My Wish Lists Login / Join

Straight Life

The Story Of Art Pepper

By: Art Pepper, Gary Giddins (Introduction by), Laurie Pepper

Write A Review

Paperback | 3 November 2022

At a Glance

Paperback
624 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
3.7 x 13 x 19.7

Paperback

$41.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $10.50 with

Ships in 15 to 25 business days

Art Pepper was described as the greatest alto-saxophonist of the post-Charlie Parker generation. Straight Life, originally narrated on tape to his wife Laurie, is an explosive work chronicling his work amidst a life dealing with alcoholism, heroin addiction, armed robberies and imprisonment. The result is an autobiography like no other, a masterpiece of the spoken word, shaped into a genuine work of literature.

Industry Reviews

'Straight Life demonstrates again and again that Pepper had the ear and memory and interpretative lyricism of a first-rate novelist . . . He did five years in San Quentin and his descriptions of life there are relentless and brilliant . . . He had no illusions nor did he have any remorse or self-pity . . . He was an eloquent and gifted man' - New Yorker

'One of the most memorable jazz memoirs' - Times

'A tough, dizzying, hard and honest book that will haunt anybody who opens it' - Down Beat

'The most powerful, mind-riveting, brutally honest document I've ever read by an artist' - Boston Ledger

'A shattering portrait of genius confronted with human weakness . . . possibly the best memoir ever written by a jazz musician. A story that ranks with The Autobiography of Malcolm X in its direct honesty and power' - Kansas City Star

'' -

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.