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Lady Sings the Blues
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Check link for latest rating. ( 7,476 ratings, 598 reviews)
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Lady Sings the Blues
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See moreOriginally published: Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1956.
The bluesy, gutsy, no-holds-barred memoir of jazz legend Billie Holiday.
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The bluesy, gutsy, no-holds-barred memoir of jazz legend Billie Holiday.
"I've been told that no one sings the word 'hunger' like I do. Or the word 'love'."
Lady Sings the Blues is the inimitable autobiography of one of the greatest icons of the twentieth century. Born to a single mother in 1915 Baltimore, Billie Holiday had her first run-in with the law at aged 13. But Billie Holiday is no victim.
Her memoir tells the story of her life spent in jazz, smoky Harlem clubs and packed-out concert halls, her love affairs, her wildly creative friends, her struggles with addiction, and her adventures in love. Billie Holiday is a wise and aphoristic guide to the story of her unforgettable life.
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Reviewers praise Lady Sings the Blues for its raw, authentic depiction of Billie Holiday's life, highlighting the pervasive racism and personal struggles she endured while becoming a jazz legend. The book provides a poignant narrative of her turbulent journey, showcasing her genius amid personal turmoil and systemic oppression. It delves deeply into her experiences with addiction and her complex humanity, offering a vivid yet nuanced portrait beyond her mythic status.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780241351291
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 29 November 2018
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Penguin Classics
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 11.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 147g
Pages: 192
About the Author
Billie Holiday was born in 1915. She began singing in jazz clubs in Harlem while still a teenager, never undergoing technical training or even learning to read music. Mainstream success followed with hits like Summertime, Autumn in New York and Strange Fruit. To this day she is still considered by many to be the greatest jazz singer of all time. She died in 1959, aged 44.
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