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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%
    by Zoe Howe
    £13.49

    Lyrical visionary, enduring style icon and one indispensable fifth of post- Peter Green megaband Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks is one of the most recognisable figures in rock 'n' roll history - very much Fleetwood Mac's 'Queen Bee', as Mick Fleetwood himself describes her.

  • Save 10%
    - Football. My Story. My Life.
    by Tony Adams
    £8.99

    The eagerly anticipated new autobiography from Arsenal and England legend Tony Adams.

  • Save 17%
    - Talking Race, Love, and Liberation
    by Rev. angel Kyodo Williams
    £9.99

  • Save 23%
    - The Disastrous Story of The Hollywood Brats
    by Andrew Matheson
    £15.49

    The Hollywood Brats are the greatest band you've never heard of. Recording one near - perfect punk album in 1974, they were tragically ahead of their time. This is memoir about never quite achieving success, despite flying so close to greatness.

  • Save 17%
    by Bernard Sumner
    £9.99

    Includes an account of Bernard's Salford childhood, the early days of Joy Division, the band's enormous critical and popular success, and the subsequent tragic death of Ian Curtis.

  • Save 15%
    - From Runaway Puppy to the World's Most Heroic Dog
    by Damien Lewis
    £10.99

    The impossibly moving story of how Judy, World War Two's only animal POW, brought hope in the midst of hell.

  • Save 21%
    by Dennis McNally
    £14.99

    The Grateful Dead were one of the most fascinating rock bands and cultural phenomena of the twentieth century. Not just a brilliant rock biography, it forms a compelling portrait of America's West Coast from the halcyon days of Magic Buses and Merry Pranksters to the corporate dawn of the twenty-first century.

  • Save 14%
    by Martin Pistorius
    £9.49

    Compelling memoir of a young man who emerged from the darkness of being locked into his body after doctors had given up on him

  • Save 10%
    - When the Laughter Stops
    by Emily Herbert
    £8.99

    Robin Williams, a compelling book written by Emily Herbert, was published in 2014 by John Blake Publishing Ltd. This book takes you on a journey through the life of the legendary comedian and actor, Robin Williams. Emily Herbert, with her unique storytelling ability, paints a vivid picture of Williams' life, capturing his highs and lows, his triumphs and tragedies. The book is written in English and is a must-read for anyone interested in the life and career of this iconic figure. It is a captivating exploration of Williams' life, making it a valuable addition to any book collection. Don't miss out on this fascinating read from John Blake Publishing Ltd.

  • Save 13%
    - In Search of Lost Genomes
    by Svante Paabo
    £13.99

    A preeminent geneticist hunts the Neanderthal genome to answer the biggest question of them all: what does it mean to be human?

  • Save 14%
    - The Chilling True Story of an Ebola Outbreak
    by Richard Preston
    £9.49

    COMING TO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ON 27 MAY 2019_________In March 2014, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa was first reported.

  • Save 23%
    - Memories of My Mother's Kitchen
    by Luca Dotti
    £15.49

    New York Times BestsellerEnter Audrey Hepburn's private world in this unique New York Times bestselling biography compiled by her son that combines recollections, anecdotes, excerpts from her personal correspondence, drawings, and recipes for her favorite dishes written in her own hand, and more than 250 previously unpublished personal family photographs.Audrey at Home offers fans an unprecedented look at the legendary star, bringing together the varied aspects of her life through the food she loved?from her childhood in Holland during World War II, to her time in Hollywood as an actress and in Rome as a wife and mother, to her final years as a philanthropist traveling the world for UNICEF.Here are fifty recipes that reflect Audrey's life, set in the context of a specific time, including Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream?a celebration of liberation in Holland at the end of the war; Penne alla Vodka?a favorite home-away-from-home dish in Hollywood; Turkish-style Sea Bass?her romance with and subsequent marriage to Andrea Dotti; Boeuf à la Cuillère?Givenchy's favorite dish, which she'd prepare when he'd visit her in Switzerland; and Mousse au Chocolat?dinner at the White House. Audrey also loved the basics: Spaghetti al Pomodoro was an all-time favorite, particularly when returning home from her travels, as was a dish of good vanilla ice cream. Each recipe is accompanied by step-by-step instructions, including variations and preparation tips, anecdotes about Audrey and her life, and a poignant collection of photographs and memorabilia.Audrey at Home is a personal scrapbook of Audrey's world and the things she loved best?her children, her friends, her pets. It is a life that unfolds through food, photographs, and intimate vignettes in a sophisticated and lovely book that is a must for Audrey Hepburn fans and food lovers.

  • Save 24%
    by Pierre Berge
    £18.99

    Pierre Berge, longtime partner of Yves Saint Laurent in life and in business, remembers their years together in Morocco in this charming, intimate illustrated journal.

