There has been lots and lots in the news recently
about the death of investigative journalist Harry
Chapman Pincher who died aged 100, having suffering a mini-stroke
seven weeks previously. Virtually all of the obituaries mentioned two of his
books – both of which are published by Biteback. Firstly his most famous:
Their Trade is Treachery which was
originally published in 1981 and will be published in a new edition in November
(pb, £9.99, 978 1849547833). This book sensationally revealed details about
investigations into Sir Roger Hollis, head of MI5, who was suspected of being a
Soviet spy. He ruffled many feathers in British politics, with Prime
Minister Harold Macmillan famously writing a memo saying: “Can nothing be
done to suppress or get rid of Mr Chapman Pincher?” and the book forced
Margaret Thatcher to reveal from the despatch box that Hollis had twice been
subjected to official investigations.
His most recent book was published this
February; Chapman Pincher: Dangerous to Know: A
Life (978 1849546515, hb, £20). As the Spectator said; “his
tales of espionage and betrayal in this enthralling memoir belong to a world
that younger readers might struggle to believe
existed.”
Some excellent reviews recently for The Last Victorians: A Daring Reassessment of Four Twentieth
Century Eccentrics by W Sydney
Robinson (hb, £20, 978 1849547161) which has just been published by
Robson Press. The Sunday Telegraph supplement Seven said
“This collection of sprightly essays is a cracking good read” while the
Saturday Times enthused “Robinson has written pen portraits of
Victorian hangovers … this eccentric history rattles along.”.
There is some fantastic publicity for Spring Tide lined up at the Edinburgh Festival
this week. Authors Cilla and Rolf
Borjlind have made two appearances: firstly on Sunday 17th August
there was a panel event on the topic of Adaptations of Novels, Language and
Nations; you can find out more about that here. And secondly on
Monday 18th August there is a Crime Fiction event with fellow crime writer
Gordon Ferris; more information about that one is here. Alongside
these events Cilla and Rolf will be interviewed live on BBC Radio
Scotland’s Culture Show with Janice Forsyth. They will be discussing
Spring Tide and their screenwriting
career in general. And on the BBC Radio 5 Live Richard Bacon Show
there will be an interview with Gordon Ferris and Alexander McCall Smith
discussing their books. All fantastic exposure for Spring Tide – and just so you know, the next book
from Cilla and Rolf Borjlind: Third Voice is coming from Hesperus in
March 2015.
On 18 November 2013 former Labour MP and Minister
for Europe Denis
MacShane pleaded guilty to false accounting at the Old Bailey, and on
23 December he was jailed for six months. He was the latest MP to be given a
stern sentence to serve as example in the post expenses scandal climate.
Arriving at Belmarsh on Christmas Eve, all his books and writing materials were
confiscated and he was locked away in a solitary cell for up to 23 hours a day.
With hours of nothing to fill and without books to read, he begged or borrowed
paper and pens to while away the time writing. He began taking notes on what he
heard and saw around him and recording the lives of prisoners serving longer
sentences. In Belmarsh and, later, Brixton he experienced warmth, friendship,
and solidarity from fellow prisoners and discovered a sense of right and wrong
and a willingness to admit mistakes that he had never noticed in the Tea Room of
the House of Commons. Prison Diaries is a
compelling account of those experiences. It is an extraordinary account of
prison life from one of the most high profile casualties of the expenses
scandal, and delivers a damning report on the state of Britain
I wonder if Denis MacShane had to go through a
medical when he arrived at Belmarsh? And was it anything
like this moment from Porridge do we think?
Life was falling apart. Within the space of three
years, Sonia Choquette had suffered the
unexpected death of two close family members, seen her marriage implode and been
let down by trusted colleagues. In order to regain her spiritual footing, Sonia
turned to the age-old practice of pilgrimage and set out to walk the legendary
Camino de Santiago, an 820-kilometre trek over the Pyrenees and across northern
Spain
And if that all sounds a bit too heavy for a Monday,
then have you ever wondered which Mr Men character you are? I don’t seem
to recall a Mr Deeply Spiritual – but then again my memory isn’t what it used to
be. Take this quiz to find out whether you are your
bookshop’s dour Mr Grumpy or a ray of Little Miss
Sunshine!
As yet another season begins, how many people do you
know that are completely obsessed with football? And as yet another season ends
– how many people do you know that are completely obsessed with Game of
Thrones? Put those two groups together and you must have literally
gazillions of hoards of avid (or should that be rabid) fans. So what they
clearly need is Throne of Games by Paul Harrie with illustrations by
Oliver Ninnis. This is a mix of literary
pastiche and 50 side-splitting, high quality cartoons and illustrations which
draws on the popularity of two huge, global entertainment brands. It is by
award-winning satirical writer Rodge
Glass writing as Paul Harrie
and is from the publishers of 101 Uses of a Dead Kindle and If Dogs
Could Swear. It begins when summer is at an end in the 20 kingdoms and Sir
Fergie, King of the House Manc, originally from a terrible northern land beyond
the Wall and famous for his devastating use of his favourite torture weapon, the
Hairdryer, is finally ailing. He must seek a successor before he dies. He has
ruled House Manc for longer than anyone can remember, as far back as the
mythical time known as ‘the 80s’, before even Sky Sports was invented. Step
forward trusty lieutenant, Lord Moyes of Evertonia, anointed by Sir Fergie as
the ‘Chosen One’. This enrages southern usurper, Mourinho, the self-styled
‘Special One’, who howls from dawn till dusk, vowing eternal revenge, although
he later denies this in the media. Will Lord Moyes manage to retain unity
amongst the feared but somewhat over-the-hill Knights of Manc? Can he master the
black arts Sir Fergie was so proficient in, known to the initiated as ‘mind
games’? Will he survive the Throne of
Games or will he, like many others before him, lose his head?
Throne of Games (hb, £9.99 978
1908754875) is published by Freight in October, and I am confident that
this Christmas it will prove to be the
perfect gift for football fans and box set aficionados alike. You can find out more and order it here.
The Radio Times Guide to
Films is without doubt the
UK
One of the most famous film directors of all time is
of course Alfred Hitchcock – also well known for enjoying a cameo role in
his own films. Here’s a really fun video montage of every single performance by the
great man – right through from 1927 to 1976! All in just over five
minutes! Brilliant!
That’s all for now
folks! I’m afraid Compass Points is now off on yet another holiday (who says
publishing doesn’t pay well!) Back in September!
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