Madonna - Tapa dura

When La Ciccione tackled a handful of demanding Sondheim songs, her thin, unmusical voice (unassisted by all the apparatus of sound engineers) was cruelly exposed. But that only made her considerable achievement as the most protean of pop stars all the more remarkable. By synthesising a small singing talent and a mammoth ingenuity in the art of image-making, Madonna transformed herself into the most significant pop singer of our era - and continues to re-make herself. Andrew Morton cannot offer Diana-style revelations here (Madonna herself hardly counts reticence among her virtues), but we are promised a caustic and fascinating read, based on exclusive interviews and insider information (although the prospect of the latter hardly whets the appetite). But the Morton/Madonna combination will set tills ringing.

As one of the most enigmatic and fascinating women of our time, Madonna is the undisputed female icon of the modern age. She is widely admired for her independence, self-confidence, refusal to compromise and willingness to take a risk. While much of her life seems to be an open book, a closer look suggests that it is Madonna herself who controls what we read. In his new book Andrew Morton, the author of world-wide number one best-sellers on Diana, Princess of Wales and Monica Lewinsky, reveals the unknown Madonna. He has spoken to those in her inner circle, who have never been interviewed before, about her ambitions, lifestyle and relationships with family, friends and men. Their stories and insights give a fresh and revealing perspective on arguably the most famous woman on the planet.