168 Songs of Hatred and FailureRaging out of the stricken mining communities of south Wales in the late 80s, Manic Street Preachers were bonded by friendships, family ties and a self styled 'geometry of contempt', whereby James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore would orchestrate the daring intellectual broadsides written by Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire. Seemingly condemned to mere cult status by a cruel juncture of artistic triumph, commercial failure and personal despair, the story

because he has the perfect wife and 2

Mick Hardin

But Jenna's past is about to catch up with her

An increasingly liberalised

like a cold and headlong moon bundling down the sky that was our street

the paths of Marcela

and a world of magical creatures

They're brilliant facilitators and decision-guiders

If he gets through the tournament

' Whether dragging a friend from a blazing car

Warned that he is about to become a victim of Stalin's purges

'The Real and the Romantic' takes a fresh look at this richly diverse period in English art