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Dickens and Prince

A Particular Kind of Genius

Nick Hornby author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd

Published:2nd Nov '23

Should be back in stock very soon

Dickens and Prince cover

'A joyful examination of two artists from different centuries and the unlikely parallels in their life and work' Guardian

'An ardent fan letter from Hornby that makes you want to reread Great Expectations whilst listening to Sign o'the Times' Vogue

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The essential gift for lovers of Prince, Dickens and everyone in between!

In Nick Hornby's completely joyous and original new book two great figures share the stage. Charles Dickens and Prince. Two wildly different artists who caught fire and lit up the world in ways no others could. Where did their magic come from? How did they work so hard and produce so much? How did they manage or give in to the restlessness and intensity of their creativity? How did they use it, and did it kill them?

With wit, curiosity and deep admiration Nick Hornby traces their extraordinary lives - from their difficult beginnings to the women they fell for to their limitless energy for work, to their money and the movies - and brilliantly illuminates their very particular kind of genius.

'I love this. It's smart and funny and elegantly persuasive' Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, author of Becoming Dickens

A joyful examination of two artists from different centuries and the unlikely parallels in their life and work * Guardian *
Well, here's something you didn't expect - a joint biography of Charles Dickens and the pocket-sized popster Prince. And why not? The Fever Pitch chappie explores the nature of genius and what unites the inimitable Boz and the Imp of the Perverse * The Times, Best Books for Autumn *
I love this. It's smart and funny and elegantly persuasive -- Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, author of Becoming Dickens
From rocky beginnings to too-early endings, Hornby traces the lives of two very different artists and shows they have more in common than we might think. Dickens & Prince is a playful, illuminating book * The i, 40 Best Books to Read this Autumn *
An enjoyable and educational read that will leave fans of either figure positively enlightened * The Independent *
An ardent fan letter from Hornby that makes you want to reread Great Expectations whilst listening to Sign o'the Times * Vogue *
A winningly grounded manifesto for artists: forget the preciousness so often urged as the route to brilliance, and embrace prodigiousness instead – and don’t forget to make sure you get paid * Sunday Times *
Beneath the surface of this fascinating biography there lies a warm and wise craft book about what it takes to make great art in any century * Esquire *
A fascinating little book * Irish Times *
Hornby’s admiration for his subjects is infectious . . . a zesty tribute to two cultural legends not often spoken about in the same breath * Publishers Weekly *
This pairing – two magnificent creatives, centuries and genres apart – makes stunning sense in the hands of their wisest, wittiest fan * People Magazine *
Hornby’s love for the work, for the sheer unbelievably prodigal output of both artists, is intense. And when he does write about Prince and sexuality, he is almost jarringly illuminating, particularly when he wrestles with Prince as shapeshifting sexual avatar * Daily Beast *

ISBN: 9780241996478

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 6mm

Weight: 85g

112 pages