIOT - FROM ST. LOUIS TO "THE WASTE LAND"

WRITTEN BY - ROBERT CRAWFORD 

PUBLISHED BY - JONATHAN CAPE 

PUBLICATION DATE - AVAILABLE NOW

A reluctant biographee, many of his personal papers and letters were destroyed at his own request, however “Young Eliot” examines the poet’s formative years in much more detail than previous biographers have devoted to them. Drawing on hitherto untapped sources and documents, Robert Crawford has written a definitive and personal, though unofficial, biography which reveals the human being behind the legend.

A seemingly ordinary, slightly timid young man stares out from the dust-jacket. Referred to as “Tom” throughout the book,  Crawford paints an unvarnished portrait of a young man, brilliant but human. Young Tom would’ve often displayed the casual racism and sexism of the time, but Crawford doesn’t ignore Eliot’s failings in favour of a hagiography. Nor does he gloss over the bawdy poetry Eliot wrote at Harvard, an university he was nearly thrown out of for “loafing”, achieving lacklustre grades in the process.

As expected in a two-volume work, the biographical detail is intensive. Crawford begins right at the beginning, examining Eliot’s birth into quite a large family with several much older siblings, his school life and early forays into poetry. Each chapter of Eliot’s life is vividly detailed as Crawford skilfully charts his development as a poet up to and including the publication of “The Waste Land”. There is much in this work that even the most dedicated Eliot scholar will find surprising and new.

Two sections of revealing photographs are included, each snapshot loaded with meaning and poignancy, along with notes and an index. Scholarly, intelligent and accessible, “Young Eliot” is a joy to read and must surely be hailed as the beginning of a definitive biography of T. S. Eliot.

STALIN'S LIBRARY

TITLE - STALIN'S LIBRARY 

WRITTEN BY - GEOFFREY ROBERTS 

PUBLISHED BY - YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS, LONDON 

PUBLICATION DATE - 8TH FEBRUARY 2022

A voracious reader, Josef Stalin had his own library of some 25,000 books, for which he employed the services of a librarian. He developed his own classification system and ex-libris stamp, and was fond of annotating and marking the books he read. He was a great respecter of books, if not of the people who wrote them. Whilst Stalin despised his political opponents, he paid close attention to their writings. 

A surprising portrait of the infamous Russian leader emerges from the scholarly pages of “Stalin’s Library” by Geoffrey Roberts - that of an intellectual and deep thinking bookworm and autodidact who revered books, even berating his own children when they treated them poorly. Roberts discovers a tantalising (though not a complete) insight into the real Stalin by analysing the way he read his books and the marks he made in them. It is also an attempt to provide a verifiable biography of Stalin, debunking many “conspiracy theories” and incorrect yet widely believed facts about him. 

Stalin was, conversely, shy of allowing books to be written about himself, vetoing many biographies and pamphlets, and those that were published were vigorously marked up if he disagreed with them. However, Stalin was more enthusiastic about the creation of his collected writings, a popular publication running to thirteen volumes until they were halted by Khrushchev. There is a revealing chapter on these books, their legacy and the unpublished final volumes, and very interesting details of the specific genres of books that Stalin favourited and the historical attempts to study his library. The longest chapter in the book is devoted to an rich and illuminating study of Stalin’s “potemki”, the marks, annotations and sometimes angry crossings-out that he added to many of the books he read. 

Geoffrey Roberts has written a very readable and intelligent book; ostensibly pro-Stalin only in regard to establishing a factual biographical life of the man, and thoroughly researched. While there is much about Stalin’s library itself and its legacy and how his reading influenced him as a political leader, the book is also a history of Stalin’s rise to power and beyond. While this does create something of an identity crisis at times, this book is excellent throughout and is highly recommend to anyone searching for a slightly different take on Stalin’s life and times.

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THE MEANING OF METALLICA | RIDE THE LYRICS

TITLE - THE MEANING OF METALLICA | RIDE THE LYRICS

WRITTEN BY - WILLIAM IRWIN 

PUBLISHED BY - ECW PRESS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 19TH APRIL 2022

I’m a casual but longtime fan of Metallica so the premise of this book intrigued me; it may be the first one purely devoted to a critical study of the lyrics of the band’s frontman James Hetfield. 

