A charming and delightful book, 13 Oct 2007
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is very tempting to describe the book by what it is not, not autobiography, not a companion to "Sorry I haven't a clue", not about Jazz... Though I think anyone with an interest in these areas will enjoy it.
The book is quite literally a collection of rambling thoughts and reminiscences - which does not sound very appealing. But Humphs love of language and music shine though continually, and it flows along in a delightful manner.
While his achievements in Jazz and Comedy are well known, Humph's journalism successes are perhaps less well known - and in my opinion his abilities as a writer are every bit as great, and that shines from the pages of this book. I really think anyone with a sense of humour will like it - a smile on every page!



Random thoughts of Chairman Humph, 17 Sep 2007
The title says it all - this is a collection of thoughts and memories and definitely NOT an autobiography. On the first page Humph desribes it as "a hotchpotch of thought and memories and this is exactly what it is.
The book is a wonderful encapsulation of the wit and considerable wisdom of the inimitable Humph, with at least one laugh per page and frequently more as Humph seamlessly elides from the consideration of 3 a.m. transport caff meals to the subject of crimes against the decent pronunciation of English within the space of about 30 words. Devoting six hilarious pages to this, he moves, with his own brand of logic to school days at Eton and and thence to dispense a cornucopia of stories and anecdotes about eccentric relations, jazz greats and his own life.
In no particular order we are treated to a wondrous sequence of cameos from the very full and fully-lived life of a man whose humour never conceals his innate wisdom and humanity.
If you enjoy the lunatic humour of "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue" or if you have an interest in jazz or if you just want a good read, this is it!

A charming and delightful book, 13 Oct 2007
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is very tempting to describe the book by what it is not, not autobiography, not a companion to "Sorry I haven't a clue", not about Jazz... Though I think anyone with an interest in these areas will enjoy it.
The book is quite literally a collection of rambling thoughts and reminiscences - which does not sound very appealing. But Humphs love of language and music shine though continually, and it flows along in a delightful manner.
While his achievements in Jazz and Comedy are well known, Humph's journalism successes are perhaps less well known - and in my opinion his abilities as a writer are every bit as great, and that shines from the pages of this book. I really think anyone with a sense of humour will like it - a smile on every page!



Random thoughts of Chairman Humph, 17 Sep 2007
The title says it all - this is a collection of thoughts and memories and definitely NOT an autobiography. On the first page Humph desribes it as "a hotchpotch of thought and memories and this is exactly what it is.
The book is a wonderful encapsulation of the wit and considerable wisdom of the inimitable Humph, with at least one laugh per page and frequently more as Humph seamlessly elides from the consideration of 3 a.m. transport caff meals to the subject of crimes against the decent pronunciation of English within the space of about 30 words. Devoting six hilarious pages to this, he moves, with his own brand of logic to school days at Eton and and thence to dispense a cornucopia of stories and anecdotes about eccentric relations, jazz greats and his own life.
In no particular order we are treated to a wondrous sequence of cameos from the very full and fully-lived life of a man whose humour never conceals his innate wisdom and humanity.
If you enjoy the lunatic humour of "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue" or if you have an interest in jazz or if you just want a good read, this is it!


Sea, Sun and Piracy, 19 Sep 2006
This is a gorgeous,sumptuous book. It works precisely because it let's Vivienne's clothes speak for themselves. The full page glossy pictures of the most influential designer of the 20th Century almost make you salivate. I used to shop at World's End and wore the original Pirate range, but even then I'd still forgotten just how stunning it was. If you are interested in fashion, music, history, art, literature, anarchy and chaos, then this is for you.

worth it!!, 08 Jun 2005
If like me, you are fascinated by Vivienne westwood's achievements in fashion then you wont be disappointed. This book was released to accompany the V&A exhibition last year, which was fantastic. I orginially intended to buy this book at the exhibition as a souvenir of the wonderful show, however i lacked the money at the time and was over the moon when i found it on amazon.

The book itself, is better than any of the attempts at writing a decent biography of her career. This is because of the huge contribution westwood made towards the book, which includes pictures from her own collection- and most notably the foreward at the beginning from the designer herself. She worked closely with clare wilcox, who organised the V&A exhibition so she knows her stuff!

And so it begins with the foreward, then a concise history of her career. From her childhood where she made her own clothes, to her punk days with mclaren and onto the present day.
The vast majority of the book is made up of pictures/photos of her much of her collections up to the present day.

It is such an amazing book, i like to flick through it every now and then to draw some inspiration from this truly amazing designer.

A charming and delightful book, 13 Oct 2007
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is very tempting to describe the book by what it is not, not autobiography, not a companion to "Sorry I haven't a clue", not about Jazz... Though I think anyone with an interest in these areas will enjoy it.
The book is quite literally a collection of rambling thoughts and reminiscences - which does not sound very appealing. But Humphs love of language and music shine though continually, and it flows along in a delightful manner.
While his achievements in Jazz and Comedy are well known, Humph's journalism successes are perhaps less well known - and in my opinion his abilities as a writer are every bit as great, and that shines from the pages of this book. I really think anyone with a sense of humour will like it - a smile on every page!



Random thoughts of Chairman Humph, 17 Sep 2007
The title says it all - this is a collection of thoughts and memories and definitely NOT an autobiography. On the first page Humph desribes it as "a hotchpotch of thought and memories and this is exactly what it is.
The book is a wonderful encapsulation of the wit and considerable wisdom of the inimitable Humph, with at least one laugh per page and frequently more as Humph seamlessly elides from the consideration of 3 a.m. transport caff meals to the subject of crimes against the decent pronunciation of English within the space of about 30 words. Devoting six hilarious pages to this, he moves, with his own brand of logic to school days at Eton and and thence to dispense a cornucopia of stories and anecdotes about eccentric relations, jazz greats and his own life.
In no particular order we are treated to a wondrous sequence of cameos from the very full and fully-lived life of a man whose humour never conceals his innate wisdom and humanity.
If you enjoy the lunatic humour of "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue" or if you have an interest in jazz or if you just want a good read, this is it!


Sea, Sun and Piracy, 19 Sep 2006
This is a gorgeous,sumptuous book. It works precisely because it let's Vivienne's clothes speak for themselves. The full page glossy pictures of the most influential designer of the 20th Century almost make you salivate. I used to shop at World's End and wore the original Pirate range, but even then I'd still forgotten just how stunning it was. If you are interested in fashion, music, history, art, literature, anarchy and chaos, then this is for you.

worth it!!, 08 Jun 2005
If like me, you are fascinated by Vivienne westwood's achievements in fashion then you wont be disappointed. This book was released to accompany the V&A exhibition last year, which was fantastic. I orginially intended to buy this book at the exhibition as a souvenir of the wonderful show, however i lacked the money at the time and was over the moon when i found it on amazon.

The book itself, is better than any of the attempts at writing a decent biography of her career. This is because of the huge contribution westwood made towards the book, which includes pictures from her own collection- and most notably the foreward at the beginning from the designer herself. She worked closely with clare wilcox, who organised the V&A exhibition so she knows her stuff!

And so it begins with the foreward, then a concise history of her career. From her childhood where she made her own clothes, to her punk days with mclaren and onto the present day.
The vast majority of the book is made up of pictures/photos of her much of her collections up to the present day.

It is such an amazing book, i like to flick through it every now and then to draw some inspiration from this truly amazing designer.

