You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone

A ROUGH TRADE, MOJO, UNCUT & LOUDER THAN WAR BOOK OF THE YEAR SHORTLISTED FOR THE RALPH J. GLEASON MUSIC BOOK AWARD A redemptive, myth-shattering biography of one of the twentieth century's most underestimated creative and artistic forces. 'Here is the Odyssey of Nico . . . a scholarly and detailed chronicle of this brilliant artist, who was spurned and tortured for her trouble.' IGGY POP 'At last, a comprehensive and compelling book about Nico.' VIV ALBERTINE 'Absorbs from start to finish.' OBSERVER The real story of Nico is one of determination, self-destruction and belief in one's artistic vision, at any cost . . . You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone is an empowering reappraisal of an underappreciated icon. Drawing upon new interviews and rare archival material Bickerdike defies the sexist casting of Nico's life as the tragedy of a beautiful woman losing her youth and fame, and instead cements her legacy as one of the most vital artists of her generation. 'Gripping.' THE TIMES '[This] book gets closer to understanding Nico than most.' GUARDIAN 'Deserves to sit with the great biographies.' R ECORD COLLECTOR 'A compassionate portrait of a musician whose artistry has often been overlooked.' MOJO 'Valuable . . . Bickerdike gives Nico her due as an artist.' THE SPECTATOR 'Entertainingly written and insightful.' INDEPENDENT 'The best music book you will read this year.' LOUDER THAN WAR In You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone, defying the sexist casting of her life as the tragedy of a beautiful woman losing her looks, youth and fame, Jennifer Otter Bickerdike cements Nico's legacy as one of the most vital artists of her time, inspiring a generation of luminaries including Björk, Morrissey and Iggy Pop. Containing over a hundred new interviews and rare archival material, this is an empowering reappraisal of an underappreciated icon. 'The book that Nico's real devotees have been waiting for, and this unique lady has long deserved, deserves to sit with the great biographies.' RECORD COLLECTOR (*****) 'Scrapes away decades of "misogyny and stereotyping" to reveal something of the woman behind the cheekbones . . . Bickerdike battles hard to bring light to the darker corners of Nico's story; she busts myths, tracks down documents and tries to explain the singer's motivations.' UNCUT 'Riveting.' BARNEY HOSKYNS 'Extraordinary.' GILLIAN McCAIN 'Vivid, moving, unsettling.' LUCY O'BRIEN 'What a treasure this book is.' DANNY FIELDS