Anthony Meredith – författare

The Cappadocians are the 4th-century writers St Basil the Great, St Gregory Nazianzus and St Gregory of Nyssa. They were central to the defence of Christian Orthodoxy and should be of interest to students of the early Church.

Gregory of Nyssa provides a concise and accessible introduction to the thought of this early church father with new translations of key selections of his writings. Anthony Meredith presents a diverse range of Gregory's writings:his contribution to the debates of the period about the nature of God in argument with a form of extreme Arianismhis discussion of the nature and work of the Holy Ghost, against the so-called 'Spirit fighters'his defence of the humanity of Christ against those who denied it (notably Apollinarius)the nature of fate and other philosophical issues.

Gregory of Nyssa provides a concise and accessible introduction to the thought of this early church father with new translations of key selections of his writings. Anthony Meredith presents a diverse range of Gregory's writings:his contribution to the debates of the period about the nature of God in argument with a form of extreme Arianismhis discussion of the nature and work of the Holy Ghost, against the so-called 'Spirit fighters'his defence of the humanity of Christ against those who denied it (notably Apollinarius)the nature of fate and other philosophical issues.

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, in the enormous diversity of his activities, is arguably the most complete musician of all time. Not only does he have a remarkable 300 commissioned concert works to his credit, which have established him among the leading British twentieth-century composers, yet at the same time, with supreme success, he has also contrived to lead several completely different musical lives.For some, he is the ultimate exponent of ''crossover'', as epitomised in his remarkable Concerto for Stan Getz and concert works for Cleo Laine. Others remember him as a concert pianist with a special enthusiasm for pioneering contemporary music, his partnerships with Susan Bradshaw, Jane Manning and Barry Tuckwell being particularly notable. Meanwhile, he also has over 70 film and television scores to his credit, the many classic titles ranging from Murder on the Orient Express and Far From the Madding Crowd to Equus and Four Weddings and a Funeral.For cabaret and jazz club devotees, he is, again, something completely different: one of the finest and most knowledgeable of all exponents of the Great American Songbook, a much-in-demand singer and accompanist over the past thirty-five years, and, as such, the stage partner of some of the most glamorous performers in the business. This, then, is a book about a uniquely gifted musician. It is also a study of a most engaging personality and a fascinatingly complex human being.Anthony Meredith, whose two previous collaborations with co-researcher Paul Harris were the highly praised biographies of Malcolm Arnold and Malcolm Williamson, has been a widely published writer over the past twenty-five years. He is a member of MCC, a Friend of Covent Garden and Northern Ballet. His co-researcher, Paul Harris, is a leading music educationalist, well-known for his seminars, workshops and masterclasses, with over 500 books to his name.

Gregory of Nyssa provides a concise and accessible introduction to the thought of this early church father with new translations of key selections of his writings. Anthony Meredith presents a diverse range of Gregory''s writings:

his contribution to the debates of the period about the nature of God in argument with a form of extreme Arianism his discussion of the nature and work of the Holy Ghost, against the so-called ''Spirit fighters'' his defence of the humanity of Christ against those who denied it (notably Apollinarius) the nature of fate and other philosophical issues.

Gregory of Nyssa provides a concise and accessible introduction to the thought of this early church father with new translations of key selections of his writings. Anthony Meredith presents a diverse range of Gregory''s writings:

his contribution to the debates of the period about the nature of God in argument with a form of extreme Arianism his discussion of the nature and work of the Holy Ghost, against the so-called ''Spirit fighters'' his defence of the humanity of Christ against those who denied it (notably Apollinarius) the nature of fate and other philosophical issues.

For fans all over the world the thrilling partnership of Silverstone and Formula 1 has long represented one of the pinnacles of motor sport. Here the broad sweep of Silverstone’s Formula 1 history, a kaleidoscopic pageant of great cars and drivers, is explored in a new and highly accessible way through nine specific eras, each one delightfully and freshly illustrated:• The First Grand Prix and International Trophy (1948–49)• Forza, Alfa! Forza, Ferrari! (1950–51)• The Front-Engined Finale (1952–59)• Clark’s Dark Golden Age (1960–68)• The Stewart Dominance (1969–73)• The Hunt-Lauda Epoch (1973–79)• Three Titans: Prost, Mansell and Senna (1981–93)• The Schumacher Era (1994–2006)• New Heights: Hamilton and The Wing (2007 onwards)This photographic history of Silverstone and Formula 1 should appeal to motor racing fans everywhere, as it neatly captures the essence of what the highest level of a most demanding sport has meant to this very special venue.

It was madness: Grand Prix drivers racing flat out from opposite ends of one long runway, only to turn away from each other at the last moment at corners improvised with hay bales. But such was the major part of the first Grand Prix course ever to be devised at Silverstone. Fortunately there were no head-on collisions, and the next year the organisers hit on a more sensible arrangement. But none of the many subsequent Grand Prix at Silverstone, for all the ever-increasing glamour and hype, have quite engendered the same excitement as that very first one in 1948, even though it was held on a long-disused airfield bereft of modern amenities.Silverstone’s First Grand Prix is a vivid recreation of that important day for British motor sport. But it is more than just the description of one historic race. We follow the various leading participants, both drivers and organisers, as fate draws them inexorably to Silverstone from different parts of the world and from very varied experiences, not least in the recent war. And after that one glorious day in early October is over and the RAC’s International Grand Prix of 1948 has become part of motor racing history, we learn what fate had further in store for them.

