{"product_id":"hockney-the-biography-volume-1-christopher-simon-sykes-hardback","title":"Hockney: The Biography Volume 1 by Christopher Simon Sykes - Biography \u0026 Memoir - Hardback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e: Brand New\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9781846057083\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Century\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge Range\u003c\/strong\u003e: Adult\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nHockney: The Biography Volume 1 is Christopher Simon Sykes' definitive, authorised account of the early life and rise of David Hockney, Britain's best-loved living artist. Covering Hockney's childhood in Bradford, his years at art college, the electric cultural scene of 1960s London and his move to sun-soaked California, this hardback biography draws on unprecedented access to Hockney's own notebooks, letters and paintings, plus exclusive interviews with the artist, his family and closest friends, to deliver a vivid and deeply personal portrait.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nSpanning the formative decades of David Hockney's extraordinary career, this first volume traces his journey from a grammar-school boy in industrial Bradford, through his scholarship at the Royal College of Art, to becoming one of the defining figures of modern British art. Christopher Simon Sykes charts Hockney's precocious talent and determination to live on his own terms, capturing the excitement of 1960s London as Hockney mixed with poets, pop stars and fellow artists who defined the era. The narrative follows him across the Atlantic to Los Angeles, where the clean light, modernist architecture and famous swimming pools inspired some of his most iconic paintings. Sykes also explores Hockney's pioneering opera set and costume designs, and the acclaim that followed his major exhibitions. What distinguishes this biography is its intimacy: Sykes was given rare, direct access to Hockney's private archive, weaving personal correspondence, candid family recollections and the artist's own reflections into a rounded, honest account. Rather than a dry survey of exhibitions and sales, this is a warm, human story of ambition, friendship and creative breakthrough, set against seismic cultural change in Britain and America. Readers interested in twentieth-century art history or the life of one of the world's most recognisable painters will find this volume a rich, novelistic read.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAuthorised biography written with Hockney's direct cooperation and access to his private notebooks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCovers the pivotal early decades, from Bradford to Swinging London to California\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRich cultural detail on 1960s art, music and society\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrand new hardback edition, ideal for gifting to art lovers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWritten by an accomplished biographer with a distinctive, readable style\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA fascinating companion for fans of Hockney's paintings and stage designs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nChristopher Simon Sykes grew up at Sledmere and became a respected journalist, photographer and writer. His work has appeared in \u003cem\u003eVogue\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eHouse \u0026amp; Garden\u003c\/em\u003e, the \u003cem\u003eSunday Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e magazine and \u003cem\u003eArchitectural Digest\u003c\/em\u003e, and he wrote and presented a BBC Two series on country-house cookery. He has authored several books and photographed many more, including titles on the National Trust, the Rolling Stones and the gardens of Buckingham Palace. He lives in North London with his family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You'll Love This Biography\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nAn intimate, beautifully researched portrait of a British art icon, told with warmth, insight and unprecedented access. Perfect for art lovers, biography fans and anyone fascinated by the cultural upheavals of the 1960s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlease Note: Due to regional publishing variations, the UK ISBN and edition cover may differ slightly from images shown.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Christopher Simon Sykes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58171800486270,"sku":"SNG23960","price":8.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/4549\/8093\/files\/hockney-the-biography-volume-1-christopher-simon-sykes-hardback.jpg?v=1791451621","url":"https:\/\/www.letsbuybooks.com\/products\/hockney-the-biography-volume-1-christopher-simon-sykes-hardback","provider":"Lets Buy Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}