The title itself is bold and challenging, suggesting a definitive document, but that’s a symptom of the publishing world and not author arrogance. At any rate, the author himself offers the disclaimer that this is his own personal interpretation, not the final word, and that we are welcome to disagree with it and substitute our own.

  

William Irwin is clearly not just a fan of Metallica - he is a F A N of Metallica. This may make the book unpalatable to some readers, but I am fine with it as everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I am making a personal choice to read Irwin’s. Subdivided into separate (big) themes such as religion (which comes first), addiction, war and freedom - all regular subjects of Metallica songs -  Irwin proffers his interpretation of Hetfield’s lyrics. 

If I am honest, a lot of his conclusions went over my head and many seemed to derive far too great a meaning from certain lyrics, but occasionally he made me look at my favourite Metallica songs in a totally new way, and his obvious affection for the songs is a positive rather than a negative factor. 

On the whole, “The Meaning of Metallica” is a success, shedding new light on familiar songs and encouraging debate. Anyone who disagrees with William Irwin’s conclusions is invited to write their own book.

BREZHNEV -THE MAKING OF A STATESMAN

TITLE - BREZHNEV -THE MAKING OF A STATESMAN

WRITTEN BY - SUSANNE SCHATTENBERG

PUBLISHED BY - I.B. TAURIS/BLOOMSBURY ACADEMIC

PUBLICATION DATE - 4TH NOVEMBER, 2021

Described as “Khrushchev without Khrushchev”, in 1964 Leonid Brezhnev replaced the “arrogant leadership” of that Russian premier with an ostensibly more democratic form of “collective rule” and a term in office of eighteen years - second only to Stalin’s in length. Fond of hunting, fast cars and male bonding sessions with the other members of the Politburo at his hunting lodge where he could be the alpha male, Brezhnev was a striking contrast to the previous leaderships. Forging strong relationships with his staff, he established himself as a leader that nobody had cause to fear. This would be played out on a larger scale with Brezhnev’s seemingly sincere desire to be “Europe’s greatest peacemaker”, a drive cut short by his own failing health and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 

My abiding memories of Brezhnev are of an inscrutable, bushy-eyebrowed and slightly scary man on grainy late 70s/early 80s news programmes - a distant, unknowable and oh-so Russian part of my childhood. I know much more about him after reading this excellent book, and even cautiously admire him. Brezhnev was a man of contradictions, an aspiring actor in his youth with many aspects of his life eventually being hidden from the public (such as his generally apolitical upbringing and early life ) and it is this side that Susanne Schattenberg explores in this scholarly, revealing biography, translated competently from the original German by John Heath. 

Schattenberg’s book joins a very small list of Brezhnev biographies, due to the man himself not attracting the same attention as some of his more “celebrated” predecessors, and also to the difficulty in accessing original files. With restrictions easing a little in recent years, the author was able to make an almost exhaustive trawl of the available archives, enhanced by the inclusion of diary entries and memoirs by Brezhnev’s contemporaries and colleagues at the time. 

Fully illustrated with photographs, some familiar - Brezhnev was the first party leader to have their own personal photographer - while other shots are candid and more revealing. It is that photographer’s own photos that have been used in this book, and they certainly show Brezhnev’s more human and charismatic side. Susanne Schattenberg discovers a man who strove to be more healer than hardliner, and someone who cared deeply for the working people and listened to their problems. She stresses that she hasn’t attempted to whitewash Brezhnev, but merely strove to show all sides of his character.

And in that respect, “Brezhnev: The Making of a Statesman” is a triumph. The writing is concise and lucid and this is much more than just a dry and boring political biography. For example, the chapter on Brezhnev’s foreign policy and his desire to build trust with foreign leaders is riveting and enlightening. The book is biography as archaeology, as Susanne Schattenberg has unearthed a wealth of firsthand knowledge about Brezhnev the man, and her book must be regarded as the definitive work on this much-maligned and misunderstood statesman.

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SIR ALEX - SIMPLY THE BEST

 

TITLE - SIR ALEX SIMPLY THE BEST 

WRITTEN BY - HARRY HARRIS 

PUBLISHED BY - AD LIB PUBLISHERS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 14TH OCTOBER 2021

Often controversial, sometimes arrogant, intimidating but respected and with the achievements to back it up, Sir Alex Ferguson, known to nearly everyone in the game as The Boss or Gaffer, is widely regarded as one of the best football managers ever. A tough upbringing in one of the roughest parts of Glasgow filled the young Alex Ferguson with determination and a strong work ethic that helped him achieve his unprecedented success at Manchester United that may never be equalled. 

