- Paperback: 480 pages
- Publisher: Coronet; New Ed edition (1 Jan 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340672099
- ISBN-13: 978-0340672099
- Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 332,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
This biography aims to deconstruct the myths surrounding Queen's lead singer and provide an intimate portrayal of Freddie's life and death. From his birthplace in Zanzibar to his final home in London, the author interviews the key people in Mercury's life.
About the Author
Lesley-Ann Jones was the Daily Mail Rock Correspondent; she toured with Queen and forged a firm friendship with the band members.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting. Compassionate, but doesn't sanitise subject,
By A Customer
This review is from: Freddie Mercury: The Definitive Biography (Paperback)
This is the only biography of Freddie Mercury I have read so I'm not an authority. However - I do have a deep-rooted interest so here goes. I felt that the author was really interested in her subject and had definitely done a good deal of research. I am pleased that she doesn't try and present him as an angel (which he clearly wasn't, bless him) and some less flattering anecdotes are included as pointers to show the reader what a pain in the neck he could be when he chose. At the same time, some quite endearing memories balance this up - and if you liked the man to start with then you'll definitely still like him when you've finished the book. I think really it could have benefitted from some better photographs as these are an odd collection, some from childhood, including some old-looking photos of the area where he was born in Zanzibar, and these to my mind are not particularly interesting. The slant of the book is, I believe, that of finding out who Freddie really was by means of charting his course through life - so I suppose these are relevant - but perhaps not very exciting if it was the outrageous banana-on-head wearing, leather-clad party animal image that had prompted you to buy the book. However, with regard to the narrative, she has a nice style, and is at no time is waspish or accusatory. She deals particularly well with an interview with Barbara Valentin, one of Freddie's closest friends. All in all, one of my favourites and a pretty good read.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Hatchet Job,
By Shrews_Tyke (Shrewsbury, Shropshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Freddie Mercury: The Definitive Biography (Paperback)
If you want to know the dirt about Freddie and his various liaisons then this is the book for you. if you're actually interested in what inspired him to write such marvellous music then you'll be disappointed. The author gives the impression that Freddie was Queen and Queen was Freddie, not so. Freddie was an important and integral part of the band but so were the others, the way that she dismisses John with such disdain is disgraceful, probably because he wouldn't talk to her, well done John. We all know that Freddie had his little peccadillos but I wanted something that would give an insight into his music and personallity not a run down of his sex life. This was a very disappointing read, I didn't even feel any emotion when I read of his death, she just left me cold. Queen's music has been a big part of my life it was always there as I was growing up, I've been a fan for over thirty years, this didn't do anything for me at all.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Most Detailed Biography of Freddie to date...,
By GP (Sheffield) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Freddie Mercury: The Definitive Biography (Paperback)
...But, like other reviewers of this book have stated, it does neglect the music.
Having been a hardcore fan of Queen for many many years, I thought I'd read it all. So I was very reluctant to buy this book, fearing it was going to be another arms-length interpritation, rushed released, cash-in book written after Freddie died. Not so, not by a long shot. I was warmly suprised to find that Lesly-Ann Jones has certainly done her homework. She cuts down rumors and inconsistancies in other well-known Freddie books, even the one's we thought we could trust. She also manages to get exclusive interviews which really do make you feel like you know the great man personally, and she doesn't pull her punches when it comes to his sexual quirks and adventures. And, while painting all these pictures, she also covers the many complicated aspects of his life, without ever loosing thread. But the one thing that is still lacking from the Queen industry is a book dedicated to Queen and Freddie's music making, which for me would be fasinating, (I loved watching the Making Of One Vision documentary on Queen's Greatest Video Hits II). There are very rare photographs also in this book which, for a hardcore fan, come as quite refreshing and interesting. We all like a good picture of Freddie striking up a famous pose, but it's old hat as far as books are concerned. If you want a detailed book on Queen as a band, this isn't it. And to be honest for such a book to cover everything would be so thick it could be used to beat whales to death. Queen: The Early Years is by far the most detailed I've read to date, it goes as far as the Bohemion Rhapsody era. I recommend you check it out. This book has obvious passion and from the first few chapters I knew I was in for a treat. I'm also thankful that it reads like a report, not an arse-kissing fan letter. The anecdotes finally come from those closest to Freddie and are unforgettable. This was a great read indeed.
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