The Antipodean Point of View, 05 Nov 2008
Amongst the many reviews written on behalf of David Michaelis' "Schultz and Peanuts", some have been exclamatory while others have been critical of the author's approach to his subject. Apparently members of Charles Schulz' immediate family have also expressed bitter disappointment that the man they loved was not portrayed as they actually knew him. They believe the author has been arbitrary and has randomly used information from, and observations made during many interviews with the Schulz family and associates in order to fashion a story to fit his own theories. Indeed a lot of the criticism on all sides has been levelled at Michaelis' supposed psychological theorising as the life and behaviour of Schulz is followed from boyhood to old age. I note also that most, if not all the reviews on amazon USA have been written by American readers and fans of Schulz' cartoon 'Peanuts', and who may feel they have some ownership of both the artist and his many characters - enough in fact so as to expect a biographer to present work along the lines of their own understanding, and in a way that they themselves would like it to be.
As a New Zealander (that beautiful little country south-east of Australia) I feel I have a unique antipodean position from which to review Michaelis' biography with some objectivity, and - dare I say it - with even more admiration. 'Peanuts' appeared regularly in New Zealand newspapers from the mid 1960s and gathered a following, but not quite the devotion expressed by American readers, the reason being perhaps that in those days we in this country were not exposed so much to US customs and views of the world, and therefore to me the characters appeared to be quirky, and the story lines somewhat difficult to follow. When I discovered relatively recently that a biography had been written about the man whose name was familiar to me only as the artist of these strange, spare little cartoons, I was at once interested and also wary, knowing that the cost of importing this book might result in a huge literary disappointment to me as well as hard earned money being wasted.
I can only say that my money was not wasted, and I so enjoyed Michaelis' writing that I shall be looking for others of his books!
I think that when judging this book you have to examine what you expect from a biography. If it is the 'once-over-lightly Readers' Digest approach, "Schulz and Peanuts" is not for you. If indeed you want to know all the intimate but ordinary details of Charles Schulz' life (ie what hockey team did he follow?) then I think you are going to be disappointed
You have only to look at the first sentence in the preface to see where Michaelis is headed with the results of his research viz:"When Charles Schulz died, he left behind fifty years of clues about his life embedded in his cartoons" (p.ixP. And again in answer to an inquiry as to "...whether someone who had followed the strip from the outset'...could actually write a biographical portrait...?' Schulz answered ...'I think so...'"(p.xi). These are the observations that form the premise of Michaelis' work and they are those he perseveres with from beginning to end, using many of Schulz' cartoons to speak of their author and artist as well as the written word itself. Charles Schulz is brought to life as a warm and human personality, an observer, a very deep thinker and a man of vision and ambition who used what he did best as a means of not only interacting with his world, but also to make sense of it for himself and for others. That so many American citizens could also identify with his observations, shows that he was at once everyman in being able to touch on the aspects of American life that his followers recognised, as well as being unique in his expression of it.
For me, on this side of the globe, Michaelis has clarified much of the esotric nature of Schulz' cartoonery, and in doing so has helped me to understand the genius behind it. Certainly the approach to try to discover the real Charles Schulz IS behavioural and for some I guess is a little too theorietical and/or analytical. But when the subject himself preferred if he could to melt into the background and give very little of himself away at times, what else is a biographer to do but to look at the behaviour exhibited not only by Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty and others, but also that of the artist himself and begin to ask 'Why?'
Contrary to the end papers of the book, I do not think David Michaelis has written the 'definitive' biography per se. I am sure there are other aspects of Charles Schulz that could be explored - perhaps Monte Schulz might be the one to write a more personal memoir of his father in the way Chris Lemmon has done for his father Jack. But for this reader, Michaelis' book has been a revelation. Don't be put off from buying because of negative criticism from many quarters. If you enjoy good writing, good scholarship, an excellent read and an admirable attempt to relate creator and subjects, then spend your money without equivocation. Come to this book with an open mind and you will not be disappointed.

A Sadly Narrow Portrait of the Artist, 06 Jan 2008
For those of us who knew him, even if only in passing, this book is a big disappointment. Pretending to write a "warts and all" account - which would be welcome - Michaelis foregrounds Schulz' emotional conflicts, but does so without giving us a rounded portrait of the man. At times it is almost voyeuristic, devoting well over a hundred pages to the breakdown' of Schulz' first marriage without telling us anything new after the first ten; the second, very satisfying marriage gets little more than a factual account. More importantly, there is nothing to explain how Schulz took his anxieties and conflicts and translated them into such engaging and enduring humor. There is the pro forma suggestion that pain gives birth to art, but most of the discussion of the work is, sometimes infuriatingly, limited to the obvious, or to explications of how it illustrated the conflicts in his daily life. The author often embellishes on material to make it fit his "thesis," exposing the fact that the book is a "reading" of Charles Schulz' life, and a rather hackneyed and even gossipy one at that. Schulz,Peanuts and their serious admirers will have to wait for a real plumbing of the depths of the man who created Charlie Brown and the world they inhabited.

Reflections of Charles M. (Sparky) Schulz Based on Peanuts Panels, 19 Nov 2007
Did you ever sit in one of those old-time barber shops (like the one Mr. Schulz's dad ran)? To make it easier for you to see how the hair cut was going, there were mirrors everywhere. If you looked to the left and the right, the mirrors would multiply the images so you would see hundreds of yourself.

I was reminded of that optical illusion while reading Schulz and Peanuts. When a person pens as many comic strips as Sparky Schulz did, it's inevitable that much of is in the strips will come from his life . . . and enter into his life. Author David Michaelis clearly reflected on that point and did his best to tie his book's reporting of the Schulz life to the Schulz strips. As a result, the book is literally brimming with strips and the text connects the strips back to the Schulz life or family. Seeing those strips and getting more insight into how the strips connected to the man and his family was certainly interesting. That's the strength of the book.

The weakness of the book is that this focus puts a great deal else about Mr. Schulz's life into a dark background from which little emerges. As a result, this is as flawed and incomplete a biography as you could have while having vast access to so many people and so much material.

I found the first half of the book to be much more interesting than the second half. In the book's beginning, you learn about how Mr. Schulz became a cartoonist, established Peanuts, and the inspiration behind many of the characters and situations. You also find a good description of Mr. Schulz's Christian faith. From there, the story bogs down into too much speculating about Mr. Schulz's psychology and his relationship with his first wife, Joyce. You'll also learn vastly more than you ever wanted to know about the commercial success of the Peanuts empire (after all, you probably lived through it) and various building projects by Mrs. Schulz.

Having seen this book, I think a better concept for Mr. Michaelis would have been to have written a history of the Peanuts strip and how Mr. Schulz developed the strip. The author's writing and analytical abilities didn't seem to be up to much more than that . . . while missing elements that would have been included if the scope had been narrower (such as a discussion of more of the characters and their origins).

If you don't want to get bogged down, feel free to stop reading at page 286. You'll probably like the book better if you do.

A charming and delightful book, 13 Oct 2007
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is very tempting to describe the book by what it is not, not autobiography, not a companion to "Sorry I haven't a clue", not about Jazz... Though I think anyone with an interest in these areas will enjoy it.
The book is quite literally a collection of rambling thoughts and reminiscences - which does not sound very appealing. But Humphs love of language and music shine though continually, and it flows along in a delightful manner.
While his achievements in Jazz and Comedy are well known, Humph's journalism successes are perhaps less well known - and in my opinion his abilities as a writer are every bit as great, and that shines from the pages of this book. I really think anyone with a sense of humour will like it - a smile on every page!



Random thoughts of Chairman Humph, 17 Sep 2007
The title says it all - this is a collection of thoughts and memories and definitely NOT an autobiography. On the first page Humph desribes it as "a hotchpotch of thought and memories and this is exactly what it is.
The book is a wonderful encapsulation of the wit and considerable wisdom of the inimitable Humph, with at least one laugh per page and frequently more as Humph seamlessly elides from the consideration of 3 a.m. transport caff meals to the subject of crimes against the decent pronunciation of English within the space of about 30 words. Devoting six hilarious pages to this, he moves, with his own brand of logic to school days at Eton and and thence to dispense a cornucopia of stories and anecdotes about eccentric relations, jazz greats and his own life.
In no particular order we are treated to a wondrous sequence of cameos from the very full and fully-lived life of a man whose humour never conceals his innate wisdom and humanity.
If you enjoy the lunatic humour of "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue" or if you have an interest in jazz or if you just want a good read, this is it!


Sea, Sun and Piracy, 19 Sep 2006
This is a gorgeous,sumptuous book. It works precisely because it let's Vivienne's clothes speak for themselves. The full page glossy pictures of the most influential designer of the 20th Century almost make you salivate. I used to shop at World's End and wore the original Pirate range, but even then I'd still forgotten just how stunning it was. If you are interested in fashion, music, history, art, literature, anarchy and chaos, then this is for you.

worth it!!, 08 Jun 2005
If like me, you are fascinated by Vivienne westwood's achievements in fashion then you wont be disappointed. This book was released to accompany the V&A exhibition last year, which was fantastic. I orginially intended to buy this book at the exhibition as a souvenir of the wonderful show, however i lacked the money at the time and was over the moon when i found it on amazon.

The book itself, is better than any of the attempts at writing a decent biography of her career. This is because of the huge contribution westwood made towards the book, which includes pictures from her own collection- and most notably the foreward at the beginning from the designer herself. She worked closely with clare wilcox, who organised the V&A exhibition so she knows her stuff!

And so it begins with the foreward, then a concise history of her career. From her childhood where she made her own clothes, to her punk days with mclaren and onto the present day.
The vast majority of the book is made up of pictures/photos of her much of her collections up to the present day.

It is such an amazing book, i like to flick through it every now and then to draw some inspiration from this truly amazing designer.

