Product Description
The book that defines a band that defined a generation.During 1967 and 1968 Hunter Davies spent eighteen months with the Beatles at the peak of their powers as they defined a generation and rewrote popular music. As their only authorized biographer, he had unparalleled access—not just to John, Paul, George, and Ringo but also to friends, family, and colleagues. Davies collected a wealth of intimate and revealing material that still makes this the classic Beatles book—the one all other biographers look to. He remained close with the band and had access to more information over the years. This edition brings the story up-to-date with new material on the Beatles's solo careers and lives, as well as the stories of many other people who appear in the book. Drawing on new material from the author's archives and from the Beatles themselves, including a newly discovered song lyric by George Harrison, this edition brings new insights to the Beatles legend. 69 black-and-white photographs ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

written back in 1968: its almost like a sweet time bubble
This book is a fun read! Full of wonderful photos (including plenty of young pre-fab Four and Hamburg days) AND even a few letters (hand-written notes to the author from John, Paul's teenage-years letters hyping up their band, etc)

What really sets it apart from other Beatles books is the author having an amazing opportunity to talk to his subjects back then and there (and their parents! and Astrid!) Before the "ugly divorce" breakup, before John was ret-conning his life every-other interview, before "everyone knows my history better than I do" set in on Paul's memory, before George got extra bitter & "didn't wanna be a star, wanted just to play guitar" set...

_ahem_ where was I, oh yes, this book! Its full of interesting notes about their childhoods, some rather silly fly-on-the-wall descriptions of how certain songs were written and came to be, a great new chapter written in 1985 looking back and another in 2002 on how the Fab Four fandom just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Plus a few notes on why the biographies aren't as complete as current ones. Everyone involved back in the day wanted certain negative bits removed (John's auntie Mimi was SICK with worry over John's childhood memories coming off too wicked or bad. Of course she had her say in some edits too)

Bonus points for having plenty of Ringo chapters. Somehow, most Beatles books focus 75% on John/Paul with 20% of George and barely 3 sentences of Ringo. Not Mr Davies, oh no! Ringo gets equal billing of childhood stories, home tour and the like

Beatles
This was an amazingly informative book. I enjoyed every minute of it and found it hard to put down. It was intelligently written and offered lots of information about the Beatles that even as a lifelong fan of the Four I had not heard before. It seemed to transport me to that time and place. I particularly found it fascinating to read of each Beatle's early lives and the struggles they went through to attain the pinnacle. It is the story of a time and place that will never happen again. I highly recommend this book to any true fan of the Beatles. The Beatles and their music are magic and an are integral part of our lives.

Fun and first hand
Though not what I would call the "definitive" 3rd party Beatles history, Davies' book is still worthy of reading.Because it was actually written while the Beatles were together, and because Davies had first hand access to the Boys, this book has a certain charm that makes it worthwhile.The style is intimate, lighthearted, and easy-going.

What sticks in my head when I read this book is the fact that it was written before the bitter breakup.Granted, the White Album era had its tensions (though these are not discussed in this book, a tasteful decision) but because this book doesn't have to end with "and then they broke up" it exists like a strange time capsule.In this book the Beatles will be together forever, good friends, jamming in the studio and enjoying a legendary camaraderie.

That's not to say that this book is a lie...it just focuses on the positive aspects of the relationship that existed between those four guys. And because Davies had first hand access to the Beatles while writing it he was around for some very intimate, personal moments.Reading this book is the equivalent of being at a party with the Beatles and having the bonus of them all being in good moods.

Now, at heart this is a Beatles history book.It's not the best in this respect, even though the author had such great access to the Beatles, largely because the material is too glossy and PR oriented to be relied upon as the sole source of ones Beatle knowledge.It's like looking at the Beatles phenomenon through rose-colored glasses; not that seeing the Beatles "warts and all" is so great, just more balanced.

Still, even though the Beatles had to "approve" this book before publication (resulting in a little fab censorship, I suspect) I think it is worth a read.The style is so casual and conversational that the text flows smoothly, and I can guarantee it won't be like any other Beatles history you've seen.This book is less academic and more accessible. It was not created to be comprehensive, but rather readable.

