The Author Archive Podcast

Alison Weir - Henry VIII : King and Court

When one looks at the antics and attitudes of the current president of the USA it easy to see parallels  with the world view of Henry VIII. Although this account of the life lead by Henry VIII was first published at the turn of the century it is still selling well.

Alison Weir thinks the key to understanding the famous Tudor King is to realise that he was never alone. Even a conjugal visit to his wife or a trip to the loo were attended by courtiers.

Popular accessible history at it's entertaining best.

David Sedaris

David Sedaris now fills arenas with enthusiastic fans but when David Freeman interviewed him in 2000 he was almost unknown.

His book 'Me Talk Pretty One Day ' was just published.

I would love to hear the Sedaris view of what is happening now in the US!

 

 

Ashley Kahn - A Love Supreme : The Creation of John Coltrane's Classic Album

After Ashley Kahn had published his book on the Miles Davis album Kind of Blue he turned his attention to the timeless John Coltrane record A Love Supreme.

Not only is this still a highly regarded jazz performance, A Love Supreme is now the title of the biggest open air jazz festival in the UK.

Simon Sebag Montefiore : the life of Potemkin : his bones are still making news.

Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore explains the mythic status of  this eighteenth century Russian statesman, and military leader. Turns out that this slice of history informs current geo politics.

In this conversation recorded in London in 2000 the historian Simon Sebag Montefiore tells David Freeman about practical politics in 18th century Russia and how Potemkin made his way in society with the help of the love of Catherine the Great.

Their relationship has been told in films but the way Simon tells the story is probably more gripping and unbelievable.

Simon told the story in full in his the books, Prince of Princes, and Catherine the Great and Potemkin, The Imperial Love Affair.

Interesting to hear Simon say that Putin read this book and what he learned has informed his political views. This lead to the invasion of Ukraine  and a significant incident when Russian troops broke into the crypt of the cathedral in Kherson and removed the bones of Grigory Potemkin. 

This is history to remember. Putin uses this history to justify his 'special military operation'.

 

 

 

 

 

Stuart Nicholson : A Portrait of Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington is famous, but what was he really like.

In this biography published in 2000,  Stuart Nicholson writes about the man who was a brilliant  instinctive and  sophisticated musician.

Was he then a bit of a goody goody?

As Stuart Nicholson told me he was not in any way a goody goody!

 

 

 

Alison Latham : The Oxford Companion to Music

The Oxford Companion to Music is probably the most famous music reference book of them all.

The latest edition was first published in 2002. It has over 120 contributors and covers covers the whole universe of music.

I spoke to the editor Alison Latham soon after publication.

A huge task to pull such a tome together ..... but maybe an enjoyable job?

 

 

Jon Ronson : Them

Jon Ronson was not so well known when this conversation was recorded in the early 2000s

I was very taken with the subject of the book and the way Jon talked about it.

Being a Jewish journalist getting involved with people money raising for Hamas seemed improbable. It's true of course, as was Jon's interest in the wilder fancies of David Icke. Jon might well be fascinated by the wacky thoughts put about by the Trump administration.

'Them' is a terrific read.

Catherine Nixey - Heresy : Jesus Christ and other sons of God

As the American President declares that he has been saved by God to make his country great again, I find it impossible not to wonder about the precise nature of the deity that he professes to believe in. Are Donald and his advisers familiar with the writings that are the basis of his religion? 

This book by Catherine Nixey is terrific - its a revelation and it's now available in paperback format.

Catherine has studied texts written around the same time as the writings we know as the gospels. 

Some of these ancient documents tell the story of the bible characters we are familiar with in a totally different way.

Listen to Catherine talk about her research and you will be surprised ..... probably very surprised!!

Every time I see a politician leaning in a faith direction I want to urge them to read this book!

Brian Keenan - Turlough : The Northern Irish Poet was held hostage in Beirut in the dark. Turlough came to visit..

As war rages in Europe again it becomes clear that the capacity for cruelty of man to a fellow human is seemingly infinite.

This interview with the Northern Irish poet Brian Keenan took place in London a full 10 years after his release from his barbaric incarceration in Beirut where he had been  teaching at the local university.

Brian talks eloquently about his brutal treatment, but also about the strange things that can happen when confronted with sensory  deprivation.

 

Dennis McNally - A Long Strange Trip : The Inside Story of the Grateful Dead

As the news from America becomes more and more worrying it's good to look back to the last century when everything was different and some American rock musicians brought joy to the world.  Peace and Love meant something back then.

The Grateful Dead were very successful despite having no chart hits and they had a huge dedicated fanbase.

They were formed in California in 1965 and performed regularly for 30 years.

The anniversaries have spawned renewed interest in the band.

Dennis McNally was their official archivist.

This conversation was recorded in 2015.