Newsletter: June 2007

Writing and politics don't always have the happiest of relationships, but over the last month there have been some interesting conjunctions. At the Hay Festival, one of the UK's biggest literary jamborees, Prime Minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown was asked what books he planned to read this summer. Apparently the forthcoming instalment of the Harry Potter series, published in July, is on Mr Brown's list, along with Al Gore's The Assault on Reason and Thomas Keneally's The Widow and Her Hero. There are a couple of other books he ought to keep an eye out for though...

It was revealed that publication will go ahead next month of former Labour Party press secretary Alastair Campbell's memoirs, rather unimaginatively titled The Blair Years. Apparently neither Messrs Blair nor Brown were keen on the July 9th release date (felt to be a likely distraction during Brown's first weeks in charge), while Cherie Blair is fuming at the 'fantastically indiscreet' contents - even though they've been 'toned down'.

Meanwhile former Children's Laureate Anne Fine revealed that she was inspired to write her latest children's book, the Carnegie Medal-shortlisted The Road of Bones, after taking part in an anti-war rally. She claimed to have been furious about 'Blair being so convinced that he was in the right and making this appalling decision that has changed all our lives and closed down our freedoms', and penned the novel as an allegory of what happens when power gets corrupted. So perhaps Gordon Brown should add that one to his list too. 

And now a quick round-up now of literary prizes given out last month. Hisham Matar won the Royal Society of Literature's Ondaatje Prize with his first novel, In the Country of Men. This very successful debut was also shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Guardian First Book Award. Matar took home a cheque for £10,000. Meanwhile Daniel Gilbert, a psychologist from Harvard, was awarded the prestigious Royal Society Prize for his book Stumbling On Happiness, which, as the Guardian says, 'questions the idea that any of us know what happiness actually is, never mind how to achieve or maintain it'. He also received a £10,000 cheque. Which may have brought Mr Gilbert some happiness at least. And finally to the Commonwealth Fiction prize. Though this wasn't awarded in the UK, and didn't feature any UK writers this year, you may still be interested to know that Lloyd Jones of New Zealand won the Overall Best Book for Mister Pip, becoming the first New Zealander to take the prize since Janet Frame. D.Y. Béchard of Canada won Overall Best First Book for Vandal Love.

Finally, just a quick reminder to check out my Book of the Month recommendation for June - Miss Webster and Chérif by Patricia Duncker. Duncker is also taking part this month in our ongoing series of EnCompass Author Interviews, so if you fancy asking her a question about her work, and you're reading this before June 11th, pop over to our discussion boards and post your question there.

Susan Tranter

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