The Antipodean Point of View, 05 Nov 2008
Amongst the many reviews written on behalf of David Michaelis' "Schultz and Peanuts", some have been exclamatory while others have been critical of the author's approach to his subject. Apparently members of Charles Schulz' immediate family have also expressed bitter disappointment that the man they loved was not portrayed as they actually knew him. They believe the author has been arbitrary and has randomly used information from, and observations made during many interviews with the Schulz family and associates in order to fashion a story to fit his own theories. Indeed a lot of the criticism on all sides has been levelled at Michaelis' supposed psychological theorising as the life and behaviour of Schulz is followed from boyhood to old age. I note also that most, if not all the reviews on amazon USA have been written by American readers and fans of Schulz' cartoon 'Peanuts', and who may feel they have some ownership of both the artist and his many characters - enough in fact so as to expect a biographer to present work along the lines of their own understanding, and in a way that they themselves would like it to be.
As a New Zealander (that beautiful little country south-east of Australia) I feel I have a unique antipodean position from which to review Michaelis' biography with some objectivity, and - dare I say it - with even more admiration. 'Peanuts' appeared regularly in New Zealand newspapers from the mid 1960s and gathered a following, but not quite the devotion expressed by American readers, the reason being perhaps that in those days we in this country were not exposed so much to US customs and views of the world, and therefore to me the characters appeared to be quirky, and the story lines somewhat difficult to follow. When I discovered relatively recently that a biography had been written about the man whose name was familiar to me only as the artist of these strange, spare little cartoons, I was at once interested and also wary, knowing that the cost of importing this book might result in a huge literary disappointment to me as well as hard earned money being wasted.
I can only say that my money was not wasted, and I so enjoyed Michaelis' writing that I shall be looking for others of his books!
I think that when judging this book you have to examine what you expect from a biography. If it is the 'once-over-lightly Readers' Digest approach, "Schulz and Peanuts" is not for you. If indeed you want to know all the intimate but ordinary details of Charles Schulz' life (ie what hockey team did he follow?) then I think you are going to be disappointed
You have only to look at the first sentence in the preface to see where Michaelis is headed with the results of his research viz:"When Charles Schulz died, he left behind fifty years of clues about his life embedded in his cartoons" (p.ixP. And again in answer to an inquiry as to "...whether someone who had followed the strip from the outset'...could actually write a biographical portrait...?' Schulz answered ...'I think so...'"(p.xi). These are the observations that form the premise of Michaelis' work and they are those he perseveres with from beginning to end, using many of Schulz' cartoons to speak of their author and artist as well as the written word itself. Charles Schulz is brought to life as a warm and human personality, an observer, a very deep thinker and a man of vision and ambition who used what he did best as a means of not only interacting with his world, but also to make sense of it for himself and for others. That so many American citizens could also identify with his observations, shows that he was at once everyman in being able to touch on the aspects of American life that his followers recognised, as well as being unique in his expression of it.
For me, on this side of the globe, Michaelis has clarified much of the esotric nature of Schulz' cartoonery, and in doing so has helped me to understand the genius behind it. Certainly the approach to try to discover the real Charles Schulz IS behavioural and for some I guess is a little too theorietical and/or analytical. But when the subject himself preferred if he could to melt into the background and give very little of himself away at times, what else is a biographer to do but to look at the behaviour exhibited not only by Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty and others, but also that of the artist himself and begin to ask 'Why?'
Contrary to the end papers of the book, I do not think David Michaelis has written the 'definitive' biography per se. I am sure there are other aspects of Charles Schulz that could be explored - perhaps Monte Schulz might be the one to write a more personal memoir of his father in the way Chris Lemmon has done for his father Jack. But for this reader, Michaelis' book has been a revelation. Don't be put off from buying because of negative criticism from many quarters. If you enjoy good writing, good scholarship, an excellent read and an admirable attempt to relate creator and subjects, then spend your money without equivocation. Come to this book with an open mind and you will not be disappointed.

A Sadly Narrow Portrait of the Artist, 06 Jan 2008
For those of us who knew him, even if only in passing, this book is a big disappointment. Pretending to write a "warts and all" account - which would be welcome - Michaelis foregrounds Schulz' emotional conflicts, but does so without giving us a rounded portrait of the man. At times it is almost voyeuristic, devoting well over a hundred pages to the breakdown' of Schulz' first marriage without telling us anything new after the first ten; the second, very satisfying marriage gets little more than a factual account. More importantly, there is nothing to explain how Schulz took his anxieties and conflicts and translated them into such engaging and enduring humor. There is the pro forma suggestion that pain gives birth to art, but most of the discussion of the work is, sometimes infuriatingly, limited to the obvious, or to explications of how it illustrated the conflicts in his daily life. The author often embellishes on material to make it fit his "thesis," exposing the fact that the book is a "reading" of Charles Schulz' life, and a rather hackneyed and even gossipy one at that. Schulz,Peanuts and their serious admirers will have to wait for a real plumbing of the depths of the man who created Charlie Brown and the world they inhabited.

Reflections of Charles M. (Sparky) Schulz Based on Peanuts Panels, 19 Nov 2007
Did you ever sit in one of those old-time barber shops (like the one Mr. Schulz's dad ran)? To make it easier for you to see how the hair cut was going, there were mirrors everywhere. If you looked to the left and the right, the mirrors would multiply the images so you would see hundreds of yourself.

I was reminded of that optical illusion while reading Schulz and Peanuts. When a person pens as many comic strips as Sparky Schulz did, it's inevitable that much of is in the strips will come from his life . . . and enter into his life. Author David Michaelis clearly reflected on that point and did his best to tie his book's reporting of the Schulz life to the Schulz strips. As a result, the book is literally brimming with strips and the text connects the strips back to the Schulz life or family. Seeing those strips and getting more insight into how the strips connected to the man and his family was certainly interesting. That's the strength of the book.

The weakness of the book is that this focus puts a great deal else about Mr. Schulz's life into a dark background from which little emerges. As a result, this is as flawed and incomplete a biography as you could have while having vast access to so many people and so much material.

I found the first half of the book to be much more interesting than the second half. In the book's beginning, you learn about how Mr. Schulz became a cartoonist, established Peanuts, and the inspiration behind many of the characters and situations. You also find a good description of Mr. Schulz's Christian faith. From there, the story bogs down into too much speculating about Mr. Schulz's psychology and his relationship with his first wife, Joyce. You'll also learn vastly more than you ever wanted to know about the commercial success of the Peanuts empire (after all, you probably lived through it) and various building projects by Mrs. Schulz.

Having seen this book, I think a better concept for Mr. Michaelis would have been to have written a history of the Peanuts strip and how Mr. Schulz developed the strip. The author's writing and analytical abilities didn't seem to be up to much more than that . . . while missing elements that would have been included if the scope had been narrower (such as a discussion of more of the characters and their origins).

If you don't want to get bogged down, feel free to stop reading at page 286. You'll probably like the book better if you do.


A sumptuous volume, 15 Jan 2008
The introduction and subsequent text is very brief, and provides a glimpse into the artist's background and rise to success. The text makes little if any critical comment about the artist's work, perhaps leaving the paintings to speak for themselves. The book concludes with a list of the artist's paintings and exhibitions. The book really is all about the pictures.

There are about 160 full colour reproductions of Vettriano's paintings of which about half dozen are small images illustrating the text, there are over thirty full page bleed pictures many of which in fact amount to a page and a half and include one double page spread (the best in the book?). However the bulk of the illustrations range from almost full page images to those which occupy about half a page or occasionally less. The quality of the reproduction is excellent, and the varied and attractive layout suits the images well, bold yet without detracting from the work.

For those of us who are perhaps used to seeing Vettriano's paintings merely as small reproductions adorning cards and the like, it is a revelation to see them produced so well and to a good size. Seeing them so it is easy to label his technique as commercial and slick; but there is no denying the immediate appeal and impact. Whether or not you are a fan of Vettriano's this is a book worth having, it shows the range of his work, from the dark and sensual to some very appealing high key paintings. Altogether it is a most sumptuous volume.


evokative, 17 Sep 2006
I have been a Vettriano fan for many years and am delighted at his rise to fame, so this book is a delight to me. I love the rawness of the subjects, the earthiness. Times past-alas. I nice book and it would make a nice gift to someone who is "new" to Vettriano.
Rina

Elusive Vettriano, 09 Dec 2004
This is a nicely produced book on the art of Scottish artist Jack Vettriano. If you are looking for an illustrated guide to the work of Jack Vettriano - then this is the book for you. Even though some of his better known works are missing from this volume it is still a good selection.

The reproductions are well thought out and presented, with the exception of one or two. These suffer the same fate as other books on the artist in that they are printed across the spine of the book.

If, like some, you are looking for an insight into the life of the artist, then you may be dissapointed here for there is very little narrative and, what is there is well known already. There is still room for an in depth look at the artist as well as that other vital ingredient, the artist's models.

This is an excellent illustrative guide to the work of the artist with a large number of well presented reproductions. Highly recomended for both the new-comer and the dedicated Jack Vettriano fan.

