Michael Grenfell

Michael Grenfell is a writer, musician and academic teacher-researcher. He has held Chair positions at universities in Scotland, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and the University of Southampton, UK where he is now Emeritus Professor.
His background is in French Studies and early research projects included French Catholic non-conformist intellectuals’ response to dechristianisation in France. His academic career also involved extensive research and publications on language, education and linguistics, as well as a close association with the French social philosopher Pierre Bourdieu with a focus on biography, language, music and the fine arts; in particular, the St Ives artists in the first half of the twentieth century and surrealism; although he also written on contemporary music – folk, rock and Global.
He has a personal interest and involvement in a range of esoteric philosophical traditions and disciplines, and has worked closely with the ideas of J G Bennett and associate connections.

He was committee member of the William Blake Society of St James in London in the 1980s and 90s when he was their Press and Publicity Officer. He also edited the Blake Journal. His special focus has been on Blake and Gnosticism.
He is a keen musician, having performed in various contexts with a number of international artists. He has been an active protagonist within Guitar Craft.
He has published some 25 books, including Pierre Bourdieu: Agent Provocateur (Continuum, 2004), Art Rules: Pierre Bourdieu and the Visual Arts (with C. Hardy) (Berg, 2007), Parallel Lives: the Biographies of Ralph McTell (Pomera Press, 2016), Guitar Craft: A Brief Introductory Guide to Practice (Pomera Press, 2021).

Official Website http://www.michaelgrenfell.co.uk

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Bourdieu’s Metanoia: Seeing the Social World Anew (Associate Publication)

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Bourdieu once commented that what was needed was a ‘new gaze’ on the social world – a metanoia. This book describes this view and how to do it. Based on biographical detail and the socio-political contexts which surrounded him, it sets out his vision of society and culture. Grounded on the distinction between traditional and modern worlds, it shows how ethnographic experience led Bourdieu to an intellectual epiphany. It demonstrates the growth of his conceptual tools and the emergence of ‘field theory’ in various contexts: law, religion, fashion, sport, culture, fine art, philosophy, literature and politics.

Purchase here:

https://www.routledge.com/Bourdieus-Metanoia-Seeing-the-Social-World-Anew/Grenfell/p/book/9781032192864

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Exposures: the Work and Life of Robert Fripp (reprinting – publication 2026)

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Forthcoming Winter 2026

Exposures: The Work and Life of Robert Fripp
Michael Grenfell

Robert Fripp exploded into the rock music world with his band King Crimson as the 1960s came to a close. And, quickly established himself as the most original guitarist of his generation. Seven ground-breaking LP recordings then appeared in just six years, each one setting a higher standard in artistic innovation. During that time Fripp also developed a unique relationship with his audience. Always highly informed and articulate, he was not afraid to address issues of the contemporary world, the rock scene and the place of music in both.

By the mid-decade, he had enough; and retired to undertake a year-long spiritual sabbatical in the Oxfordshire countryside before re-emerging with a new band and a new approach to life and music.

This book sets out the events and processes of these formative years – as well as what happened next. More than the usual rock journalistic style, it roots Fripp’s life and work in the socio-historical and cultural contexts from which both emerged. The unfolding nature of King Crimson is, of course, central to the account, as set within the predominant cultural trends of the day. But, across its chapters, there is opportunity to explore Fripp’s biographical background, his philosophy and business practice. Discussion of the spiritual tradition that shaped him and his efforts to establish ethical business practice is framed by his own personal experiences and the insights these gave rise to.

The reader will finally understand the integrated nature of his work and life – as guitarist, musician, teacher, businessman, and author – and the principles of practice, which underpin both.

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Guitar Craft: A Brief Introductory Guide to Practice (Deluxe) (SOLD OUT)

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Limited Deluxe Edition

The book is available as a deluxe collector’s hardback edition with slipcase in just 23 numbered and signed copies. It is also available as an E-book.

This Guide is an introduction to the practice of Guitar Craft, as experienced by one of its exponents from the late 1990s. It includes details of its guiding principles and the activities that made up daily life in a European Guitar Craft house at that time. Such activities involve guitar practice and the daily routine – kitchen, cleaning, etc. – as well as personal ‘inner work’ through Themes. The key GC repertoire is presented along with details of the New Standard Tuning and developing a relation with the guitar. Various complementary exercises are set out.

 

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Guitar Craft: A Brief Introductory Guide to Practice (eBook)

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This Guide is an introduction to the practice of Guitar Craft, as experienced by one of its exponents from the late 1990s. It covers details of its guiding principles and the activities that made up life in a European Guitar Craft house at that time. Such activities involve guitar practice and the daily routine – kitchen, cleaning, etc. – as well as personal ‘inner work’ through Themes.

It includes chapters and sections on: Concepts and Principles, Basic and Intermediate Practice, ‘the Sitting’, Guitar Work (Tuning, Guitar exercises, the Primaries and Secondaries, Scales, Repertoire, the Guitar Circle, Performance, Inner work – Themes, the House, Kitchen Craft, Calisthenics, Aphorisms.

Also available in paperback, both in English and Spanish (the Limited Deluxe Edition is now sold out).

This Guide is an introduction to the practice of Guitar Craft, as experienced by one of its exponents from the late 1990s. It includes details of its guiding principles and the activities that made up daily life in a European Guitar Craft house at that time. Such activities involve guitar practice and the daily routine – kitchen, cleaning, etc. – as well as personal ‘inner work’ through Themes. The key GC repertoire is presented along with details of the New Standard Tuning and developing a relation with the guitar. Various complementary exercises are set out.

