By accident, I have to confess, I have just published my second volume of essays (the companion to The Purple Rose and other essays). I say 'by accident' because whilst it was complete and fully edited I actually wanted to see a hard copy before publishing. However, early in the morning, not properly awake, I hit the wrong button (twice!) and bam! the book was out there!
The kindle version is out now and the paperback will be out in a couple of weeks. The kindle version retains its page numbers, which ideally it wouldn't, and consequently the contents page isn't paginated quite right but apart from that it's fine, honest! I will at some point do a second edition but for the price it is still value for money I would say!
Anyway confession over this is how I’ve blurbed (is that a verb?) the book:
This collection is packed full of diverse literary and historical essays including pieces on George Orwell, his poetry, being taught by Aldous Huxley, living in Paris and his ability to quietly read, on family outings in the car, whilst in the company of two guinea pigs, a cat, a baby, rugs, holiday paraphernalia and a poorly goat.
There are essays on Gavrilo Princep, the teenager who started The Great War, why the Dark Ages were so dark, the Jungian psychology behind hoaxing, why Thomas Paine was ‘the greatest Englishman ever’ and how he influenced the American and French Revolutions, an in depth look at the forgotten Kingdom of Alt Clut, the connection between Jimmy Cagney and Jean Paul Belmondo, the dubious role of Jacob Gens in the Vilna Ghetto during World War II, how Ian Fleming was involved in one of the greatest military operations of that war, Mahatma Gandhi, Oscar Wilde, George Washington, Bram Stoker, WB Yeats, the death of Tony Benn, the Ku Klux Klan and much more.
If you ever buy a copy please to write a review!