Lionel Bart was a writer and composer of British pop music and musicals; best known for creating the book; music and lyrics for Oliver!He also wrote the famous songs Living Doll (Cliff Richard) and From Russia With Love (Matt Munroe).He was unable to read music. He was a millionaire aged thirty in the Sixties; bankrupt in the Seventies and died in 1999.The authors gained exclusive access to Bartrsquo;s personal archives ndash; his unfinished autobiography; his letters and scrapbooks.They detail how he signed away the rights to Oliver! to finance his new musical Twang ndash; based on Robin Hood - which flopped badly in the theatre.Reveal how his heavy drinking led to diabetes and how he died in 1999 aged 69 from liver cancer.They have interviewed his personal secretaries; friends; family; counsellors and many of the performers; musicians and producers who worked with him.Interviewees include Rocky Horrorrsquo;s Richard Orsquo;Brien and actors Dudley Sutton and Nigel Planer.
#586949 in eBooks 2012-05-29 2012-05-29File Name: B006ID02J2
Review
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful. More than expectedBy PaulineWith Women From the Ankle Down in hand. I had expected to be entertained by a soft. fun romp through the world of womens shoes; good bedtime reading. I was so pleasantly surprised to find that once I began reading what Ms. Bergstein chronicled. I couldnt put the book down. Far more than (and in addition to) an overview of womens relationship with their shoes and the fun of connecting different shoe styles to womens differing identities. I was experiencing a cultural analysis of how the zeitgeist of our country had changed over almost a century. I was given a cohesive view of woman in their struggles and triumphs within that time frame. Taking the journey via Ms. Bergsteins very apt. entertaining and intelligent writing style. I felt sorry for all of the Rosies who had to give back to the men not only their riveters. their work clothes. and their "practical" shoes. but also their new found sense of empowerment. I ached for the eventual emotional deadness and pill-popping inclinations of the 50s housewife who "had" to look a certain way each day for her husband. down to her heels. I adored the back story of the Ruby Slippers and the making of the Wizard of Oz. Overall. Bergsteins book has layers of experience. I found it to be a thoroughly pleasurable and compelling read - both smart and entertaining - unexpectedly thought provoking. and a book that any woman can relate to and enjoy.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. She LOVES stiletto heels - the higher the better- and I thought this was perfect for herBy mourning doveI bought this as a graduation gift for a former supervisor of mine who is getting her doctorate. She LOVES stiletto heels - the higher the better- and I thought this was perfect for her. I was a little disappointed that there were not more pictures. but the information is top notch. and each chapter does begin with a line drawing of an appropriate shoe for that chapter.I bought one copy for her and another for me. and I am not at all sorry that I chose this gift for her. I really hope that she will read it because its not just a lot of dry information. it is written in a very engaging and enjoyable way and really does touch on many areas of life and history besides just shoes. I will thoroughly enjoy finishing my copy and keeping on my bookshelf for future reference.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. OK. But Skipped A LotBy Heidi Crabtree aka ScoundrelThe first parts were interesting. more intersting than I thought. Author hit on some ideas about 1950s stilettos that I had not thought of. Once the book went into the 70s and later. tone changed. The entire decade of the 80s. at least the chapter on it. was dull. When I was in high school and college in the 80s. the big shoes for youth anyway were Bass pennyloafers. "boat shoes" usually worn without socks. generic gym shoes. and if you were a cheerleader or a drill team member. we would wear those saddles with our jeans. Working women wore more conservative heels or colored Reebok hitops on weekends. No mention of these shoes. Instead we read and read and read about Blahniks. Let me say this. if you couldnt care less about Sex and the City. the chapter is useless. Actually I went through 3-4 pages on my Kindle several times without seeing a mention of shoes. The 1980s were more than Converse and checkerboard Vans. I managed to get through that decade without owning either one! No mention of boots in the 70s either. Yes. weve seen the Courreges style go-go boots on the Shindig dancers. but as I recall. you HAD to have suede boots in the 70s to go with your gauchos and suede trench. as well as a pair of painful cowboy boots later in the decade.Perhaps its not possible to write about every shoe style. but I was struck at someone discussing the 1980s and skipping the Bass obsession.
