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Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's cabaret of the word, featuring the best poetry and new writing. This week, Ian learns about the life and work of literary innovator BS Johnson.
Broadcast: Friday 15th October 2010 21:15 Radio 3
Programme page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v4sbw
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Sunday 17 October 2010
8.00-9.30pm BBC RADIO 3
Martin Freeman stars as a sports journalist in The Unfortunates.
Martin Freeman stars in Graham White's adaptation of BS Johnson's novel, in which a sports journalist travels to a strange city to cover a football match, only to discover it was the city where he first met his friend Tony, who has died young of cancer.
The Unfortunates follows the journalist from his arrival at the train station, through lunch, to the match and on the journey home as different memories of his friend are triggered.
Originally published in 27 unbound pamphlets in a box, The Unfortunates was intended to be read in a random order. The lack of a fixed order is suggestive of the way memories occur, and the book becomes a meditation not just on friendship and loss, but also on the nature of memory and writing as the hero, Bryan, struggles to recall everything in order to "get it all down" as he promised his dying friend he would.
Listeners will be able to reshuffle the separate sections of the broadcast at bbc.co.uk/radio3.
Bryan is played by Martin Freeman, Tony by Patrick Kennedy, Wendy by Claire Rushbrook, June by Jacqueline Defferary, Tony's father by Sean Baker, First Aid Woman/Tony's Mother by Christine Kavanagh and Station Announcer/Reporter by Tony Bell. Other cast members are Sally Orrock, Jude Akuwudike, Lloyd Thomas and Sam Dale.
Producer/Mary Peate
BBC Radio 3 Publicity
Radio 3 Programme Page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v7sjw
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You're Human Like the Rest of Them: A Celebration of BS Johnson - a diverse selection of the poet, novelist and film-maker's best films.
For further details: http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/total_recall_youre_human_like_the_rest_of_them
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Keeping up with the Johnsons is a short piece of prose by Arthur Missa, from his recently published book Formenverfuger/Formenverfueger (Pieces of Prose).
We now have an English version of the text which is available in PDF format here
Email [email protected] for more details or to buy the book. (152 pages, 9.90 Euro/ 8 GBP. Author's edition.)
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B.S. Johnson's last film, Fat Man on a Beach, made in 1973 shortly before his death, is now available on YouTube.
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Keeping up with the Johnsons is a short piece of prose by Arthur Missa, from his recently published book Formenverfuger/Formenverfueger (Pieces of Prose).
Taking B.S. Johnson's Broad Thoughts from a Home as the inspiration for his text, Missa takes Johnson's literary form, some of his categories and the first part of the story and transfers them to Johnson, his writing and his text itself. Instead of Robert and Samuel it is now Bryan I. and Bryan II. in action.
Keeping up with the Johnsons is written in German, but there will be an English version published soon. Email for more details or to buy the book. (152 pages, 9.90 Euro/ 8 GBP. Author's edition.)
The German version of the text is available in PDF format here.
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A new collection of essays edited by Philip Tew and Glyn White. Due to be published on 18 May 2007.
"Rereading B.S. Johnson" offers a thorough introduction to the innovative work of the controversial British writer acclaimed in the 1960s and early 1970s. Growing academic interest and the republication of his major works have been reinforced by Jonathan Coe's award-winning biography "Like A Fiery Elephant" (2004). With a preface by Coe, this collection, co-edited by two leading Johnson scholars, offers an annotated bibliography, a chronology and original readings of the author and his work in fourteen new essays.
Visit Amazon for more details.
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A transcript of the talk given by David Quantick to loosely-affiliated with 3:AM B.S. Johnson event ‘Value This Man’, held in Clerkenwell last year. Courtesy of 3:AM Magazine
Visit http://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/the-humour-of-bs-johnson/
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On 2 October, One Little Indian records will release "Live A Little", the new album by American indie band The Pernice Brothers. It contains a song called "B S Johnson", inspired by his life and work.
Hear a sample here and read a review from stereogum here
Hear the complete song at the Pernice Brothers website
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'Value This Man: the work of B.S. Johnson' is scheduled for the evening of Thursday August 17 and will feature Jonathan Coe, Paul Tickell and David Quantick in conversation, as well as other special guests and possibly even some screenings. It all takes place from 7.30pm, upstairs at The Crown Tavern, 43 Clerkenwell Green, London EC1. The entry fee is £2.00.
See Through A Glass Darkly: London Pubs and Cafes Blog for more details.
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Jonathan Coe will be introducing screenings of You're Human Like the Rest of Them and extracts from Fat Man on a Beach at the Hull Literature Festival.
Visit http://www.humbermouth.org.uk/mon_19.php#coe for full details.
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10 minute profile ofLike A Fiery Elephant, originally broadcast on BBC4. Click here to listen (audio only - MP3 - 9.33MB), or right click and select "save link" to download mp3
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Like A Fiery Elephant wins BBC4 Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction. Congratulations to Jonathan Coe whose biography of B.S. Johnson was chosen from a shortlist of six. The award ceremony took place at the Savoy Hotel, London last night. For more details see BBC News Website
BBC4 Samuel Johnson Prize information
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