Keeping Quiet is a love-letter to the modern sight-gag on film and television, tracing the history of physical clowning since the advent of sound. Taking up the story of visual humour where Paul Merton's Silent Comedy leaves off, Julian Dutton charts the lives and work of all the great comedians who chose to remain silent, from Charlie Chaplin - who was determined to resist the 'talkies' - right through to the slapstick of modern-day performers such as Rowan Atkinson, Matt Lucas and Harry Hill. This fascinating chronicle - spanning nine decades - shows how physical comedy, at first overshadowed by dialogue-films in the 1930s, reinvented itself and how this revival was spearheaded by a Frenchman: Jacques Tati.Julian Dutton draws on his own experience as a comedy writer and performer to give an expert analysis of the screen persona and the comedy style of dozens of the screen's best-loved performers including Laurel & Hardy, Buster Keaton, Harpo Marx, Norman Wisdom, Jerry Lewis, Benny Hill, Peter Sellers, Eric Sykes, Ronnie Barker, Marty Feldman - and many more.This book will appeal both to the serious student of film, television and theatre - including those aspiring to write or perform comedy - and to the general reader and comedy fan.

Are you a fan of 5 Seconds of Summer, One Direction, The Vamps and other similar bands? Do you want to know all the inside info on your favourite music acts, from how they first got together to their relationships, likes, dislikes and interesting facts previously known only to those closest to the bands themselves? If so, then this is the book for you. Containing one hundred facts on each band (plus one final bonus fact on 5SOS) this book will make you the master of all rock and pop knowledge! So whether it's Harry Styles and his mates, Luke Hemmings & co, Brad Simpson and friends or any of the other seven groups featured, this is the perfect book for you!

So, you want a bit of Gangnam Style do you? You've heard that it's what all the cool kids have and you want a bit of it? It's recently come to your attention that there's this horse dance as well, yes? Right, this is the book for you. Within these (digital) pages are ten amazing tips which will help you get that all-important Gangnam Style. You too can be like PSY! Find out what Gangnam Style is, how to display it in public, and of course what to do once you've got it. Don't take it too seriously though, otherwise you won't have any Gangnam Style.

Daniel Radcliffe rose to fame in the lead role of the Harry Potter films, and quickly became a firm favourite of fans across the world. From the saviour of the wizarding world to his horror debut in The Woman in Black, Daniel has proved himself to be a box office draw time and time again.This interesting book contains 101 amazing facts, separated into categories for your enjoyment. It covers all subjects from his acting, his personal life, his upbringing, and his friends and family.Find out everything there is to know about Daniel, and show everyone you are the master of Radcliffe knowledge!

Pointless conversations: a selection of daft, ridiculous and utterly pointless meanderings from the mind of Scott Tierney. If you've ever wanted to know the answers to why Superman is a coward; why Spiderman should technically be deformed; and if Superdog caused the death of Krypton, then these bite-sized comics will reveal all. The discussions may be inane, and most of what is said is rambling, but despite this, you may find yourself agreeing with most of what is said. In this collection of short (but still pointless) conversations, we learn about fonts, the best part of a chicken, eating alien eggs, bargain DVDs and much more...

Are you a fan of world famous girl band The Saturdays? Do you want to know everything there is to know about Frankie, Mollie, Una, Rochelle and Vanessa? If so, then this is the book for you.Contained within are over one hundred amazing facts about everything from the girls' upbringing to the band's formation, their love lives, award nominations and much more. Get the facts you want quick!

Are you an expert on Take That? Have you followed every twist and turn in the amazing Take That story? Do you know all there is to know about the multi award winning, chart topping band? Then what better way to put your knowledge to the test than with the 100 questions in this quiz book, each one designed to challenge your memory of the events that have shaped the most popular UK boyband of all time. This book covers the phenomenal success of the early years to the band's break up and subsequent reunion as a four piece right through to Robbie Williams rejoining in 2010 to complete the original Take That line-up. The Take That Quiz Book is packed with information about your favourite group, including career highlights and low points, the many unforgettable hits, awards and accolades along with personal details of all the band members. This handy reference guide is must-have for all Take That fans and anyone interested in finding out more about one of the biggest success stories in recent music history.

