‘Adele: The Biography’ reveals singer’s early years

Paging through music, weight, relationships

Who was Adele before 19, before

21?

In Adele: The Biography (The Overlook Press), author Chas Newkey-Burden delves into the British singer’s past, tracing her childhood years growing up in London to the experiences that inspired her music.

Revelations from the book, drawing on Adele’s words:

On her grandfather as a major

influence: “I painted him as this Jesus figure inmy life.”

On the sacrifices her mother has made: “She fell pregnant with me when she would have been applying for uni(versity), but chose to have me instead.”

On her penchant for love songs: “When I was a girl, I loved love songs. And I always loved the ones about horrible relationships. Ones that you could really relate to and made you cry.”

On her weight: “I read a comment on YouTube that I thought would up-setme—‘Test pilot for pies’ — but I’ve always been a size 14-16 and been fine with it. I would only lose weight if it affected my health or

sex life, which it doesn’t.”

On canceling U.S. shows in 2008: “I was drinking far too much, and that was kind of the basis of my relationship with this boy. I couldn’t bear to be without him, so I was like, ‘Well OK, I’ll just cancel my stuff then.’ ”

On the muse for 21 (she won’t

name him): “He was older, he was successful in his own right, whereas my boyfriends before were my age and not really doing much. He got me interested in film and literature and food and wine and traveling and politics and history, and those were things I was never, ever interested in. I was interested in going clubbing and getting drunk.”