Being Britney Pieces of a Modern Icon
Disclosure: “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.” Some of the links in this post are ‘affiliate links.’ This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.
Britney Spears, a pop superstar exploited, used, consumed, and tossed aside by many. Now, in this timely portrait, Jennifer Otter Bickerdike explores the Britney behind the product and the society that both created and failed the pop superstar in Being Britney: Pieces of a Modern Icon.
With her canon of best-selling singles, electrifying stage performances, and iconic music videos, Britney Spears is undoubtedly a modern pop superstar. But her story has long been clouded by society’s dark obsession with beauty, youth, and fame – a relentless glare that has threatened to eclipse her musical success.
As Britney turns 40 in December 2021, Being Britney looks at a mother, an entrepreneur; a victim, a fighter; an entertainer, and an enigma – Britney’s life is as multifaceted as the very contradictions, pressures, and expectations that helped create her. Yet, beyond the eye-catching headlines and front-page fodder, an almost indecipherable question remains: who is the real Britney?
Part biography, part social history, author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike pieces together a collage of vignettes, stories, interviews, legends, fan experiences, and amusing detours to construct a definitive portrait of the artist and her complex, far-reaching orbit. This unique narrative is the first to provide a sympathetic yet objective re-examination of Britney’s cultural impact in the wake of major collective shifts surrounding feminism, celebrity, and mental health.
Despite her career spanning five presidents, multiple creative reinventions, and over 100 million album sales, Britney’s ability to come back again and again from highly publicized personal adversity has rarely been acknowledged. However, her successes keep stacking up and her relevance seems to grow with each passing year, culminating in a game-changing Las Vegas residency, a shocking conservatorship battle, and a powerful #FreeBritney support campaign.
Jennifer said: “As a veteran of the music business, I have always been troubled by how Britney and other young female performers are treated. My hope is that this book will make people think about the Britney behind the ‘product’ – the savvy business person who has managed to have a multi-million dollar empire despite numerous outside forces trying to destroy her from every angle. After years of being framed as a victim, Britney deserves to be celebrated as the fighter, entrepreneur, inspiration, and enigma that she truly is.”
Being Britney is the compelling and often irreverent account of a talented, troubled, and talked-about modern icon, whose life, work, and individual significance will be recognized for years to come.
Pre-order copies of the book here – Amazon, Waterstones, and signed copies from Rough Trade.
Author Biography
Dr. Jennifer Otter Bickerdike is a rock & roll cultural historian and author, working across music heritage, fandom, broadcast, and academia. Author of several books on pop, rock, fandom, and celebrity, most recently You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone: The Biography of Nico (2021) and number-one bestseller Why Vinyl Matters: A Manifesto from Musicians and Fans (2017). Jennifer was a literary consultant for Will Sergeant (Echo and the Bunnymen) with his best-selling debut memoir Bunnyman (2021) and global music ambassador for the British and Irish Modern Music Institute and co-founder of Moving the Needle – a non-profit organization that supports women in the UK music industry through their careers. Originally from Santa Cruz California, she now lives in London.
About Bonnier Books UK
Bonnier Books UK is home to 14 adult and children’s imprints, publishing across a wide variety of genres for different ages. From crime to reading group fiction; memoir to self-help; activity to reference – we believe every book matters. Our talented authors include Wilbur Smith, Lynda LaPlante, Heather Morris, Rosie Goodwin, T.M. Logan, Stacey Halls, Prof. Steve Peters, Ollie Ollerton, Konnie Huq, Garth Nix, Jonny Duddle, and Rochelle Humes – to name but a few. We’re also proud to publish for major brands including Disney, Marvel, and Bear Grylls.
Bonnier Books UK is owned by Bonnier Books, a family-owned company headquartered in Sweden. Bonnier Books is a top-15 world publisher.
