This week on The Word, Harriett Gilbert discusses the work of the 18th century writer William Ireland – the real-life con-artist who forged and staged Shakespearian plays – and the subject of Peter Ackroyd’s latest novel. But after fictionalising the lives of several real people in The Lambs of London – does Ackroyd feel that the historical novelist has something in common with the forger?

The Lebanese-Brazilian author Milton Hatoum talks about his first novel Tale of a Certain Orient. He tells Harriett Gilbert how growing up in a multi-cultural society on the edge of the rain forest influenced his writing, and how the richness of Brazil is down to the mix of immigrant cultures.

And we report from the first Kuala Lumpur International Literary Festival, and meet some of the young writers from the region. Alfian Sa’at, Bernice Chauly and Ayu Utami discuss their concerns about censorship, sex, and how to make a living as a writer.

http://www.silverfishbooks.com/KLLitFest2004/programme.htm

That’s all on The Word, with Harriett Gilbert.


Books List

Peter Ackroyd – The Lambs of London – published by Chatto & Windus – ISBN 0-701-17744-6

Milton Hatoum – Tale of a Certain Orient – published by Bloomsbury – ISBN 0-7475-6906-1

New South East Asian Writers discussion:

Ayu Utami – novels: Saman (1998), Larung (2000)
Alfian Sa'at – collections include: 'A History of Amnesia' and 'One Fierce Hour'
Bernice Chauly