With the liberal use of many previously unpublished photographs contrasting past and present, Silverstone Circuit Through Time shows how a wartime airfield developed, stage by stage, into the country's premier motor racing circuit, the annual home of Formula One's spectacular British Grand Prix. Though touching on some of the great personalities associated with the place, it is essentially a book about the circuit itself. There is much nostalgic emphasis on the 1950s and 1960s, when love of the sport and a willingness to make the best of things had to compensate for the somewhat primitive facilities on offer. The remarkable turnaround of more recent years is also fully explored, as a fairly ramshackle venue reflecting the dreamy surrounding countryside turned itself into a high-tech entertainment centre bristling with ambition for the future.

Thomas Lord''s ground is one of the most famous sporting venues in the world. The long acknowledged headquarters of cricket, its illustrious history stretches back two hundred years. Many books have been written about it, but Anthony Meredith offers something new - a personal Vade Mecum, telling the story of the ground from his own particular association with it, both as a spectator and cricket writer.Meredith''s fresh and unconventional approach not only elucidates with great clarity the iconic ground''s complicated history, but seeks to get to its very soul. It is both a celebration of all that Marylebone Cricket Club has achieved and, at the same time, food for thought on the game''s future. Anthony Meredith has written widely on cricket and was a regular contributor to The Cricketer International.

The Pilot And The Commando tells the stories of David Carter MBE (a Fleet Air Arm pilot) and his close friend Jos Nicholl MC (an Army commando), giving fresh and vivid insights into what it meant to be a young man on active service in the Second World War, fighting in places as remote as Ceylon, Africa, Madagascar, Yugoslavia and Albania. Major events in which they participated also included the sinking of the Ark Royal off Gibraltar, the Allied landings at Salerno and the liberation of Sicily and Italy. A final chapter puts their wartime service into the context of their later lives. The Pilot And The Commando is much more, however, than just a stirring commemoration of bravery in action. Both David and Jos were committed Christians, and the book (much helped by the use of diaries and letters) has as its central theme the testing and strengthening of their faith through times of deep adversity. Writing of his experiences soon after the war, Jos Nicholl concluded: I have found that Jesus Christ provides the inspiration for every possible occasion or need. He can act as guide and helper and comforter, but primarily He can be the driving force in a life that is devoted to Him, and with this compelling power behind them it becomes true in practice that the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits These words find complete exemplification in The Pilot And The Commando. David and Joss story is both uplifting and challenging.

An overview of his legacy as a singer-pianist, with tributes from some of his closest friends and an account of his life’s productive swan song.Few musicians can ever have been so multifaceted as Richard Rodney Bennett. But because he was such a colossus as a composer in the classical and film music worlds, his work in the last forty years of his life as a singer-pianist, interpreting in his own distinctive way all that goes under the title of ‘The Great American Songbook’, has not always received the appreciation it so richly deserves. This affectionate tribute, in addition to exploring his swan song years and providing insights from some of his closest friends, seeks to perpetuate his work in popular music with a complete discography, prefaced by a kaleidoscopic overview of the many highlights.

Oscar Piastri is a rising star in the world of Formula One. Laser-focused, talented and with a huge future ahead of him, he represents the new breed of drivers hungry for success. After just a few seasons at the top, he has shown himself to be a driver of exceptional ability.In this book, motorsport writer Anthony Meredith charts Piastri's remarkable rise from the suburbs of Melbourne to the pinnacle of his sport. Documenting Piastri's trials and successes across his entire racing career, this is an essential read for fans everywhere.

The extraordinary story of Malcolm Williamson is one of rare musical talent combined with outrageous behaviour. An Australian, Williamson was the first non-Briton to hold the post of Master of the Queen's Music. He was appointed in 1975 and looked set to embellish his already illustrious career as a composer. By the time of his death in 2003 he was unproductive and largely forgotten. Authors Anthony Meredith and Paul Harris tell his bizarre story unflinchingly, sifting fact from fiction and offering a strong case for re-evaluating this flawed man and multi-talented musician. An investigation of the myths, rumours and half truths surrounding this controversial and misunderstood figure. The authors reveal the rift between Williamson and the Royal family. He was pointedly not invited to contribute to several high profile occasions including the wedding of Charles and Diana. They discuss if his failed marriage and open bisexuality was deemed beyond the pale at the Palace.

Many myths, masquerading as facts, were flourishing, when Anthony Meredith’s first Arnold biography came out, almost twenty years ago. Accordingly, he misrepresented several key issues, just as previous biographers had done. He also fudged others, for Arnold was still alive, and so, too, was his forceful carer. The many Arnold myths lived on. Three years ago, however, Malcolm Arnold’s daughter, Katherine, encouraged the biographer to write a new book with the true story of her father’s last thirty years. She had much new evidence to support it - material that confirmed her suspicions that when her father, in mid-life, came under the total control of two different carers, his vulnerability had been terribly exploited.  Arnold’s last thirty years could only properly be understood if seen in the context of his earlier life, so a full biography beckoned. Nor could the years after the composer’s death be omitted, for things occurred in this period that shed much light on previous dramas.The Inside Story, then, sweeps away the many myths that have surrounded the intriguing figure of Malcolm Arnold. It offers arresting new facts about his life, fresh insights into his music and much food for thought about the care of the mentally ill and its legal aspects. This important addition to the literature of British music is an engrossing saga, told with compassion and candour.