{"title":"Books by Rob Young","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780571284603","title":"The Magic Box","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA \u003ci\u003eLOUDER THAN WAR \u003c\/i\u003eBOOK OF THE YEAR\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA riveting journey into the psyche of Britain through its golden age of television and film; a cross-genre feast of moving pictures, from classics to occult hidden gems, \u003ci\u003eThe Magic Box\u003c\/i\u003e is the nation’s visual self-portrait in technicolour detail.\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'The definition of gripping. Truly, a trove of wyrd treasures.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBENJAMIN MYERS\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A lovingly researched history of British TV [that] recalls the brilliant, the bizarre and the unworldly.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGUARDIAN\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A reclamation, not just of a visual 'golden age', but of Britain as a darkly magical place.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTHE SPECTATOR\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A feat of argument, description and affection.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFINANCIAL TIMES\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e'Young unearths the ghosts of TV past – and Britain's dark psyche.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHERALD\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Highly entertaining . . . [A] fabulous treasure trove.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSCOTSMAN\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Young is a phenomonal scholar.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOBSERVER\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Impassioned.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTHE CRITIC\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGrowing up in the 1970s, Rob Young’s main storyteller was the wooden box with the glass window in the corner of the family living room, otherwise known as the TV set. Before the age of DVDs and Blu-ray discs, YouTube and commercial streaming services, watching television was a vastly different experience. You switched on, you sat back and you watched. There was no pause or fast-forward button.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe cross-genre feast of moving pictures produced in Britain between the late 1950s and late 1980s – from \u003ci\u003eQuatermass \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eTom Jones\u003c\/i\u003e to\u003ci\u003e The Wicker Man \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eBrideshead Revisited\u003c\/i\u003e, from \u003ci\u003eA Canterbury Tale\u003c\/i\u003e and\u003ci\u003e The Go-Between\u003c\/i\u003e to \u003ci\u003eBagpuss \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eChildren of the Stones\u003c\/i\u003e, and from John Betjeman’s travelogues to ghost stories at Christmas – contributed to a national conversation and collective memory. British-made sci-fi, folk horror, period drama and televisual grand tours played out tensions between the past and the present, dramatised the fractures and injustices in society and acted as a portal for magical and ghostly visions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Magic Box\u003c\/i\u003e, Rob Young takes us on a fascinating journey into this influential golden age of screen and discovers what it reveals about the nature and character of Britain, its uncategorisable people and buried histories – and how its presence can still be felt on screen in the twenty-first century.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'[A] forensic dissection . . . this tightly packed treatise takes pains to illustrate how what we view affects how we view ourselves.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTOTAL FILM\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43201794539698,"sku":"9780571284603","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780571284603_243313c8-14d9-4ac0-9bba-e5a153ba2596.jpg?v=1786014522"},{"product_id":"9780571311521","title":"All Gates Open","description":"\u003cp\u003e‘A real treat for Can fans.’ \u003ci\u003eSpectator\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll Gates Open\u003c\/i\u003e is the definitive story of the most influential and revered avant-garde band of the late twentieth century: Can. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn part one, Rob Young gives us the full biography– an in-depth and exhilarating history of the band.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn part two, Irmin Schmidt presents an oral history of Can, drawing on extensive interviews with many musicians who cite the band as an influence, including Bobby Gillespie and Mark E. Smith.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn essential book for Can fans, \u003ci\u003eAll Gates Open \u003c\/i\u003eis illustrated throughout with previously unseen art, photographs and ephemera from the band’s archive.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43406097580210,"sku":"9780571311521","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780571311521_75c79e13-3e33-4b26-9430-a4bb34da2a8c.jpg?v=1786014705"},{"product_id":"9780571237531","title":"Electric Eden","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRob Young's \u003ci\u003eElectric Eden: Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music \u003c\/i\u003eis a seminal book on British music and cultural heritage, that spans the visionary classical and folk tradition from the nineteenth-century to the present day.\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A thoroughly enjoyable read and likely to remain the best-written overview for a long time.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGUARDIAN\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e'A perfectly timed, perfectly pitched alternative history of English folk music . . . wide-ranging, insightful, authoritative, thoroughly entertaining.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNEW STATESMAN\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A stunning   achievement.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSIMON REYNOLDS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A masterpiece.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCAUGHT BY THE RIVER\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e'Excellent . . . blissfully quotable.