Divided City is one of Theresa Breslin’s books I missed when it was first published, and it’s probably the one I keep thinking that I really must read. Now it’s about to become a stage musical in its home city of Glasgow, with school children from all secondary schools taking part. The novel features a Celtic fan and a Rangers fan, and the whole idea behind this new venture is to reach across that divide.
Some way further south a group of our best authors have been enjoying some sunshine and discovering a different kind of divide. Here are the words of the great Philip Ardagh himself, who has finally been beaten on height (and wealth, it seems) in Dubai. I really need to find out more about this Dubai Festival of Literature, and how to get invited. Do I have to write a book or something?
‘With over 20 million books sold, there’s no doubting that Eoin Colfer is the literary giant in this photo and, at over two metres tall, there’s no doubting that I’m big in the children’s book world in an entirely different way… but we were both dwarfed by the presence of this charming meeter-and-greeter at Intercontinetal Hotel, where we’re gathered for the Dubai Festival of Literature. I’d tell you his name, if I were tall enough to read his name badge…’
Meeter-and-greeter? I think not. More like two and a half metres.
New stamps are out and I might actually buy some. Not that I write many letters, but it’s not every day we get literary stamps. I recall some Jane Austen ones from way back…
Anyway, this time it’s all witches and wizards. And a lion, by the looks of it. Have to admit, I’d not visualised Nanny Ogg quite like that.
So, it’s sort of The Lion, the Witch and the Dumbledore.
I reviewed Divided City in the Guardian when it first came out and loved it. It’ll make a brilliant musical! And at a time when the Celtic/Rangers divide is being much talked about in sporting circles.
The new stamps are really cool!!!!
I saw them a few days ago on the Guardian book website that you recently blogged about. I think the idea is brilliant, as it will get more people interested in these classic novels. The other ones are Student Rincewind, Voldemort, Merlin, Morgan le Fay, and The White Witch.
I suddenly got worried because I had no idea when they are available, but it seems the stamps were out on the 8th. I’ll have to stock up and then I can always be literary when posting. If I have any friends left, that is.
Ah, I wouldn´t mind getting a letter with those stamps!
Sadly, though I buy British books nearly every month, they neveer put such beautiful stamps on the envelopes. Perhaps I should tell them I collected stamps 40 years ago.