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| Leeds' overlooked literary tradition | Leeds' overlooked literary tradition |
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| It is encouraging that Granta should celebrate a fresh crop of British novelists (Report, 16 April), but for its editor, John Freeman, to say of Sunjeev Sahota that he "had never read a novel until he was 18 – until he bought Midnight's Children at Heathrow. He studied maths, he works in marketing and finance; he lives in Leeds, completely out of the literary world" is, in part, an indictment of a city that has produced many great writers. | It is encouraging that Granta should celebrate a fresh crop of British novelists (Report, 16 April), but for its editor, John Freeman, to say of Sunjeev Sahota that he "had never read a novel until he was 18 – until he bought Midnight's Children at Heathrow. He studied maths, he works in marketing and finance; he lives in Leeds, completely out of the literary world" is, in part, an indictment of a city that has produced many great writers. |
| I am currently working on the development of a radio documentary which suggests quite the opposite. In fact, we are looking at possible reasons why the city has produced a disproportionate number of internationally acclaimed writers. Some of those born in Leeds, or with strong connections to the city, include Alan Bennett, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Jack Higgins, Keith Waterhouse, Helen Fielding, Tony Harrison, Arthur Ransome, Alfred Austin, Caryl Phillips, Kay Mellor – and even JRR Tolkien conceived of The Hobbit during his five years lecturing at Leeds University, the same university where the great Wole Soyinka studied. Now Sahota looks to be the latest from Leeds to scale the great heights. | I am currently working on the development of a radio documentary which suggests quite the opposite. In fact, we are looking at possible reasons why the city has produced a disproportionate number of internationally acclaimed writers. Some of those born in Leeds, or with strong connections to the city, include Alan Bennett, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Jack Higgins, Keith Waterhouse, Helen Fielding, Tony Harrison, Arthur Ransome, Alfred Austin, Caryl Phillips, Kay Mellor – and even JRR Tolkien conceived of The Hobbit during his five years lecturing at Leeds University, the same university where the great Wole Soyinka studied. Now Sahota looks to be the latest from Leeds to scale the great heights. |
| Our research has suggested the reasons for this are nuanced and the documentary will highlight that while looking forward, local arts and literary festivals and the imaginative work of chain and smaller bookstores in the city are helping to encourage a love of literature which will no doubt inspire a new generation. | Our research has suggested the reasons for this are nuanced and the documentary will highlight that while looking forward, local arts and literary festivals and the imaginative work of chain and smaller bookstores in the city are helping to encourage a love of literature which will no doubt inspire a new generation. |
| I can see that John Freeman is saying that Sahota doesn't quite fit the stereotype of a writer, but to suggest that Leeds is out of the literary world when it is a hotbed of literary talent is clearly unfair. Hilary Robinson South Milford, North Yorkshire | I can see that John Freeman is saying that Sahota doesn't quite fit the stereotype of a writer, but to suggest that Leeds is out of the literary world when it is a hotbed of literary talent is clearly unfair. Hilary Robinson South Milford, North Yorkshire |
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