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Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan
Rock biographer Lesley-Ann Jones paints a meticulous portrait of the T-Rex front man. From his childhood growing up in Hackney to his untimely death at the age of 29, Bolan's life was one of relentless experimentation and metamorphoses. Hallucinogenic drugs, wizardry and levitation, alcoholism, tax evasion and a spectacular fall from grace were to punctuate his short life, as he continued to strive to reinvent himself and his music over and over again. Lesley-Ann has been granted access to those who knew Bolan best, including his partner and the mother of his only son, Gloria Jones and his brother, Harry Feld.
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
400 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
12 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Lesley-Ann Jones
30 books87 followersLesley-Ann Jones is a British biographer, novelist, broadcaster and keynote speaker.
She honed her craft on Fleet Street, where she worked as a newspaper columnist and feature writer for more than twenty years. She has also worked extensively in radio and television, appears regularly in music documentaries in the UK, USA and Australia, and is the writer and co-producer of ‘The Last Lennon Interview’, a film about the final encounter, in New York, between the former Beatle and BBC Radio One presenter Andy Peebles.
Her debut memoir ‘Tumbling Dice’ is out now.
NB: the cover of TUMBLING DICE displayed here is NOT the current, correct one, but is of an edition that was never published! It appears to be impossible to change it! The ISBN for the CORRECT, CURRENT VERSION is 978109175
First serialisation rights for TUMBLING DICE were acquired by the Mail on Sunday UK, published across four pages on 7th April 2019. Second serial went to The Times, UK, featured as a double-page spread on 10th April.
The author’s interview with US ABC Radio network is syndicated to 2,000 stations across the United States. She has discussed the book on most BBC local stations, including BBC York, Northampton, Guernsey, Cornwall, Solent, Hereford & Worcester, Derby and Oxford. Live radio exposure continues over the coming weeks, with BBC Radio London’s Robert Elms Show, Wandsworth Radio, Express FM’s The Soft Rock Show, K107FM Scotland, Wycombe Sound, Camglen Radio (Scotland), the Sticks Radio Show & podcast, BBC Radio Kent, Radio Caroline, Talk Radio’s The Paul Ross Show and Talk Radio Europe’s Bill Padley Show.
Lesley-Ann Jones’s agents are currently negotiating with two independent production majors on a screen adaptation of TUMBLING DICE.
Other recent works include ‘Hero: David Bowie’, ‘Imagine’, and ‘Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan’. Her globally-acclaimed definitive biography of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, re-issued in 2019 as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, is a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller. The book accompanies the band’s long-awaited eponymous feature film, the highest-grossing music biopic of all time.
The author is currently working on two further titles, for publication in 2020.
She is a mother of three, and lives in London.
She honed her craft on Fleet Street, where she worked as a newspaper columnist and feature writer for more than twenty years. She has also worked extensively in radio and television, appears regularly in music documentaries in the UK, USA and Australia, and is the writer and co-producer of ‘The Last Lennon Interview’, a film about the final encounter, in New York, between the former Beatle and BBC Radio One presenter Andy Peebles.
Her debut memoir ‘Tumbling Dice’ is out now.
NB: the cover of TUMBLING DICE displayed here is NOT the current, correct one, but is of an edition that was never published! It appears to be impossible to change it! The ISBN for the CORRECT, CURRENT VERSION is 978109175
First serialisation rights for TUMBLING DICE were acquired by the Mail on Sunday UK, published across four pages on 7th April 2019. Second serial went to The Times, UK, featured as a double-page spread on 10th April.
The author’s interview with US ABC Radio network is syndicated to 2,000 stations across the United States. She has discussed the book on most BBC local stations, including BBC York, Northampton, Guernsey, Cornwall, Solent, Hereford & Worcester, Derby and Oxford. Live radio exposure continues over the coming weeks, with BBC Radio London’s Robert Elms Show, Wandsworth Radio, Express FM’s The Soft Rock Show, K107FM Scotland, Wycombe Sound, Camglen Radio (Scotland), the Sticks Radio Show & podcast, BBC Radio Kent, Radio Caroline, Talk Radio’s The Paul Ross Show and Talk Radio Europe’s Bill Padley Show.
Lesley-Ann Jones’s agents are currently negotiating with two independent production majors on a screen adaptation of TUMBLING DICE.
Other recent works include ‘Hero: David Bowie’, ‘Imagine’, and ‘Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan’. Her globally-acclaimed definitive biography of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, re-issued in 2019 as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, is a Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller. The book accompanies the band’s long-awaited eponymous feature film, the highest-grossing music biopic of all time.
