79. Tove Jansson - Moominvalley in November

In this episode of Backlisted, John and Andy are joined by Natania Jansz, co-publisher of Sort Of Books, one of the UK’s best independent imprints, most famous for publishing Chris Stewart (author of the bestselling travel series that began with Driving Over Lemons) but more recently closely associated with the English re-publication of Tove Jansson’s oeuvre; and Frank Cottrell Boyce, the award-winning writer and screenwriter whose film credits include Welcome to Sarajevo, Hilary and Jackie and 24 Hour Party People. Millions, his debut children's novel, won the 2004 Carnegie Medal and was shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award. Recent books include The Unforgotten Coat (2011), The Astounding Broccoli Boy (2015) and Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth (2016), which was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. In this episode Andy attempts to summarise Proust in 3 minutes and John is moved by Zora Neale Hurston’s Barracoon: The Story of the Last Slave, written in 1927 and recently reissued by HQ Books.

Books mentioned:

Marcel Proust - In Search of Lost Time: Time Regained
Charles M. Schulz - My Life with Charlie Brown
Zora Neale Hurston - Barracoon: The Story of the Last Slave
Chris Stewart - Driving Over Lemons
Frank Cottrell Boyce - Millions; Cosmic; The Unforgotten Coat; The Astounding Broccoli Boy; Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth
Tove Jansson - Moominvalley in November; Finn Family Moomintroll; Moominland Midwinter; Moominpappa at Sea; Comet in Moominland; Sort Of Books Moomin Collectors’ Editions; The Summer Book; Sculptor’s Daughter: A Childhood Memoir; The True Deciever; Art in Nature &Other Stories
Boel Westin - Tove Jansson: Life Art, Words - The Authorised Biography

Other links:

Special Moomins theme
Good Grief, Charlie Brown Exhibition
Backlisted Live at the LRB on Anthony Powell
Sort Of Books
Tove Jansson on her island (1968 Documentary)
Autumn Song