Oxford Literary Festival

Alexei Sayle

The Town Hall

Saturday, March 27, 2004

At the Literary Festival Alexei read a few excerpts from his first novel "Overtaken". He coloured them with the stories behind the jokes which prompted one audience member to ask if he wrote his stories to be read out loud - to which he replied that he did not.

Alexei shared his view on things like the smell of hotdog onions that wafts from Tony Blair's ears and how his parents told him that Lenin, not St Nicholas, came down the chimney at Christmas time! He said that although he draws on his own life and those of his friends, he swears he will NEVER write an autobiography as be sees them as sanctimonious, self-centred nonsense.

Although he did crack some funny jokes and there are amusing moments in his book he is not a wholly engaging speaker. It felt as though he would have been more comfortable doing a stand-up act rather than having to answer questions spontaneously. He is the first to admit that he thinks his stand-up background makes him a more able short story writer rather than a novelist. He also believes that short story telling should a more highly valued art form in this country - and I agree with him.

He came across as a genuine man, who's produced a book he is proud of and clearly one that many people have enjoyed reading. I am going to seek out his short stories because I think that there I will see the spark of ingenuity that is the sign of an inspired man writing because that is where his fulfilment lies.

For more information visit the Oxford Literary Festival Website.

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