New books biography
The Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa wrote prolifically throughout his life, but often under a series of assumed names and identities, which he called 'heteronyms. Here, the renowned translator and Pessoa scholar offers an insight into Pessoa's teeming imagination and polyphonous genius by tracing the back stories of his alter egos, recasting them as projections of Pessoa's inner tensions—social, sexual, and political.
Born Igor Peschkowsky to a Jewish family in s Berlin, Nichols immigrated to the United States as a child, where his incredible drive saw him rise through the social ranks; by 35 he lived in a New York City penthouse overlooking Central Park, with a Rolls Royce, a string of Arabian horses, and a circle of friends that included Richard Burton and Jackie Kennedy.
Mark Harris draws on interviews with more than of Nichols' contemporaries to tells this story of a complicated man and his tumultuous career. The historian and best-selling author Keisha N. Blain examines the life and work of the Black activist Fannie Lou Hamer, positioning her as a key political thinker alongside leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr.
The first English-language biography of Robert Walser, one of the great literary talents of the twentieth century. In Clairvoyant of the Small, Susan Bernofsky—his award-winning translator—offers a diligently researched and delicately written account of his life and work, setting him in the context of 20th century European history and modernist literature.
The Queen of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II, has been on the throne for 70 years, making her the world's longest-reigning monarch other than Louis XIV of France he came to the throne aged 4. Lots of events are taking place in the UK to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, including a number of new books about her life. We have an interview with royal biographer Robert Lacey on the best books about the Queen but it dates from a few years ago.
Robert Hardman's Queen of Our Times came out this year and offers a detailed look at her life from birth. The book is readable, chatty almost, and a good corrective to anyone who has watched the Netflix drama The Crownwhose "questionable accuracy" Hardman points out. Dostoevsky in Love: An Intimate Life by Alex Christofi tells the story of the great Russian novelist's life by brilliantly intertwining it with his own words, taken from where Dostoevsky's fiction is drawn from his own lived experience.
And it was quite some life: amongst other ups and downs, Dostoevsky was nearly executed and spent four years in a Siberian labour camp. You can read more in our interview with Alex Christofi on the best Dostoevsky books. Places of Mind is a biography of Edward Saidthe Palestinian intellectual who shot to prominence with his damning critique of how Westerners write about the East, Orientalismin The biography is written by his student and friend Timothy Brennan.
We've heard much about the crucial role that Theo van Gogh played in the life of his brother, Vincent. But Vincent also had three sisters who were a big influence on him. In fact, it was an argument with his eldest sister, Anna, that was the reason he left the Netherlands. This is their story. The Best Philosophy Books of Nigel WarburtonPhilosopher.
We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview. This site has an archive of new books biography than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week. Five Books participates in the Amazon Associate program and earns money from qualifying purchases.
Support Us. New Biography Last updated: January 10, The best new biographies. Best Biographies Buy now. Furman University professor Hecimovich worked with the tools of a gumshoe, the sensibilities of a literary scholar, the nuanced perspective of a historian, and the congeniality of a tour guide as he shared with readers his search through public records, handwritten diaries and almanacs, wills, and slave inventories.
He finally revealed the writer to be Hannah Bond, who had learned to read and write as an enslaved house servant in North Carolina before escaping to the North. Buy now Listen now. Chasing Beauty: The Life of Isabella Stewart Gardner by Natalie Dykstra Anyone who has visited Boston and is at all new books biography in art and museums will be aware of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, with its Venetian palace inner courtyard and extraordinary art collection, including works by Titian, Mantegna, Rembrandt, Vermeer some, sadly, stolen in an art heist inMatisse, Whistler and Sargent.
Milton Friedman: The Last Conservative by Jennifer Burns Milton Friedman by Jennifer Burns is a really interesting biography of the brilliant economist who, more than anyone, is credited with turning the idea that markets are good and governments are bad into a reigning ideology in many countries for the last half-century. This year, for the first time, there were two winners of the biography prize.
The first, Traces of Enayatby Iman Mersal translated into English by Robin Moger is an intriguingly uncategorisable book—equal parts biography, memoir, and speculation—that artfully and movingly portrays the life of Enayat al-Zayyat, a largely forgotten Egyptian writer who died by suicide in Have we missed anything? Let us know by getting in touch on social media.
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Cal Flyn is a writer, journalist, and the deputy editor of Five Books.
New books biography: The 5 Types of Wealth: Change
Islands of Abandonment: Life in the Post-Human Landscapeher nonfiction book about how nature rebounds in abandoned places, was shortlisted for numerous awards including the Baillie Gifford Prize, the Ondaatje Prize, and the British Academy Book Prize. She writes regular round-ups of the most notable new fiction, which can be found here.
July 10, at pm. The other one I am struggling with is Spiro Agnew.
New books biography: £ ; A Thousand Threads.
November 12, at pm. November 14, at am. December 2, at pm. Randy Taraborrelli. December 5, at pm. Douglas Dewey said:. February 13, at am. The highest ranked official in the history of the U. Navy, George Dewey, is getting a new biography. Smith author of a book on Audie Murphy, one of the most decorated soldiers in U. May 5, at pm. May 18, at am.
May 26, at pm. June 10, at pm. June 11, at am. SZ said:. June 30, at am. Jordan said:. September 19, at am. Publication due end of More exciting and relevant however, is his next book after that will be a biography of Benjamin Disraeli, which he has signed the contract for. Downside is publication estimate is So a bit of a wait.
Ronald M Park said:. September 27, at am. Jason Walker said:. December 19, at am. December 19, at pm. If it makes you feel any better, it will probably only be about pages excluding notes, bibliography, etc…. December 4, at pm. December 5, at am. Campbell Feb 4 W. Dwiggins W. Walker The Life of Samuel H. Blight John Brown [Currently untitled] by Walter Johnson [] This list is derived from sources believed to be accurate; dates and titles are subject to change prior to publication.
Like Loading Steve said: February 18, at am. Ronald Park said: July 31, at am. Steve said: August 3, at pm. HBM said: August 4, at pm. Nate Vercauteren said: August 21, at am. That looks great! Thanks for posting it. HBM said: March 6, at pm. Steve said: March 7, at am. Chris said: October 23, at pm. Ronald Park said: March 12, at am.
HBM said: March 12, at pm. Thank you for posting this as I completely missed it. Steve said: March 13, at pm. Redskullduggery said: June 12, at pm. HBM said: July 28, at pm. HBM said: March 25, at pm. HBM said: May 28, at pm. Very sad news concerning Edmund Morris:. HBM said: January 23, at am.
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JS said: March 30, at pm. Ronald Park said: October 13, at pm. HBM said: October 21, at pm.