A new "parasitic" biography of Lorde written by a New York Times bestselling author mocks her sleepy home suburb of Devonport as the "hub of New Zealand's military might" and concocts a midlife crisis for song-writing partner Joel Little.

While New Zealand's prime minister John Key had to wait until he'd headed global foreign exchanges, amassed a fortune, become leader of the country and turned 52 before being the subject of a biography released last week, Lorde has cracked it at 17.

The American author, who does not appear to have been to New Zealand or spoken to Lorde directly for his unauthorised biography, has meticulously Googled every facet of Lorde's life for the book Lorde: Your Heroine, detailing how the young feminist broke all the rules and succeeded.

Marc Shapiro has previously written best-selling celebrity "biographies" and books about Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, J K Rowling, Lindsay Lohan and Katie Holmes. Lorde is his second Kiwi biography after Lucy Lawless fell victim to 1998's Lucy Lawless: Warrior Princess!

His book, currently listed on Amazon, GoodReads and several other sites, is due for release in Australia and New Zealand in August.

In a press release, Shapiro says: "The intriguing thing about writing about Lorde is that she is so damned contrary to everything that pop music has become ... she's smart, creative, a true individual and only 17. Stories that are too good to be true but that ultimately are just that makes a biography of Lorde truly something special."

Auckland University distinguished professor of English literature Brian Boyd said the biography was "parasitic".

"It seems not just parasitic, but doubly so, on a young life and on people who have actually interviewed her. The worst kind of biographies are those that are all Chinese whispers."

People who were the subject of biographies were usually outstanding, and had broken boundaries in different ways, Boyd said.

"If you were writing an actual biography, you'd usually wait until a bit later in life. I imagine if this guy had been around he would have written Mozart's biography [when Mozart was] nine years old."

GoodReads reviews were middling. "Not one I could recommend......the author is impressed that she's smart" and "there's probably nothing here that will really hurt anyone, it's just vapid."

Lorde's management did not respond to questions about the book.

Fairfax NZ News

Jon Snow scores fashion campaign

Jon Snow knows something about fashion.Kit Harington, who plays the brooding hero in HBO’s Game of Thrones, has swapped his Night’s Watch blacks for some flashy Jimmy Choo shoes.

In a new campaign for the footwear brand, Harington looks dapper in a series of glamorous portraits.In one shot he gazes into the middle distance while sporting blue and black leather high tops.In another he reclines in a leather chair wearing a pair of patterned lace-ups.

The handsome 27-year-old follows in the footsteps of Australian actress Nicole Kidman’s as an ambassador for the luxury label.

While he no doubt enjoyed the opportunity to scrub up, Harington will soon be back in Snow’s weather-beaten garb when filming for season five begins at the end of July.

AAP 

Gwyneth Paltrow channels style icons

Gwyneth Paltrow has posed as stars including Audrey Hepburn, Farrah Fawcett and Madonna for a new beauty campaign.

The Oscar winner has recreated the looks of style icons for every decade from the 1950s to the 1980s as part of a special photoshoot for Max Factor’s 100 Years of Glamour campaign, celebrating the cosmetics company’s history.

In one photograph, Paltrow adopts Hepburn’s iconic look from classic movie Breakfast At Tiffany’s, while in another she is seen sporting the messy hair and heavy eyeshadow of French beauty Brigitte Bardot.

Paltrow also recreates the glamorous look of Fawcett in the 1970s and her pal Madonna’s more punk-like 1980s style.

‘‘We have taken our creative inspiration, Gwyneth Paltrow, and used make-up to transform her into glamorous heroines from varying decades,’’ Max Factor make-up artist Caroline Barnes says.

WENN

In bed with model Kate Upton

Buxom blonde Kate Upton has released a steamy photo of herself lying topless in bed.The American swimwear model shared the photo with her million odd followers on Instagram.

‘‘In bed with mertalas and macpiggott #no filter #becauseiminamazinglight,’’ she captioned the pic.

Upton, who has been a Sports Illustrated cover girl, also replaced Katie Holmes as the new face of Bobbi Brown cosmetics.

The 22-year-old also starred in this year’s romantic comedy, The Other Woman, alongside Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann.Last year, she set tongues wagging when when she chatted and laughed with AFL footballer Lance 'Buddy’ Franklin at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

AAP

Shia LaBeouf treated for alcoholism

Shia LaBeouf’s spokesperson says the actor is being treated for alcoholism.

Melissa Kates said on Tuesday that the 28-year-old actor has not checked into a rehab facility but is receiving voluntary treatment for alcohol addiction.

Kates said in a statement that LaBeouf’s recent actions - which include an arrest for disrupting a Broadway play - are symptoms of a larger health problem.

She said he has taken the first of many necessary steps toward recovery.LaBeouf was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and harassment during a production of Cabaret last week.

The actor was arrested for drunk driving in 2008 after he crashed his pickup truck, injuring his hand and knee.LaBeouf is best known for appearing in the first three Transformers films.

AP