GB ::: ivan ::: Them And The Bang Era 1945-1968

biography
Howard A. DeWitt
Them And The Bang Era 1945-1968
Van Morrison

publisher: Horizon Books	published: 2005	ISBN: 978-0-398840-08-8
language: english	format: paperback	pages: 664
*dimensions (whd)[mm]: 153 230 * 40**

Review by Michael Hayward
Howard Dewitt is a Professor of History at Ohlone College in Fremont, California. He is the author of eighteen books, including 1983's Van Morrison: The Mystic's Music. This new book is the first in a projected three-volume biography of Van. In the Acknowledgements section, Dewitt notes that he began this volume in 1984, "just one year after The Mystic's Music appeared to excellent critical reviews. The idea was to complete a full length and in depth biography over a three year period. After 23 years there are three volumes and more than 2,000 pages in the forthcoming Van multi-volume biography."
At 664 pages for volume one alone this is clearly a labor of love, and judging from this first volume it will be an important addition to the library of any serious Van Morrison fan. Howard notes in his Introduction that "there will always be Van Morrison lovers, but this volume is not for them. The hagiographic books they search for can be found in other works. There is no romanticism and little hero worship in this study. The reason is a simple one. Of all the rock, pop, jazz, or whatever Van calls himself, singers there is no one who has the work ethic or the style of the Belfast Cowboy."

Review by vanomatic
A MUST HAVE

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