  • Save 21%
    - The Biography
    by Adam Sisman
    £13.49

    The definitive biography of the undisputed giant of English literature, a man whose own true history has long been hidden behind the fictional world of his books'Compendious and compelling ... it is impossible to imagine this Life being bettered' WILLIAM BOYD, NEW STATESMAN'Smiley himself could not have done a better job' SUNDAY TIMESLong after The Spy Who came in from the Cold made John le Carré a worldwide, bestselling sensation, David Cornwell, the man behind the pseudonym, remained an enigma. In this definitive biography, written with unprecedented access to the man himself, Adam Sisman offers an illuminating portrait of a fascinating and enigmatic writer.In Cornwell's lonely childhood, Adam Sisman uncovers the origins of the themes of love and abandonment which dominated le Carré's fiction: the departure of his mother when he was five, followed by 'sixteen hugless years' in the dubious care of his father, a man of energy and charm, a serial seducer and conman who hid the Bentleys in the trees when the bailiffs came calling - a 'totally incomprehensible father' who could 'put a hand on your shoulder and the other in your pocket, both gestures equally sincere'. And in Cornwell's adult life - from recruitment by both MI5 and MI6, through marriage and family life, to his emergence as the master of the spy novel - Sisman explores the idea of espionage and its significance in human terms; the extent to which betrayal is acceptable in exchange for love; and the endless need for forgiveness, especially from oneself.Written with exclusive access to David Cornwell, to his private archive and to the most important people in his life - family, friends, enemies, intelligence ex-colleagues and ex-lovers - and featuring a wealth of previously unseen photographic material, Adam Sisman's extraordinarily insightful and constantly revealing biography brings in from the cold a man whose own life was as complex and confounding and filled with treachery as any of his novels. 'I'm a liar,' Cornwell once wrote. 'Born to lying, bred to it, trained to it by an industry that lies for a living, practised in it as a novelist.'This is the definitive biography of a major writer, described by Richard Osman as 'just the finest, wisest storyteller we had.'

  • Save 27%
    by Blane
    £25.49

    Following an account of George Florovsky's life, this work provides: essays and analyses of his thought; a bibliography of his work; and descriptions of the deposits of his papers in t Princton University and St Vladimir's Seminary.

  • Save 20%
    - The Extraordinary Life of Douglas Bader, Battle of Britain Hero
    by Dilip Sarkar
    £11.99

    The truth & the myths about the legless Battle of Britain fighter ace

  • Save 14%
    by John Lydon
    £9.49

    Paperback edition of the autobiography of one of popular music's most recognizable and talked-about icons

  • Save 10%
    - Rise of a Legend
    by James Haydock
    £8.99

    There is a man blazing a trail across the silver screen, delivering performances of such blistering intensity that he has united critics and casual moviegoers alike. That man is Tom Hardy, and Living Life to the Max traces his rise to the top.

  • Save 19%
    - The incredible true story of a place where animals heal and children learn to hope
    by Ellie Laks
    £12.99

    The incredible true story of a place where animals heal and children learn to hope'When I started The Gentle Barn, some viewed it as a hobby or an obsession, some as an act of selfless devotion.

  • Save 10%
    by SN Behrman
    £8.99

  • Save 15%
    by Dave Pelzer
    £10.99

    Dave Pelzer's sequel to million-copy bestseller A CHILD CALLED 'IT'

  • Save 15%
    - The True Story of the CIA's Paranormal Espionage Programme
    by David Morehouse
    £10.99

    When David Morehouse - a highly decorated army officer - was hit by a stray bullet, he began to be plagued with visions and uncontrolled out-of-body experiences. As a consequence, he was recruited as a psychic spy for STARGATE, a highly classified programme of espionage instigated by the CIA and the US Defence Department. Trained to develop spiritual, clairvoyant capacities, he became one of a select band of 'remote viewers' in pursuit of previously unattainable political and military secrets. When Morehouse discovered that the next step in the top-secret programme was 'remote influencing' - turning 'viewers' like himself into deadly weapons - he rebelled. In his efforts to expose the programme, he and his family endured the full force of the US intelligence community's attempts to silence him. As the multi-million-dollar STARGATE scandal was exposed to the world, Morehouse himself became the enemy of the secret services...In Psychic Warrior one of STARGATE's 'viewers' finally reveals the extraordinary truth of this secret operation. Originally published in 1996, there is a continuing demand for David Morehouse's story in the U.K. Out of print for over a year, this new edition of Psychic Warrior features a new foreword by the author.

  • Save 20%
    by Dave Pelzer
    £11.99

    The concluding volume of Dave Pelzer's million-copy bestselling memoir.

  • Save 14%
    by Paul Lake
    £9.49

    Earmarked as an England captain in the making, Paul became a target for top clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool, but he always stayed loyal to his beloved club, deeming Maine Road the spiritual home at which his destiny lay. But then, in September 1990, disaster struck.

  • Save 15%
    - To Hell and Back With One Of Rock's Most Notorious Frontmen
    by Vince Neil
    £10.99

    An explosive biography of one of America's most notorious bands - Moetley Crue.

  • Save 21%
    - The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest
    by Wade Davis
    £14.99

    WINNER OF THE 2012 SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZEA monumental work of history, biography and adventure - the First World War, Mallory and Mount Everest'The price of life is death' For Mallory, as for all of his generation, death was but 'a frail barrier that men crossed, smiling and gallant, every day'.

  • Save 20%
    by Dave Roberts
    £11.99

    Packing his collection of football programmes (1,134 of them - football fans are sticklers for statistics), Dave is aghast to be informed that the programmes do not fall into that category.

  • Save 20%
    by Stanley Booth
    £11.99

    'The one authentic masterpiece of rock 'n' roll writing' Peter Guralnick

  • - The Unauthorized Biography of Joan Jett
    by Dave Thompson
    £14.99

    BAD REPUTATION - BIOGRAPHY OF JOAN JETT

  • Save 21%
    - Margaret Thatcher: From Grocer's Daughter to Iron Lady
    by John Campbell
    £13.49

    Traces the life of Britain's only female Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, from her upbringing in Grantham to her unexpected challenge to Edward Heath for leadership of the Conservative party and her eventual removal from power.

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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