|
Children's laureate Anne Fine has launched a scathing
attack on fellow author Melvin Burgess and the publishers
of his forthcoming book 'Doing It'. In a lengthy article
in the Guardian on Saturday she even calls for the 'grubby
book' to be 'pulped'.
Quoting heavily from the book, the author also says that
if it is printed it at all it should be printed by an adult
imprint. She went on to say that "It's time they [the
publishers] sat round a table, took a good long look at
themselves and decided that it was an indefensible decision
to take this book on. They should pulp their own copies
now."
Her comments are bound to stir up controversy especially
as she has used her role as the children's laureate to so
blatantly attack a fellow author. It could also be argued
that such comments will only give the book even more publicity,
something that has helped Burgess in the past.
So far Burgess has been fairly tight lipped but has issued
a statement on his website. In the statement he says that
as 'Doing It' "won't be released until the end of May
and having a public discussion about a book not yet in the
public domain, between a closed circle of writers, critics
and experts is just so self-important - I'd prefer to wait
until people can read the book for themselves."
Melvin has, however, agreed to appear on the Jeremy Vine
show on BBC Radio 2 this lunchtime (Tuesday 1st April) at
12.30pm to respond to the Anne Fine review of his book.
'Doing It', will be published in hardback by Anderson Press
in May 2003.
|
