The Books of Albion: The Collected Writings of Peter Doherty

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The journals are reproduced just as he wrote them, in his own handwriting, complete with poems, drawings, photo-collages, and song lyrics. The author also discusses the comparisons that have been made with Cernunnus, Robin Hood, Jack-in-the-Green, woodwoses, Baphomet, Al Khidr and Bulgarian peperuda. My guitar speaks to the world and I can feel the poetry gliding across the hypnotic ether as words collide with meaningless meaning.

This is a superbly written book, where Mankowski tells how uncomfortable, awkward and magnificent it is to be English. With such an array of talent and with forays into film, literature and comedy, the running themes Mankowski draws from his varied subjects are as ambitious as they are thrilling. However to fans of The Libertines/Babyshambles etc it's an interesting insight into Pete's writing, that's worth the effort. The gleaming fragments of the nation’s cultural and countercultural histories unearthed by Guy Mankowski’s Albion’s Secret History suggest otherwise.This book will appeal to all with an interest in Green Men and to art historians looking for a reliable study of this fascinating decorative motif. North European and Scandinavian myths dating back to the Iron Age depict dogs as corpse eaters and the guardians of the roads to Hell. As well as early versions of song lyrics, the Books of Albion often contain writings or drawings from various other people, whether Doherty’s close friends or one-time acquaintances, including Carl Barat, John Hassall, Mick Jones, Wolfman, Kate Moss, Mik Whitnall, Jake Fior, and the Queens of Noize.

As might be expected of a pop star junkie, his book is relentlessly solipsistic and for that reason only the most avid fan will have the patience to work their way through it all. In sharp distinction to his tabloid image, this is the candid self-portrait of a young poet with serious artistic ambitionssoon to rise to international fame with his acclaimed bands The Libertines and Babyshambles. Whereas the majority of books on folklore and mythology published for the general public mostly reiterate ideas and approaches that were dropped by academics in the 1970s, the Explore Books series reveals that more sophisticated and exciting ideas now prevail.Theres some interesting scribbles in there, but unfortunately just not worth the effort it takes to come across them.