The Books of Albion: The Collected Writings

Orion: ' ''Poet, young and busy, seeks cheap spacious rooms somewhere.

Excellent references available . . .'' so reads a self-penned ad, a very early

entry from Pete Doherty's journals. From the early books a fascinating and

very entertaining picture emerges of the young poet, broke in London,

serving popcorn at the Prince Charles Cinema, ruminating on Britpop,

listening to Scott Walker, but dreaming of creating a band infused with 'the

spirit of Albion'. The later books reflect Pete's rise to fame, his changing

world, and are full of artwork, photographs, notes and thoughts. It is

intimate, honest stuff, very readable and very funny in places; pretty dark

in others. All in all it's the work of a serious artist, a complete antidote to

most things written about Doherty.

These twenty-odd books - edited and condensed into one volume - are

filled with poems, drawings, personal reflections, lyrics and collages, and is a powerfully compelling collection.