Finn isn't the only one staggering about this morning. There was a great party at C & P last night to celebrate the publication of Timothy Phillips's new book on Beslan. Now this does not sound like the kind of book to party for - the shocking events at Beslan appalled the world - and yet there is real cause to celebrate the existence of Timothy's book. After working for the BBC translating accounts from survivors for a series of documentaries he has used the words of the people of Beslan to construct a compelling account of the tragedy. It is, as the editor said, a necessary book that places the Beslan massacre in context and gives voice to those most affected. Essential reading for anyone attempting to understand the complex politics of the Caucasus.
So we were pleased to party hard with Timothy and his many friends. He's a great bloke, he's written a great book and I'm sure there will be many more great books to come in future.
In fact Granta are now officially the hardest partying publisher. Not only did they drink all the wine for the event, they drank into our emergency shop supply. And then dragged those still standing off to the pub next door...
Granta - we salute you! I was also pleased to meet Lynsey Hanley who did a great job selling her superb book Estates to my mate Toby who grew up on one and also to the one and only Lee Hill (author extraordinaire of the greatest Terry Southern Biog EVER WRITTEN - check all the references on this Wikipedia entry) who is going to buy another as soon as I order it in for him.
Thanks to Toby and Lee for attempting to introduce me to Facebook. Sorry lads, I'm too busy for all that socialising stuff...
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Thanks for the ego boost. My bio used to be the "greatest Terry Southern biography ever" because it was the only one. Nile Southern, Terry's only son, has written a much better book focusing on Candy called The Candy Men (published by Richard Seaver's Arcade imprint...a UK imprint is long overdue for this hypnotic look at copyright wars gone mad).
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