The author is currently working on two further titles, for publication in 2020.
She is a mother of three, and lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 29, 2015
There’s a Bolan shaped hole at the heart of Lesley-Ann Jones’ ostensible biography. Ride a White Swan is a book shaped around Marc Bolan’s life and career, constructed almost entirely from the stories of others. As a result it’s essentially a collage, but one which Jones doesn’t really shape into a recognisable image or construct a story around. In one way it’s disappointing as it means the book lacks a narrative drive but in another it’s commendable as the author doesn’t impose her image of Bolan into a story. It means her subject comes across as a flawed human being but the reader’s no closer to a full picture of him than they were at the start. Instead of explaining what made him so special, a charisma often mentioned by the interviewees, this diminishes Bolan. We’re told of his X factor but it’s always told, never shown.
Instead it’s the story of the worlds through which Bolan moved with him being the linking factor. There’s a good sense of the Jewish community from which Marc sprang, of life on the fringes of the music scene of the 60s and, to a degree what his post-fame life was like. Creditably Jones resists the easy option of portraying her subject as a has-been – that narrative wouldn’t fit, even if 29 then was told in pop music terms. Where it doesn’t quite score is in portraying Marc’s imperial phase, his superstardom. That’s partly a function of many of the people involved having passed away but it’s frustrating that’s the part of Bolan’s life that’s the most thrilling chapter, the book’s selling point. Instead it’s skated through almost indecently quickly, skipped through hastily.
That’s a symptom of the book’s major problem, the need for a good edit. I’m not quite sure if the editor actually did anything with the manuscript. Tangential, near irrelevant references are explained at length, anecdotes ramble on and the book’s padded with a lengthy timeline of Bolan’s life that’s easily gleaned from the text itself. This seems like a first draft, still in need of pruning and shaping.
Possibly though I’m the wrong audience for the book. This seems to me like almost a private book of reminiscence for the community around Bolan, one last chance to recall the good and bad times. Even Jones herself comes from the same London Jewish community, almost making the reader feel like an outsider looking in. As a result it’s like watching a chat show about a subject you vaguely know but can’t quite connect with. Often there’s the hint, something close to sparking an interest but the questions aren’t the ones you want asked and answered and the in-jokes and anecdotes appear self-indulgent rather than witty. It’s serviceable enough but Jones is too much of a journalist and not enough of a storyteller to make the most of her subject.
Instead it’s the story of the worlds through which Bolan moved with him being the linking factor. There’s a good sense of the Jewish community from which Marc sprang, of life on the fringes of the music scene of the 60s and, to a degree what his post-fame life was like. Creditably Jones resists the easy option of portraying her subject as a has-been – that narrative wouldn’t fit, even if 29 then was told in pop music terms. Where it doesn’t quite score is in portraying Marc’s imperial phase, his superstardom. That’s partly a function of many of the people involved having passed away but it’s frustrating that’s the part of Bolan’s life that’s the most thrilling chapter, the book’s selling point. Instead it’s skated through almost indecently quickly, skipped through hastily.
That’s a symptom of the book’s major problem, the need for a good edit. I’m not quite sure if the editor actually did anything with the manuscript. Tangential, near irrelevant references are explained at length, anecdotes ramble on and the book’s padded with a lengthy timeline of Bolan’s life that’s easily gleaned from the text itself. This seems like a first draft, still in need of pruning and shaping.
Possibly though I’m the wrong audience for the book. This seems to me like almost a private book of reminiscence for the community around Bolan, one last chance to recall the good and bad times. Even Jones herself comes from the same London Jewish community, almost making the reader feel like an outsider looking in. As a result it’s like watching a chat show about a subject you vaguely know but can’t quite connect with. Often there’s the hint, something close to sparking an interest but the questions aren’t the ones you want asked and answered and the in-jokes and anecdotes appear self-indulgent rather than witty. It’s serviceable enough but Jones is too much of a journalist and not enough of a storyteller to make the most of her subject.
October 8, 2015
Being extremely well read on the subject of Marc Bolan, much of the content was already known to me.
However, there was new information surrounding the events of Bolan' s tragic death at only twenty-nine.
I would recommend this book to the casual Bolan fan, particularly as I feel it is fair, rather than sensational.
However, there was new information surrounding the events of Bolan' s tragic death at only twenty-nine.