Just like Mikey used to say about Life cereal "try it, you'll like it."And if you don't, well, sell it on Amazon and get your money back.

Of the few essential books and biographies
about The Beatles, this is one.Excellent and balanced.Another is "Shout!The Beatles in Their Generation".Both -- note -- were written by journalists who actually knew The Beatles over years, and were appreciated because they weren't sensationalizers or backstabbers.

Those two stand head and shoulders above the trashy "The Love You Make," the author of which Lennon said only came in at the tail end, took three-martini lunches, and was one of those angered by the break-up because it ended the "gravy train".

Those sorts of realities about books about The Beatles are essential for those who don't realize the relative qualities of the books and authors of them, and as result fall for the Browns, Goldmans, and Guilianos.Do a little additional research and determine, for example, how many authors of books about The Beatles claim to have been "insiders" but in fact could not have been.(How many "fifth Beatles" were there?One would guess "One," right?It must be hundreds by now, most of whom never even met The Beatles, let alone got their autographs.)

This is one of the few essentials.Read it and rely on it as a measure against all the others.

The classic first intimate biography of the Beatles
Ah, I remember first reading this classic biography in the early 1980's, and reading it over and over again. I was a pre-teen and had just become a Beatles freak - - I'd thought I found the holy grail. It didn't occur to me until much later that this was an authorized biography, written from a fan's perspective. As such, looking back on it, it succeeds. Hunter Davies was there with the Beatles, knew McCartney fairly well and hung out with all of them for a time. He could've really written a major work had he waited till after the break up, but chose to get it out quickly and after approval from the Beatles. It is very intimate and light, the structure allows for a breezy and anecdotal approach. The Beatles really talk to the public of 1968 in a serious and intimate way that they hadn't done in their many press conferences. Emphasis apparently on early years, their rise as Davies puts it, and on the magazine style profiles of each Beatle (to 1968). The chapter on George Harrison is surprisingly thorough on his new found religious beliefs. It does include an update for the break up and decades following, but this adds little. (besides, Peter Brown's more gossipy "Love You Make" handles that period better)
It's rather weak on the incredible development of the Beatles music from LP to LP, and devotes one brief chapter on it - - actually, that he was present at a couple of John and Paul's songwriting sessions is a plus. Otherwise, Davies is rather hopeless in giving readers insight on this vital area of Beatles.But to be fair very few have succeeded in discussing the Beatles music anyway. (OK, I'll give a nod to Mellers, Schafner and McDonald)
I also like the photos in this book, as they complement the introductory nature of the text very well, especally as done in this "illustrated" edition.
Overall, I still consider this a great book (hence the 5 stars), a nostalgic favorite of mine -- the 2nd book I'd ever read on the Beatles (Miles' "Beatles In Their Own Words" was 1st), when I was hungry like a pig for more. I recommend this to be the first book new fans read if they're seriously interested in the history of the great Beatles. This will do!
... Read more

Product Description
Picture postcards have been in existence almost as long as professional football, but no one has brought the two together until now. In "Postcards from the Edge of Football", distinguished football writer Hunter Davies explores the history of the game through soccer cards in their various forms. This expansive collection illustrates the heroic players, the great clubs and the most memorable events, while also illuminating the lesser-known teams and players to feature on postcards. Everything from the arrival of new strips to the latest fashions and the rise of women footballers is documented, and, in a wider context, the social history of football and its importance in our national life can be identified, as can the changing attitudes towards the game and its history. The golden age of postcards was from 1900 to the 1930s, when millions of them were sent by all social classes. There were photographic studios in every high street, and travelling photographers would capture teams or individuals in their best strip; then copies would be sent on to family and friends.While the football-postcard phenomenon has been eclipsed in recent years by modern technology, these cards remain sought after by collectors. With "Postcards from the Edge of Football", Hunter Davies has produced an intriguing, lavishly illustrated history of the football postcard that will appeal to soccer fans and the general reader alike. ... Read more

