The Continuing Story Of Eleanor Rigby

Colin Campbell investigates the nature of the story that can be extracted from the intriguing words and powerful images contained in this famous Beatles’ song. Eleanor Rigby is one of the most well-loved of all Beatles’ songs, both because of its haunting melody, and also – memorably - for lyrics that have fascinated and intrigued Beatles’ fans all round the world since it was first released in 1966. This scholarly work assesses the plausibility of the many different stories that commentators and fans have spun from the enigmatic words and phrases of this lyric and, while dismissing the more fanciful, tries to arrive at a version that is both consistent and tenable. At the same time Professor Campbell explores both the reasons for the enduring appeal of this much-loved lyric and its significance for the Beatles’ development from jobbing song-writers to sophisticated artists.

A new edition of the best-selling guide to the stories behind all the Beatles' songs.

Following the hugely acclaimed bestseller Hey Nostradamus! comes a major novel from Douglas Coupland: the wonderfully warm, funny, life-affirming story of Liz Dunn, a woman who has spent her whole life alone and lonely – until now... This is a brilliant work of commercial literary fiction from an author who just gets better and better.

Even with a huge problem to worry about, Father McKenzie still manages to see the good in everyone. His job is made more difficult by his nosy housekeeper and the gossips from the shop down the road. Will they succeed in spoiling things, or will Father McKenzie's advice win the day? This charming tale shows the ups and downs of everyday life in a truly heart-warming way. It will have you laughing out loud and shedding a tear - both at the same time.

The inside personal story of the genius who created the Beatles.

“More popular than Jesus.” Despite the uproar it caused in America in 1966, John Lennon’s famous assessment of the Beatles vis-à-vis religion was not far off. The Beatles did mean more to kids than the religions in which they were raised, not only in America but everywhere in the world. By all accounts, the Beatles were the most significant musical group of the twentieth century. Their albums sold in the hundreds of millions, and the press was always eager to document their activities and perspectives. And when fan appreciation morphed into worship, Beatlemania took on religious significance. Many young people around the world began to look to the Beatles—their music, their commentary, their art—for meaning in a turbulent decade. Speaking Words of Wisdom is a deep dive into the Beatles’ relationship to religion through the lenses of philosophy, cultural studies, music history, and religious studies. Chapters explore topics such as religious life in Liverpool, faith among individual band members, why and how India entered the Beatles’ story, fan worship/deification, and the Beatles’ long-lasting legacy. In the 1960s, the Beatles facilitated a reevaluation of our deepest values. The story of how the Beatles became modern-day sages is an important case study for the ways in which consumers make culturally and religiously significant meaning from music, people, and events. In addition to the editor, the contributors to this book include David Bedford, Kenneth Campbell, John Covach, Melissa Davis, Anthony DeCurtis, Mark Duffett, Scott Freer, Murray Leeder, Sean MacLeod, Grant Maxwell, Christiane Meiser, and Eyal Regev.

The worldwide bestseller that defines the band that defined an era.

In this rigorous study, Marcus Collins reconceives the Beatles' social, cultural and political impact on sixties Britain.

Looking back over the last 60 years of sociology in the UK, this book addresses the question of progress in the discipline. Campbell's critical and autobiographical reflections offer fresh insights into the history of sociology, and engages with the notion of academic reputation, how it is measured, and what it can tell us about scholarly progress. Has Sociology Progressed? will be of special interest to all sociologists and would-be sociologists interested in the past, present and future of their discipline, as well as scholars contemplating academic progress and motivation in general.