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Biographies

A good biography invites you into someone else’s life. It takes you on fascinating journeys through the ups and downs of the life of legendary film stars, talented musicians, inspiring athletes, visionary politicians and many more. A good biography lets you get under the skin of your biggest idols, and you feel collected when reading their story - maybe even in the form of their own words. You will find both biographies and autobiographies in Tales’ selection, in addition to diaries and memoirs. So are you ready to be inspired by some of the world’'s most extraordinary individuals?
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  • Save 21%
    - An Exploration of Criminals, Cannibals, Cults, and What Makes a Killer Tick
    by Suruthi Bala
    £14.99

    A fascinating deep-dive into the minds of killers and criminals from the creators of the UK's number one true crime podcast, Redhanded.

  • Save 21%
    by Maureen Callahan
    £13.49

  • Save 24%
    - Letters to Mama
    by Frida Kahlo
    £18.99

    The letters of Frida Kahlo to her mother, published in English for the first time.

  • Save 15%
    - An Optimist Considers Mortality
    by Michael J Fox
    £10.99

    'The book is great: moving but also properly funny.' Hadley Freeman, The Guardian'A memoir with an unusual sense of purpose. . . pithy, highly readable' The TimesThe entire world knows Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, the teenage sidekick of Doc Brown in Back to the Future. His two previous bestselling memoirs, Lucky Man and Always Looking Up, dealt with how he came to terms with the illness, all the while exhibiting his iconic optimism. In No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality, Michael shares personal stories and observations about illness and health, ageing, the strength of family and friends, and how our perceptions about time affect the way we approach mortality. Thoughtful and moving, but with Fox's trademark sense of humour, his book provides a vehicle for reflection about our lives, our loves, and our losses.Running through the narrative is the drama of the medical madness Fox recently experienced, that included his daily negotiations with the Parkinson's disease he's had since 1991, and a spinal cord issue that necessitated immediate surgery. His challenge to learn how to walk again, only to suffer a devastating fall, nearly caused him to ditch his trademark optimism and "e;get out of the lemonade business altogether."e;Does he make it all of the way back? Read the book.

  • Save 20%
    - Vulnerability, Shame Resilience and the Black Experience: An anthology
     
    £11.99

    Tarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown bring together a dynamic group of Black writers, organisers, artists, academics and cultural figures to discuss the topics the two have dedicated their lives to understanding and teaching: vulnerability and shame resilience.Contributions by Kiese Laymon, Imani Perry, Laverne Cox, Jason Reynolds, Austin Channing Brown, and more.It started as a text between two friends.Tarana Burke, founder of the 'me too.' Movement, texted researcher and writer Brené Brown to see if she was free to jump on a call. Brené assumed that Tarana wanted to talk about wallpaper. They had been trading home decorating inspiration boards in their last text conversation so Brené started scrolling to find her latest Pinterest pictures when the phone rang.But it was immediately clear to Brené that the conversation wasn't going to be about wallpaper. Tarana's hello was serious and she hesitated for a bit before saying, "Brené, you know your work affected me so deeply, but as a Black woman, I've sometimes had to feel like I have to contort myself to fit into some of your words. The core of it rings so true for me, but the application has been harder."Brené replied, "I'm so glad we're talking about this. It makes sense to me. Especially in terms of vulnerability. How do you take the armour off in a country where you're not physically or emotionally safe?"Long pause."That's why I'm calling," said Tarana. "What do you think about working together on a book about the Black experience with vulnerability and shame resilience?"There was no hesitation.Burke and Brown are the perfect pair to usher in this stark, potent collection of essays on Black shame and healing. Along with the anthology contributors, they create a space to recognise and process the trauma of white supremacy, a space to be vulnerable and affirm the fullness of Black love and Black life.

  • Save 14%
    by Baxter Dury
    £9.49 - 13.49

  • Save 20%
    - My Story
    by Drew Pritchard
    £11.99

    And made it again. The face of the compulsively fascinating business of finding and restoring lost treasures, visionary Drew takes us up and down the country, into garages, factories, schools and pubs, digging out incredible items from that 'other time and place'.

  • Save 10%
    by Michael Connelly
    £8.99 - 15.49

  • Save 11%
    by Azdyne Amimour & Georges Salines
    £7.99

  • by George Orwell
    £4.49 - 7.99

    HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.

  • Save 12%
    - Breaking records and getting FKT
    by Damian Hall
    £11.49

    In It for the Long Run is ultrarunner Damian Hall's story of his Pennine Way record attempt in July 2020. With dry wit and humour, Hall tells of his nine-year preparation for his attempt, and of the run itself. He also gives us an autobiographical insight into the deranged world of midlife crisis ultramarathon running and record attempts.

  • Save 14%
    by Lucinda Williams
    £9.49 - 15.49

  • Save 21%
    - The Life
    by Roland Lazenby
    £14.99

    The definitive biography of basketball superstar Magic Johnson

  • Save 13%
    - The Story of Bad Religion
    by Jim Ruland & Bad Religion
    £13.99

    From their beginnings as teenagers experimenting in a San Fernando Valley garage dubbed "The Hell Hole" to headlining major music festivals around the world, Do What You Wanttells the whole story of Bad Religion's 40-year career in irreverent style.

