Sir Elton John is, without doubt, the world's most succesful singer-sonwriter, pianist and entertainer rolled into one. The ultimate rock superstar, he has enjoyed the highs and lows of success and excess in equal measure. Renowned for his extravagant lifestyle, unstinting generosity and the occasional 'Little Moment', he is a friend to stars and royalty alike.

In this incisive new biography Judy Parkinson explores the life and work of Elton John, from his childhood and schooldays in Pinner, Middlesex, and his early days with the band, Bluesology, and follows his extensive music career of more than thirty years, through to his present-day top-celebrity status.

Born Reginald Dwight, a shy, self-conscious boy with an extraordinary talent as a pianist, he developed into a glittering phenomenon on stage, disguising his physical shortcomings under a vast array of outlandish costumes and accessories. Together with his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, with whom he has collaborated since 1967, he has had a prolific musical career, having written or recorded more than 500 songs over the past thirty-four yeaars.

Not without controversy, Elton has led a complicated life under the media spotlight, surviving suicide attempts, the effects of drugs and alcohol addictions, and bulimia. An ill-fated marriage ended in divorce after less than five years, and he was subsequuently plagued by a number of tabloid-inspired gay-sex allegations. He recovered from such personal crises, however, to found th Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 - a charity which has raised more than £20 million for AIDS victims and research into the disease - and was knighted in 1998 for his charity work and services to music.

Illustrated with 16 pages of colour photographs, Elton - Made in England is an extensively researched and insightful biography of Britain's best-known performer.

Judy Parkinson is a researcher and an award-winning producer of music videos, TV commercials and documentary films; she is also the author of Edward and Sophie: A Royal Wedding (1999) and From Hue and Cry to Humble Pie; Curious, Bizarre and Incomprehensible Expressions Explained (2000).