No forgotten book today, but I did enjoy moderating the Crimefest panel on Forgotten Authors. The subjects included Adam Diment, Peter van Greenaway (who sounded most intriguing), Leslie Charteris and William Shipway.
My fellow panellists, Peter Guttridge, Caroline Todd, Sarah Rayne and Adrian Magson are all delightful people and it was a real pleasure to be with them. I must thank Ali Karim for the photo. His kindness is as unfailing as his support for crime writers.
And I've been asked to moderate another Forgotten Authors panel at next year's Crimefest....
I'm not sure that Charteris is all that forgotten. Diment and Shipway I never heard of. But Van Greenaway - I know him. He wrote The Medusa Touch. Something of a cult book in certain circles. I have a copy of the 1st US edition but have yet to read it. Apparently it's worth a hefty chunk of change now in the collector market. There was a film with Richard Burton and Lee Remick made of it. (You may already know this if the book came up during the panel discussion.) I just learned, after some careful Googling, that it's now available in DVD, but it's PAL, Region 4. I doubt it will ever be released in a US version. For a while it was unavailable anywhere due to one particular disaster scene that has eerie similarities with the events of 9/11. Maybe I'll finally read it and write it up for FFB.
ReplyDeleteWish I could have heard this panel--sounds like a great one! Love the picture.
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth did the women say to make you three so thoughtful? I should know as I was there (enjoying it very much), but I don´t recall this moment :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a panel I'd like to have heard, too! I agree that Charteris and The Saint are not exactly "forgotten," but try to find a new copy of one of his books!
ReplyDeleteDiment was a big name in the UK in the 60s, then vanished.
ReplyDeleteDo let me know what you think about van Greenaway
Re:Forgotten authorsMay I recomend The Destiny Man by Peter van Greenaway.It starts with the mysterious disappearance of antiquarian bookseller Elias Pouncefoot and concerns a lost Shakespeare play.Book starts in a shabby court just off the Charing Cross Road.Published by Gollancz in 77 and Panther in 79.I have the pbk if you are interested.I read and enjoy the blog regularly.RegardsJim Bankiewicz
ReplyDeleteJim, great to hear from you, and yes, I am definitely interested. Do you know any more about this intriguing writer?
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