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Books of the Year 2024 - Number 1

Discover the full list on our blog.

A year in the life of Lawrence, Britain's most singular musical genius who never hit the big time.

'Will has finally written his masterpiece. I'm glad I could be of assistance' - Lawrence

'Wonderful' - Bobby Gillespie

'A fascinating tale beautifully told' - Brett Anderson

Lawrence is the greatest pop star you have never heard of, his dreams of glory thwarted over the past five decades by bad luck and self-sabotage. At sixty-one, he set off on a new mission: to escape poverty, obscurity and the humiliation of kids at the bus stop laughing at him by writing a smash hit. But what is the cost of a dream?

In 1979, Lawrence formed Felt, who released ten albums and ten singles in ten years before splitting up. In 1991, he reinvented himself with novelty-pop outfit Denim. Signed to EMI, riding the wave of Britpop, in 1997, Denim's song 'Summer Smash' became Radio 1's Single of the Week and looked like a sure-fire hit. Then Princess Diana was killed in a car crash. All copies were melted down. Crushing depression, addiction and homelessness followed... but in the face of it all, Lawrence never gave up.

In Street-Level Superstar, bestselling author and journalist Will Hodgkinson follows Lawrence as he rebuilds his life. He gets mistaken for an old lady by an amorous pensioner, is reduced to dragging sacks of 2p coins to his local bank and wanders through London's distant suburbs in search of lyrical inspiration. As they walk together down rain-soaked streets, Will tells the story of Britain's most eccentric cult star. Will he write the greatest song the world has ever known before the year is out? And was it worth sacrificing everything - family, relationships, health, sanity - for art?

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Street-Level Superstar, A Year With Lawrence

Nine Eight Books
Exclusive extra chapter - dealing with the "making of" the book.  Sian Pattenden interviews Will and Lawrence about the "process". Signed by Will and Lawrence
Rough Trade Exclusive
Signed Copy
Limited to 250 copies
Released12/11/2024Catalogue Number9781785120220BOTYCustomer Limit1Learn more
Signed by Will and Lawrence
Limited Edition
Signed Copy
Released12/11/2024Catalogue Number9781785120220Customer Limit1Learn more
Released12/11/2024Catalogue Number9781785120220Customer Limit1Learn more
Paperback
Released10/07/2025Catalogue Number9781785120237
In stock ready for immediate dispatchDispatches Fri 13 Feb - Sat 14 Feb
Learn more
Signed by Lawrence and Will
Rough Trade Exclusive
Signed Copy
Released17/07/2025Catalogue Number9781785120237signedCustomer Limit2Learn more