Robert Shore Knihy

A nonfiction graphic novel that tells the story of a century of revolutionary contemporary art.

A book to put the Midlands back on the map. Everyone knows what they think of the North and South of England - the cliches abound. But what about that big, anonymous stretch of land in between: the Midlands? Despite being home to around a third of the English population, it's a region that seems to have neither purpose nor identity. In this humorous exploration, the author - a Midlander exiled in London - sets off on a tour of the country's belly in order to piece together his Midland heritage. What he discovers is nothing short of revelatory: quietly, without fanfare, the Midlands have powered most of English - and not just a little of world - history. The Industrial Revolution was forged there, as were the ideals of the Land of the Free and the theory of evolution. Shakespeare, world literature's greatest genius, was born in the Midlands, as were Margaret Thatcher, Dr Johnson and Robbie Williams. It is the home of Robin Hood, Walker's crisps, Marmite, Raleigh bikes and the balti. And that's not all: music, fashion, sport - almost every domain of contemporary life has been reinvented and remoulded in the stoically self-effacing lands squeezed between the self-mythologising South and the narcissistic North. Why, we even have the Midlands to thank for the modern idea of sex. Join Robert Shore on a fascinating, and very funny, journey to the heart of our great nation.

Beg, Steal and Borrow offers a comprehensive and provocative survey of artistic borrowing.

In the 'Lives of the Artists' series: highly readable short biographies of the most-popular artists

Somewhere within the iconic images, carefully-made personae, star-studded milieu, million-dollar price tags and famous quotes lies the real Andy Warhol. But who was he? Robert Shore unfolds the multi-dimensional Warhol, dissecting his existence as undisputed art-world hotshot, recreating the amazing circle that surrounded him, and tracing his path to stardom back through his early career and his awkward and unusual youth. After Warhol, nothing would be the same – he changed art forever. Find out how with his remarkable story.