I would recommend this book to the casual Bolan fan, particularly as I feel it is fair, rather than sensational.
January 10, 2015
I love reading biographies, and one of the many categories of those that I enjoy is biographies of rock & roll singers and groups. Although I can't say I've ever really followed Marc Bolan's career, I liked some of his songs and I'm usually looking for information about the relationship the book's subject has with other famous rock stars when I choose a book in this genre.
This biography covers the life and death of Marc Bolan from his birth in 1947 to his death in a car crash in 1977. It talks about Marc's determination to become famous, to continually improve his music, and his close friendships (particularly with David Bowie) and his ladies. And of course, the obligatory drug problems and subsequent behavioral changes.
I give the book 2 stars; the author does a workmanlike job, but she occasionally interjects herself into the story when she is interviewing others about certain times in Marc's life and it is a bit jarring. And I'm sure my rating reflects the fact that, as I stated, my interest in Marc and his group T. Rex was mild. But if you're a big fan of his, then it's a must-read.
**Book #4 of my pledge to read 100 books and post about them in 2015**
This biography covers the life and death of Marc Bolan from his birth in 1947 to his death in a car crash in 1977. It talks about Marc's determination to become famous, to continually improve his music, and his close friendships (particularly with David Bowie) and his ladies. And of course, the obligatory drug problems and subsequent behavioral changes.
I give the book 2 stars; the author does a workmanlike job, but she occasionally interjects herself into the story when she is interviewing others about certain times in Marc's life and it is a bit jarring. And I'm sure my rating reflects the fact that, as I stated, my interest in Marc and his group T. Rex was mild. But if you're a big fan of his, then it's a must-read.
**Book #4 of my pledge to read 100 books and post about them in 2015**
November 3, 2024
As a huge T.Rex fan I have to say that I found this pretty uninspiring, like some tabloid take on the life and times of Marc Bolan. My advice to anyone wanting to read a Bolan Biography is to head straight towards the Mark Paytress one. That gives you a comprehensive warts'n'all account via someone whose knowledge shines through.
July 31, 2019
I really couldn’t wait to get into this book because although I’m too young to have really “appreciated” Marc Bolan and T Rex at the height of their fame, of course I have seen them on reruns of Top of the Pops and other shows and have one of the Greatest Hits albums, so I was looking forward to a really exciting and informative read. I wasn’t disappointed on the whole, as I found out so much of interest and so much that surprised – and shocked – me. I particularly loved the information supplied by Harry Feld about their years growing up in London. The author has interviewed a number of people who were on the scene at the time; musicians, agents, promoters, publicists, managers and contemporaries of Bolan, uncovering a picture of a complex and fascinating character.
But I did find myself wondering about the accuracy of some of the soundbites from contributors. Did he really say on more than one occasion that if he was going to be killed in a car it would have to be a Mini? Or is this an urban myth that has gathered momentum over time? Similarly with the references to his sexuality and penchant for using people in that way to get a leg up in the industry. She also has an annoying idiosyncratic style at times, in a misguided attempt at humour. For example mentioning someone named Weaver who worked with the Bee Gees (He’s a Saturday Night Weaver) and captioning the smashed up Mini (registration FOX 661L) with song lyrics “Easy as picking foxes from a tree”. There are plenty more examples throughout the book. All of this was unnecessary, irritating and detracted from the narrative. The biggest sin is that some fabulous photographs are included but which are far too small to see properly. It was a revelation to discover that Marc Bolan outsold David Bowie in the early 1970s; I had no idea what a massive impact Marc had on the music scene at the time or their “rivalry”. But Jones handles this with a clear bias towards David Bowie. I could not work out whether or not she was actually a Marc Bolan fan or was being objective with this book at times.
What I felt missing also was a contrast with the other “glam rock” musicians of the time and a study of the musical craft to develop context; there is a passing reference to Sweet and Slade but nothing of any depth. This would have been a worthy angle to explore. The book left me feeling sad at the ultimate tragedy and for a waste of such talent. He seemed to be ahead of his time and able to grasp the constant reinventions required to succeed in the music industry. A fascinating read despite the shortcomings of some of the narrative, which has inspired me to look him up on YouTube and DVDs as well as some of the early Tyrannosaurus Rex material.