The Future Revisited examines Hollywood adaptations of Jules Verne stories and is an interdisciplinary study that offers a fresh perspective on film history, French literature, science fiction and America in the 1950s. It is a fascinating and authoritative account of how the stories of Jules Verne, a distinguished French novelist better known around the world as the father of science fiction and an accurate predictor of much of the twentieth century, found particular resonance with US filmmakers in the 1950s. Schiltz looks at four of the most popular films - Around the World in 80 Days, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth and Mysterious Island - and argues that there were many parallels between Verne's technological adventures and postwar America, with its themeparks, shopping malls, Levittowns and plethora of consumer goods. Just as nineteenth-century readers of Verne's books could experience travel from the comfort of their seats, viewers of these films could be swept away on an imaginary flight, a voyage in a submarine, or a trek to the earth's core, all in spectacular widescreen and with ground-breaking special effects. Yet the pleasures offered were ambivalent: encounters with exotic places and cultures might have led the audience to question common assumptions such as gender roles; seeing futuristic domestic spaces could highlight the confusion of attitudes to private and public life in suburbia, and the films' blending of nostalgia and progress might draw attention to society's tug-of-war between innovation and conformity.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to work on a film set? Are you curious to know what goes on behind the scenes of your favourite TV series? If so, you are certain to enjoy this 'fly-on-wall' account of life as a film and TV extra. Written by Harry 'Aitch' Fielder who spent over 30 years working in the film and TV industry, appearing in over 800 productions, this book will give you an insight to the life of an 'extra'. Over the years, the author has been involved with some of the UK's best-loved TV programmes from Z-Cars and The Saint through to Silent Witness and EastEnders as well as many blockbuster films such as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. In this candid account Harry spills the beans about some of the well-known characters he has worked with including Alfred Hitchcock, Laurence Olivier and the great James Cagney. Extra, Extra, Read All About It is a must-have book for all film and TV fans and anyone interested in finding out what really happens on set.

A fascinating look at the history and development of opera as an art form, looking at many famous examples.

A fantastic look at the life of seven historical singers: Faustino Bordoni Catarina Gabrielli Sophie Arnould Elizabeth Billington and Her Contemporaries Angelica Catalani Giuditta Pasta Henrietta Sontag

A fascinating look at the history of painting and sculpture in France by American journalist and literary critic W. C. Brownell.

A fascinating look at the world of music from French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist Camille Saint-Saens, most famous for his Carnival of the Animals and Danse Macabre.

Are you a fan of the film - The Matrix - Do you think you know all there is to know about the film. Containing questions about the plot, characters and actors, as well as facts about the making of the film. This fun quiz book will test you, your family and friends knowledge of the film.

August Strindberg's classic trilogy of plays entitled To Damascus (also known as The Road to Damascus) is known as his greatest work.A very complex and thought provoking play series, it follows the conversations between two characters: the Stranger and the Lady.An excerpt from the Introduction:The Road to Damascus might be termed a marriage drama, a mystery drama, or a drama of penance and conversion, according as preponderance is given to one or other of its characteristics. The question then arises: what was it in the drama which was of deepest significance to the author himself? The answer is to be found in the title, with its allusion to the narrative in the Acts of the Apostles of the journey of Saul, the persecutor, the scoffer, who, on his way to Damascus, had an awe-inspiring vision, which converted Saul, the hater of Christ, into Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles. Strindberg's drama describes the progress of the author right up to his conversion, shows how stage by stage he relinquishes worldly things, scientific renown, and above all woman, and finally, when nothing more binds him to this world, takes the vows of a monk and enters a monastery where no dogmas or theology, but only broadminded humanity and resignation hold sway. What, however, in an inner sense, distinguishes Strindberg's drama from the Bible narrative is that the conversion itself - although what leads up to it is convincingly described, both logically and psychologically - does not bear the character of a final and irrevocable decision, but on the contrary is depicted with a certain hesitancy and uncertainty. THE STRANGER'S entry into the monastery consequently gives the impression of being a piece of logical construction; the author's heart is not wholly in it. From Strindberg's later works it also becomes evident that his severe crisis had undoubtedly led to a complete reformation in that it definitely caused him to turn from worldly things, of which indeed he had tasted to the full, towards matters divine. But this did not mean that then and there he accepted some specific religion, whether Christian or other. One would undoubtedly come nearest to the author's own interpretation in this respect by characterising The Road to Damascus not as a drama of conversion, but as a drama of struggle, the story of a restless, arduous pilgrimage through the chimeras of the world towards the border beyond which eternity stretches in solemn peace, symbolised in the drama by a mountain, the peaks of which reach high above the clouds.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse, Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Hobbit trilogy, Twelve Years a Slave, August: Osage County, The Fifth Estate; Hedda Gabler, After the Dance, Frankenstein; Hawking, To the Ends of the Earth, The Last Enemy, Parade's End, and, of course, Sherlock. For most actors, these stellar cinematic, theatrical, and television events would be the highlights of a lifetime's work. On Benedict Cumberbatch's resume they are only a few of many entries. Especially since 2010, his performances have garnered a plethora of best actor awards, both in the theatre (Evening Standard Theatre Award, Critics Circle Theatre Award, and Olivier Award), by playing the dual roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature in the National Theatre's Frankenstein, and on television (Broadcasting Press Guild Award, Critics Choice Television Award, Crime Thriller Award, and TV Choice Award), by starring as the titular Holmes in the BBC's Sherlock. Add these and other recent accolades to nearly a decade's nominations and awards (such as the Golden Nymph as best actor in Hawking), and it's easy to see why Benedict Cumberbatch is often hailed as the actor of his generation. Cumberbatch's body of work further includes indie films, radio plays and series, television documentaries, live dramatic readings, multimedia advertisements, and even the occasional stint as a fashion model. He often shares an intriguing perspective on his profession, as evidenced in sometimes controversial interviews. He has become so much in demand that online box offices crash when tickets for his performances go on sale, and, before a Cheltenham Literature Festival Q&A session, fans overwhelmed Twitter when so many responded immediately to a call for questions. Cumberbatch consistently is a top name on lists ranging from sex appeal to global influence. In 2012 he beat David Beckham in the former and U.S. President Barack Obama in the latter. Increasingly, part of Cumberbatch's job involves the role of celebrity. Benedict Cumberbatch is at a pivotal point in his profession, and his career trajectory especially as documented in entertainment media permits a closer examination of just what it means to be a celebrity or star in Britain or the U.S. and how an actor may be perceived very differently in London or Hollywood. This performance biography is an analysis of a man in transition from working actor to multimedia star, as well as the balance between actor and celebrity. It looks at what makes this actor so well suited to play one of popular culture's iconic characters, Sherlock Holmes, and how Sherlock is so well suited to propel Cumberbatch toward greater global fame.

