Lauren Elkin recommends...

To celebrate the publication of her new non-fiction work, Vocal Break: On Women, Music and Power, last month, we asked author and critic Lauren Elkin to recommend some books that inspire her writing.

Vocal Break seamlessly blends memoir, feminist manifesto and cultural history to explore a plurality of female singing voices – and how women have used them to defy convention, genre, capitalism, racism and sexism.

Immersing readers in an eclectic soundscape, from musicals and pop music to art punk, what follows is a full-throated tour of women’s voices, including Édith Piaf, Maria Callas, Cyndi Lauper, Kathleen Hanna, Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Beyoncé, FKA Twigs and Billie Eilish.

It was a delight to welcome Lauren to the bookshop for an event to celebrate publication, in conversation with Rachel Ashenden. You can catch the replay here!