Bob Marley: The Untold Story - Book Review

Bob Marley. The name isn’t unknown to anyone. Since the time the singer shot to fame with his unparalleled music, there have been scores of people who have talked and written about the Jamaican singer. This makes one feel, is there anything still left to say? But books like Bob Marley: The Untold Story prove there is still a lot more left unsaid about the iconic figure. This book is written by Chris Salewicz- the author of bestselling novels Redemption Song and Joe Strummer.

What is it about?

What is the thing that makes Bob Marley click with the masses? What is it that made him so famous? This book aims to answer these very questions by taking us into the intimate aspects of the Jamaican singer’s life. This biographical story about the singer reveals some unknown details about the star’s life. Chris Salewicz had taken a detailed interview of the sensational singer, in which he had talked about himself with a never before open-mindedness and heartedness.

The story takes us through the singer’s disturbing childhood, his struggling youth days to become a singer and finally his life as an artist whose talents were termed incomparable. The book reveals the smallest of details about his musical journey like his unflinching professionalism on stage and in the studio, his tendency to revel in his carefree and fun persona when off work, the influence of Obeah- a spiritual and healing practice on his life and more.

Though the title suggests it is an entirely untold story of Bob Marley, it goes into some of the events and incidents that are well known. But that is only a small issue in this delightful book. It also features interviews of people who knew Marley but have never spoken about him publicly before.

The writing

Chris Salewicz does a fantastic job of delivering this uplifting and enjoyable story through flowy and lucid language. His writing makes this biography more enjoyable. The best bit about his writing is his treatment of the various interviews. He has beautifully woven them into the story without disturbing the flow, making it clear why and how Marley achieved what he did.

Verdict

We rate Bob Marley: The Untold Story 4.5/5 stars. This book is recommended for the fans of the singer and also those who enjoy reading biographies.

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Bob Marley: The Untold Story by Chris Salewicz