09 Feb 2010
One of the world’s best known authors has talked frankly of his life, the attitudes of his readers, and his love of writing - as well as a Chelsea footballer - in a revealing interview with online arts journal The Manchester Review, published today.
“I’ve met women who’ve told me that ‘The Woman Who Walked Into Doors’ changed their lives; it’s a humbling, wonderful, embarrassing experience,” he told University of Manchester lecturer and novelist MJ Hyland.
Though he added: “At the moment I think the best gift given to human beings, or, at least, me, is Didier Drogba.”
Also in the Review, published by The University of Manchester’s Centre for New Writing, an excerpt from the new Martin Amis novel the Pregnant Widow and a rare short story from leading English poet Craig Raine.
Amis - who is a Professor of Creative Writing at Manchester - launched the Pregnant Widow at a special Centre for New Writing event yesterday (8 Feb). A podcast is available on the Manchester Review website.
His autobiographical novel, which frankly examines the sexual revolution of the 1960s, was one of the most eagerly anticipated literary events of the year.
Doyle, whose novels include the Commitments and Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha also told the Review: “I love watching as the story builds – a sentence that confirms it’s going to be story, an idea for the title, a burst of dialogue that makes the characters seem familiar, or unfamiliar, or interesting – brings them to life.
But he concedes: “The more painstaking editing – third and fourth drafts – I find very hard; the final decisions.
“It’s getting harder. I don’t remember being remotely as anxious when I was younger. I blame my kids; they’ve beaten the arrogance out of me.”
Other ground covered by the Doyle interview includes the concluding novel in a trilogy started in 1995, The Dead Republic, which is to be published later this year.
He also talks movingly of the creative writing centre - called Fighting Words - he and his friend, Sean Love, set up in Dublin for youngsters who want to write.
The Manchester Review appears each spring and autumn offering a mix of new music, public debate, visual art and video as well as fiction and poetry.
Two the of the contributors are former students Chris Smith and Kamila Rymajdo who were taught by CNW lecturers including Amis.
It is edited by the Centre's co-directors Dr Ian McGuire and John McAuliffe.
Dr McGuire said: “This fourth edition of the Manchester Review is the most exciting yet, with exclusive new material from some of the biggest names in literature.
“But besides contributions from well known writers - we’re also delighted to publish the work of two of our former students who will surely will go on to achieve every success.”
He added: "It’s really what the Manchester Review is all about: promoting new writing, using the accessible form of online media.”
"The Review enables new readers and audiences valuable access to important creative work.”
Notes for editors
Visit http://www.themanchesterreview.co.uk/
Images are available.
For media enquiries contact:
Mike Addelman
Media Relations Officer
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester
0161 275 0790
07717 881 567
michael.addelman@manchester.ac.uk
SOURCE