Andrew Morton (writer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew David Morton is a former British Fleet Street
journalist
, a notable writer and biographer.
Before moving into a career in journalism
, he attended grammar school, then studied history at the University of Sussex
.
called Diana: Her True Story. Following Diana's death in 1997, Morton issued an edition entitled Diana: Her True Story, Commemorative Edition.
, Mark Harris gave the book a grade of "C-", and said "Cruise emerges from Morton's takedown moderately scratched but as uncracked as ever." Another review in the New York Times by Ada Calhooun said:
Teresa Budasi of the Chicago Sun-Times
described the book as "fascinating", although Budasi also brought up a "question as to what’s true and what isn’t." Budasi summed up her impression of the work, writing "Morton’s book is as much an indictment on Cruise’s chosen faith as it is the life story of one of the world’s biggest movie stars. And by the end you realize that 'Scientologist' is what will end up being the role of his lifetime." In a review in The Buffalo News
, Jeff Simon wrote of the author: "To give Morton the credit he’s clearly due: he is one of the best around at constructing a 250-page gossip column."
Upon its publication, Cruise's lawyer and the Church of Scientology
released statements which question the truthfulness of assertions made by Morton in the book. In a 15-page statement released to the press, the Church of Scientology called the book "a bigoted, defamatory assault replete with lies." The book was not published in the UK, Australia, or New Zealand due to strict libel laws in those countries.
n president Daniel arap Moi
. The book resulted in a libel case brought against Morton by a Kenyan judge; Morton lost the case and was ordered to pay £45,700 in damages.
Then Morton moved on to "king and queen of pop culture," as he termed them, David Beckham
and his wife Victoria
. Posh and Becks, became a No. 1 best-seller in the United Kingdom, but received little attention in the United States.
Soon after, Morton announced that he would be taking on the "queen of pop", Madonna
. Despite a seven figure advance by St. Martin's Press and a 500,000-copy first printing, Madonna
failed to make waves in America, where it spent only two weeks on The New York Times
best-seller list (peaking at No. 8). By contrast, J. Randy Taraborrelli
's Madonna: An Intimate Biography
, released at the same time, became a massive best-seller in the United Kingdom (though it only made the extended New York Times best-seller list). Morton subsequently wrote another Diana book entitled In Pursuit of Love, with information that he had left unaddressed. The book made The New York Times best-seller list.
Morton has also written a biography on Angelina Jolie
, titled Angelina: An Unauthorized Biography.
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, a notable writer and biographer.
Before moving into a career in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, he attended grammar school, then studied history at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
.
Biography of Diana, Princess of Wales
Andrew Morton wrote a biography of Princess DianaDiana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
called Diana: Her True Story. Following Diana's death in 1997, Morton issued an edition entitled Diana: Her True Story, Commemorative Edition.
Royal Wedding - "William and Catherine: Their Lives, Their Wedding"
On 16 November 2010, HRH Prince William announced his engagement to long-time girlfriend Catherine (Kate) Middleton. Morton, the leading authority on royal biographies, was commissioned by Michael O'Mara Books to write a book to coincide with the much anticipated royal wedding on 29 April. The book, which is set to drop on 3 May in the UK, will include a detailed biography on Prince William, as well as details and insight into his relationship with his soon-to-be wife, Kate Middleton. The book will feature full-color photos of Prince William and the couple, as well as a detailed section on the wedding itself. The number of viewers expected to watch the royal wedding is approximately 2 billion worldwide.The Morton Report website
To coincide with the massive publicity and excitement of the royal wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton, Morton announced the official launch (24 April 2011) of his new website, TheMortonReport.com. TMR will be a daily updated entertainment website devoted to celebrities, popular culture and swanky living.Biography of Monica Lewinsky
Morton received public attention after Diana's death, when he revealed the extent of her collaborations with him. He achieved greater prominence in the United States after the publication of Monica's Story.Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography
Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography was published in January 2008, and reprinted with an update in February 2009. In a New York Times review, Janet Maslin wrote "... Mr. Morton has found a number of former Scientologists who are willing to speak freely, and in some cases vengefully, about the group’s purported inner workings. Mr. Morton’s eagerness to include their voices leads him to push the limits of responsible reporting." Maslin added that Morton "provides a credible portrait extrapolated from the actor’s on-the-record remarks and highly visible public behavior." Writing in Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, Mark Harris gave the book a grade of "C-", and said "Cruise emerges from Morton's takedown moderately scratched but as uncracked as ever." Another review in the New York Times by Ada Calhooun said:
- However shady Scientology may be, Morton’s language in “Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography” is extreme. He and his sources compare the church and its leadership to fascists, the Roman Empire, storm troopers, Machiavelli, Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” Napoleon, Stalinists and North Korea. He also repeatedly invokes Nazism, and quotes without censure the German Protestant Church’s comparison of Cruise to Joseph Goebbels.