A charming and delightful book, 13 Oct 2007
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is very tempting to describe the book by what it is not, not autobiography, not a companion to "Sorry I haven't a clue", not about Jazz... Though I think anyone with an interest in these areas will enjoy it.
The book is quite literally a collection of rambling thoughts and reminiscences - which does not sound very appealing. But Humphs love of language and music shine though continually, and it flows along in a delightful manner.
While his achievements in Jazz and Comedy are well known, Humph's journalism successes are perhaps less well known - and in my opinion his abilities as a writer are every bit as great, and that shines from the pages of this book. I really think anyone with a sense of humour will like it - a smile on every page!



Random thoughts of Chairman Humph, 17 Sep 2007
The title says it all - this is a collection of thoughts and memories and definitely NOT an autobiography. On the first page Humph desribes it as "a hotchpotch of thought and memories and this is exactly what it is.
The book is a wonderful encapsulation of the wit and considerable wisdom of the inimitable Humph, with at least one laugh per page and frequently more as Humph seamlessly elides from the consideration of 3 a.m. transport caff meals to the subject of crimes against the decent pronunciation of English within the space of about 30 words. Devoting six hilarious pages to this, he moves, with his own brand of logic to school days at Eton and and thence to dispense a cornucopia of stories and anecdotes about eccentric relations, jazz greats and his own life.
In no particular order we are treated to a wondrous sequence of cameos from the very full and fully-lived life of a man whose humour never conceals his innate wisdom and humanity.
If you enjoy the lunatic humour of "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue" or if you have an interest in jazz or if you just want a good read, this is it!


Sea, Sun and Piracy, 19 Sep 2006
This is a gorgeous,sumptuous book. It works precisely because it let's Vivienne's clothes speak for themselves. The full page glossy pictures of the most influential designer of the 20th Century almost make you salivate. I used to shop at World's End and wore the original Pirate range, but even then I'd still forgotten just how stunning it was. If you are interested in fashion, music, history, art, literature, anarchy and chaos, then this is for you.

worth it!!, 08 Jun 2005
If like me, you are fascinated by Vivienne westwood's achievements in fashion then you wont be disappointed. This book was released to accompany the V&A exhibition last year, which was fantastic. I orginially intended to buy this book at the exhibition as a souvenir of the wonderful show, however i lacked the money at the time and was over the moon when i found it on amazon.

The book itself, is better than any of the attempts at writing a decent biography of her career. This is because of the huge contribution westwood made towards the book, which includes pictures from her own collection- and most notably the foreward at the beginning from the designer herself. She worked closely with clare wilcox, who organised the V&A exhibition so she knows her stuff!

And so it begins with the foreward, then a concise history of her career. From her childhood where she made her own clothes, to her punk days with mclaren and onto the present day.
The vast majority of the book is made up of pictures/photos of her much of her collections up to the present day.

It is such an amazing book, i like to flick through it every now and then to draw some inspiration from this truly amazing designer.

The Antipodean Point of View, 05 Nov 2008
Amongst the many reviews written on behalf of David Michaelis' "Schultz and Peanuts", some have been exclamatory while others have been critical of the author's approach to his subject. Apparently members of Charles Schulz' immediate family have also expressed bitter disappointment that the man they loved was not portrayed as they actually knew him. They believe the author has been arbitrary and has randomly used information from, and observations made during many interviews with the Schulz family and associates in order to fashion a story to fit his own theories. Indeed a lot of the criticism on all sides has been levelled at Michaelis' supposed psychological theorising as the life and behaviour of Schulz is followed from boyhood to old age. I note also that most, if not all the reviews on amazon USA have been written by American readers and fans of Schulz' cartoon 'Peanuts', and who may feel they have some ownership of both the artist and his many characters - enough in fact so as to expect a biographer to present work along the lines of their own understanding, and in a way that they themselves would like it to be.
As a New Zealander (that beautiful little country south-east of Australia) I feel I have a unique antipodean position from which to review Michaelis' biography with some objectivity, and - dare I say it - with even more admiration. 'Peanuts' appeared regularly in New Zealand newspapers from the mid 1960s and gathered a following, but not quite the devotion expressed by American readers, the reason being perhaps that in those days we in this country were not exposed so much to US customs and views of the world, and therefore to me the characters appeared to be quirky, and the story lines somewhat difficult to follow. When I discovered relatively recently that a biography had been written about the man whose name was familiar to me only as the artist of these strange, spare little cartoons, I was at once interested and also wary, knowing that the cost of importing this book might result in a huge literary disappointment to me as well as hard earned money being wasted.
I can only say that my money was not wasted, and I so enjoyed Michaelis' writing that I shall be looking for others of his books!
I think that when judging this book you have to examine what you expect from a biography. If it is the 'once-over-lightly Readers' Digest approach, "Schulz and Peanuts" is not for you. If indeed you want to know all the intimate but ordinary details of Charles Schulz' life (ie what hockey team did he follow?) then I think you are going to be disappointed
You have only to look at the first sentence in the preface to see where Michaelis is headed with the results of his research viz:"When Charles Schulz died, he left behind fifty years of clues about his life embedded in his cartoons" (p.ixP. And again in answer to an inquiry as to "...whether someone who had followed the strip from the outset'...could actually write a biographical portrait...?' Schulz answered ...'I think so...'"(p.xi). These are the observations that form the premise of Michaelis' work and they are those he perseveres with from beginning to end, using many of Schulz' cartoons to speak of their author and artist as well as the written word itself. Charles Schulz is brought to life as a warm and human personality, an observer, a very deep thinker and a man of vision and ambition who used what he did best as a means of not only interacting with his world, but also to make sense of it for himself and for others. That so many American citizens could also identify with his observations, shows that he was at once everyman in being able to touch on the aspects of American life that his followers recognised, as well as being unique in his expression of it.
For me, on this side of the globe, Michaelis has clarified much of the esotric nature of Schulz' cartoonery, and in doing so has helped me to understand the genius behind it. Certainly the approach to try to discover the real Charles Schulz IS behavioural and for some I guess is a little too theorietical and/or analytical. But when the subject himself preferred if he could to melt into the background and give very little of himself away at times, what else is a biographer to do but to look at the behaviour exhibited not only by Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty and others, but also that of the artist himself and begin to ask 'Why?'
Contrary to the end papers of the book, I do not think David Michaelis has written the 'definitive' biography per se. I am sure there are other aspects of Charles Schulz that could be explored - perhaps Monte Schulz might be the one to write a more personal memoir of his father in the way Chris Lemmon has done for his father Jack. But for this reader, Michaelis' book has been a revelation. Don't be put off from buying because of negative criticism from many quarters. If you enjoy good writing, good scholarship, an excellent read and an admirable attempt to relate creator and subjects, then spend your money without equivocation. Come to this book with an open mind and you will not be disappointed.

A Sadly Narrow Portrait of the Artist, 06 Jan 2008
For those of us who knew him, even if only in passing, this book is a big disappointment. Pretending to write a "warts and all" account - which would be welcome - Michaelis foregrounds Schulz' emotional conflicts, but does so without giving us a rounded portrait of the man. At times it is almost voyeuristic, devoting well over a hundred pages to the breakdown' of Schulz' first marriage without telling us anything new after the first ten; the second, very satisfying marriage gets little more than a factual account. More importantly, there is nothing to explain how Schulz took his anxieties and conflicts and translated them into such engaging and enduring humor. There is the pro forma suggestion that pain gives birth to art, but most of the discussion of the work is, sometimes infuriatingly, limited to the obvious, or to explications of how it illustrated the conflicts in his daily life. The author often embellishes on material to make it fit his "thesis," exposing the fact that the book is a "reading" of Charles Schulz' life, and a rather hackneyed and even gossipy one at that. Schulz,Peanuts and their serious admirers will have to wait for a real plumbing of the depths of the man who created Charlie Brown and the world they inhabited.

Reflections of Charles M. (Sparky) Schulz Based on Peanuts Panels, 19 Nov 2007
Did you ever sit in one of those old-time barber shops (like the one Mr. Schulz's dad ran)? To make it easier for you to see how the hair cut was going, there were mirrors everywhere. If you looked to the left and the right, the mirrors would multiply the images so you would see hundreds of yourself.

I was reminded of that optical illusion while reading Schulz and Peanuts. When a person pens as many comic strips as Sparky Schulz did, it's inevitable that much of is in the strips will come from his life . . . and enter into his life. Author David Michaelis clearly reflected on that point and did his best to tie his book's reporting of the Schulz life to the Schulz strips. As a result, the book is literally brimming with strips and the text connects the strips back to the Schulz life or family. Seeing those strips and getting more insight into how the strips connected to the man and his family was certainly interesting. That's the strength of the book.

The weakness of the book is that this focus puts a great deal else about Mr. Schulz's life into a dark background from which little emerges. As a result, this is as flawed and incomplete a biography as you could have while having vast access to so many people and so much material.

