Victoria Kingston

Books by Victoria Kingston ..

Simon and Garfunkel: The Definitive Biography

Simon and Garfunkel

This in-depth biography follows the lives and careers of this iconic duo, from their childhood in Queens and early records as Tom and Jerry to their stupendous popularity and defining role in the 60s pop music scene. It traces Paul Simon’s famous tour of one night stands in the north of England, talking to people who hired him for £10 a night. It finds fresh insights into the complex relationship of these two men, showing how they initially complemented each other, but ultimately split up, when Paul felt unable to work with Art.

It analyses Paul Simon’s brilliant writing and the flawless harmonies they produced together, a combination which brought them chart-topping success and the adulation of millions.

It includes fascinating interviews with Art Garfunkel, and with people who worked with him and Paul Simon. It is the definitive account of the close relationship of two men who clashed and quarrelled, parted and reunited – but who remain, perhaps, the greatest musical duo in history.

“Victoria Kingston’s engaging and informative biography is a seminal history of the Simon and Garfunkel collaboration. A work of painstaking attention to detail and accuracy. Candid, comprehensive, insightful and poignant, a must-read for all fans, and a very highly recommended addition to personal, academic and community library music history and biography collections.” The Bookwatch (USA)

“Victoria Kingston meticulously traces their ups and downs in a well-researched biography, which seeks to find the real men behind the pictures on the album sleeves. As fine a musical biography as anyone could wish for – highly recommended.” Richie Hardin, Lincolnshire Echo

“A straightforward and poignant biography, Kingston addresses key topics with passionate understanding and brevity. A detailed account of the musical duo’s spectacular career that has feelings as well as facts.” Jeffrey L. Perlah, Billboard Magazine (USA)

“Kingston is excellent at analysing Simon as a songwriter. She offers an intriguing slant on S&G’s Jewishness – and her portrait of Simon’s Jewish wedding to Carrie Fisher and the relationship’s eventual self-destruction – is one of the book’s highlights. “ Don Carnell, Jewish Chronicle

“The biography contains a wealth of detail. The background of every song is described and analysed and the reasons for their split are explained. A must for all fans.” Ken Nelson, Lancashire Evening Telegraph

“Her research on Simon’s years in England is particularly thorough.” Mick Brown, The Sunday Times

“Few biographies go into their histories with such integrity. Her painstaking research included extensive interviews with friends and Art Garfunkel himself.” Susanna Glaser, Fine Time

“This is a must for fans of Simon and Garfunkel, solo or together.” Alex Gordon, Peterborough Evening Telegraph

“The lives of the duo are dissected with forensic skill. It has all the detail you need.” Edward Docx, Express

“Kingston’s bio is like one of Simon and Garfunkel’s great singles: deceptively simple, devoid of pretense, extremely charming.” Publishers Weekly (USA)

A new edition of Simon and Garfunkel: The Definitive Biography is now on sale as a Kindle book

A Thousand Steps

A collection of 38 poems which are sad, funny, poignant and diverse. Written over many years, they are both personal and universal.

“Joy, sadness, love and hope are gently distilled in these charming, heartfelt poems.” Wendy Craig, actress and writer.

“A moving and uplifting collection.” Katie Fforde, novelist

Gathering Rosebuds

This second anthology of poetry explores the bonds of family, growing older (and wiser), and the diverse women Victoria has known.

Book - Gathering Rosebuds

“Poems full of tenderness, love and memories to touch you with the bittersweet pain of the backward glance.” Wendy Craig

“Enchanting. She welcomes you into her life, its highs and not-so-highs, with such honesty, openness and humour that you can’t fail to respond. This is poetry at its most engaging, brilliantly observed, beautifully worded and pitch perfect.” Peter Lovesey

Doggy Mixtures

This collection of stories is about many breeds of dog and many types of people. It’s funny, sad – and quite surprising. By a writer with vast experience of dogs, it’s a great read. Doggy Mixtures  
“If you love dogs, you will love this book. If you don’t love dogs, after you’ve read this book, you almost certainly will.” Wendy Craig
“A glorious pic’n’mix of stories, which will entertain, move and delight all those who know and love dogs.” Katie Fforde.

Hounds at Home by Victoria Kingston and Hilary Johnson

A collection of stories which show what it’s like to adopt and live with greyhounds. Between them, the authors have adopted many greyhounds and cared for many more. They depict the highs and lows, ups and downs, joys and sorrows of living with these beautiful creatures, who have unlimited capacity to express love and to live in the present and forgive the past.

Hounds at home

This volume might inspire readers to adopt a greyhound – or remember why they did.

Foreword by Annette Crosbie, Patron of Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare. She comments: “If you have a greyhound, you will love this book. If you haven’t, you are about to find out what you’re missing – from two girls who tell it like it is!”