Van Morrison

by Johnny Rogan

"Reclusive, difficult and enigmatic, Van Morrison is a gifted singer-songwriter and an endlessly complicated man. In Van Morrison: No Surrender, Johnny Rogan has produced a revelatory biography of the musician, analysing the sense of place in his work and the tortuous journey that took him from local fame in Belfast to international success as one of the most respected and acclaimed figures in contemporary popular music. Set against the cultural and political backdrop of Belfast, before, during and after the Troubles, No Surrender offers a unique and penetrating perspective on Morrison's long career and the times that made him." "Morrison grew up in Belfast at the time of an explosion in youth culture and the emergence of a beat scene second only to Liverpool, a vibrant period before the descent into sectarian conflict. He was an unlikely star and a publicist's nightmare: short, with plain looks, he gave fractious interviews, challenged his fellow musicians, producers and management, a