...Is just one of the interesting anecdotes presented to the sold out audience at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation on Monday night. Presented by Jonathon Schofield (author of the Manchester Confidential and responsible for many literary tours in Manchester), it was a lively talk about the life of Burgess, his humble beginnings and his flourishing career that went far beyond the boundaries of Manchester.
The Foundation was located in a converted mill building on Cambridge St. (round the corner from the Green Room) that still looked fresh and vibrant as its opening day in June. It was a very open venue, which unfortunately lessened the acoustic impact, but did not detract from the well-researched content. The Foundation held a small cafe and brief museum to the great author downstairs that we were assured housed his ex-wife's false teeth (for those particularly die hard fans).
From the many quotes, key events and anecdotes regarding family and personal life, the audience got to see beyond the genius of A Clockwork Orange, a personal Burgess describing Manchester with dislike but overriding affection, the city a powerhouse of creative thought with a dirty northern twang. He grew up in a pub called the Golden Eagle with his father and step-mother and at school he was described as having a 'native laziness' that was concurred to be derivative of enforced education by Jonathon. We also got the back story behind Burgess losing his virginity (if anyone was wondering...) which included the central library, a widow researching Engels and a fry up for breakfast.
The talk was inevitably interesting for Burgess lamens such as myself as it gave us a keen insight to the life of the author behind one of the most famous and controversial films in a generation, along with being entertaining and vibrant to boot. However, the introduction by official Burgess Biographer Andrew Biswell was far too short and I would have loved to hear more of his own Burgess knowledge that would have given the talk a further intriguing depth.
More Event Scribbles soon...
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