But I did find myself wondering about the accuracy of some of the soundbites from contributors. Did he really say on more than one occasion that if he was going to be killed in a car it would have to be a Mini? Or is this an urban myth that has gathered momentum over time? Similarly with the references to his sexuality and penchant for using people in that way to get a leg up in the industry. She also has an annoying idiosyncratic style at times, in a misguided attempt at humour. For example mentioning someone named Weaver who worked with the Bee Gees (He’s a Saturday Night Weaver) and captioning the smashed up Mini (registration FOX 661L) with song lyrics “Easy as picking foxes from a tree”. There are plenty more examples throughout the book. All of this was unnecessary, irritating and detracted from the narrative. The biggest sin is that some fabulous photographs are included but which are far too small to see properly. It was a revelation to discover that Marc Bolan outsold David Bowie in the early 1970s; I had no idea what a massive impact Marc had on the music scene at the time or their “rivalry”. But Jones handles this with a clear bias towards David Bowie. I could not work out whether or not she was actually a Marc Bolan fan or was being objective with this book at times.
What I felt missing also was a contrast with the other “glam rock” musicians of the time and a study of the musical craft to develop context; there is a passing reference to Sweet and Slade but nothing of any depth. This would have been a worthy angle to explore. The book left me feeling sad at the ultimate tragedy and for a waste of such talent. He seemed to be ahead of his time and able to grasp the constant reinventions required to succeed in the music industry. A fascinating read despite the shortcomings of some of the narrative, which has inspired me to look him up on YouTube and DVDs as well as some of the early Tyrannosaurus Rex material.
October 22, 2021
Well-researched and authoritative take on Bolan, although music itself plays a second role. I would have liked to read about the strong 50's-elements in T. Rex's music plus about his guitar-playing and riffing which is just phenomenal.
January 25, 2017
I never read Goodreads reviews until after I’ve finished the book. I agree with many of the other reviews here. My major dislikes of this book are 1- the incredible contradictory stories among those interviewed, especially over insignificant details. 2- By the time the author gets to the “Electric Warrior” and “Slider” albums, this period slips by with almost no insight as to how the albums were conceived. There’s a few references to producer Tony Visconti’s book, so I should read that at some point. Granted, here in the U.S. at the time T.Rex was nowhere near as popular as in the U.K.
I consider that the book was written by an old friend of Marc so there’s more of an emotional slant. I enjoyed the detail given to his love of literature and his incredible determination to be a star. The book leaves no doubt that he was relentless in this pursuit. I was a big fan of T.Rex and recently delved back into their earliest albums. They are more fascinating now considering that the first four albums are acoustic and the lyrics are deep into druids, mystic scenes et al with a sense of humor. The book captures the essence of how unique Bolan was among his peers. It seemed like most of the people interviewed commented on how short or diminutive he was and he seemed to get smaller every chapter. I was surprised to find a reference to one of the shows I’d seen- the Carnegie Hall performance on the short Electric Warrior tour. I was a teenager and hadn’t seen more than a handful of ‘rock concerts’ at that point. I recall them being sloppy and they lost their place on a simple Chuck Berry style jam. I was amazed that a musician would wear a t-shirt with his own likeness! The book explains that Bolan was drunk during the gig and broke with his manager afterwards. Despite its flaws, any big fan of T.Rex will glean some interesting stuff from this book.
I consider that the book was written by an old friend of Marc so there’s more of an emotional slant. I enjoyed the detail given to his love of literature and his incredible determination to be a star. The book leaves no doubt that he was relentless in this pursuit. I was a big fan of T.Rex and recently delved back into their earliest albums. They are more fascinating now considering that the first four albums are acoustic and the lyrics are deep into druids, mystic scenes et al with a sense of humor. The book captures the essence of how unique Bolan was among his peers. It seemed like most of the people interviewed commented on how short or diminutive he was and he seemed to get smaller every chapter. I was surprised to find a reference to one of the shows I’d seen- the Carnegie Hall performance on the short Electric Warrior tour. I was a teenager and hadn’t seen more than a handful of ‘rock concerts’ at that point. I recall them being sloppy and they lost their place on a simple Chuck Berry style jam. I was amazed that a musician would wear a t-shirt with his own likeness! The book explains that Bolan was drunk during the gig and broke with his manager afterwards. Despite its flaws, any big fan of T.Rex will glean some interesting stuff from this book.
