It’s something of a paradox that the best known thing about classical guitarist John Williams is that he’s an intensely private person. Happy to talk at length about any number of subjects: music, the guitar, great composers or African rhythms – when the spotlight turns on him, he’s uncharacteristically coy.

Now a new authorised biography has hit the shelves, revealing how a peculiar childhood, domineering father and startling ambition helped create one of the most accomplished and celebrated musicians of his generation.

“It’s a contradiction. Yes, I’m well known as a private person,“ says the 71-year-old in soft Australian tones, “it’s a peculiar thing, to have your life story on the shelves. I’m pretty thrilled.

“I’m not private in the sense I’m secretive at all. I made it quite clear that there’d be nothing about my private life, apart from the obvious things like having two children and things like that. I soon started to cooperate.“

John, also known for recording Catavina for the Deer Hunter soundtrack and his work in fusion with the band Sky, had received numerous book offers before but had always turned them down. That was until he was approached by author William Starling.

“Anyone can write a biography about someone. It doesn’t need the subject’s agreement. It doesn’t excuse the possibility that someone will do one in the style I really hate. I thought well, if someone’s going to do it I’d rather head that off with one that’s authorised.“

Strings Attached: The Life & Music of John Williams follows John from his childhood in Australia, growing up in London, going to Friern Barnet Grammar School and his stellar career. The story is told alongside that of John’s father Len, a respected jazz guitarist, who had a profound influence on the young star.

“As I learned more of their relationship,“ says Starling, “I became intrigued by its nature and effects.

“It takes a great deal of character to survive being a prodigy, and John clearly possesses the mental strength he needed to navigate his way through life so successfully and so boldly. Whether this is because of Len or in spite of him is another matter entirely.“

The product of intense research and unprecedented access, Strings Attached is much more than the usual concert-listing type musician’s biography. It is the story of a man and the making of his identity.

It is on the subject of his father that John is the most honest and open in the book.

“It’s pointless to just put up the great achievements he had,“ says John. “There are no real saints in the world, well there are, but he certainly wasn’t one of them. My father had huge good qualities but also pretty huge bad qualities and they come out in the book. It was important that they did.“

John, the book suggests, like many prodigies had an unusual childhood, one filled with adult conversations, parties and precious few friends.

“Am I what I am as a person and as a player because I was a bit of an only, lonely child or might I have done something else?“ ponders John.

“If my father hadn’t of guided me in that direction I might have played another instrument and I might have chosen, possibly not even music. I used to think maybe I would have done something different, I love what I’m doing but maybe it would have been better if I’d chosen it myself? Then I thought well that’s a silly way of looking at it, because I might have chosen something else that might have been a mistake.

“You can go on forever speculating.“

  • Strings Attached: The Life & Music of John Williams is available from all good bookshops now. Details: www.therobsonpress.com