Madonna: Like an Icon
Book cover (UK)
|
|
| Author | Lucy O'Brien |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Madonna |
| Genre | Biography |
| Publisher | Bantam Press |
|
Publication date
|
27 August 2007 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 432 |
| ISBN | |
Madonna: Like an Icon is a biography by English author Lucy O'Brien, chronicling the life of American singer Madonna. The book was released on 27 August 2007, by Bantam Press in the United Kingdom, and on 18 October 2007, by Harper Collins in the United States. Madonna: Like an Icon chronicles the life of the singer from her birth, up to the release of her eleventh studio album, Hard Candy, in 2008. Initially critical of her work, O'Brien had become a fan of Madonna after seeing her perform on television for The Virgin Tour in 1985. From that point of time, the author followed Madonna's career closely, visited her concert tours, and collected interviews, magazines, and albums.
When O'Brien finally decided to write a biography on Madonna in 2005, she wanted the book to be more about the singer's contribution to her music, rather than delving too much into her personal life, unlike other Madonna biographers. The author then interviewed dancers, choreographers, musicians, and producers who worked with Madonna. After its release, the book received a mixed response from critics. They were unanimous that the over-emphasis given on the singer's discography was unnecessary, instead more thought should have been given on exploring her personal life, which would have made the biography compelling.
The biography is divided into three parts. The first part is named "Baptism" and tells about Madonna's birth in Detroit, Michigan, her early childhood, her time in New York, and her dance degree. It also talks in detail about the release of her first three studio albums—Madonna, Like a Virgin and True Blue—her marriage to actor Sean Penn, and also her foray into films. The middle part, named "Confession", starts from the Like a Prayer era onwards where Madonna has become a global superstar. It continues up to the release of the erotic coffee table book called Sex, and the subsequent commercial disappointments that she faced. The third part is called "Absolution", and starts with Madonna giving birth to her daughter Lourdes. It continues with the release of Ray of Light (1998) and subsequent four studio albums, her worldwide concert tours, her marriage to Guy Ritchie and controversies surrounding her adoption from Malawi. It ends with the release of Madonna's 2008 album, Hard Candy, and the singer reaching the age of fifty.
...
Wikipedia