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First published in 1995 and with full access to Wainwright's private letters, Hunter Davies tells the story of the shy and elusive fellwalking cartographer with affection and charm, revealing a far more complex man - passionate, witty and generous - than anyone previously suspected. ... Read more

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Special as much for its scenic beauty as for the literary and artistic creativity it has inspired, the lake District is one of the best known places in Britain -- or is it? Hunter Davies walked among its mountains and valleys and rediscovered what he thought he knew welll. In A Walk Around the Lakes he retells his long and extraordinary journey, recapturing the varied beauty of the land and the people he met along the way. Using Wordsworth himself as a second narrative, he offers a complete and alluring appreciation of the Lake District and its great heritage past and present, whether you are walking or not. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Just a Gem of a Book
The title page identifies the author as "the man who traveled with the Beatles for sixteen months to write their authorized story in 1968, [who now in 1978] brings old and new fans up-to-date with this revised edition of the best-selling biography."And that is precisely how this book reads--like the work of someone who really spent time with the boys, who took the time to know them early in their famous career, and who can quote them and their parents, friends, and wives from unguarded, taped interviews.Thank goodness for Hunter Davies, otherwise much of this youthful innocence might not have been captured.

The book is written in three parts.The first, Liverpool, traces each member of the group from family roots, through their growing up and meeting each other, until Ringo finally joins the Beatles just on the brink of first fame.Davies is to be credited for his adept portrayals of each personality, not just of the "Fab Four" but of those who surrounded them.You get vivid depictions of John's preening absentee father Fred, for example, and his stern but loving Aunt Mimi.Equally, you get a sense of their lower-to-middle-class upbringing, which helps to set the book in context as the lads adjusted--or refused to conform--to the new standards expected of them once fame hit.Just one instance is when Ringo and his wife were seated far apart at a posh dinner, as per the style of the upper class:"I said oh no.Come over here, luv.Very funny people [them]."The second part, London and the World, chronicles the era that was Beatlemania at its peak:#1 hits one after the other, touring and playing to record-breaking crowds and profits, fans who never left them in peace, seeking enlightenment with the Maharishi, and Brian Epstein's untimely death.Readers these days might think that this era was sanitized a bit, as the group's drug use and promiscuous sex and Epstein's being gay are all just mentioned in passing.But I disagree; it was simply not the style in 1968 to promote such details as it is today.They are in there, but not glaringly so.

But my absolutely favorite section came at the end, called simply 1968.Keep in mind, this was while they were all still with their first spouses (if you give Paul credit for his long-but-unmarried relationship with Jane Asher) and had just barely started leading independent lifestyles.The author explores in depth what they did for their parents once they could afford to do anything, how they hoped to expand their empire through Apple and making movies, and even how they wrote their timeless music.And a full chapter of character sketch is given to John, Paul, George, and Ringo at this turning point in their lives.It's the quotes that make each come to life.A few examples:(J) "I'm an expert at [not communicating].I can get up and start doing nothing straight away.I can just sit on the step and look into space and think until it's time to go to bed [never having said a word to anyone, even my wife and child, all day]."(P) "The thing is, we're all really the same person.We're just four parts of the one.We're individuals, but we make up together The Mates, which is one person."(G)"I don't personally enjoy being a Beatle anymore.All that sort of Beatles thing is trivial and unimportant.I'm fed up with all this me-us-I stuff and all the meaningless things we do."(R)"I don't think women like to be equal.They like to be protected and in turn they like looking after men.That's how it is."

Davies' update of the book in 1978 is short (just 10 pages) but very interesting.By then, the Beatles had broken up but he can't tell us which one left "first," because they all took a walk at one point or another.As to why they broke up?He fingers Yoko Ono as the main cause.Paul, perhaps unfairly, was blamed in the dust-up over who would oversee their business affairs, Allen Klein or Lee Eastman (Paul's new father-in-law).The other three backed Klein, although "in the end they appear to have agreed with Paul about Klein" as not having their best interests at heart.Paul married Linda, John went avant garde with Yoko, George got more religious, and Ringo kept trying to find his niche (which came later with Barbara Bach).Davies identifies Paul at the one who, up until the end, tried hardest to keep the group together and who had the most success in the initial years after the break-up.But we are now 30+ years past all that, and this book is lovely as a time capsule.Knowing that John and George died tragically, that Paul suffered through Linda's death and his later debacle with Heather Mills, and that Ringo battled addiction--well, this is just a lovely still life, a happy moment in time when all of that was yet to come . . .

