John Baxter is an Australian author renowned for his insightful explorations of cinema and its creators. His early career in journalism and filmmaking in Australia fostered a deep fascination with the seventh art, leading to numerous biographies of film personalities and incisive film criticism. Relocating to Paris, his writing evolved to encompass autobiographical works, delving into personal experiences and the city's allure. Baxter's distinctive style is marked by its erudition and its ability to capture the essence of both artistic creations and lived experiences.
The narrative explores the complex life of Josef von Sternberg, a director who transformed his troubled origins into a glamorous persona in Hollywood. Ignoring his difficult childhood and lack of formal education, he embraced a lavish lifestyle while shaping the career of Marlene Dietrich, whose on-screen allure mirrored their tumultuous relationship. Historian John Baxter delves into von Sternberg's artistic choices, his rise from poverty to fame, and his eventual alienation in Japan, revealing the enigmatic figure behind the camera.
Disney During World War II encompasses the full range of material created by the Disney studio during the war, including ground-breaking training and educational films for the military and defense industries, propaganda and war-themed shorts and features, home front poster art, and the stunning military unit insignia that provided those serving the in the armed forces with a morale-boosting reminder of home. The book makes it clear how deeply Walt invested himself in the cause by patriotically placing his studio at the disposal of Uncle Sam. Replete with period graphics, Disney During World War II showcases Walt Disney's largely unheralded sacrifices in the pursuit of Allied victory, showing the inner workings of a wholesome family entertainment studio transformed almost overnight into a war plant where even the studio's stable of established characters were temporarily reinvented as warriors and team-oriented, patriotic American citizens.
For many years, Saint-Germain-des-Prés has been a stronghold of sans culottes, a refuge to artists, a paradise for bohemians. It's where Marat printed L'Ami du Peuple and Thomas Paine wrote The Rights of Man. Napoleon, Hemingway, and Sartre have all called it home. Descartes is buried there. Now bestselling author and Paris expert John Baxter takes listeners on a narrative tour of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, which is also where Baxter makes his home. Tucked along the shores of the Left Bank, Saint-Germain-des-Pres embodies so much of what makes Paris special. Its cobblestone streets and ancient facades survive to this day, spared from modernization thanks to a quirk in their construction. Traditionally cheap rents attracted outsiders and political dissidents from the days of Robespierre to the student revolts of the 1960s. And its intellectual pedigree boasts such luminaries as Pablo Picasso, Arthur Rimbaud, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Simone de Beauvoir, Gertrude Stein, and Albert Camus. Part-history, part-guidebook, Saint-Germain-des-Pres is a fresh look at one of the City of Light's most iconic quarters, and a delight for new tourists and Paris veterans alike
In the second portrait of his series Great Parisian Neighborhoods, award-
winning raconteur John Baxter leads us on a whirlwind tour of Montmartre, the
hill-top village that fired the greatest achievements of modern art while also
provoking bloody revolution and the sexual misbehavior that made Paris
synonymous with sin High on the northern edge of Paris, Montmartre has always
attracted bohemians, political radicals, the searchers for artistic
inspiration as well as those hungry for pleasure. In its winding, windmill-
shadowed streets, which, only fifty years before, saw the anarchist rising of
the Commune, Renoir, Picasso and van Gogh seized a similar freedom to remake
painting, while, in the tenderloin of Pigalle, Toulouse-Lautrec drew the
cancan dancers of the Moulin Rouge, celebrating a hedonism that titillated the
world, In Montmartre , bestselling author and IACP Award winner John Baxter
lifts the curtain on a district that visitors to Paris seldom see. From the
tumbledown workshops of the Bateau Lavoir in which Picasso and Braque created
Cubism to Clichy's Cabaret of Nothingness where guests dined at coffins under
lamps of human bones, the whole of this mysterious enclave is ours to explore.
For visitors and armchair travelers alike, Montmartre captures the excitement
and scandal of a fascinating quarter that condenses the elusive perfumes,
colors and songs of Paris.
Ever wonder what albums your favourite recording artist listens to and loves Now in this one-of-a-kind reference book more than 100 artists from the worlds of pop, rock, folk, jazz, country, and blues offer their opinions on what moves them to tears of joy or just spends a lot of time on their turntables.
Exploring the diverse facets of sexual culture, John Baxter's work serves as both an educational guide and an entertaining journey through erotic practices. It poses provocative questions about various sexual experiences, from love hotels to unique attire. Covering a range of topics, including iconic adult films and exclusive clubs, the book promises to engage readers of all levels, offering insights that are both tantalizing and informative, making it a definitive resource on sexuality and eroticism.
Celebrated for its culinary travel insights, this award-winning cookbook invites readers on a gastronomic journey. It features a collection of recipes inspired by diverse global cuisines, highlighting the cultural significance and stories behind each dish. With vivid photography and personal anecdotes, the book not only provides delicious recipes but also immerses readers in the traditions and flavors of different regions, making it a perfect companion for food enthusiasts and travelers alike.
Focusing on the influential career of George Lucas, this biography explores his groundbreaking marketing strategies that revolutionized the film industry. It highlights the immense anticipation surrounding the release of The Phantom Menace in 1999, which became one of the most awaited films in cinematic history. The book delves into Lucas's impact on filmmaking and his legacy as a movie mogul, providing insights into his creative vision and the evolution of his iconic franchise.
