Entertainment

If you're intrigued by the intersections of art and politics, Barry Seldes's biography of Leonard Bernstein presents a compelling portrait that goes beyond his musical achievements. Seldes peels back the layers of Bernstein's public persona to reveal how his compositions and career were inextricably linked with his social and political values. It's an enlightening read that might deepen your appreciation for the man's work and his commitment to social change through music.

If you are fascinated by history, music, and intrigue, "Theremin: Ether Music And Espionage" might strike a chord with you. It's not just a biography; it's a window into the life of a genius whose inventions laid the ground for modern electronic music and at the same time entangled with espionage. The blend of cultural and political history here is as unique as the eerie sounds of the Theremin itself.

If you've ever been fascinated by the sheer boldness of Hemingway's prose or his adventurous life, Anthony Burgess's biography peels back the layers of this literary titan. It's a deep dive into the psyche of a man who sought to capture life's essence in sparse yet potent language. With Burgess's eloquent narrative, you're sure to gain a richer understanding of both Hemingway the writer and Hemingway the man.

If you're someone who admires the British Monarchy, particularly the late Queen Elizabeth II, 'Tribute To Her Majesty' offers a rich, pictorial journey through her life. It's a fitting homage that encapsulates her legacy, encapsulated in a time capsule from 1986. This book offers a nostalgic and respectful exploration of her early years as Queen, her impact, and how she was perceived during her reign.

Gustav Perle grows up in a small town in Switzerland, where the horrors of the Second World War seem only a distant echo. An only child, he lives alone with Emilie, the mother he adores but who treats him with bitter severity. He begins an intense friendship with a Jewish boy his age, talented and mercurial Anton Zweibel, a budding concert pianist. Moving backward to the war years and the painful repercussions of an act of conscience, and forward through the lives and careers of two men, The Gustav Sonata explores the passionate love of childhood friendship as it is lost, transformed, and regained over a lifetime. Moving between the 1930s and the 1990s, this fierce and beautifully orchestrated novel explores the vast human issues of racism and tolerance, flight and refuge, cruelty and tenderness. It is a powerful and deeply moving addition to the beloved oeuvre of one of our greatest contemporary novelists.

Recommendation: The Pianist is a poignant reminder of the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust. Through Szpilman's firsthand account, readers are taken on a gripping journey of survival and resilience in the face of unimaginable horrors. The book's power lies in its simplicity and rawness, with Szpilman's understated writing style allowing the events to speak for themselves. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history or personal memoirs.

The powerful and bestselling memoir of a young Jewish pianist who survived the war in Warsaw against all odds. Made into a Bafta and Oscar-winning film.

Gustav Perle grows up in a small town in Switzerland, where the horrors of the Second World War seem only a distant echo. An only child, he lives alone with Emilie, the mother he adores but who treats him with bitter severity. He begins an intense friendship with a Jewish boy his age, talented and mercurial Anton Zweibel, a budding concert pianist. Moving backward to the war years and the painful repercussions of an act of conscience, and forward through the lives and careers of two men, The Gustav Sonata explores the passionate love of childhood friendship as it is lost, transformed, and regained over a lifetime. Moving between the 1930s and the 1990s, this fierce and beautifully orchestrated novel explores the vast human issues of racism and tolerance, flight and refuge, cruelty and tenderness. It is a powerful and deeply moving addition to the beloved oeuvre of one of our greatest contemporary novelists.

When Ellen Carr abandons grey, dreary London to become housekeeper at an experimental school in Austria, she finds her destiny. Swept into an idyllic world of mountains, music, eccentric teachers and wayward children, Ellen brings order and joy to all around her. But it’s the handsome, mysterious gardener, Marek, who intrigues her – Marek, who has a dangerous secret. As Hitler’s troops spread across Europe, Ellen has promises to keep, even if they mean she must sacrifice her future happiness... An unforgettable love story from the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea and The Star of Kazan .

If you're intrigued by the emotional impact of music on soldiers, "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" is a resonant exploration that connects the dots between iconic songs and the Vietnam War experience. Bradley and Werner delve into how these tracks provided solace, camaraderie, and a voice for those engulfed in the chaos of war. It's a poignant reflection on the interplay of music, memory, and history for veterans and music lovers alike.

A stage adaptation by Arthur Miller of his acclaimed 1980 screenplay filmed starring Vanessa Redgrave in the lead role. Playing For Time tells the extraordinary true story of the women's orchestra in Auschwitz. It centers on Fania Fenelon, a Parisian singer, who is arrested by the Nazis, sent to Auschwitz and there finds herself swept into the orchestra, composed entirely of women prisoners and founded to entertain the camp commandants. As long as the orchestra finds favour, its members are spared the gas chambers. They are, quite literally, playing for time. This extraordinary memoir is rendered here in a deeply moving and inspiring adaptation by Arthur Miller. It takes its place alongside his other plays portraying the individual's struggle to maintain a moral sense of self in the face of overwhelming public events - plays like The Crucible, All My Sons, Broken Glass and his adaptation of Ibsen's An Enemy of the People

The Mozart Question is a great read for music lovers and those interested in WWII history. This book humanizes the war and shows how even in the darkest of times, music can bring hope and healing. Morpurgo's prose is evocative and gripping, transporting readers to Venice and the horrors of war. The Mozart Question is a haunting and beautiful novel that will stay with readers long after they finish it.

For a Kentucky rifleman who spent his tour trudging through Vietnam’s Central Highlands, it was Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’.” For a “tunnel rat” who blew smoke into the Viet Cong’s underground tunnels, it was Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” For a black marine distraught over the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., it was Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools.” And for countless other Vietnam vets, it was ”I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die,” “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” or the song that gives this book its title.In We Gotta Get Out of This Place, Doug Bradley and Craig Werner place popular music at the heart of the American experience in Vietnam. They explore how and why U.S. troops turned to music as a way of connecting to each other and the World back home and of coping with the complexities of the war they had been sent to fight. They also demonstrate that music was important for every group of Vietnam veterans — black and white, Latino and Native American, men and women, officers and “grunts” — whose personal reflections drive the book’s narrative. Many of the voices are those of ordinary soldiers, airmen, seamen, and marines. But there are also “solo” pieces by veterans whose writings have shaped our understanding of the war — Karl Marlantes, Alfredo Vea, Yusef Komunyakaa, Bill Ehrhart, Arthur Flowers — as well as songwriters and performers whose music influenced soldiers’ lives, including Eric Burdon, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Country Joe McDonald, and John Fogerty. Together their testimony taps into memories — individual and cultural — that capture a central if often overlooked component of the American war in Vietnam.