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Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius

Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius

  • Downloads：6122
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-11-12 18:21:34
  • Update Date：2025-09-08
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Nick Hornby
  • ISBN：0593541820
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Matthew Fleming ，

Joyously fun， endlessly informative and very funny， especially at the end。 Loved it。

Adrienne Teague ，

I've never read anything like this。 Hornby employs his usual relatable voice to explain how he came to be writing such a thing as a comparison of the lives and careers of Charles Dickens and Prince。 As strange as it seems in this day of easy information， more is known about Dickens' childhood than Prince's。 Most of the information on Prince comes from people who worked with him and learned bits and pieces。 They were both born into poor families。 Dickens was sent to work at age 12 when his family I've never read anything like this。 Hornby employs his usual relatable voice to explain how he came to be writing such a thing as a comparison of the lives and careers of Charles Dickens and Prince。 As strange as it seems in this day of easy information， more is known about Dickens' childhood than Prince's。 Most of the information on Prince comes from people who worked with him and learned bits and pieces。 They were both born into poor families。 Dickens was sent to work at age 12 when his family was in debtors' prison。 Prince was shuttled around between his parents' houses and ended up living in a friends' basement as a teenager。 The book continues to draw comparisons like these throughout the lives of the two men， including their work lives， their relationships， and the way they died。 This is a fascinating look at two artists I would never have thought of in the same sentence before。 。。。more

Trin ，

Slight， but very very charming。 I will happily absorb Hornby's ramblings about culture， regardless of topic。 Slight， but very very charming。 I will happily absorb Hornby's ramblings about culture， regardless of topic。 。。。more

Lisa ，

Hmmm， this one was kind of weird for me。 I requested an advance reader copy from Riverhead publishing because I was intrigued by the concept of comparing the similarities between Prince and Dickens。 In the end， I didn't really get the comparisons but I did enjoy the different facts that Hornby shared about both of them。 I'm always fascinated by Prince in particular since he is from my home state and lived such an unusual life。 It was an easy read （I finished it in a few hours） and I found it int Hmmm， this one was kind of weird for me。 I requested an advance reader copy from Riverhead publishing because I was intrigued by the concept of comparing the similarities between Prince and Dickens。 In the end， I didn't really get the comparisons but I did enjoy the different facts that Hornby shared about both of them。 I'm always fascinated by Prince in particular since he is from my home state and lived such an unusual life。 It was an easy read （I finished it in a few hours） and I found it interesting but not amazing。 If you're a fan of either Prince or Dickens， I think you may like this one。 。。。more

Sloane Marlowe ，

The comparison of Prince and Charles Dickens， given the two very different times in which the artists lived， is not an obvious one， but that may be part of what makes this book so engaging。 Both artists were talented and productive in an almost super-human way—so what drove and sustained them？ That level of productivity and genius has an origin story and a price， and Hornby draws the parallels and differences between the two men to explore the question of what it takes to make great art 。 。 。 in The comparison of Prince and Charles Dickens， given the two very different times in which the artists lived， is not an obvious one， but that may be part of what makes this book so engaging。 Both artists were talented and productive in an almost super-human way—so what drove and sustained them？ That level of productivity and genius has an origin story and a price， and Hornby draws the parallels and differences between the two men to explore the question of what it takes to make great art 。 。 。 in any century。 。。。more

Anmiryam ，

Nick Hornby's essays about culture are always a pleasure and this new book length exploration of two disparate artists is no exception。 Both driven， prolific and troubled in their own ways， Hornby explores the similarities between a 19th century writer and 20th/21st century musician without forcing likeness where there is none。 His approach is underpinned by his own love for their work and why their creations motivate his own productions。 I love Dickens， and the bits I know of Prince I have alwa Nick Hornby's essays about culture are always a pleasure and this new book length exploration of two disparate artists is no exception。 Both driven， prolific and troubled in their own ways， Hornby explores the similarities between a 19th century writer and 20th/21st century musician without forcing likeness where there is none。 His approach is underpinned by his own love for their work and why their creations motivate his own productions。 I love Dickens， and the bits I know of Prince I have always enjoyed。 And， while I am no artist， I very much want to make a list of all the important creators that have made my life full -- inspired by the list Hornby includes here。 Well worth the couple of hours it takes to read！ 。。。more

Dannie Lynn Fountain ，

I picked up this book because of my interest in Dickens and Prince separately。 I found the parallels and comparisons fascinating but the author’s insertion of his own humor and irrelevant commentary frustrating。

Krista ，

I'll read anything Nick Hornby writes， but this was definitely fascinating。 I would never have thought to compare Dickens and Prince！ Between this and the books in which he wrote about what he was reading， he'll make a Dickens fan of me yet。 Maybe， as he mentions， I was made to read Dickens too early。 I'll have to try again。 I would have liked more illustrations。 （I was reading an advance copy that I won - maybe there are more illustrations in the final version？） I'll read anything Nick Hornby writes， but this was definitely fascinating。 I would never have thought to compare Dickens and Prince！ Between this and the books in which he wrote about what he was reading， he'll make a Dickens fan of me yet。 Maybe， as he mentions， I was made to read Dickens too early。 I'll have to try again。 I would have liked more illustrations。 （I was reading an advance copy that I won - maybe there are more illustrations in the final version？） 。。。more

Dave ，

Only Nick Hornby。 This is fun and silly and serious about work。 And it takes swipes at Henry James and a few other pretentious gits。 Thanks， Nick！I read this as an ARC。

Wanda ，

Fun interseting read。

Pamela ，

A fascinating look at two geniuses who transcend time。