A book entitled “Simply The Best” is probably not going to be very critical about its subject, but it’s none the worse for it. Respected football writer Harry Harris errs on the side of caution regarding any unsavoury aspects of Sir Alex’s personality and methods but as an overview to Fergie’s life, “Simply The Best” is a solid and often funny read, and written fully in tribute to Alex Ferguson. 

Ex-players share their sometimes comical experiences of being on the receiving end of Fergie’s infamous “hairdryer”. Other footballing legends including “Pizzagate”, the “Tunnel of Hate” incident and Eric Cantona’s gymnastics are all covered. Fergie’s sweeping changes on joining United are explored; ending the drinking culture in the club, bringing in younger players, selling the Man U “brand” worldwide. Much of what he did was controversial at the time but Fergie had the backing of the MU board who gave him the time to turn the failing club around. The plaudits from the book’s contributors are almost entirely glowing and deeply respectful of Ferguson, even after they’ve been on the receiving end of his rage. To many young MU players he was a father figure. 

Due to it being very much a collection of anecdotes, the book doesn’t flow very well at times, but it is always interesting and there are nuggets to be found; there is a very revealing chapter on the players who nearly signed for MU, for example. Other chapters examine Ferguson’s love of fine wine and horse racing, and also his dislike of the media and his spats with players and managers such as Kevin Keegan. 

It is written without frills and many of the anecdotes are brutally honest and enlightening. We get a vivid picture of the real Alex Ferguson - relentlessly determined, passionate and honest. This isn’t the greatest Alex Ferguson book ever written, and isn’t really for casual readers, but it is recommended for fans of Fergie, Manchester United and football management.

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DECADES - JOY DIVISION & NEW ORDER

Full disclosure - I don’t really like Joy Division or New Order, but if ever a book was going to make me like them, then “Decades” by John Aizlewood would be the closest thing to it. 

Forever the darlings of the music critics, there has always been a sense that both groups are bulletproof and beyond true criticism. Like Berlin-era Bowie, Morrissey and The Smiths, someone has decided that THEY ARE IMPORTANT, and we need to keep talking about them, even when they’re being rubbish. Luckily, John Aizlewood is very good at talking about Joy Division and New Order. This book is for both hardcore fans and those whose knowledge extends only to knowing that Joy Division did “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and New Order did that surprisingly good World Cup song. 

As author John Aizlewood maintains in his history of the two bands, Ian Curtis “meant it”. Indeed, I think this is a crucial factor in their lasting importance. Dying young, ostensibly on the cusp of greatness, his legend remains preserved in aspic because he didn’t live long enough to become rubbish. Aizlewood writes vividly and economically on the early years of the band members and offers insightful analyses on each album and single; this is a real fan speaking. Lucid “sleeve notes” sidebars accompany the dissection of each album. 

Emerging from the “dirty old town” of postwar Manchester, a deprived yet indomitable city, grammar school boys Bernard Dicken (later Albrecht then Sumner) and Peter “Hooky” Woodhead bonded at school (sort of) over a shared love of music and misbehaviour. On meeting the intense and married Ian Curtis, the band Warsaw was formed, to some acclaim, with Stephen Morris eventually warming the drum stool. As Aizlewood memorably puts it, only death would change the lineup. After a necessary name-change, Joy Division were born, honing their dystopian music as a reaction to the post-industrial surroundings of Manchester. Aizlewood writes unsensationally on the suicide of Ian Curtis, quoting music press obits of the time, one of which claimed Ian’s death “froze” Joy Division in an eternal moment of almost making it. To do that, they would have to reinvent themselves as New Order, recruiting Stephen Morris’ girlfriend, Gillian Gilbert, on keyboards. 

All of that band’s hits & misses, highs & lows, splits & reunions, solo projects of varying quality and nightclub-owning shenanigans are examined by Aizlewood as New Order initially struggle to exorcise the ghosts of Ian Curtis and Joy Division. The biggest-selling 12” record (remember them?) of all time, “Blue Monday”, would change all that. New Order’s latter years are a litany of strained inter-band relationships, financial mismanagement and Hooky’s alcoholism; painful to read but sadly essential when discussing this particular band’s history. 