The Great Train Robbery, and the part Ronnie Biggs played in it, is one of the most famous true crime stories of all time. Ronnie's imprisonment, subsequent escape and life on the run has been the subject of much discussion and this new book sets out the facts for anyone wishing to find out what really happened on the day of the robbery and in the years beyond. Do you know how many members of rail staff were on board the train on the day of the robbery? Are you aware which celebrities became involved in the Free Ronnie Biggs Campaign? Can you name the many films, documentaries and books that have been produced about the Great Train Robbery? All this information and more is in 101 Interesting Facts on Ronnie Biggs and The Great Train Robbery. Despite Ronnie Biggs' advancing age and the fact that 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the Great Train Robbery, the daring 1963 heist still attracts a great deal of interest. If you would like to know the facts, this book is for you.

The music industry has produced some iconic female artists in recent years. From princess of pop, Kylie Minogue, through to the eccentric Lady Gaga, these modern day divas belt out hit after hit for our entertainment. If you are a fan of powerful female singers, you are certain to enjoy The Pop Diva Quiz Book. Which American singer-songwriter was heavily influenced by gospel music when she was growing up? Which award-winning artist attended the BRIT school in the UK? Which singer released an album called 'Back to Basics' in 2006? The answers to these brain teasers and more can all be found inside this book. Featuring five multi-talented female artists; Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Adele, Kylie Minogue and Christina Aguilera, you are sure to learn something new about your favourite diva. With 100 questions on the women who have helped to shape the modern music landscape, this book will appeal to pop fans of all ages. Find out how much you really know about some of the most influential women in pop.

Maria Lawson rose to fame on the hit TV show The X Factor in 2005 but had already enjoyed some success as a singer/songwriter prior to this, having secured a recording and publishing contract through her own efforts and determination to break into the music industry. Life Starts Now follows Maria's journey from hopeful unknown, through the audition process and beyond to her appearance on a major national television show, taking the reader behind the scenes to find out what really goes on inside the hit show. This fascinating autobiography documents Maria's early life and explains how this ambitious young girl from a humble background fulfilled her dream of TV stardom and recording success. In this honest and heart warming account, Maria explains how she coped with the transition from obscurity to a life in the limelight only to come close to losing everything she worked so hard to achieve. More recently, Maria has emerged stronger than ever, having overcome past setbacks to release an exciting second album Emotional Rollercoaster and has secured a record deal with a new label. The birth of her son has meant that she now has to fit her busy schedule around her most important role as a mother. This book is not only an inspirational story, proving that it is possible for anyone to achieve their dreams, it is also a practical self help guide offering pregnancy and life skills advice based on Maria's own experiences as an artist, businesswoman and new mum.

What is special about the double bass compared to all other string instruments? What is the difference between a xylophone and a glockenspiel? How long is the tubing that makes up a trumpet? And what is the name of the world's oldest surviving violin? All of these questions and more are answered in this introductory guide to the instruments featured in the modern symphony orchestra. With sections covering strings, brass, woodwind, percussion and keyboard instruments, as well as additional information about the history and structure of the orchestra, this is a fascinating book for children and adults alike.

Are you Justin Bieber's number one fan? Have you charted the Canadian teenager's meteoric rise to fame from YouTube discovery to global megastar? Do you think you know everything there is to know about the worldwide phenomenon that is Justin Bieber? If so, this quiz book will soon find out if there are any gaps in your knowledge. Do you know Justin's favourite food and drink, his super power wish or the name of the person who discovered him in 2008? Can you name all the instruments that he can play or reel off of the many awards Justin has won? The answers to all these questions and more can be found in this quiz book. With 100 fascinating facts about your favourite pop star, including many personal details such as his height and shoe size, you are bound to discover something new. This tribute to Justin Bieber is as informative as it is entertaining and is a must-have reference guide for all fans of the multi-talented teen idol.