Howard Sounes
Encyclopedia
Howard Sounes is a British
author
, journalist
and biographer.
Howard Sounes began his career as a newspaper journalist as a staff reporter for the Sunday Mirror
. He broke major stories concerning one of the most notorious murder cases in British criminal history, that of Fred West
and Rosemary West
. Sounes reported that the house at 25 Cromwell Street Gloucester
was the grave
site of nine young women, with more victims nearby. He went on to report the case for the Sunday and Daily Mirror, and at the conclusion of the trial he published his book Fred & Rose which went on to be one of the most widely read true crime books in recent history.
Sounes' interests however were far broader and cultural and he turned his attention to writing the biography of American poet, novelist and short-story writer Charles Bukowski
becoming so engrossed in the subject that he resigned his position with his paper to devote himself to the project.
Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life
was published in 1998, by Grove Press in the USA and Canongate in the UK, and is the classic biography of the writer. Sounes also wrote a companion book in 2000 called Bukowski in Pictures. He breaks much new biographical ground in these books, and was able to publish the first known photo of Bukowski's lover and muse Jane Cooney Baker.
Since his teenage years, Sounes had been a fan of singer/songwriter Bob Dylan
, and in early 1990 he began to research a major Dylan biography. Sounes interviewed over 250 people including members of the Dylan, Zimmerman, Lownds and Rutman families, as well as ex-girlfriends including Suze Rotolo
, her elder sister Carla
, their mother Mary Pezzati Rotolo, friends and musicians. His extensive and painstaking research of unseen evidence concerning Dylan's life included birth, death and marriage certificates, court papers, property and tax records which enabled him to pin down precise details of Dylan's life where in the past only erroneous speculation had existed.
Members of the Dylan family, with the exception of Jakob Dylan
, were interviewed by Sounes on the understanding that they would not be named and only be identified as "a member of the Dylan family."
His book Down the Highway: The Life Of Bob Dylan was published in 2001, the year Dylan turned sixty. It contained the revelation that unknown to fans and media alike, Dylan had married one of his backing singers, Carolyn Dennis
. Sounes has written full time ever since. Most recently, his works have included a scathing investigation of professional golf
, The Wicked Game, and a cultural history of the 1970s, entitled Seventies. In 2006-08 it has been reported that he is working on a book called Heist, an account of the world's biggest cash robbery. His indelicate biography of Sir Paul McCartney, FAB: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney, was published in August 2010. Howard Sounes lives in London.
British nationality law
British nationality law is the law of the United Kingdom that concerns citizenship and other categories of British nationality. The law is complex because of the United Kingdom's former status as an imperial power.-History:...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, 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...
and biographer.
Howard Sounes began his career as a newspaper journalist as a staff reporter for the Sunday Mirror
Sunday Mirror
The Sunday Mirror is the Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It began life in 1915 as the Sunday Pictorial and was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Trinity Mirror also owns The People...
. He broke major stories concerning one of the most notorious murder cases in British criminal history, that of Fred West
Fred West
Frederick Walter Stephen West , was a British serial killer. Between 1967 and 1987, he alone, and later, he and his wife Rosemary, tortured, raped and murdered at least 11 young women and girls, many at the couple's homes. The majority of the murders occurred between May 1973 and September 1979 at...
and Rosemary West
Rosemary West
Rosemary Pauline "Rose" West is a British serial killer, now an inmate at HMP Low Newton, Brasside, Durham, after being convicted of 10 murders in 1995...
. Sounes reported that the house at 25 Cromwell Street Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
was the grave
Grave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
site of nine young women, with more victims nearby. He went on to report the case for the Sunday and Daily Mirror, and at the conclusion of the trial he published his book Fred & Rose which went on to be one of the most widely read true crime books in recent history.
Sounes' interests however were far broader and cultural and he turned his attention to writing the biography of American poet, novelist and short-story writer Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski
Henry Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles...
becoming so engrossed in the subject that he resigned his position with his paper to devote himself to the project.
Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life
Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life
Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life, a book by Howard Sounes, published in 1998 by Grove Press, is a biography of American writer Charles Bukowski....
was published in 1998, by Grove Press in the USA and Canongate in the UK, and is the classic biography of the writer. Sounes also wrote a companion book in 2000 called Bukowski in Pictures. He breaks much new biographical ground in these books, and was able to publish the first known photo of Bukowski's lover and muse Jane Cooney Baker.
Since his teenage years, Sounes had been a fan of singer/songwriter Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, and in early 1990 he began to research a major Dylan biography. Sounes interviewed over 250 people including members of the Dylan, Zimmerman, Lownds and Rutman families, as well as ex-girlfriends including Suze Rotolo
Suze Rotolo
Susan Elizabeth Rotolo , known as Suze Rotolo , was an American artist, but is perhaps best known as Bob Dylan's girlfriend between 1961 and 1964 and a strong influence on his music...
, her elder sister Carla
Carla Rotolo
Carla Rotolo is the older sister of Suze Rotolo, one of Bob Dylan's early girlfriends in New York City.Carla was the first child of Joachim Rotolo and Mary Pezzati Rotolo who were union activists...
, their mother Mary Pezzati Rotolo, friends and musicians. His extensive and painstaking research of unseen evidence concerning Dylan's life included birth, death and marriage certificates, court papers, property and tax records which enabled him to pin down precise details of Dylan's life where in the past only erroneous speculation had existed.
Members of the Dylan family, with the exception of Jakob Dylan
Jakob Dylan
Jakob Luke Dylan is the lead singer and songwriter of the rock band The Wallflowers and is a son of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and Sara Dylan. He has also recorded two solo albums.-Personal life:...
, were interviewed by Sounes on the understanding that they would not be named and only be identified as "a member of the Dylan family."
His book Down the Highway: The Life Of Bob Dylan was published in 2001, the year Dylan turned sixty. It contained the revelation that unknown to fans and media alike, Dylan had married one of his backing singers, Carolyn Dennis
Carolyn Dennis
Carolyn Dennis , sometimes known professionally as Carol Dennis or Carol Dennis-Dylan, is an American singer and actor best known for her work with and marriage to Bob Dylan.-Early life:...
. Sounes has written full time ever since. Most recently, his works have included a scathing investigation of professional golf
Professional golf
For information about professional golf see:*Professional golfer, which describes the various branches of the profession.*Professional golf tours, which covers elite professional competitive golf and links to more detailed articles about each tour....
, The Wicked Game, and a cultural history of the 1970s, entitled Seventies. In 2006-08 it has been reported that he is working on a book called Heist, an account of the world's biggest cash robbery. His indelicate biography of Sir Paul McCartney, FAB: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney, was published in August 2010. Howard Sounes lives in London.
Further reading
- Fred & Rose (London, Warner Books, 1995)
- Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy LifeCharles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy LifeLocked in the Arms of a Crazy Life, a book by Howard Sounes, published in 1998 by Grove Press, is a biography of American writer Charles Bukowski....
(New York, Grove,1998) - Bukowski in Pictures (Edinburgh, Canongate, 2000)
- Down The Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan (New York, Grove, 2001)
- The Wicked Game (New York, William Morrow, 2004)
- Seventies (London, Simon & Schuster, 2005)