Saturated with cultural references from one of the greatest ever music eras and fully illustrated with photographs, (complete with irreverent captions), “Decades” is erudite but also incredibly funny; John Aizlewood eschews the usual pretentiousness that Joy Division engender in favour of a writing style which borders on satire. But his admiration for the music comes through strongly. The result is as good a history of Joy Division and New Order (including all the awkward things associated with them) that we could ever hope for. “Decades” is an outstanding, coffee-table-friendly history of two of the most interesting bands ever to come out of Britain.

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THE POPE'S GREATEST ADVERSARY | GIROLAMO SAVONAROLA

TITLE - THE POPE'S GREATEST ADVERSARY | GIROLAMO SAVONAROLA

AUTHOR - SAMANTHA MORRIS 

PUBLISHED BY - PEN & SWORD

 A lively and intelligent young man who was hungry for knowledge, Girolamo Savonarola’s unrequited love for the “girl next door” led him to depression and a hatred of corruption in the Church and the profligate ways of the rich. Resolving to take Holy Orders after hearing a friar delivering a passionate sermon, he set out on the path which would eventually lead him into conflict with Italy’s most powerful rulers and a brutal public execution, the grisly details of which we are not spared in these pages. 

“The Pope’s Greatest Adversary - Girolamo Savonarola” by Samantha Morris is aptly titled. A powerful orator who over-reached himself, he caught the public imagination at an incendiary and God-fearing time in history, and was said to preach with a “voice of thunder” as he predicted cataclysmic events, one of which ostensibly came true and only added to his power. One could argue that Savonarola was a kind of Renaissance Rasputin, who also had a swift rise to influence and power, had both powerful friends and enemies and met a brutal end. Was Savonarola a positive force for change or simply a clever demagogue? The speed and simplicity with which he was able to oust the ruling Medici family and effectively rule Florence seems incredible to our modern eyes, but these were very different times.

And what are we to make of the “Bonfire of the Vanities” - public burnings in which thousands of works of art and literature were destroyed for being ungodly in the eyes of Savonarola and his cronies. A complicated and imperfect man, then, but an important one; certainly he was considered dangerous enough for Pope Alexander VI to attempt to silence and then excommunicate him. By the time of his downfall, Savonarola had obviously begun to believe he was untouchable. 

Fully illustrated with paintings of Savonarola and photographs of relevant locations in Florence, this is a concise and vivid slice of history. Featuring a colourful cast of characters including everyone’s favourite hedonists, the Borgias, (a singular family on which Samantha Morris has previously written very successfully), it is a solid biography of a remarkable man who still divides opinion today.

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THE BOOK OF MALCOLM

 Fraser Sutherland was a noted Canadian writer and poet, and it truly shows in the beautiful, honest prose in his book about the life and death of his son, Malcolm. Fraser completed this memoir shortly before his own death, which makes this book even more poignant. 

Malcolm had suffered from schizophrenia from his late teens and died on Boxing Day, 2009, at the young age of 26. Part one of the book deals with Malcolm’s death and the aftermath. It becomes clear from the tributes paid to Malcom by his friends that he was a rare being who positivity affected the lives of many people. Fraser’s reminiscences about Malcolm’s quirks and the role he played in the family dynamic are funny and touching. Malcolm was that special kind of person everyone gravitates towards. 

Fraser’s description of Malcolm’s death is unflinchingly honest and lucid. He shares his innermost thoughts about the well-meaning chaos of his son’s funeral and the throng of relatives that descended on them after. Anyone who has been in this situation will recognise this. Fraser’s way of dealing with Malcolm’s death jars with his wife’s, who, eager to talk about their son, can’t understand her husband’s reluctance to and distance from the subject. 

The second part relates Malcolm’s birth and early life. The section on the birth itself is both funny and slightly embarrassing as his wife’s anatomical details are laid bare. Malcolm becomes an imaginative and precocious boy and this section is a joy to read as we are introduced to his imagination in full flow in games and writing.

The third part of the book is the toughest to read as Malcolm begins to have psychotic episodes and other mental health problems. Extracts from his diary, both articulate and disturbing, show a troubled soul. The book ends more or less where it began, just before Malcolm’s last Christmas. 

“The Book of Malcolm” is superb. It is a short but powerful book which, as the afterword by one of Fraser’s friends explains, doesn’t offer any moral at the end but merely celebrates a life. Brutally honest and relatable, it is vigorously recommended for anyone struggling with mental health issues or the passing of a loved one.