A look at what we’re reading this week.
Saladin by John Man. Saladin remains a revered figure as the uniter of Arabs who expelled the Crusaders from Jerusalem. From the biographer of Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun comes a work that examines Saladin's rise to power, his string of military victories and his relevance today. (Bantam Press, April 23)
Alfred Hitchcock by Peter Ackroyd. Following his biography of Charlie Chaplin (warmly received here), Ackroyd turns to the master director of North by Northwest, The Birds and many more. Hitchcock was obsessed with his image, so this is an attempt to "wrest the director's chair back from the master of control". (Chatto, April 2)
Born to Drum by Tony Barrell. Usually at the back of the stage, the long-suffering drummer has often been overlooked in the history of rock. This work seeks to set the record straight, and, from Keith Moon to John Bonham to Lars Ulrich, proves that to have a great band, you need a great drummer. (IT Books, April 23)
Preparation for the Next Life by Atticus Lish. Zou Lei is a Chinese illegal immigrant in the US with an Uighur mother and a Han soldier father who works 14-hour days. Brad Skinner is a three-tour Iraqi veteran who's struggling to cope with civilian life. This post-9/11 love story is set in the seedy underbelly of New York. (Oneworld, April 2)
Disclaimer by Renée Knight. Catherine starts to read an intriguing book that has mysteriously appeared on her bedside table. As she reads, Catherine, a happily married documentary maker, is sickened to discover it's about a dark incident in her past that she thought nobody knew about. This promises to be a gripping psychological thriller. (Doubleday, April 9)
After Birth by Elisa Albert. In New York, Ari is sleep-deprived, stressed and isolated. A year has passed since she gave birth but nothing makes sense anymore. When an older woman, who is pregnant, arrives in town, Ari sees a comrade in arms. This is a visceral and no-holds-barred account of first-time motherhood. (Chatto, April 2)