Sanitzed Beatle Biography - Still Life of the Beatles
Although this book captures the Beatles like a still life, it is an excellent starter biography of the World's Best Band.This book takes readers down the Long & Winding Road of each Beatle; readers learn about the Beatles' origins and immediate families.

The photographs are delightful; one smiles at young John Lennon, instantly recognizable.Paul with his younger brother is easy to identify as is Ringo as a very young boy.George, a winsome lad with thick, wavy hair is readily recognizable - a picture of George at his first dance in 1958 shows a well groomed boy with the trademark smile and profusion of wavy hair.Readers are treated to the "maturation" or progression of each Beatle.

The book dodges many a sharpened dart; there are no salacious stories or affairs reported in this Beatle biography.It is a cleanly framed portrait of the boys who formed the World's Greatest Band and readers will undoubtedly enjoy this one.

Frozen in time, it offers a one-of-a-kind perspective
I read this book with great enthusiasm.Its age gives it a unique and fascinating historical perspective.John and Cynthia were still married, Apple was a brand new venture, the Apple Boutique was still in business, "Magic" Alex was still an "electronics expert," Jane Asher had not yet consigned the early Lennon-McCartney notebooks to the trash, and Brian Epstein was still in the closet.The narrative is obviously sanatized, but it also contains interviews with Aunt Mimi and Fred Lennon and others.At times it reads like a well-researched term paper, but the frozen-in-time point of view gave it a special charm that any fan will enjoy and appreciate. ... Read more

Product Description
An affectionate but frank portrait of the inspired, self-taught, often testy and pig-headed Geordie, Financial Times George Stephenson and his famous Rocket are both household names, and yet the man behind the birth of the railways is still a shadowy figure to most people. Until this book, little had been written about him since Samuel Smiles's biography in 1857. Hunter Davies set out to remedy this. After three years of research, he has created a memorable human portrait not only of a great Victorian, but also of an original and remarkable man. ... Read more

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Behind every ritual of every day - waking from a dream, calling the dog in, going for a drink after work - there are figures listing the most common dreams, the most popular names for male and female dogs and the preferred afterwork activities of various people. In an all-new approach to the list format, Hunter Davies explores these quirky and compulsive statistics and their meanings, dispensing knowledge on every topic from the top 10 breakfast cereals (and the amount every household eats each year) to the things people want to do before they die. If you want to know what doctors' slang really means, which postcards will have sold out at the Tate Gallery, what to pack if you're ever going to join the Women's Air Force, and what on earth the Twelve Days Of Christmas actually refer to - buy this book. ... Read more

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Originally stetching across the neck of England for over seventy miles, Hadrian's Wall is the most important Roman monument in Britain. Set in a wild, dramatic landscape, it is now a World Heritage Site, one of the wonders of the world, and stands as a reminder of the past glories of a mighty civilisation. Hunter Davies grew up at one end of the wall and was inevitably drawn to walk its length. His charming, part history, part guidebook and part personal experience, portrays the area and its inhabitants as they are today, and gives readers a taste of what life was like in this remote part of Britain 2000 years ago. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Delightful Book
Hunter Davies wrote this book in 1974 about his walk along Hadrian's Wall in the UK.He introduces the reader to a wide variety of interesting and sometimes annoying characters with whom he met on his series of walks which took place between 1973 and 1974.Some of his characters such as Professor Birley (Vindolanda Roman site) have a great love for all things Roman and then you will meet the landowner who wishes the wall would just disappear.
Davies wrote in the introduction about what has since happened to some of the people that he met during his walk along Hadrian's Wall in his introduction of the book.If you have an interest in Roman Britain, Davies presents his historical information in an easy to read style of writing. ... Read more