I found the first half of the book to be much more interesting than the second half. In the book's beginning, you learn about how Mr. Schulz became a cartoonist, established Peanuts, and the inspiration behind many of the characters and situations. You also find a good description of Mr. Schulz's Christian faith. From there, the story bogs down into too much speculating about Mr. Schulz's psychology and his relationship with his first wife, Joyce. You'll also learn vastly more than you ever wanted to know about the commercial success of the Peanuts empire (after all, you probably lived through it) and various building projects by Mrs. Schulz.

Having seen this book, I think a better concept for Mr. Michaelis would have been to have written a history of the Peanuts strip and how Mr. Schulz developed the strip. The author's writing and analytical abilities didn't seem to be up to much more than that . . . while missing elements that would have been included if the scope had been narrower (such as a discussion of more of the characters and their origins).

If you don't want to get bogged down, feel free to stop reading at page 286. You'll probably like the book better if you do.


A sumptuous volume, 15 Jan 2008
The introduction and subsequent text is very brief, and provides a glimpse into the artist's background and rise to success. The text makes little if any critical comment about the artist's work, perhaps leaving the paintings to speak for themselves. The book concludes with a list of the artist's paintings and exhibitions. The book really is all about the pictures.

There are about 160 full colour reproductions of Vettriano's paintings of which about half dozen are small images illustrating the text, there are over thirty full page bleed pictures many of which in fact amount to a page and a half and include one double page spread (the best in the book?). However the bulk of the illustrations range from almost full page images to those which occupy about half a page or occasionally less. The quality of the reproduction is excellent, and the varied and attractive layout suits the images well, bold yet without detracting from the work.

For those of us who are perhaps used to seeing Vettriano's paintings merely as small reproductions adorning cards and the like, it is a revelation to see them produced so well and to a good size. Seeing them so it is easy to label his technique as commercial and slick; but there is no denying the immediate appeal and impact. Whether or not you are a fan of Vettriano's this is a book worth having, it shows the range of his work, from the dark and sensual to some very appealing high key paintings. Altogether it is a most sumptuous volume.


evokative, 17 Sep 2006
I have been a Vettriano fan for many years and am delighted at his rise to fame, so this book is a delight to me. I love the rawness of the subjects, the earthiness. Times past-alas. I nice book and it would make a nice gift to someone who is "new" to Vettriano.
Rina

Elusive Vettriano, 09 Dec 2004
This is a nicely produced book on the art of Scottish artist Jack Vettriano. If you are looking for an illustrated guide to the work of Jack Vettriano - then this is the book for you. Even though some of his better known works are missing from this volume it is still a good selection.

The reproductions are well thought out and presented, with the exception of one or two. These suffer the same fate as other books on the artist in that they are printed across the spine of the book.

If, like some, you are looking for an insight into the life of the artist, then you may be dissapointed here for there is very little narrative and, what is there is well known already. There is still room for an in depth look at the artist as well as that other vital ingredient, the artist's models.

This is an excellent illustrative guide to the work of the artist with a large number of well presented reproductions. Highly recomended for both the new-comer and the dedicated Jack Vettriano fan.

The great Francis Bacon, 16 Jul 2006
A fascinating study of the great man and his work. Peppiatt knew Bacon from the 60's onwards, thus the biography feels intimate and true to life and is successful in depicting the flamboyance, complexity and sheer charisma of this important British artist.

Bacon's father is depicted as a key figure, as well as a leitmotif of brutal masculinity in Bacon's paintings. A tyrannical, martial man, (according to Peppiatt, he has his teenage son horsewhipped by his grooms in order to `make him more of a man') he is the very antithesis of the highly intelligent, young, unconventional Bacon. This early encounter with such brutality goes some way to explaining the power and masculine energy so apparent in Bacon's paintings, as well as the sado-masochistic and destructive nature of his sexual relationships.

Peppiatt describes Bacon's influences - Picasso's biomorhic figures as well as his 'Crucifixion', the photographic images of Edweard Muybridge, Velasquez's 'Pope Innocent X', which inspired the 'Screaming Pope' series.

Bacon's days spent as `bon viveur', drinking vast quantities of alcohol at the Colony in Soho, with the cliquey, languorous dry wit of camp proprietress, Muriel Belcher is captured wonderfully ("Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends!", as Bacon once declared), as well as his slightly alarming brush with the Kray twins (who fascinated him), and his doomed relationship with his tragic muse, George Dyer.

All in all this is an immensely enjoyable read as well as providing a real insight into the artist and his work.

highly entertaining and informative, 17 May 2000
Peppiatt's indepth knowledge and presentation made this book an absolute joy to read. Going farther and deeper than Farson with complete excavation of and endearment for Bacon.A great character, the book a sheer delight.

Frida Kahlo, one of the most dynamic figures of 20th-century art, has very nearly become a saint, so legendary is her tumultuous and tragic life. While there is no dearth of books about Kahlo and her work, none are as poignantly revealing as this diary, which includes her own words and pictures. We find the genesis of some of her most famous paintings, her love letters and sketches of people she knew such as her husband, the Mexican mural painter Diego Rivera, and numerous studies for self- portraits. The most fascinating part of the book is the facsimile diary, reproduced here for the first time, with colour illustrations. It is accompanied by an English translation with explanatory commentaries.

A charming and delightful book, 13 Oct 2007
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is very tempting to describe the book by what it is not, not autobiography, not a companion to "Sorry I haven't a clue", not about Jazz... Though I think anyone with an interest in these areas will enjoy it.
The book is quite literally a collection of rambling thoughts and reminiscences - which does not sound very appealing. But Humphs love of language and music shine though continually, and it flows along in a delightful manner.
While his achievements in Jazz and Comedy are well known, Humph's journalism successes are perhaps less well known - and in my opinion his abilities as a writer are every bit as great, and that shines from the pages of this book. I really think anyone with a sense of humour will like it - a smile on every page!



Random thoughts of Chairman Humph, 17 Sep 2007
The title says it all - this is a collection of thoughts and memories and definitely NOT an autobiography. On the first page Humph desribes it as "a hotchpotch of thought and memories and this is exactly what it is.
The book is a wonderful encapsulation of the wit and considerable wisdom of the inimitable Humph, with at least one laugh per page and frequently more as Humph seamlessly elides from the consideration of 3 a.m. transport caff meals to the subject of crimes against the decent pronunciation of English within the space of about 30 words. Devoting six hilarious pages to this, he moves, with his own brand of logic to school days at Eton and and thence to dispense a cornucopia of stories and anecdotes about eccentric relations, jazz greats and his own life.
In no particular order we are treated to a wondrous sequence of cameos from the very full and fully-lived life of a man whose humour never conceals his innate wisdom and humanity.
If you enjoy the lunatic humour of "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue" or if you have an interest in jazz or if you just want a good read, this is it!


Sea, Sun and Piracy, 19 Sep 2006
This is a gorgeous,sumptuous book. It works precisely because it let's Vivienne's clothes speak for themselves. The full page glossy pictures of the most influential designer of the 20th Century almost make you salivate. I used to shop at World's End and wore the original Pirate range, but even then I'd still forgotten just how stunning it was. If you are interested in fashion, music, history, art, literature, anarchy and chaos, then this is for you.

worth it!!, 08 Jun 2005
If like me, you are fascinated by Vivienne westwood's achievements in fashion then you wont be disappointed. This book was released to accompany the V&A exhibition last year, which was fantastic. I orginially intended to buy this book at the exhibition as a souvenir of the wonderful show, however i lacked the money at the time and was over the moon when i found it on amazon.

The book itself, is better than any of the attempts at writing a decent biography of her career. This is because of the huge contribution westwood made towards the book, which includes pictures from her own collection- and most notably the foreward at the beginning from the designer herself. She worked closely with clare wilcox, who organised the V&A exhibition so she knows her stuff!

And so it begins with the foreward, then a concise history of her career. From her childhood where she made her own clothes, to her punk days with mclaren and onto the present day.
The vast majority of the book is made up of pictures/photos of her much of her collections up to the present day.

It is such an amazing book, i like to flick through it every now and then to draw some inspiration from this truly amazing designer.