May 29, 2014
I've read dozens of rock biographies and I couldn't put my finger on what was different about this one. Finally I realized it was written from a celebrity gossip point of view, rather than a music aficionado point of view. The author had access to many industry insiders who knew Marc Bolan, and was able to interview them personally. But they were mainly business-types, such as producers, promoters and agents. The book focused heavily on Mr. Bolan's charisma, sense of style, friendships and sexuality. There was lots of dirt on his relationships with June and Gloria, his “rivalry” with Bowie, and exactly how he died. All the while, the author didn't hesitate to discuss his narcissism and substance abuse. Needless to say, it was an irresistible read! It was also a surprisingly good look behind the scenes at the music industry. Another positive was that the author described the era so that younger readers could understand how Marc Bolan fit in. I'm still waiting for a Bolan biography that focuses more on his musical impact, but this was a fun “fan” bio.
August 5, 2013
What really fascinated me reading this book was the sheer enduring legacy Marc Bolan has had over the British music industry that really isn’t appreciated as much as it should be.
Written with both a sympathetic and gossipy style, the author has had some incredible access to the people very closest to the singer in his unfortunately short life.
I was left fascinated, touched, intrigued and shocked at some of the things that I read. Whether hearsay or plain truths, there are a lot of contridictions here and there certainly exists a lot of filler too about things that had no real bearing on the story. Great read though.
Written with both a sympathetic and gossipy style, the author has had some incredible access to the people very closest to the singer in his unfortunately short life.
I was left fascinated, touched, intrigued and shocked at some of the things that I read. Whether hearsay or plain truths, there are a lot of contridictions here and there certainly exists a lot of filler too about things that had no real bearing on the story. Great read though.
March 4, 2016
An insubstantial overview of Marc's life. There's got to be deeper stories there but the author doesn't follow obvious paths.
The author is just a bit too keen to insert herself into the narrative as well which would be fine if the book had more bute.
No great focus on the music which really is needed when it comes to the dip in Bolan's success where the quality dipped quite substantially.
As it stands, the book acts as not much more than an extended timeline through Marc's life.
There's a harder, tougher tales to tell that this book only hints at. As things stand, Paytress remains the Bolan bio to head for.
The author is just a bit too keen to insert herself into the narrative as well which would be fine if the book had more bute.
No great focus on the music which really is needed when it comes to the dip in Bolan's success where the quality dipped quite substantially.
As it stands, the book acts as not much more than an extended timeline through Marc's life.
There's a harder, tougher tales to tell that this book only hints at. As things stand, Paytress remains the Bolan bio to head for.
February 2, 2016
I was never much of a T. Rex fan, although they certainly churned out some catchy singles, but was curious to learn more about Marc Bolan. This book tells his story in an entertaining fashion &, if anything, reinforces my opinion that Bolan was never a major artist in popular music terms. Not, @ least, when compared to contemporary, David Bowie. But he definitely made his mark & his songs still pop up in movies & TV shows.
March 30, 2013
An entertaining and interesting read, but it relies a lot on peoples memories and opinions rather than facts and research. There's little to no discussion of his songs from a musical perspective. There's also not really anything about glam as a whole and it's impact. This is a book about Marc Bolan (or rather Mark Feld) the person not his music or his legacy.
June 29, 2013
Fairly good biography of Bolan getting harder to get witness statements now so many people either dead or ripped off in the past answered a few more questions on what was myth and what was fact. Still leaves the mystery of what happened to the millions he was worth after his death and why his son partner and family either died or are in relative poverty
April 3, 2014
This book has details of Marc Bolan's life and death.
Quite interesting, but the narrative / details of the singer's life were muddled. A good edit / more thought to the structure of the book could have made it better.
Quite interesting, but the narrative / details of the singer's life were muddled. A good edit / more thought to the structure of the book could have made it better.
January 7, 2013
loved it im 47 so one of my first pop loves was marc bolan great book loved reading about what mark was like as a person and where he began his journey to pop stardom x
December 10, 2013
A little light on, but it does show how Marc Bolan fitted in to the 60s and 70s music scene.
September 4, 2016
Woeful.....
September 8, 2017
learned so many things about marc which show how he was so consumed by stardom.
March 30, 2019
If your a fan of Marc Bolan and T.Rex , this is not a bad book . The early years is boring read but it gets better when the become famous and electric .
January 26, 2024
As a sometime fan, I got through this book in hours.
Lesley-Ann Jones, Fleet Street journalist, gives a fair account of Marc Bolan's career, focussing on his temperament and relations with others. However, using many lengthy quotations from those who knew him, the book sometimes, for me, descends into 'tittle-tattle', with quite a few examples of 'BIRGing' - basking in reflected glory*.