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Focusing on the people involved in ten of the biggest wins, this book follows the lives of winners of the National Lottery over their first year as millionaires, exploring how they come to terms with their change in lifestyle. It also looks at those who make a living from the lottery - Camelot, Oflot and Lenny Lottery - and the 30 million people who participate each week. ... Read more

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In this book, Scotland and British Lions coach Ian McGeechan provides an in-depth, controversial account of a life devoted to Rugby Union. The autobiography culminates in a first-hand account of the 1993 British Lions tour of New Zealand - very much an insider's view. This book follows the extraordinary successful year of 'Geech' from his upbringing - and Rugby League influences - in Headingley, through to his evolution as an international and British Lions player. Along the way he discusses the 1989 Lions tour of Australia, Scotland's unforgettable 1990 Grand Slam and recent Home Internationals as well as the Lions New Zealand Tour. He assesses the comments on the players and the issues in a rapidly changing game. As testament to the reverence and respect in which Ian McGeechan is held in World Rugby, Bob Dwyer, the Wallabies World Cup coach, provides an introduction to this volume. ... Read more

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In 1942, at the height of the railway age, there were 19,000 miles of track in Britain and 7,000 stations. Now there are only 10,000 miles left and 2,000 stations. But the result is almost 8,000 miles of disused railway lines waiting to be explored. Over the course of a year Hunter Davies walked along ten lines, some of them like public parks, others neglected and gone completely wild. In many ways, it is the most original and exciting walk he's ever taken, not just as a piece of nostalgia, invoking memories of a bygone age, but in discovering and revealing what he considers to be one of our greatest natural heritages for generations to come. From the Somerset and Dorset to the Ally Pally Railway, from the Wye Valley to the Deeside Line, A WALK ALONG THE TRACKS is a vivid account of a unique journey recapturing the glories of the railway age. ... Read more

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Set in a North London Comprehensive, the "S.T.A.R.S." series follows the lives and loves of a group of typical 17-year-olds - in and out of school. This book revolves around St Andrew's 6th form summer prom and preparation for the holidays. Davies has also written a teenage novel, "Saturday Night". ... Read more

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S.T.A.R.S. - meaning St Andrew's Road School - is a realistic soap series for teenagers. The stories follow the lives and loves of a group of typical 17-year-olds. ... Read more

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Furthur adventures of ten-year old Flossie Teacake who mysteriously turns into sophisticated, eighteen-year-old Floz whenever she tries on her sister Bella's fur coat. ... Read more