The Antipodean Point of View, 05 Nov 2008
Amongst the many reviews written on behalf of David Michaelis' "Schultz and Peanuts", some have been exclamatory while others have been critical of the author's approach to his subject. Apparently members of Charles Schulz' immediate family have also expressed bitter disappointment that the man they loved was not portrayed as they actually knew him. They believe the author has been arbitrary and has randomly used information from, and observations made during many interviews with the Schulz family and associates in order to fashion a story to fit his own theories. Indeed a lot of the criticism on all sides has been levelled at Michaelis' supposed psychological theorising as the life and behaviour of Schulz is followed from boyhood to old age. I note also that most, if not all the reviews on amazon USA have been written by American readers and fans of Schulz' cartoon 'Peanuts', and who may feel they have some ownership of both the artist and his many characters - enough in fact so as to expect a biographer to present work along the lines of their own understanding, and in a way that they themselves would like it to be.
As a New Zealander (that beautiful little country south-east of Australia) I feel I have a unique antipodean position from which to review Michaelis' biography with some objectivity, and - dare I say it - with even more admiration. 'Peanuts' appeared regularly in New Zealand newspapers from the mid 1960s and gathered a following, but not quite the devotion expressed by American readers, the reason being perhaps that in those days we in this country were not exposed so much to US customs and views of the world, and therefore to me the characters appeared to be quirky, and the story lines somewhat difficult to follow. When I discovered relatively recently that a biography had been written about the man whose name was familiar to me only as the artist of these strange, spare little cartoons, I was at once interested and also wary, knowing that the cost of importing this book might result in a huge literary disappointment to me as well as hard earned money being wasted.
I can only say that my money was not wasted, and I so enjoyed Michaelis' writing that I shall be looking for others of his books!
I think that when judging this book you have to examine what you expect from a biography. If it is the 'once-over-lightly Readers' Digest approach, "Schulz and Peanuts" is not for you. If indeed you want to know all the intimate but ordinary details of Charles Schulz' life (ie what hockey team did he follow?) then I think you are going to be disappointed
You have only to look at the first sentence in the preface to see where Michaelis is headed with the results of his research viz:"When Charles Schulz died, he left behind fifty years of clues about his life embedded in his cartoons" (p.ixP. And again in answer to an inquiry as to "...whether someone who had followed the strip from the outset'...could actually write a biographical portrait...?' Schulz answered ...'I think so...'"(p.xi). These are the observations that form the premise of Michaelis' work and they are those he perseveres with from beginning to end, using many of Schulz' cartoons to speak of their author and artist as well as the written word itself. Charles Schulz is brought to life as a warm and human personality, an observer, a very deep thinker and a man of vision and ambition who used what he did best as a means of not only interacting with his world, but also to make sense of it for himself and for others. That so many American citizens could also identify with his observations, shows that he was at once everyman in being able to touch on the aspects of American life that his followers recognised, as well as being unique in his expression of it.
For me, on this side of the globe, Michaelis has clarified much of the esotric nature of Schulz' cartoonery, and in doing so has helped me to understand the genius behind it. Certainly the approach to try to discover the real Charles Schulz IS behavioural and for some I guess is a little too theorietical and/or analytical. But when the subject himself preferred if he could to melt into the background and give very little of himself away at times, what else is a biographer to do but to look at the behaviour exhibited not only by Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty and others, but also that of the artist himself and begin to ask 'Why?'
Contrary to the end papers of the book, I do not think David Michaelis has written the 'definitive' biography per se. I am sure there are other aspects of Charles Schulz that could be explored - perhaps Monte Schulz might be the one to write a more personal memoir of his father in the way Chris Lemmon has done for his father Jack. But for this reader, Michaelis' book has been a revelation. Don't be put off from buying because of negative criticism from many quarters. If you enjoy good writing, good scholarship, an excellent read and an admirable attempt to relate creator and subjects, then spend your money without equivocation. Come to this book with an open mind and you will not be disappointed.

A Sadly Narrow Portrait of the Artist, 06 Jan 2008
For those of us who knew him, even if only in passing, this book is a big disappointment. Pretending to write a "warts and all" account - which would be welcome - Michaelis foregrounds Schulz' emotional conflicts, but does so without giving us a rounded portrait of the man. At times it is almost voyeuristic, devoting well over a hundred pages to the breakdown' of Schulz' first marriage without telling us anything new after the first ten; the second, very satisfying marriage gets little more than a factual account. More importantly, there is nothing to explain how Schulz took his anxieties and conflicts and translated them into such engaging and enduring humor. There is the pro forma suggestion that pain gives birth to art, but most of the discussion of the work is, sometimes infuriatingly, limited to the obvious, or to explications of how it illustrated the conflicts in his daily life. The author often embellishes on material to make it fit his "thesis," exposing the fact that the book is a "reading" of Charles Schulz' life, and a rather hackneyed and even gossipy one at that. Schulz,Peanuts and their serious admirers will have to wait for a real plumbing of the depths of the man who created Charlie Brown and the world they inhabited.

Reflections of Charles M. (Sparky) Schulz Based on Peanuts Panels, 19 Nov 2007
Did you ever sit in one of those old-time barber shops (like the one Mr. Schulz's dad ran)? To make it easier for you to see how the hair cut was going, there were mirrors everywhere. If you looked to the left and the right, the mirrors would multiply the images so you would see hundreds of yourself.

I was reminded of that optical illusion while reading Schulz and Peanuts. When a person pens as many comic strips as Sparky Schulz did, it's inevitable that much of is in the strips will come from his life . . . and enter into his life. Author David Michaelis clearly reflected on that point and did his best to tie his book's reporting of the Schulz life to the Schulz strips. As a result, the book is literally brimming with strips and the text connects the strips back to the Schulz life or family. Seeing those strips and getting more insight into how the strips connected to the man and his family was certainly interesting. That's the strength of the book.

The weakness of the book is that this focus puts a great deal else about Mr. Schulz's life into a dark background from which little emerges. As a result, this is as flawed and incomplete a biography as you could have while having vast access to so many people and so much material.

I found the first half of the book to be much more interesting than the second half. In the book's beginning, you learn about how Mr. Schulz became a cartoonist, established Peanuts, and the inspiration behind many of the characters and situations. You also find a good description of Mr. Schulz's Christian faith. From there, the story bogs down into too much speculating about Mr. Schulz's psychology and his relationship with his first wife, Joyce. You'll also learn vastly more than you ever wanted to know about the commercial success of the Peanuts empire (after all, you probably lived through it) and various building projects by Mrs. Schulz.

Having seen this book, I think a better concept for Mr. Michaelis would have been to have written a history of the Peanuts strip and how Mr. Schulz developed the strip. The author's writing and analytical abilities didn't seem to be up to much more than that . . . while missing elements that would have been included if the scope had been narrower (such as a discussion of more of the characters and their origins).

If you don't want to get bogged down, feel free to stop reading at page 286. You'll probably like the book better if you do.


A sumptuous volume, 15 Jan 2008
The introduction and subsequent text is very brief, and provides a glimpse into the artist's background and rise to success. The text makes little if any critical comment about the artist's work, perhaps leaving the paintings to speak for themselves. The book concludes with a list of the artist's paintings and exhibitions. The book really is all about the pictures.

There are about 160 full colour reproductions of Vettriano's paintings of which about half dozen are small images illustrating the text, there are over thirty full page bleed pictures many of which in fact amount to a page and a half and include one double page spread (the best in the book?). However the bulk of the illustrations range from almost full page images to those which occupy about half a page or occasionally less. The quality of the reproduction is excellent, and the varied and attractive layout suits the images well, bold yet without detracting from the work.

For those of us who are perhaps used to seeing Vettriano's paintings merely as small reproductions adorning cards and the like, it is a revelation to see them produced so well and to a good size. Seeing them so it is easy to label his technique as commercial and slick; but there is no denying the immediate appeal and impact. Whether or not you are a fan of Vettriano's this is a book worth having, it shows the range of his work, from the dark and sensual to some very appealing high key paintings. Altogether it is a most sumptuous volume.


evokative, 17 Sep 2006
I have been a Vettriano fan for many years and am delighted at his rise to fame, so this book is a delight to me. I love the rawness of the subjects, the earthiness. Times past-alas. I nice book and it would make a nice gift to someone who is "new" to Vettriano.
Rina

Elusive Vettriano, 09 Dec 2004
This is a nicely produced book on the art of Scottish artist Jack Vettriano. If you are looking for an illustrated guide to the work of Jack Vettriano - then this is the book for you. Even though some of his better known works are missing from this volume it is still a good selection.

The reproductions are well thought out and presented, with the exception of one or two. These suffer the same fate as other books on the artist in that they are printed across the spine of the book.

If, like some, you are looking for an insight into the life of the artist, then you may be dissapointed here for there is very little narrative and, what is there is well known already. There is still room for an in depth look at the artist as well as that other vital ingredient, the artist's models.

This is an excellent illustrative guide to the work of the artist with a large number of well presented reproductions. Highly recomended for both the new-comer and the dedicated Jack Vettriano fan.

The great Francis Bacon, 16 Jul 2006
A fascinating study of the great man and his work. Peppiatt knew Bacon from the 60's onwards, thus the biography feels intimate and true to life and is successful in depicting the flamboyance, complexity and sheer charisma of this important British artist.

Bacon's father is depicted as a key figure, as well as a leitmotif of brutal masculinity in Bacon's paintings. A tyrannical, martial man, (according to Peppiatt, he has his teenage son horsewhipped by his grooms in order to `make him more of a man') he is the very antithesis of the highly intelligent, young, unconventional Bacon. This early encounter with such brutality goes some way to explaining the power and masculine energy so apparent in Bacon's paintings, as well as the sado-masochistic and destructive nature of his sexual relationships.

