Biographies N to Q

Paul Newman: A Life
Shawn Levy
In Paul Newman: A Life, film critic and pop culture historian Shawn Levy gives readers the ultimate behind-the-scenes examination of the actor's life, from his merry pranks on the set to his lasting romance with Joanne Woodward to the devastating impact of his son's death from a drug overdose. Hardcover, 490 pp. $37.99.

Paul Newman: A Life in Pictures
Yann-Brice Dherbier & Pierre-Henri Verlhac
Including images by world-renowned photographers and intimate family snapshots, Paul Newman: A Life in Pictures offers a never-before-seen portrait of one of the most beloved actors of our times. This luxurious book draws together more than a hundred iconic and rarely seen photographs spanning a rich and gloriously varied life engaged in family, the cinema, car racing, and philanthropy. Behind-the-scenes photos of Newman with Hollywood cohorts such as Robert Redford, Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Poitier, and Barbara Streisand; action shots on the circuit, and impromptu pictures with friends and family are collected in this gorgeous volume. This collection puts the superstar's life and career in context and demonstrates the complexity of his persona far beyond the allure of those famous "baby blues." Accompanying the photos is a brief biography that illuminates the mystique of this man of many characters. From the private face to the public persona, Paul Newman: A Life in Pictures is the quintessential portrait of a legend. Hardcover, 205 pp. $50.00.

Paul Newman
Daniel O'Brien
Paul Newman's best known films, including The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and The Sting, are cherished both by movie lovers and within the wider culture. In this revealing biography, Daniel O'Brien offers a detailed summary of Newman's life and career thus far -- including his marriage to Joanne Woodward, his political activism and charity work, and his two wins at the Academy Awards. Softcover, 362 pp. $25.00.

Five Easy Decades
Dennis McDougal
In many ways, Jack Nicholson's story mirrors that of Hollywood. For fifty years - from J.J. Gittes to the Joker; Easy Rider to Five Easy Pieces; The Shining, Terms of Endearment, and A Few Good Men to As Good As It Gets and The Departed - his life and career reflect the shifting fortunes of an industry that set the cultural pace for America, and then the world. Find out how it all happened, through triumph and trauma, in Five Easy Decades. Hardcover, 484 pp. $30.99.

Olivier
Anthony Holden
In this biography of Laurence Olivier, Anthony Holden creates a witty and penetrating portrait of one of the greatest screen actors of all time. In addition to exposing new revelations that have come to light since Olivier's death, Holden investigates the truth behind rumours of Olivier's alleged homosexual affairs with the likes of Marlon Brando and Danny Kaye, for a long time covered up by Olivier's family. Hardcover, 515 pp. $35.95.

Al Pacino in Conversation with Lawrence Grobel
Al Pacino & Lawrence Grobel
For more than a quarter century, Al Pacino has spoken freely and deeply with acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Lawrence Grobel on subjects as diverse as childhood, acting, and fatherhood. Here, for the first time, are the complete conversations and shared observations between the actor and the writer; the result is an intimate and revealing look at one of the most accomplished, and private artists in the world. Softcover, 236 pp. $18.95.

The First Lady of Hollywood: A Biography of Louella Parsons
Samantha Barbas
Hollywood celebrities feared her. William Randolf Hearst adored her. Between 1915 and 1960, Louella Parsons was America's premier movie gossip columnist. This first full-length biography of Parsons tells the story of her reign over Hollywood during the studio era, her lifelong alliance with her employer, William Randolf Hearst, and her complex and turbulent relationships with such noted stars, directors, and studio executives as Orson Welles, Joan Crawford, Louis B. Mayer, Ronald Reagan, and Frank Sinatra. Softcover, 417 pp. $22.95.

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Sean Penn: His Life and Times
Richard T. Kelly
Sean Penn is the authentic heir to Brando and De Niro -- the ultimate anti-Hollywood icon whose fearsome talents are tied to fiercely held convictions. Now, in this uniquely revealing biography, the Oscar-winning but famously press-wary star of Dead Man Walking, Sweet and Lowdown, and Mystic River, tells his own story, in the company of exclusive tales and insights from his closest friends, family and colleagues -- from Jack Nicholson to Dennis Hopper, Woody Allen to Christopher Walken, Bono to Susan Sarandon. Softcover, 484 pp. $21.00.

Letters to a Teacher
Sam Pickering
Letters to a Teacher is a welcome reminder that teaching is a joy and an art. In ten graceful yet conversational letters addressed to teachers of all types, Pickering shares compelling, funny, always elucidating anecdotes from a lifetime in the classrooms of schools and universities. Softcover, 242 pp. $16.95.

In Spite of Myself: A Memoir
Christopher Plummer
Memoirs like In Spite of Myself, from the great Canadian actor, Christopher Plummer, are rare. Characterized by the author's experiences during over 60 years on all the great stages in the English speaking world, and films as diverse as The Insider to The Sound of Music, this memoir is bawdy, ribald, loving and filled with passion, peopled by a cast of hundreds. It hits all the high points and the low points in an unparalleled life. The book is absolutely crammed with an extraordinary range of memories and above all, an absolute passion for his work. It is a great story and eloquently told in the inimitable voice of Chris Plummer himself. Hardcover, illustrated, 647 pp. $37.00.


Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon
Aram Goudsouzian
In films like Blackboard Jungle, The Defiant Ones, Lilies of the Field, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and several others, Sidney Poitier displayed a powerful sensitivity that captivated audiences. In the first full biography of the legendary actor, Aram Goudsouzian analyzes the life and career of Hollywood's only black leading man during the civil rights era, from his early childhood in the Bahamas to his 2002 Oscar for lifetime achievement. Hardcover, 480 pp. $49.50.

Vincent Price: The Art of Fear
Denis Meikle
This is the definitive chronicle of Vincent Price's career in the field he came to dominate. Vincent Price: The Art of Fear also features scores of rare and previously unpublished stills, and a complete filmography of Hollywood's velvet-voiced 'Merchant of Menace' in his genre appearances. Softcover, 240 pp. $42.50.

The Pythons: The Autobiography by The Pythons
Monty Python
In 1969, an unscrupulous, untrustworthy and frankly slimy theatrical agent named Monty Python created his Flying Circus (itself a misnomer as no animals, clowns, high wire acts or trapezes were to be found). Now, for the first time, Monty tells the full story, admittiing using the voices of others -- Chapman, Cleese, Idle, Gilliam, Jones, and Palin -- to do so. At any rate, here it is, the full blockbusting story of Monty Python. Softcover, 359 pp. $26.95.

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Last modified May 15, 2009
Please note that all prices are in Canadian dollars. All prices are subject to change without notice.