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'An authoritative account.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTHE TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Consistently absorbing.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eINDEPENDENT\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'An impassioned and infectious rallying cry of a book.' \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSUNDAY TIMES\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this groundbreaking survey of more than a century of music making in the British Isles, Rob Young investigates how the idea of folk has been handed down and transformed by successive generations - song collectors, composers, Marxist revivalists, folk-rockers, psychedelic voyagers, free festival-goers, experimental pop stars and electronic innovators.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn a sweeping panorama of Albion's soundscape that takes in the pioneer spirit of Cecil Sharp; the pastoral classicism of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Peter Warlock; the industrial folk revival of Ewan MacColl and A. L. Lloyd; the folk-rock of Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, Shirley Collins, John Martyn and Pentangle; the bucolic psychedelia of The Incredible String Band, The Beatles and Pink Floyd; the acid folk of Comus, Forest, Mr Fox and Trees; \u003ci\u003eThe Wicker Man\u003c\/i\u003e and occult folklore; the early Glastonbury and Stonehenge festivals; and the visionary pop of Kate Bush, Julian Cope and Talk Talk, \u003ci\u003eElectric Eden\u003c\/i\u003e maps out a native British musical voice that reflects the complex relationships between town and country, progress and nostalgia, radicalism and conservatism.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn attempt to isolate the 'Britishness' of British music - a wild combination of pagan echoes, spiritual quest, imaginative time-travel, pastoral innocence and electrified creativity - \u003ci\u003eElectric Eden\u003c\/i\u003e will be treasured by anyone interested in the tangled story of Britain's folk music and Arcadian dreams.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A treat.' \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eTIME OUT\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Young is a fine writer.' \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eMOJO\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e'Young's immense narrative is both educative and gripping.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUNCUT\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e'A multitudinous, fascinating and beautifully written account.' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTLS\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56292562665845,"sku":"9780571237531","price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780571237531_7721db8d-4908-4e9c-b392-89cedbc2a5d4.jpg?v=1786013884"},{"product_id":"9781409120186","title":"No Regrets","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA colourful collection of pieces on the enigmatic genius of Scott Walker from THE WIRE.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eScott Walker has travelled from teen idol to the outer limits of music. From 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More' reaching No.1, through to recordings of meat being punched on his last album, THE DRIFT, he somehow seems to have reached a passionate and committed fan base. Throughout his career, his impeccable critical reputation as a serious and uncompromising musician has never been questioned. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe recent film, 30TH CENTURY MAN, had a litany of stars queuing up to praise Walker: the likes of David Bowie, Damon Albarn, Jarvis Cocker, Radiohead, Johnny Marr and Sting. But despite this, in 40 years of music, there has yet to be a serious book on Scott Walker. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis collection, put together by Rob Young of THE WIRE magazine, features a handful of previously published articles and newly commissioned pieces, largely drawn from the orbit of THE WIRE's writers including Ian Penman, Chris Bohn and Rob Young.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56299200577909,"sku":"9781409120186","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781409120186_9fa306ac-41f9-490b-9278-39078f4c7456.jpg?v=1786019735"},{"product_id":"marathon-man","title":"Marathon Man","description":"\u003ci\u003eMarathon Man\u003c\/i\u003e is a truly remarkable book that will inspire all who read it to know that they can take on the biggest challenges in their lives and overcome them. It all began when Rob's fiancee, exasperated as he sat slumped in front of the television watching the London marathon, bet him 20p that he'd never complete even one such race. Watching the 40,000 competitors as they raised over £53 million for charity, Rob decided to take things a little bit further. Despite never having run a marathon before, he set out to achieve an astonishing new record: he would run more than 365 marathons in a year. So it was that Marathon Man UK was born. \u003cbr\u003e      This book not only tells the incredible story of Young's quest, during which he broke numerous world records, but also provides vital lessons in how to motivate yourself to achieve your goals and essential tips (learned the very hard way) on how to run and keep on going. He takes the reader on a vivid journey through some of the most beautiful scenery, as they join him in many of the toughest marathons and ultra-marathons in the UK. After suffering horrendous abuse as a child, Young has developed a determination that few can match. It enabled him to complete 370 marathons in the year and to win the Race Across USA (competing with a group of elite marathon-runners) by 30 hours. As Paula Radcliffe commented: 'This is amazing!' \u003ci\u003eMarathon Man\u003c\/i\u003e shows exactly why and how he achieved it.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57504926531957,"sku":"9781471152887","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"master-of-rites","title":"Master of Rites","description":null,"brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57507819684213,"sku":"9781836093022","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781836093022.jpg?v=1787042960"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-rob-young.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}