# Bowie: An Illustrated Life - Hardcover

by **María Hesse** (Author), **Fran Ruiz** (Author), **Ned Sublette** (Translator)

David Bowie was a master of artifice and reinvention. In that same spirit, illustrator María Hesse and writer Fran Ruiz have created a vivid retelling of the life of David Robert Jones, from his working-class childhood to glam rock success to superstardom, concluding with the final recording sessions after his cancer diagnosis.

Narrated from the rock star's point of view, _Bowie_ colorfully renders both the personal and the professional turning points in a life marked by evolution and innovation. We see Bowie facing the sorrow of his brother's mental illness, kicking a cocaine habit while other musicians succumbed to deadly overdoses, contending with a tumultuous love life, and radiating joy as a father. Along the way, he describes how he shattered the boundaries of song and society with a counterculture cast that included Iggy Pop, Brian Eno, and Freddie Mercury--as well as his own creations, Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke.

Evocatively illustrated from start to finish, _Bowie_ is a stellar tribute to an inimitable star.

### Author Biography

An illustrator and graphic designer, María Hesse is the author of _Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life_.

Fran Ruiz is a professor of geography and history, and his writing regularly appears in the magazine _Cultural Use Manual_.

Ned Sublette is a musicologist and the author of four previous books.

**Number of Pages:** 168

**Dimensions:** 0.8 x 9.6 x 6.6 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** September 06, 2019

## Details

- **Price:** 21.95 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 21.95 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Bowie: An Illustrated Life - Hardcover

---

> Source: [Smart supply deals](https://smartsupplydeals.com/products/bowie-an-illustrated-life-hardcover)
> Updated: 2026-07-23