Peppiatt describes Bacon's influences - Picasso's biomorhic figures as well as his 'Crucifixion', the photographic images of Edweard Muybridge, Velasquez's 'Pope Innocent X', which inspired the 'Screaming Pope' series.

Bacon's days spent as `bon viveur', drinking vast quantities of alcohol at the Colony in Soho, with the cliquey, languorous dry wit of camp proprietress, Muriel Belcher is captured wonderfully ("Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends!", as Bacon once declared), as well as his slightly alarming brush with the Kray twins (who fascinated him), and his doomed relationship with his tragic muse, George Dyer.

All in all this is an immensely enjoyable read as well as providing a real insight into the artist and his work.

highly entertaining and informative, 17 May 2000
Peppiatt's indepth knowledge and presentation made this book an absolute joy to read. Going farther and deeper than Farson with complete excavation of and endearment for Bacon.A great character, the book a sheer delight.

Well worth the wait, 30 Aug 2007
A really lovely book, everything thing about it, the weight the page thickness, the colour, makes it ascetically pleasing...not to mention the content!
Perhaps slightly incoherent but I think that this reflects exactly Kahlo's mind and her art...snippets of her life painted or written down in brutal honesty.

Inside her mind?, 06 Dec 2002
This book is probably the most intriguing artists' diary I have ever read. The visual experiments blend with verbal play and puns, and many odd but fascinating, slightly disjointed writings. I loved the way she used language, and played around with mantras of random words, and the sheer variety of layout and imagery, funny doodles and unconscious scribbles, is life- affirming and comforting (or at least I thought so :D ) The essay by Fuentes was one of the best and most inventive I have read of her, a life of complexity described by a poet with words. I would strongly recommend this to anyone with an interest in the woman behind the cult, it will broaden your mind beyond the cliches society has made of her life and symbolism, and will show you her very inventive interest in life.

An excellent portrayal of love's diverse effects on a woman., 27 Aug 2001
Frida Kahlo was a woman of great artistic talent and her Picasso-influenced work tells a story about her life together with her husband, a man she adores so much she feels that he can move the very stars out of the sky. Her passionate and immensely detailed diary (in spanish) can be read by anyone and still touch the hearts of those who do not speak the language. The english translation allows the english-speaking reader to understand her highs and lows, but to read the actual copies of her diary really give you an understanding of her intense character.

Poetry and art fused together in an entirely unique way, this book is a treasure for the lover of both acts of expression, and the story of her life is illustrated not only in the introduction, but in the magnificent colours and words used in her diary.

This book will undoubtably inspire, shock, enlighten and touch the hearts of those who read it.

Graphically rich!, 19 May 1999
If you are expecting a standard diary, full of descriptions of what happened today, who visited for breakfast, and what Frida had for dinner - then don't order this book. Frida's diary is an amazing combination of text and paintings. She writes random comments with little consideration of form. In fact, many of the things she writes are random lists of words, or letters to loves that are never sent, or even descriptions of fantastic events that never occur outside of her imagination. It's like a huge and colorful experiment in free writing and unconscious expression. Combine these words with the sketches, paintings, and drawing scattered about - sometimes on pages of their own, sometimes in the midst of words that are written around the edges of the artwork - and you have an incredible and extremely unique diary. Personally, I found it inspiring to read and have incorporated many of the elements into my own journal. (If you are looking for a way to break out of writers block, or artists block, I would seriously consider getting a copy of this book and mimicking the technique. It's very freeing and has a way of generating ideas.)

Stunning, 24 Mar 1998
Beautiful book, beautiful spirit. My only criticism is structural. I had to do a lot of flipping back and forth. All told, though, it's worth it.

A charming and delightful book, 13 Oct 2007
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is very tempting to describe the book by what it is not, not autobiography, not a companion to "Sorry I haven't a clue", not about Jazz... Though I think anyone with an interest in these areas will enjoy it.
The book is quite literally a collection of rambling thoughts and reminiscences - which does not sound very appealing. But Humphs love of language and music shine though continually, and it flows along in a delightful manner.
While his achievements in Jazz and Comedy are well known, Humph's journalism successes are perhaps less well known - and in my opinion his abilities as a writer are every bit as great, and that shines from the pages of this book. I really think anyone with a sense of humour will like it - a smile on every page!



Random thoughts of Chairman Humph, 17 Sep 2007
The title says it all - this is a collection of thoughts and memories and definitely NOT an autobiography. On the first page Humph desribes it as "a hotchpotch of thought and memories and this is exactly what it is.
The book is a wonderful encapsulation of the wit and considerable wisdom of the inimitable Humph, with at least one laugh per page and frequently more as Humph seamlessly elides from the consideration of 3 a.m. transport caff meals to the subject of crimes against the decent pronunciation of English within the space of about 30 words. Devoting six hilarious pages to this, he moves, with his own brand of logic to school days at Eton and and thence to dispense a cornucopia of stories and anecdotes about eccentric relations, jazz greats and his own life.
In no particular order we are treated to a wondrous sequence of cameos from the very full and fully-lived life of a man whose humour never conceals his innate wisdom and humanity.
If you enjoy the lunatic humour of "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue" or if you have an interest in jazz or if you just want a good read, this is it!


Sea, Sun and Piracy, 19 Sep 2006
This is a gorgeous,sumptuous book. It works precisely because it let's Vivienne's clothes speak for themselves. The full page glossy pictures of the most influential designer of the 20th Century almost make you salivate. I used to shop at World's End and wore the original Pirate range, but even then I'd still forgotten just how stunning it was. If you are interested in fashion, music, history, art, literature, anarchy and chaos, then this is for you.

worth it!!, 08 Jun 2005
If like me, you are fascinated by Vivienne westwood's achievements in fashion then you wont be disappointed. This book was released to accompany the V&A exhibition last year, which was fantastic. I orginially intended to buy this book at the exhibition as a souvenir of the wonderful show, however i lacked the money at the time and was over the moon when i found it on amazon.

The book itself, is better than any of the attempts at writing a decent biography of her career. This is because of the huge contribution westwood made towards the book, which includes pictures from her own collection- and most notably the foreward at the beginning from the designer herself. She worked closely with clare wilcox, who organised the V&A exhibition so she knows her stuff!

And so it begins with the foreward, then a concise history of her career. From her childhood where she made her own clothes, to her punk days with mclaren and onto the present day.
The vast majority of the book is made up of pictures/photos of her much of her collections up to the present day.

It is such an amazing book, i like to flick through it every now and then to draw some inspiration from this truly amazing designer.

The Antipodean Point of View, 05 Nov 2008
Amongst the many reviews written on behalf of David Michaelis' "Schultz and Peanuts", some have been exclamatory while others have been critical of the author's approach to his subject. Apparently members of Charles Schulz' immediate family have also expressed bitter disappointment that the man they loved was not portrayed as they actually knew him. They believe the author has been arbitrary and has randomly used information from, and observations made during many interviews with the Schulz family and associates in order to fashion a story to fit his own theories. Indeed a lot of the criticism on all sides has been levelled at Michaelis' supposed psychological theorising as the life and behaviour of Schulz is followed from boyhood to old age. I note also that most, if not all the reviews on amazon USA have been written by American readers and fans of Schulz' cartoon 'Peanuts', and who may feel they have some ownership of both the artist and his many characters - enough in fact so as to expect a biographer to present work along the lines of their own understanding, and in a way that they themselves would like it to be.
As a New Zealander (that beautiful little country south-east of Australia) I feel I have a unique antipodean position from which to review Michaelis' biography with some objectivity, and - dare I say it - with even more admiration. 'Peanuts' appeared regularly in New Zealand newspapers from the mid 1960s and gathered a following, but not quite the devotion expressed by American readers, the reason being perhaps that in those days we in this country were not exposed so much to US customs and views of the world, and therefore to me the characters appeared to be quirky, and the story lines somewhat difficult to follow. When I discovered relatively recently that a biography had been written about the man whose name was familiar to me only as the artist of these strange, spare little cartoons, I was at once interested and also wary, knowing that the cost of importing this book might result in a huge literary disappointment to me as well as hard earned money being wasted.
I can only say that my money was not wasted, and I so enjoyed Michaelis' writing that I shall be looking for others of his books!
I think that when judging this book you have to examine what you expect from a biography. If it is the 'once-over-lightly Readers' Digest approach, "Schulz and Peanuts" is not for you. If indeed you want to know all the intimate but ordinary details of Charles Schulz' life (ie what hockey team did he follow?) then I think you are going to be disappointed
You have only to look at the first sentence in the preface to see where Michaelis is headed with the results of his research viz:"When Charles Schulz died, he left behind fifty years of clues about his life embedded in his cartoons" (p.ixP. And again in answer to an inquiry as to "...whether someone who had followed the strip from the outset'...could actually write a biographical portrait...?' Schulz answered ...'I think so...'"(p.xi). These are the observations that form the premise of Michaelis' work and they are those he perseveres with from beginning to end, using many of Schulz' cartoons to speak of their author and artist as well as the written word itself. Charles Schulz is brought to life as a warm and human personality, an observer, a very deep thinker and a man of vision and ambition who used what he did best as a means of not only interacting with his world, but also to make sense of it for himself and for others. That so many American citizens could also identify with his observations, shows that he was at once everyman in being able to touch on the aspects of American life that his followers recognised, as well as being unique in his expression of it.
For me, on this side of the globe, Michaelis has clarified much of the esotric nature of Schulz' cartoonery, and in doing so has helped me to understand the genius behind it. Certainly the approach to try to discover the real Charles Schulz IS behavioural and for some I guess is a little too theorietical and/or analytical. But when the subject himself preferred if he could to melt into the background and give very little of himself away at times, what else is a biographer to do but to look at the behaviour exhibited not only by Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty and others, but also that of the artist himself and begin to ask 'Why?'
Contrary to the end papers of the book, I do not think David Michaelis has written the 'definitive' biography per se. I am sure there are other aspects of Charles Schulz that could be explored - perhaps Monte Schulz might be the one to write a more personal memoir of his father in the way Chris Lemmon has done for his father Jack. But for this reader, Michaelis' book has been a revelation. Don't be put off from buying because of negative criticism from many quarters. If you enjoy good writing, good scholarship, an excellent read and an admirable attempt to relate creator and subjects, then spend your money without equivocation. Come to this book with an open mind and you will not be disappointed.

