Cursed by a grim climate, an incomprehensible local dialect and a violent culture of street theatre, Derry is a great place to come from if you're in the arts. Ireland's best playwright, best lyrical poets, greatest rock band and two of my favourite Irish novelists are from Northern Ireland's "second city". (Although technically with two cathedrals and a history dating back several millennia Armagh has more of a claim to the whole second city title, but let's not get bogged down in trivialities)....
The playwright is Brian Friel, the band is The Undertones, the poets are Seamus Heaney and Seamus Deane and the novelists are Brian McGilloway who I reviewed in this blog last year and Garbhan Downey of whom I shall speak now. Garbhan was born in Derry in the year England won the World Cup which is the kind of curse no Irishman can ever really recover from. After a bold attempt to become a professional student he took the perfect yin-yang career choice by working for the Derry News (a propaganda arm of the PIRA)* and Radio Foyle (a propaganda arm of the Ministry of Defence)*. He started publishing brilliant, satirical novels in the early 2000's and his latest one The American Envoy arrived on my doorstep yesterday. I read it last night and I was laughing so hard that at several points in the evening my wife reminded me of my "family history of heart attacks".
...
It's the story of Dave Schumann an American Consul who has been punished for an off colour Bill Clinton impersonation by being sent to Derry. We know immediately that he is either a false narrator or that his sanity is in question: "The city itself is stunningly beautiful and as for the people - by God, they're hospitable." Rather like Clarissa, The American Envoy is an epistolary novel, although unlike Clarissa it is funny, fast, believable and a brisk 181 pages. Schumann gets involved with drug dealers, egomaniacal Radio DJ's, and terrorists, which of course is as it should be since that pretty much covers all the career choices available in the city on the Foyle. You can get The American Envoy on Amazon.co.uk and with the pound on its knees, even with international shipping its a great deal.
...
*I'm kidding.
34 comments:
And Peter Rozovsky was the proofreader, which is a nice plus.
As I'm sure you know, Garbhan Downey is not a familiar name over here yet. Sounds like he should be. Although I do wonder what we Americans who have never been to Derry will make of his humor. Some of it might be lost on us.
P.S. You should probably wear that "*asterisk I'm kidding" on the back of your jacket or something. It mightd save you a lot of grief.
Oops, better link, I hope.
Seana
I think the humour is universal. Yes there are a few local gags, but funny is funny.
Abbot and Costello's who's on first routine is funny even if you dont understand baseball.
Seana
Peter did an excellent job needless to say.
Well, shucks ...
Seana, he ought to be a household name over here, and he could be. None of the humor will be lost on you. Downey, among other things, is a superb guide to his city and country.
==========================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter
Still not sure about that beautiful city/hospitable people line though.
Although I guess having milk bottles thrown at your car will colour your viewpoint a little.
'The American Envoy' was published by Guildhall Press publishers, who also published four other titles by Downey, all of which are available to order internationally from our site: http://www.ghpress.com
Thank you madam/mr Guildhall and a fine job you did with this book too.
Hi Adrian - also a fine job done by Royal Mail getting that parcel of books to you so quickly!
Incidentally, The American Envoy was the first Irish book published as both a hard copy book and an eBook on 25 Feb 2010. O'Brien Press closely followed on 1 March with one of their titles. The Kindle version can be bought via http://tinyurl.com/yfrqp7e
Garbhan's a nice bloke too, by the way. Not that such things matter, really, when it comes to selling books. But he's a gent. Derry or not.
Dear Mr McKinty,
I have forwarded your comments to the head of Derry's 'City of Culture' Campaign Committee. Expect the boys around anyday soon. (We only have to be lucky wunst.)
Guildy
Very quick and unripped open by Australian customs which is some kind of miracle who open all my parcels for reasons I dont understand. What do they think I'm getting in the mail?
Er, no, dont understand that.
Dec
That I believe. Although his wean looks like a wee mucker though doesn't he?
Garbhan,
My big sis lived in Derry for three years so I have seen many fine examples of the "boys" work.
One thing missing from Envoy (too obvious?) would have been some confusion over the many joys to be found in Muff.