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The standard popular biography of his life and work, based on his letters and diaries of Wordworth and his sister Dorothy, and of their contemporaries Coleridge and Southey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A highly readable and insightful biography of the great poet
Hunter Davies set out to write a popular biography of Wordsworth. He indicates at the outset that this is not going to be a work of literary criticism, that it is not going to focus on the development of Wordsworth's poetry.
This present work nonetheless inhelping the reader understand Wordsworth the person, also helps us understand Wordsworth the Poet.
Wordsworth was orphaned from his father at the age of eight, and from his mother at the age of thirteen. He was supported by relatives who did not approve of his behavior as a child and young person. He was exceptionally independent and often rebellious child.
When his mother died he was separated from his siblings. Only at the age of seventeen did he come to see them all together again. And here began one of the most significant relationships of his life, with his sister Dorothy. She would be for him the companion of his youthful years, the great souled fellow explorer of nature and inspirer of his Poetry. She would remain even after he married Mary Hutchinson a central figure in his everyday life. For the last twenty years of that life Wordsworth and his wife cared for her. This after she had lost her mind and sat all day in her wheelchair.
One important theme that runs through this work concerns Wordsworth as family man, as good brother, as faithful loving husband, as caring father.
Wordsworth 's life too has important friendships at its center. The greatest and most creatively important is with Coleridge. Davies tells the story of their work together on 'The Lyrical Ballads', and of the many years they were close. Coleridge had a central role in recognizing and promoting his friend's genius. It may well even be that Coleridge feeling Wordsworth the far greater poet ceased writing poetry of his own because of this. Coleridge's great poems , 'Kubla Khan', 'The Ancient Mariner' are part of the "Lyrical Ballads'. But most of the twenty- three poems are Wordsworth including the very great 'Tintern Abbey'
Davies also gives us a good sense of Wordsworth's character and of the transformation with the years from revolutionary youth to more conservative figure. Wordsworth too went from financial dependency and relative poverty in his early years to greater prosperity towards the end of his life. He went from being an orphan to becoming the head of a family which included besides his wife and children two other women, his sister Dorothy and Coleridge's longed- for- one Sara Fricker. The story of how the far more gregarious talkative social Coleridge came to greater loneliness with the years- and how the more taciturn Wordsworth came to build a rich home in which he had much feminine support is told movingly by Davies.
Wordsworth's friends Southey, Lamb, Coleridge DeQuincey considered him to have lived a fortunate and happy life. This was in one sense true. But he also knew terrible losses with the years. His sailor brother John's death was a blow he recovered from only with great difficulty. He and his wife lost two young children in a year. This too devastated him. The last blow was the death of his beloved daughter Dora at the age of thirty- seven. Still Wordsworth lived to the age of eighty , in relatively good health most of the years. He also knew great renown and recognition in his latter years. And his relationship with his wife Mary only seemed to grow stronger with the years, and was one of true love and mutual respect. He who always had a special caring for children lived to see five grandchildren, the children of his eldest son, John.
Wordsworth despite the great popularity he would one day have did not have a smooth path to recognition and acceptance as a Poet. His work was for many years harshly criticized and ridiculed. The 1807 edition of his Poems received ten negative reviews and not a single good one. But Wordsworth had equanimity and confidence. The calm sublime of his Poetry was apparently that of his character also. Weathered, rugged looking Wordsworth who even in his latter years would walk twenty miles a day was a pillar of inner and outer strength. The great Poetry and most believe it was created in the decade from roughly 1797 to 1807 has stood the test of time. His life as portrayed in this biography was that of a person of virtue, principle and great genius.
Igreatly enjoyed this work. It has given me a much fuller and complete sense of Wordsworth's life and work than I had had before.

enjoyable and enlightening
Davies has written a very good book. The book is intelligent, fair and kind and thorough. It seems that all the major relationships of Wordsworth's life are carefully described. Relationships with his sister,Dorothy; his wife, Mary Hutchinson; his French amour Annette Villon andtheir daughter are all carefully desribed. His brothers, his children,Coleridge, Robert Southey, Walter Scott are all part of his life, andinsightfully presented in the book. Davies writes well about the Lakedistrict, and Wordsworth's business dealings. It is a good, solid, well-rounded portrayal of Wordsworth. The poetry is not analyzed, but introducedand placed in the context of the poet's life. At the end, I likedWordsworthvery much and will be happy to read more of his poetry. I wouldgive the book 4 1/2 stars if it were possible.

Look elsewhere for a satisfying read...
This disappointing and tedious book about Wordsworth's life and timeslacks insight and warmth.The author is a dabbler whose books' topicsinclude fiction, the Beatles, and a hiker's guide to the Lakes District. The current book grew out of the author's research for his hiking guide,when he discovered that there was no other detailed, non-academicWordsworth biography.In essence, the book is a calculated businessventure rather than an expression of the author's interest in,knowledge of,or love for Wordsworth.To his credit, the author is frank about thesefacts, although his uninspired text could not have hidden them.The bookis flawed by unnecessary and uninsightful speculation on the one hand andon the other by a general lack of sensitivity to the profound beauty ofWordsworth's work.The author's narrative style is dry, lifeless anduninspired, and Americans will be particularly put off by its distinctlyBritish flavor, which can only be regarded as a provincial flaw in a bookoffered to general readers in the global market.Spelling, word choice,turn of phrase, and the assumed context are so distinctly British as toleave American readers feeling that they are overhearing a joke which theydo not quite understand.Many Americans will find the book inaccessiblefor this reason.A much better choice is Penelope Hughes-Hallett's"Home At Grasmere", which is warm, sensitive and well written. ... Read more