A Sadly Narrow Portrait of the Artist, 06 Jan 2008
For those of us who knew him, even if only in passing, this book is a big disappointment. Pretending to write a "warts and all" account - which would be welcome - Michaelis foregrounds Schulz' emotional conflicts, but does so without giving us a rounded portrait of the man. At times it is almost voyeuristic, devoting well over a hundred pages to the breakdown' of Schulz' first marriage without telling us anything new after the first ten; the second, very satisfying marriage gets little more than a factual account. More importantly, there is nothing to explain how Schulz took his anxieties and conflicts and translated them into such engaging and enduring humor. There is the pro forma suggestion that pain gives birth to art, but most of the discussion of the work is, sometimes infuriatingly, limited to the obvious, or to explications of how it illustrated the conflicts in his daily life. The author often embellishes on material to make it fit his "thesis," exposing the fact that the book is a "reading" of Charles Schulz' life, and a rather hackneyed and even gossipy one at that. Schulz,Peanuts and their serious admirers will have to wait for a real plumbing of the depths of the man who created Charlie Brown and the world they inhabited.

Reflections of Charles M. (Sparky) Schulz Based on Peanuts Panels, 19 Nov 2007
Did you ever sit in one of those old-time barber shops (like the one Mr. Schulz's dad ran)? To make it easier for you to see how the hair cut was going, there were mirrors everywhere. If you looked to the left and the right, the mirrors would multiply the images so you would see hundreds of yourself.

I was reminded of that optical illusion while reading Schulz and Peanuts. When a person pens as many comic strips as Sparky Schulz did, it's inevitable that much of is in the strips will come from his life . . . and enter into his life. Author David Michaelis clearly reflected on that point and did his best to tie his book's reporting of the Schulz life to the Schulz strips. As a result, the book is literally brimming with strips and the text connects the strips back to the Schulz life or family. Seeing those strips and getting more insight into how the strips connected to the man and his family was certainly interesting. That's the strength of the book.

The weakness of the book is that this focus puts a great deal else about Mr. Schulz's life into a dark background from which little emerges. As a result, this is as flawed and incomplete a biography as you could have while having vast access to so many people and so much material.

I found the first half of the book to be much more interesting than the second half. In the book's beginning, you learn about how Mr. Schulz became a cartoonist, established Peanuts, and the inspiration behind many of the characters and situations. You also find a good description of Mr. Schulz's Christian faith. From there, the story bogs down into too much speculating about Mr. Schulz's psychology and his relationship with his first wife, Joyce. You'll also learn vastly more than you ever wanted to know about the commercial success of the Peanuts empire (after all, you probably lived through it) and various building projects by Mrs. Schulz.

Having seen this book, I think a better concept for Mr. Michaelis would have been to have written a history of the Peanuts strip and how Mr. Schulz developed the strip. The author's writing and analytical abilities didn't seem to be up to much more than that . . . while missing elements that would have been included if the scope had been narrower (such as a discussion of more of the characters and their origins).

If you don't want to get bogged down, feel free to stop reading at page 286. You'll probably like the book better if you do.


A sumptuous volume, 15 Jan 2008
The introduction and subsequent text is very brief, and provides a glimpse into the artist's background and rise to success. The text makes little if any critical comment about the artist's work, perhaps leaving the paintings to speak for themselves. The book concludes with a list of the artist's paintings and exhibitions. The book really is all about the pictures.

There are about 160 full colour reproductions of Vettriano's paintings of which about half dozen are small images illustrating the text, there are over thirty full page bleed pictures many of which in fact amount to a page and a half and include one double page spread (the best in the book?). However the bulk of the illustrations range from almost full page images to those which occupy about half a page or occasionally less. The quality of the reproduction is excellent, and the varied and attractive layout suits the images well, bold yet without detracting from the work.

For those of us who are perhaps used to seeing Vettriano's paintings merely as small reproductions adorning cards and the like, it is a revelation to see them produced so well and to a good size. Seeing them so it is easy to label his technique as commercial and slick; but there is no denying the immediate appeal and impact. Whether or not you are a fan of Vettriano's this is a book worth having, it shows the range of his work, from the dark and sensual to some very appealing high key paintings. Altogether it is a most sumptuous volume.


evokative, 17 Sep 2006
I have been a Vettriano fan for many years and am delighted at his rise to fame, so this book is a delight to me. I love the rawness of the subjects, the earthiness. Times past-alas. I nice book and it would make a nice gift to someone who is "new" to Vettriano.
Rina

Elusive Vettriano, 09 Dec 2004
This is a nicely produced book on the art of Scottish artist Jack Vettriano. If you are looking for an illustrated guide to the work of Jack Vettriano - then this is the book for you. Even though some of his better known works are missing from this volume it is still a good selection.

The reproductions are well thought out and presented, with the exception of one or two. These suffer the same fate as other books on the artist in that they are printed across the spine of the book.

If, like some, you are looking for an insight into the life of the artist, then you may be dissapointed here for there is very little narrative and, what is there is well known already. There is still room for an in depth look at the artist as well as that other vital ingredient, the artist's models.

This is an excellent illustrative guide to the work of the artist with a large number of well presented reproductions. Highly recomended for both the new-comer and the dedicated Jack Vettriano fan.

The great Francis Bacon, 16 Jul 2006
A fascinating study of the great man and his work. Peppiatt knew Bacon from the 60's onwards, thus the biography feels intimate and true to life and is successful in depicting the flamboyance, complexity and sheer charisma of this important British artist.

Bacon's father is depicted as a key figure, as well as a leitmotif of brutal masculinity in Bacon's paintings. A tyrannical, martial man, (according to Peppiatt, he has his teenage son horsewhipped by his grooms in order to `make him more of a man') he is the very antithesis of the highly intelligent, young, unconventional Bacon. This early encounter with such brutality goes some way to explaining the power and masculine energy so apparent in Bacon's paintings, as well as the sado-masochistic and destructive nature of his sexual relationships.

Peppiatt describes Bacon's influences - Picasso's biomorhic figures as well as his 'Crucifixion', the photographic images of Edweard Muybridge, Velasquez's 'Pope Innocent X', which inspired the 'Screaming Pope' series.

Bacon's days spent as `bon viveur', drinking vast quantities of alcohol at the Colony in Soho, with the cliquey, languorous dry wit of camp proprietress, Muriel Belcher is captured wonderfully ("Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends!", as Bacon once declared), as well as his slightly alarming brush with the Kray twins (who fascinated him), and his doomed relationship with his tragic muse, George Dyer.

All in all this is an immensely enjoyable read as well as providing a real insight into the artist and his work.

highly entertaining and informative, 17 May 2000
Peppiatt's indepth knowledge and presentation made this book an absolute joy to read. Going farther and deeper than Farson with complete excavation of and endearment for Bacon.A great character, the book a sheer delight.

Well worth the wait, 30 Aug 2007
A really lovely book, everything thing about it, the weight the page thickness, the colour, makes it ascetically pleasing...not to mention the content!
Perhaps slightly incoherent but I think that this reflects exactly Kahlo's mind and her art...snippets of her life painted or written down in brutal honesty.