Conversation: Richard Flanagan & Phillip Adams
Linden was kind enough to force upon me a ticket for last night’s event at the Theatre Royal, Hobart; Richard Flanagan in Conversation with Phillip Adams – A Public Forum. The Theatre Royal is Australia’s oldest working theatre, having operated since 1834 and, packed to the rafters, I strolled in late to find myself up in the gods on the third level almost looking vertically down at the conversation. One has the feeling in the gods that a trip or a stumble may well embark a new career in basejumping.
If you’re unaware of Phillip Adams, he’s a well respected broadcaster on a show called Late Night Live where he offers an intellectual’s discourse on various world topics and cultural happenings. The amount of worldwide podcast downloads for that show is staggering, and I’m reticent to repeat the number unless my memory has drifted into senility overnight.
So, back to the evening… this was a conversation about Richard Flanagan’s new book, his fifth, called Wanting (book trailer). I won’t spoil the storyline because you can either listen to last night as an upcoming Late Night Live edition or simply go and buy the book. Needless to say it’s on my wish list but unfortunately last night I didn’t have a cracker to my name beyond a five dollar note and some coins. It might turn up in my Christmas stocking… fingers crossed.
Flanagan would be Tasmania’s version of novelist royalty. He was Barry’s co-writer on the movie Australia, which needed a story, and has had widely acclaimed international success for his novels for a decade. But he’s also an insightful humourist, an insatiable storyteller and a friendly face at the bar. A writer in the tradition of great writers (also Part 2 of that interview).
I guess this is a post that isn’t about much at all except to say keep an eye out for his book Wanting, and listen to Late Night Live. Even better, buy a full set of Flanagan’s books and send them to me for Christmas. If you’re rich (you know I’m only joking)… right?
