WENDOVER: Real Magic Books

Sunday 19th May, 2024

4:00pm

Event information

On Sunday afternoon we’ll be joined by Simon Goddard in conversation with Travis Elborough about the latest in his Bowie Odyssey series, and the latest instalment, Bowie Odyssey 74.

Simon Goddard is the author of eleven books about pop music including the five volumes of his ongoing Bowie Odyssey series. His previous titles have made the Best-of-Year book lists of the Sunday Times, Mojo and Q magazine.

Book by book, year by year, the ultimate literary trip through Bowie’s greatest decade. The series reaches the half way point with Bowie Odyssey 74.   Darkness looms in 1974. It could be the winter energy crisis. It could be The Exorcist. Or it could be the shock that Britain’s biggest pop star, David Bowie, is about to leave its shores for good.  Bidding the corpse of glam, Ziggy’s haircut and loyal ‘Bowietania’ farewell, the plan is to storm America with his highly theatrical Diamond Dogs tour. But by opening night he’s already wishing he was Barry White instead. Then there’s that nasty sniff he can’t get rid of. And that fly in his milk. And the suspicion that, much like every other teen idol named David, fame is driving him completely out of his mind …  Simon Goddard’s electric ride through Bowie’s greatest decade reaches the halfway mark with this fifth instalment. Wickedly funny and shockingly tragic, Bowie Odyssey 74 is the story of one man trying to find his soul in a world that’s gone to the devil. 

'Funny, poignant, intriguing, full of mischief, a brilliant piece of work. It might be my favourite Bowie book ever.' Marc Riley

‘Fantastic year-by-year epic . . . So devotional and healthily delirious you can smell the greasepaint and the hormones.’ Record Collector  ‘A full-on sensory immersion in Bowie’s universe.’ Sunday Times

  'The latest instalment in Simon Goddard's scintillating series of yearly David Bowie check-ins finds its subject at a crossroads... Goddard's exquisite writing style elevates his story. Bowie Odyssey 74 is an integral addition’ Classic Rock

Simon will be in conversation with Travis Elborough ('One of Britain's finest pop culture historians' - The Guardian) a writer, author and cultural commentator for over two decades. Travis joined us here at Real Magic in 2023 to celebrate his book Through the Looking Glasses: The Spectacular Life of Spectacles and we're delighted to have him back with us.

After this event, we'll be welcoming Oscar Browne and Matilda Florence to the shop for a music event upstairs. A great way to spend a Sunday!