Teresa Budasi of the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
described the book as "fascinating", although Budasi also brought up a "question as to what’s true and what isn’t." Budasi summed up her impression of the work, writing "Morton’s book is as much an indictment on Cruise’s chosen faith as it is the life story of one of the world’s biggest movie stars. And by the end you realize that 'Scientologist' is what will end up being the role of his lifetime." In a review in The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News is the primary newspaper of the Buffalo – Niagara Falls metropolitan area, and the area's only daily newspaper. It is the only newspaper owned by Berkshire Hathaway.-History:...
, Jeff Simon wrote of the author: "To give Morton the credit he’s clearly due: he is one of the best around at constructing a 250-page gossip column."
Upon its publication, Cruise's lawyer and the Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
released statements which question the truthfulness of assertions made by Morton in the book. In a 15-page statement released to the press, the Church of Scientology called the book "a bigoted, defamatory assault replete with lies." The book was not published in the UK, Australia, or New Zealand due to strict libel laws in those countries.
Other publications
After Monica's Story, he investigated a mining disaster, which became his first non-royal journalistic account, Nine for Nine: The Pennsylvania Mine Rescue Miracle. He also wrote an authorized biography of KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n president Daniel arap Moi
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002.Daniel arap Moi is popularly known to Kenyans as 'Nyayo', a Swahili word for 'footsteps'...
. The book resulted in a libel case brought against Morton by a Kenyan judge; Morton lost the case and was ordered to pay £45,700 in damages.
Then Morton moved on to "king and queen of pop culture," as he termed them, David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
and his wife Victoria
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
. Posh and Becks, became a No. 1 best-seller in the United Kingdom, but received little attention in the United States.
Soon after, Morton announced that he would be taking on the "queen of pop", Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
. Despite a seven figure advance by St. Martin's Press and a 500,000-copy first printing, Madonna
Madonna (book)
Madonna is a biography by American author Andrew Morton, chronicling the life of American recording artist Madonna. The book was released in November 2001 by St. Martin's Press in the United States and in April 2002 by Michael O'Mara Books in the United Kingdom. Morton decided to write a biography...
failed to make waves in America, where it spent only two weeks on The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
best-seller list (peaking at No. 8). By contrast, J. Randy Taraborrelli
J. Randy Taraborrelli
John Randall Taraborrelli is an American journalist and biographer.Taraborrelli is an author known for biographies of contemporary entertainers and political figures. He is a featured writer in several entertainment magazines in Canada, England, and Australia...
's Madonna: An Intimate Biography
Madonna: An Intimate Biography
Madonna: An Intimate Biography is a book by American author J. Randy Taraborrelli, chronicling the life of American recording artist Madonna. The book was released in April 2001 by Sidgwick & Jackson in the United Kingdom, and in August 2001 by Simon & Schuster in the United States...
, released at the same time, became a massive best-seller in the United Kingdom (though it only made the extended New York Times best-seller list). Morton subsequently wrote another Diana book entitled In Pursuit of Love, with information that he had left unaddressed. The book made The New York Times best-seller list.
Morton has also written a biography on Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the...
, titled Angelina: An Unauthorized Biography.
Books
- Angelina: An Unauthorized Biography. New York: St. Martin's Press. 2010. ISBN 0-312-35986-1.