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Dickens and Prince

A Particular Kind of Genius
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( 3,193 ratings, 542 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Dickens and Prince by Nick Hornby delves into the unexpected parallels between the lives and creative journeys of Charles Dickens and the musician Prince. Both figures, from distinct eras and realms, share an intense drive, extraordinary productivity, and unique genius that shaped their respective cultures. By exploring these comparisons, Hornby reflects on the nature of creativity and the personal forces that fuel it.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy exploring unique comparisons between two seemingly different icons from literature and music. Nick Hornby offers an insightful and engaging look into the creative parallels between Charles Dickens and Prince, blending biography with cultural commentary. It's perfect for those who appreciate a blend of literary and musical history.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In this joyous and illuminating book, the million-copy bestselling author brings together an unlikely pairing to explore the story of their creative genius.

What could possibly connect Prince, the great twentieth-century singer-songwriter, and Charles Dickens, the great writer of classics usually stuffed into the hands of adolescents too early? What could these two geniuses, one born in 1812 in England, and the other in 1950s Minneapolis, have in common?

For Nick Hornby, Dickens and Prince are two artists that compare to no others. At the young age of 24, they both had their breakthroughs, Prince with '1999' and Dickens with The Pickwick Papers. At 26, Prince released 'Purple Rain' and Dickens' Oliver Twist was published, and, by 30, both artists were huge stars.

No one else had such a relentless work ethic and produced such a staggeringly original and enormous body of work. Where did their magic come from? How did they use it? And, in the end, did it kill them?

Tracing their lives, from the early years to their relationships with women, their finances to their inability to stop working, Dickens and Prince is a brilliantly surprising and joyous uncovering of the essence of a very particular and unique type of genius.

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?

Nick Hornby's Dickens and Prince is praised for its smart, funny, and elegantly persuasive examination of the unexpected parallels between two artists from different centuries. Critics highlight Hornby's infectious admiration for Charles Dickens and Prince, noting the book's engaging and educational narrative that blends wit and wisdom. The biography is lauded as both a joyful exploration and a heartfelt fan tribute, encouraging readers to appreciate the prolific talents of these cultural legends.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241996478

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 6.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 85g

Pages: 112

About the Author

NICK HORNBY is the bestselling author of eight novels, including Just Like You, High Fidelity and About a Boy, and several works of nonfiction including Fever Pitch. He has also written numerous award-winning screenplays for film and television including Brooklyn, Wild and, most recently, State of the Union.

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