We never read rock'n'roll biogs. for literary spellbinding experiences, do we? So though I was certainly interested in the subject I wasn't moved by the book's construction and style.
*(Maybe we're all susceptible to that? After all, would not Bolan himself, as Mark Feld in 1958, have gone on & on about his one-to-one encounter with Eddie Cochran, his idol, after a gig?)
Lesley-Ann Jones, Fleet Street journalist, gives a fair account of Marc Bolan's career, focussing on his temperament and relations with others. However, using many lengthy quotations from those who knew him, the book sometimes, for me, descends into 'tittle-tattle', with quite a few examples of 'BIRGing' - basking in reflected glory*.
We never read rock'n'roll biogs. for literary spellbinding experiences, do we? So though I was certainly interested in the subject I wasn't moved by the book's construction and style.
*(Maybe we're all susceptible to that? After all, would not Bolan himself, as Mark Feld in 1958, have gone on & on about his one-to-one encounter with Eddie Cochran, his idol, after a gig?)
March 30, 2021
I bought this book a number of years ago and held off reading it until now. The reason being, I'm a big fan of Marc Bolan, I even named my son Marc after him. The reason I took so long to finally read it was because I had heard that even though he was kind hearted, he would use people to gain fame for himself. Lesley-Ann Jones' book brings all that to the fore. He early beginnings, to his rise and a superstar, to his dad drink and drugs life and decline. Bolan began to fight back though gaining a new audience, but it was all too late. He star has burned out and sadly so did Marc Bolan. A good read nevertheless.
December 31, 2024
Good book for fans. Nothing special other than fact-checked details of the singers life put into paragraphs.
‘Does what it says on the tin’, is my review.
‘Does what it says on the tin’, is my review.
July 21, 2024
Another biography from one of literature's best, Lesley-Ann Jones has delivered 'Ride A White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan'. She's a talented writer, of that there is no doubt; and I am so glad that I finally got the time to read this book - it had been sitting on my bookshelf for about three months because I just simply did not have the time.
But when I did finally get round to it, I was sucked into the intoxicating world of a man who was taken all too soon. Marc Bolan. I knew very little about him, and liked only the most famous songs, 'Ride A White Swan', 'Thunderwing', 'Get It On', etc... but the way that LAJ writes is wonderful because it truly involves you in the book, her subject's life, and every word draws you in deeper than the last.
By the end of the book when Bolan died, I was crying - because the world had lost a legend in 1977, yes, but because I felt as though I had truly come to know Marc Bolan and he was gone. It was heartbreaking.
The book focused primarily on Bolan's personal life rather than his music; I liked this, personally. The book was not about T.Rex, but rather the man who had made it all possible. Within the biography, LAJ writes of Bowie, who was a close friend of Bolan, though some might say that she drops him into the narrative when it is not necessary. I, however, found it quite helpful to be able to connect the different artists and to be able to match up what they were doing at the same time. I like that about Lesley-Ann Jones. She ties everything up into a neat little bow, and it is not an easy feat to do - especially not when writing a story as great as Bolan's, or Bowie's. Bowie's tale can be learned from the author's other work, 'Hero: David Bowie', the review for which can be found here:
But when I did finally get round to it, I was sucked into the intoxicating world of a man who was taken all too soon. Marc Bolan. I knew very little about him, and liked only the most famous songs, 'Ride A White Swan', 'Thunderwing', 'Get It On', etc... but the way that LAJ writes is wonderful because it truly involves you in the book, her subject's life, and every word draws you in deeper than the last.
By the end of the book when Bolan died, I was crying - because the world had lost a legend in 1977, yes, but because I felt as though I had truly come to know Marc Bolan and he was gone. It was heartbreaking.
The book focused primarily on Bolan's personal life rather than his music; I liked this, personally. The book was not about T.Rex, but rather the man who had made it all possible. Within the biography, LAJ writes of Bowie, who was a close friend of Bolan, though some might say that she drops him into the narrative when it is not necessary. I, however, found it quite helpful to be able to connect the different artists and to be able to match up what they were doing at the same time. I like that about Lesley-Ann Jones. She ties everything up into a neat little bow, and it is not an easy feat to do - especially not when writing a story as great as Bolan's, or Bowie's. Bowie's tale can be learned from the author's other work, 'Hero: David Bowie', the review for which can be found here:
March 11, 2013
BIAS ALERT: I am the author's literary agent. I love both the book and the author. That is why I represent them. So please don't annoy me by expecting objectivity.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews