East Midlands Literature

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Apart from DH Lawrence and the odd bit of Adrain Mole, I can't think of any literary representations of the East Midlands accent(s). But there must be loads. Can you think of any?

Thank you in advance.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Monday, 4 July 2005 12:54 (twenty years ago)

Try

Alan Sillitoe (Staurday Night and Sunday Morning)
Keith Waterhouse (Billy Liar)
John Braine (Room at the Top)

I read them many years ago but I'm sure they're all based in the East Midlands (certainly Saturday Night and Sunday Morning is).

― andyjack (andyjack), Monday, 4 July 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

Um, I should be able to think of something, seeing as I live in the East Midlands, but nothing springs to mind right now aside from the great B.S. Johnson, who didn't use the accent, but did set a couple of works in Nottingham (and lived here for a while). Don't know if that helps at all.

― emil.y (emil.y), Monday, 4 July 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

unrelatedly, i was all ready to buy a copy of the unfortunates in a books etc the other day, the reissue, had a quick look inside, and the seal was broken, and someone had taken JUST ONE SECTION away

― tom west (thomp), Monday, 4 July 2005 22:09 (twenty years ago)

fucker

― tom west (thomp), Monday, 4 July 2005 22:16 (twenty years ago)

Sillitoe - silly me! Brain like a sieve, that lad.

I think Braine and Waterhouse set their stuff further up north, but I'm not sure. I'm not sure anyone could tell the difference either.

Yes, it does help emil.y, thank you.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 07:55 (twenty years ago)

Joe Orton came from Leicester but loathed it. Theres a guy who does detective novels set in Leicester, um forgot his name - hang on - (one quick google later) - Rod Duncan. also Lynda Page. um these aren't very good though. ho hum.

― zappi (joni), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 22:26 (twenty years ago)

Ancrene Wisse y'all!

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 03:31 (twenty years ago)

waitwaitwestmidlandsoopstired

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 03:35 (twenty years ago)

oh and i forgot JT Edson, who lives in Melton Mowbray & writes cowboy genre fiction. not many east midlands accents going on there then , but he has written over 100 books, sold millions & never been anywhere near America!

― zappi (joni), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

Good old Melton Mowbray.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Thursday, 7 July 2005 07:01 (twenty years ago)

'The Face' by Phil Whitaker is set in Nottingham, me duck.

― snotty moore, Monday, 11 July 2005 11:23 (twenty years ago)

Is that one of those mod books? If so, I read a bit in The Bumper Book of Mod, or something. It made Nottingham seems curiously quiet.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Monday, 11 July 2005 11:52 (twenty years ago)

No, it's a noir-ish crime procedural which walks along the literary/potboiler line with limited success, not miles from Ian Rankin and similarly clumsy if interesting. It was well reviewed though (but not by me). Whitaker is a doctor who reviews for the Guardian (among others) quite frequently. His Nottm. is very identifiable to anyone who knows the place though, so if you're after regional atmosphere it's worth seeking out.
And if Corby counts as East Mids 'Living Nowhere' by John Burnside fits yr brief.

― snotty moore, Monday, 11 July 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

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