Encyclopaedic in its scope, this is the ultimate tribute to the life and
music of Taylor Swift. No need for glossy images here, the narrative
says it all - a chronological account of her mercurial rise to fame; the
stories that inspire the songs; an in-depth look at those
much-publicised battles with the media, music industry and fellow
artists, and all recounted with well-chosen words from the artist
herself and dozens of others who have played a part in her incredible
story. Put together, we have the definitive record. If not already a
fan, reading this may very well change your opinion. "I really do try to
be a nice person...but if you break my heart, hurt my feelings, or are
really mean to me, I'm going to write a song about you" This is how
Taylor Swift once explained the meaning behind one of her earliest
songs. Never one to mince her words when it comes to sharing her
thoughts, she has achieved legendary status in the music world with a
career built largely on her personal feelings, ever since the day one
particular teenage boy made her cry. Now barely into her third decade,
her songs have taken her fans on an emotional journey that encompasses
both the elation of young love and the heartbreak of fallen
relationships. As always, fame courts controversy, and Taylor has had
her fair share - long-standing feuds with fellow artists; harrowing
claims of sexual harassment; deeply personal accusations over her own
authenticity, and those headline-making, all-too public breakups with a
catalogue of celebrity lovers - all subjects covered in detail within
these pages. This book strips away the sometimes-mythical veneer of
superstardom and lays bare the real Taylor as the song writing genius
she was born to be; a young woman who, after all, is as human as the
rest of us, doing amazing things as well as making incredible gaffes.
But with dogged determination and staying true to herself, she has been
able to drive her own destiny. Love her or hate her (maybe, better to
love her), she has inspired a generation of young fans across the globe,
not only with her music, but with heartfelt words of wisdom. Taylor's
girl-next-door public image remains intact, at least for now, and she
stands firm by one of her own mantras: "No matter what happens in life,
be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave
behind". For a simple good lesson in life, that ain't bad.
