I have, recently, started to listen to Billy Bragg's music. Billy comes to a similar place to myself, but from a very different direction: Billy was 'Essex lad', I was pseudo intellectual - we would have cast a very jaundiced eye over each other, were we to have met in Billy's early days but, he is a performer whom it is difficult to dislike.

I was wondering as to how it had taken me so long to get around to Billy Bragg and I have come to the conclusion that he was born in my musical blind spot: he is two years younger than myself and one tends to have musical heroes who are a few years older so, Bob Dylan, the Stones, ELP and Led Zeppelin all find there way into my affections, but it was only when presented with a considerable body of Mr Bragg's work that I took the time to sit down, listen and decide that here was another hero to my collection.

Billy wears his allegiances upon his sleeve; he is very much a what you see is what you get type of person and this biography hits just the right note. It is not fawning, but it is respectful of a man who is more than simply a musical talent. Billy cares for his fellow man in a genuine way. Andrew Collins is not just a writer who happened to choose to produce a book about Bragg, he knows the man, warts and all. He presents us with a warm biography of a man who has made mistakes, will probably make more, but a man about whom we could all say, were my life to be as valuable to others, I need not fear the words in St Peter's great tome upon the day of judgement.

This is not just a pleasing read, I learned a great deal about Billy which, makes his music speak all the clearer to me. If you are a fan, then you MUST read this: if yo are not, then you MUST read this - and listen to his music - to see what you have been missing. Thank you Andrew Collins! Thank you Billy Bragg! (I am sorry that I took so long to get here). ( )