In Conversation: Brian Aldiss
The great Brian Aldiss and actor Sir Timothy Ackroyd start our “In Conversation” series with a three-way symposium about life, art and everything with Melli Bond (“arbritrary and irrelevant,” The Guardian). Come and spend an evening in the company of one of our finest and most distinguished writers.
Brian W. Aldiss was born in Norfolk in mangel-wurzel territory. Fortunately these vegetables had very little influence on his creativity. Nothing did. Soon Aldiss was reading Dickens and Zola. Zola was known as the French Dickens, while Dickens was known as the English Dickens.
Brian Aldiss
Aldiss began writing one midnight and there remains a dark side to his writing, popularly known as the backside. He narrowly missed World War One, but got lucky with World War 2, when he was sent by popular acclaim far away to the East to become acquainted withy the Japanese. He remained for four years out East, in the safety and comfort of the British army. This long stay accounts for much of his behaviour when back in England.
To silly to become a journalist, too sensible to become a politician, he combined both roles and became a contemporary writer. The irregular hours suited his irregular habits.
Aldiss has had a long career with several cats and children; both cats and children have been good for him, if not he for them. It must be admitted that he is still having this career. Many of his books were widely read — indeed, the fatter you were, the more widely you read.
He has written about thirty novels at the last count, and none at the first count. Most of his novels are deflections — or reflections, as we like to say — on the world today and tomorrow. One example is The Cretan Treat which, owing to a publisher’s misprint, is known as The Cretan Teat. But he has always kept abreast of the times.
He is currently writing a novel entitled The Old Family Canvas, at least until he can think of a more dreary title.
The Bodleian Library are about to launch a collection of articles and reflections entitled An Exile On Planet Earth on the suspecting public.
Date: Tuesday 6 September.
Time: 6.30pm for 7pm.
Place: The Idler Academy, 81 Westbourne Park Road, London W2 5QH. BOOK HERE.
Price: £30 or £25 concessions. Includes free wine and nibbles.
Date: Tuesday 6 September.
Time: 6.30pm for 7pm.
Place: The Idler Academy, 81 Westbourne Park Road, London W2 5QH