The problem with Muff is that when you have it, ah, on your doorstep all the time, it stops being funny. In saying that, I do have the new Tory PM giggling at the name in the as yet unpublished, 'Across the Line'. Shortly before he gets caught sumo-wrestling with his 25-stone mistress. (David Cameron - you read it here first.)
Garhan
Its going to be great to have the Tories back in. As someone once said, Labour scandals are always about money, but Tory scandals are always about sex.
The Stormont pols, you have to love 'em, stagger blindly from one vice to the other. Hard work keeping up with them. Seriously, how could you write a family like the Robinsons? There are currently two separate applications with the Arts Council looking for funding to produce a play on Iris. (Neither mine, I must add.) Though, none of that could ever happen in a civilised city like Derry, Adrian. (Any more lip out of you, and I'll set my next one in East Antrim.)
I'll have to pick up a copy of this ASAP. My last Downey hit was War of the Blue Roses which kept me company on my holiday to Galway (along with a few Bruen's).
Also, I've seen what he can do with the epistolary form in Yours Confidentially. I imagine this will be up there with it.
And I agree with Dec. Garbhan's a gent.
Cheers
gb
The post is nice, but that picture is what grabbed my attention first. How fantastic is that capture? Priceless facial expressions. A picture that makes me wish I was there to see what led up to this moment and what occurred after it. A classic.
Garbhan
You should. I like to think of Carrickfergs - Ballycare - Ballymena as the slurry triangle.
Ger
Those nice people at Guild Hall sent me Blue Noses too so I will be reading that next.
Ryan
That picture tells me two things: that kid is going to be a heartbreaker and is going to get into lots of trouble.
True story. The night that pic was taken (five years ago), Fiachra then aged six, listened patiently to Eamonn McCann launch the book ('Suspended MLA') in front of an audience of about 150. Then, when I got up to speak, he gave me a full sixty seconds, before walking up in front of me and announcing: "That's enough, Daddy - you're boring them." My entire speech didn't get another laugh as big as that one...
And incidentally, I already have a character called Billy Blue Nose in 'Off Broadway', named after the two little Scotland crosses tattooed on his nostrils.
It must be a very lively household.
Americans can get The American Envoy as an ebook through sources that I personally would probably be prudent not to name.
Scottish crosses?
Oh you mean the proud and glorious soltaire of St Andrew.
Seana
Loyal to your bookstore to the last. You gotta respect that.
I dont know if Garbhan's doing Bouchercon but if he is you could do a little signing.
“Peter
Still not sure about that beautiful city/hospitable people line though.”
I’ve seen Creggan from the walls of Derry, heard Garbhan and his uncle swap stories, played soccer with Garbhan’s son and some incomprehensible version of basketball with his daughter. Aye, and it was in Derry that I developed a toothache that would one day require massive dental work. It brings a tear to my eye to think of it now.
So I can vouch for the hospitality of its people.
================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Its going to be great to have the Tories back in. As someone once said, Labour scandals are always about money, but Tory scandals are always about sex.
Here’s Christopher Brookmyre from Boiling a Frog:
"There was no more selfish urge in the human condition than sexual desire, and therefore no urge more capable of compromising all other moral considerations. In a sense, it brought out the little Tory bastard in everyone. It was about me, me, me: ego-driven individualism, id-driven indulgence, and it didn't care who got hurt, neglected or abandoned in the process."
================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter
Fortunately for you when you got there they no longer delivered milk in bottles.
But you're right Derry does have a certain Neapolitan air about it - you know, round the bus station where all the pick pockets are.
I've seen the bus stations in Derry and in Naples. In Naples, buses as far as the eye can see, noise as far as the ear can hear. In Derry, red brick (if I recall right) and a rather placid air.
Derry had quieted considerably by the time I arrived.
================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter
You're not going to talk me out of it.
I would not dream of trying. Indeed, some of the tales I heard on my walks around the city conjured up some of the old ghosts. I'm fortunate to have missed the excitement.
================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
What do you mean, to the last? Do you know something I don't?
I'm not as loyal as all that. I don't have a lot of scruples about things that are only available in the U.S. as ebooks. But doing a competitor's advertising for them is another thing.
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