  • Save 20%
    - Memories of a Collector
    by Giuseppe Panza
    £21.49

    One of the world's foremost collectors of modern art shares the story of his remarkable life, times, and culture.

  • Save 15%
    by Dara McAnulty
    £10.99

  • Save 20%
    by Aubrey Gordon
    £11.99 - 17.99

  • by Audre Lorde
    £7.99

  • Save 21%
    - On Foot to Constantinople: from the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube
    by Patrick Leigh Fermor
    £13.49

    The great travel classic, first published in 1977 and recounting an epic journey of nearly 50 years before.

  • Save 10%
    - A Songwriter's Story of Hope, Change and Courage
    by Tori Amos
    £8.99

    A timely and passionate call to action for engaging with our current political moment, from the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum singer-songwriter and New York Times bestselling author Tori Amos.

  • Save 15%
    - A Memoir
    by Andras Schiff
    £10.99

    A book of memoirs and stimulating reflections on music by the legendary classical pianist, Sir Andras Schiff.

  • Save 18%
    - The Story of the Iconic Shoe Designer
    by Darla-Jane Gilroy
    £11.49

    A pocket-sized, illustrated book charting the rise of the world's most celebrated shoe designer.

  • Save 15%
    by Brian Cox
    £10.99 - 15.49

  • Save 20%
    - A Story of Fertility, Hope and Trying Again
    by Elle Wright
    £11.99

    The second book from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Ask Me His Name.

  • Save 21%
    - The Man Behind the Guitar
    by Julian Vignoles
    £13.49

    Biography of the legendary guitarist Rory Gallagher.

  • Save 10%
    by Reeves Wiedeman
    £8.99 - 15.49

  • Save 10%
    - Raising the Kanneh-Masons
    by Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason
    £8.99

    The most talented musical family in the world. For the first time, mother Kadie Kanneh-Mason shares her unique story.

  • Save 10%
    by Claudia Winkleman
    £8.99

    Funny, moving and truthful ... Quite

  • Save 11%
    by Doireann Ni Ghriofa
    £7.99

  • by Paramhansa Yogananda
    £22.99 - 38.99

Biographies
Biographies books are per definition a collection of someone’s life. That someone is mostly a celebrity and often comes from the world of entertainment for example a famous movie or television star. A good biography lets you under the skin of the subject. Biographies are mostly written by biography authors, who are specialized in capturing the life of another person through research and multiple interviews with both the individual and his or her relatives. The celebrity or icon can also choose to write his or her own story, which is what characterizes an autobiography. An autobiography can - if the writer is good - give you a more intimate picture of the subject. You can both find biographies and autobiographies in Tales’ wide selection of Biographies. 

Biographies best sellers
Tales’ selection contains most of the biographies best sellers. The biographies books are often about celebrities known from film, television or the music industry, but they can also be about inspiring trailblazers from the societal or political world like the biography best seller Becoming about Michelle Obama. The American first lady has inspired many Americans and people around the world. Her and her husband - the first black American first lady and President - made many extraordinary changes in the American society and advocated for more diversity and respect in the American people. Michelle Obama also fights for more equality, especially when it comes to girls and women. Read the inspiring story of how Michelle Obama became one of our times most popular, kind and obliging residents of the White House in her biography Becoming, and let it guide you to finding our own voice. 
Another best seller is Three Women by Lisa Taddeo. Taddeo has written an innovative biography that is a collection of three American women's lives. The biography is an investigation of the female lust in all its complexity. Many women have expressed that they can reflect their own life and feelings of desire in the book. 

Biographies about musicians
Take a look in our selection and find some of the best biographies about musicians. The selection has something for every taste, because you find accounts about musicians from every end of the spectre. Whether you like rock, jazz, classical music, pop or musicals you will find biographies about musicians representing every genre. 
Take for example the autobiography Me Elton John, who has gained extraordinary reviews and success all around the world making the Elton John biography an international best seller. The book is the only official biography made about the iconic musician and singer. Read the incredible and turbulent story about one of our biggest stars to date, and you might learn the secrets behind writing and performing hit after hit.
You can also dive into the fascinating story of the musical legend Julie Andrews. In the biography Home you can read about her journey from London to Broadway stardom. The triple threat is the woman behind legendary roles such as Mary Poppins and Maria from The Sound of Music, and you can follow her journey through Hollywood in the sequel Home Work. Julie Andrews is the writer of her own story and she writes in an intimate and heart-warming narrative. 

Biographies about artists
Are you an art lover, art student or an artist yourself? Then we would recommend you to find inspiration in our biographies about artists. Our collection of biographies contains among others the book Frida Kahlo - A Biography written by Claudia Schaefer. Schaefer gives an introduction to the beloved Latino artist. Frida Kahlo is one of modern times greatest female artists and her surrealist artworks are extraordinary. The biography introduces the reader to her unique form of art - Kahlo did not see herself as a surrealist - but it also gives a look into the artist behind the world famous works of art. If you want to dive into the lives of amazing artists, the story of Kahlo is just one of many wonderful biographies about artists. 

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