 

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Guitar Craft: A Brief Introductory Guide to Practice (reprinting)

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Limited Softcover Edition, Handbound

This Guide is an introduction to the practice of Guitar Craft, as experienced by one of its exponents from the late 1990s. It includes details of its guiding principles and the activities that made up daily life in a European Guitar Craft house at that time. Such activities involve guitar practice and the daily routine – kitchen, cleaning, etc. – as well as personal ‘inner work’ through Themes. The key GC repertoire is presented along with details of the New Standard Tuning and developing a relation with the guitar. Various complementary exercises are set out.

This limited artisanal edition was printed by Circular Studio, and handbound by binding artist Paula Ileana Favaloro.

Price: $30 USD

Please contact us via message (info@pomera.co.uk), Facebook or Instagram to coordinate sale and shipping.

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Guitar Craft: A Brief Introductory Guide to Practice (Spanish edition – reprinting)

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This Guide is an introduction to the practice of Guitar Craft, as experienced by one of its exponents from the late 1990s. It includes details of its guiding principles and the activities that made up daily life in a European Guitar Craft house at that time. Such activities involve guitar practice and the daily routine – kitchen, cleaning, etc. – as well as personal ‘inner work’ through Themes. The key GC repertoire is presented along with details of the New Standard Tuning and developing a relation with the guitar. Various complementary exercises are set out.

This limited artisanal edition was printed by Circular Studio, and handbound by binding artist Paula Ileana Favaloro.

Price: $30 USD

Please contact us via message (info@pomera.co.uk), Facebook or Instagram to coordinate sale and shipping.

 

Editado por Pomera Ediciones Argentina
Copyright © Michael Grenfell
De la traducción © Pablo Ferraioli
Editor ejecutivo: Pablo Mandel

 

La presente edición artesanal, limitada y numerada, fue impresa en Circular Studio en papel Fedrigoni Bulky Cream 75 g, con una impresora Ricoh P800.
Encuadernado artesanal por Paula Ileana Favaloro

 

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mayo de 2023

 

ISBN de la edición en inglés: 978-0-9935670-2-5

Edición especial disponible para compra a un precio de $40 USD en Pomera Ediciones Argentina. Puedes contactar vía Facebook, Instagram o email (info@pomera.co.uk) para coordinar compra y entrega.

 

 

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Parallel Lives: The Biographies of Ralph McTell (eBook)

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Parallel Lives offers an artistic biography of the English singer-songwriter Ralph McTell. It sets out an account his own family background when growing up in post war Britain and his emergence as a significant musician as part of the folk boom of the later 1960s. As well as exploring numerous songs, it includes quotes from Ralph drawn from extended interviews with him. The book also includes a series of interludes that approach the nature of the creative individual from a socio-cultural, psychological and ‘spiritual’ perspective.

This E-book follows up on two sold out editions, is fully revised and includes a new Forward and Post-script.

“It has been a revealing and emotional experience working with Mike Grenfell on this book. His scholarly interpretations and evaluations of my songs are most gratifying and I have been moved very much by what he has written. His perceptiveness and conclusions are truly illuminating to me.” Ralph McTell 2016 Second Edition

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Parallel Lives: The Biographies of Ralph McTell (SOLD OUT)

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Parallel Lives offers an artistic biography of the English singer-songwriter Ralph McTell. It sets out an account of his own family background when growing up in post war Britain and his emergence as a significant musician as part of the folk boom of the later 1960s. As well as exploring numerous songs, it includes quotes from Ralph drawn from extended interviews with him. The book also includes a series of interludes that approach the nature of the creative individual from a socio-cultural, psychological and ‘spiritual’ perspective.

The paperback version is no longer available, but the eBook – following up on two sold out physical editions – is fully revised and includes a new Forward and Post-script.

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William Blake: Gnosticism and Gnosis

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(Spanish edition)

by MICHAEL GRENFELL

William Blake (1757 – 1827) is known as a legendary poet, artist, and engraver; one who fashioned for himself a unique artistic style set within an English Romantic tradition. Yet, he was also a prophet; one who shared his vision for humankind – what he termed the ‘divine humanity’ – in a series of ecstatic and illuminating texts and images. There are many discussions of Blake’s works, and in many languages: political, literary, aesthetic, psychological, gender based. This extended essay, generously illustrated with a series of related images, focuses on the ‘spiritual’ in Blake and his affinities to Gnosis and Gnosticism. It traces Blake’s philosophy of life and vision back to early Christian heretics and beyond, connects it with renaissance alchemy, and modern esoteric traditions.
At the centre of his work is an exploration of creativity, imagination and what it is (and how) ‘to see the world in a grain of sand’. Any engagement with Blake’s images and texts is itself a transformative process. This book addresses the nature of that transformation.

For purchases and shipping in Argentina, please visit our Argentinean e-shop.

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William Blake: Gnosticism and Gnosis (in production)

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Forthcoming Winter 2026

William Blake (1757 – 1827) is known as a legendary poet, artist, and engraver; one who fashioned for himself a unique artistic style set within an English Romantic tradition. Yet, he was also a prophet; one who shared his vision for humankind – what he termed the ‘divine humanity’ – in a series of ecstatic and illuminating texts and images. There are many discussions of Blake’s works, and in many languages: political, literary, aesthetic, psychological, gender based. This extended essay, generously illustrated with a series of related images, focuses on the ‘spiritual’ in Blake and his affinities to Gnosis and Gnosticism. It traces Blake’s philosophy of life and vision back to early Christian heretics and beyond, connects it with renaissance alchemy, and modern esoteric traditions.
At the centre of his work is an exploration of creativity, imagination and what it is (and how) ‘to see the world in a grain of sand’. Any engagement with Blake’s images and texts is itself a transformative process. This book addresses the nature of that transformation.

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