Urban Art Association

Surely you would comment on what you think of it?

pointless.

just my opinion.

some decent research, and a few real interviews with people who knew him years ago, but a lot of stuff is from secondary sources, and no real insight into the inner circles, or what Mr.B is like now.

Laz is furious at the review in todays Guardian. Rightly so.

Ellsworth-Jones's sacred narrative takes a sinister turn when Banksy sells his soul to an agent called Steve Lazarides. Ellsworth-Jones explains their association, now ended, "in biblical terms". Like Satan offering Christ the kingdoms of this world, "Lazarides took Banksy up to the mountain top, tempted him with … fame, money, success", and even threw in the alluring incentive of Angelina Jolie, a customer and a devout fan.

Using aliases and accomplices while he remains out of sight, Banksy is a control freak. Ellsworth-Jones demystifies him by identifying the intermediaries who work on his behalf – the PR firm that publicises him by misleading the media, the organisation that authenticates his work and exposes fakes. Ellsworth-Jones also exposes his image as something of a fallacy. Clarke subscribes to the myth of Banksy's working-class roots; Ellsworth-Jones has ascertained that he attended Bristol Cathedral Choir School, which makes him a faux-prole. Banksy's first name, according to Clarke, is Robin – hardly an appellation favoured by families on council estates.

Breaking the promise of its subtitle, Ellsworth-Jones's book catches no glimpse of the man behind the wall. All he can do is contribute to his mystique. Having never been photographed – or only from behind, by Clarke's mum – Banksy has a thousand faces. He is sometimes described as a latter-day Robin Hood, though it's not clear that he's redistributing wealth as the sylvan bandit did; he is more aptly likened to the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel. But as in the case of Father Christmas, the legend, as Ellsworth-Jones says, is "better than the real thing".

Ellsworth-Jones writes perceptively about the "ethical dilemmas" created by Banksy's marketing techniques, yet still communicates the excitement of a "treasure hunt" for traces of his work in the scruffier purlieus of London. Clarke can't compete. His most eloquent tribute to Banksy's work is to call it "cool-as-fuck". Whatever you think of the aerosol guerrilla, he deserves better than that.

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/may/13/banksy-damienhirst

Hi I just read seven years in 3 hours, and conclude it's forgettable. You'd think it's someone close or an assistant who can provide insights. Instead it's one of the many outer circle friends of banksy who sometimes hooks up with him only. Bit waste of time.

I`m buying it. I personally think it is worth it.

U being paid residuals on that eschiff??

Do you really think thats banksy on facebook ? lol

No Lions in England That is all about having a blog and basically exposure. So not a blog created on blogger yesterday. One with a page rank of around 3 with about 500 plus visitiors a day. That is how or pr team used to think when they sent out free samples to bloggers. Anyway.

you do get a name check. a whole chapter is related to me.

trouble is, if you did get a review copy you'd then have to read it. and write about it! be careful what you wish for in life...