by Mark Bryant (Author)
Most biographical dictionaries merely provide a bald and arid listing of the subject's date of birth, life history and major achievements, offering scant idea of what he or she was really like as a human being. Private Lives, in total contrast, scores strongly on the 'Hello!' magazine scale of intimate revelation, painting full, warts-and-all, what-do-they-keep-in-their-underwear-drawer pictures of over 200 famous and infamous characters from history.
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 416
Edition: New
Publisher: Orion
Published: 11 Oct 2001
ISBN 10: 0304357588
ISBN 13: 9780304357581
Book Overview: The first edition, without illustrations, sold 18,000 copies. Now illustrated with colour and b/w cartoons and caricatures, including Gillray (note current exhibition at Tate Britain), Rowlandson, 'Spy', Beerbohm, Ralph Steadman, Saul Steinberg and David Low. Private Lives covers a cross-section of people throughout history. An entertaining read as well as an invaluable reference source. Includes 200 entries, divided into themes focusing on aspects of the subject's life and personality (habits/mannerisms, family/sex etc.).