{"title":"Michael Ball","description":"\u003cp\u003eStep into the intriguing world of Michael Ball, an author whose works traverse the realms of both general fiction and biography \u0026amp; memoir. With a talent for storytelling that captures the imagination, Ball brings us tales that are rich in character and plot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExplore \u003cem\u003eA Backstage Betrayal\u003c\/em\u003e, a general fiction novel that pulls readers into the dramatic underbelly of theatre life, revealing the secrets and ambitions of those behind the curtain. This captivating narrative is perfect for anyone who loves a story brimming with intrigue and unexpected twists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDive into the reflective and insightful world offered in \u003cem\u003eDifferent Aspects\u003c\/em\u003e. This title, straddling both biography and memoir, offers readers a glimpse into the personal and thought-provoking experiences that shape a life. Ball's honest prose and engaging style ensure an unforgettable reading journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFinally, immerse yourself in \u003cem\u003eThe Empire\u003c\/em\u003e, another compelling piece of general fiction that showcases Ball's skill in crafting intricate tales. This story weaves together the threads of ambition, power, and personal conflict, providing a gripping exploration of human nature and ambition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're captivated by the realities of memoirs or prefer to lose yourself in the fictional worlds, Michael Ball's collection promises a literary experience that's both enlightening and entertaining. Discover these titles and see for yourself why his storytelling resonates with so many readers.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-empire-by-michael-ball-9781804180556","title":"The Empire","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eWelcome to \u003cem\u003eThe Empire Theatre\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cem\u003eIt's the jewel of the north, \u003cem\u003eThe Empire\u003c\/em\u003e. Lord Lassiter bought it for his second wife, Lady Lillian and she supervised every detail of the restoration. There's not a finer theatre in the country.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\nBut \u003cem\u003eThe Empire\u003c\/em\u003e is not just a theatre. From music hall to vaudeville, from revue to grand musical spectacular, it holds a special place in the nation's heart. For its audience, its actors and singers, the stagehands, front-of-house staff, its backers and debtors, and above all for its owners—it truly is a palace of dreams.\n\nFor young Jack Treadwell, struggling to adapt to civilian life after the horrors of the trenches, it's a lifeline. When he receives a letter out of the blue inviting him to work at \u003cem\u003eThe Empire\u003c\/em\u003e, he leaps at the chance. After all, it's owned by the family of his former commanding officer, Edmund Lassiter.\n\nBut as Jack soon discovers, it is not just the actors who are donning a disguise. With whispers of a cover-up, a scandal, and sibling rivalry, tensions rise, along with the curtain. There is treachery at the heart of \u003cem\u003eThe Empire\u003c\/em\u003e and a dark secret waiting in the wings. Can Jack discover the truth before it is too late, and the theatre that means so much to them all goes dark?\n\nFollowing the lives and loves of the Lassiter and Treadwell families, from the aftermath of the Great War and the Roaring Twenties to the dark days of the Second World War and the Blitz, Michael Ball's debut fiction series charts the story of the high notes and low notes of British musical theatre in all its glamour, greasepaint and glory.\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46553308856556,"sku":"9781804180556","price":34.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9819863482830.jpg?v=1750066580"},{"product_id":"a-backstage-betrayal-by-michael-ball-9781804182314","title":"A Backstage Betrayal","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE THEATRE MAY SEEM GLAMOROUS, BUT SECRETS WAIT BEHIND THE CURTAIN\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e1926. Running a theatre may appear to be all about the showbiz, but times are hard at The Empire. Following a turbulent period, Jack Treadwell, erstwhile proprietor, his mother Lillian, and his playwright wife Grace know they need to get things back on track—how better than with the annual pantomime, a new venture, and an all-singing all-dancing talent contest, showcasing the best performers around.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut could Lillian's new admirer, Grand Duke Nikolai Kuznetsov, be bringing disaster in his wake? Will The Empire be caught up in the scandal surrounding West End star, Stella Stanmore? And what are their enemies in Highbridge planning?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile Jack and Grace fight to ensure the show does go on, a royal visitor raises the stakes and a young widow, Sally Blow, dares to dream that the talent contest might be her big break.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs the talent contest draws closer, tragedy strikes. Amid the glitz and glamour, there are strange goings-on and a plot afoot. Is everything Jack and Grace have worked so hard for about to come crashing down? And could this be curtains for The Empire?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMusical theatre legend Michael Ball brings his trademark warmth, wit, and glamour to this sparkling new Empire Theatre novel, \u003cem\u003eA Backstage Betrayal\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46710135128300,"sku":"9781804182314","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9837443482830.jpg?v=1754129178"},{"product_id":"different-aspects-by-michael-ball-9781785120077","title":"Different Aspects","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1989, a young Michael Ball landed the lead role in the musical \u003cem\u003eAspects of Love\u003c\/em\u003e. It was a moment that changed his life forever. It was the first time he worked with legends of the stage like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn; it was from that show that came his smash hit song, \u003cem\u003eLove Changes Everything\u003c\/em\u003e, which rode high in the charts for 15 weeks; it was then, also, that he first met his long-term partner Cathy McGowan and battled back against the stage fright that had threatened his career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver three decades later, Michael returns to a new production of the same show where he made his name, definitely older, possibly wiser, and with a lifetime's worth of stories to tell. In \u003cem\u003eDifferent Aspects\u003c\/em\u003e, Michael takes us backstage inside the making of a West End hit, while diving back into memories to explore that moment in his twenties when the world was at his feet and his life changed beyond recognition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePart exploration of the pitfalls and pratfalls of modern theatre and part exploration of his life, his career and his relationships, \u003cem\u003eDifferent Aspects\u003c\/em\u003e is the story of a life lived on the stage. There is laughter, there is tears, there is sweat and some blood, there is even some Roger Moore, although, famously, not quite enough. And through it all the show goes on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTake your seats ladies and gentlemen, the lights are dimming, the performance is about to start.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46804906442988,"sku":"9781785120077","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/909f46d181926ad245a3b78aeea5ce4b.jpg?v=1757443495"},{"product_id":"different-aspects-by-michael-ball-9781785120084","title":"Different Aspects","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDISCOVER THE CHARMING MEMOIR FROM THE BELOVED WEST END LEGEND\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1989, a young Michael Ball landed the lead role in the musical \u003cem\u003eAspects of Love\u003c\/em\u003e. It was a moment that changed his life forever. It was the first time he worked with legends of the stage like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn; it was from that show that came his smash hit song, \u003cem\u003eLove Changes Everything\u003c\/em\u003e, which rode high in the charts for 15 weeks; it was then, also, that he first met his long-term partner Cathy McGowan and battled back against the stage fright that had threatened his career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver three decades later, Michael returns to a new production of the same show where he made his name, definitely older, possibly wiser, and with a lifetime's worth of stories to tell. In \u003cem\u003eDifferent Aspects\u003c\/em\u003e, Michael takes us backstage inside the making of a West End hit, while diving back into memories to explore that moment in his twenties when the world was at his feet and his life changed beyond recognition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePart exploration of the pitfalls and pratfalls of modern theatre and part exploration of his life, his career and his relationships, \u003cem\u003eDifferent Aspects\u003c\/em\u003e is the story of a life lived on the stage. There is laughter, there is tears, there is sweat and some blood, there is even some Roger Moore, although, famously, not quite enough. And through it all the show goes on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTake your seats ladies and gentlemen, the lights are dimming, the performance is about to start.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46804910932204,"sku":"9781785120084","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/15815673482823.jpg?v=1757420792"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/michael-ball.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}