Boris the Writer

My tribute to Boris Vian has now appeared as part of an ultra limited edition publication by https://raphuspress.weebly.com/.

There’s No Way To Escape (https://raphuspress.weebly.com/theres-no-way-to-escape.html) is the latest publication by the wonderful Al Dinez od Raphus Press (https://www.facebook.com/RaphusPress) has writing by Damian Murphy, Rhys Hughes, Maxim Jakubowski, and Jonathan Wood as well as myself.

I deliberately didn’t attempt to emulate Vian’s style – who could – but included some of his passions such as Jazz and the post war St Germain culture including his friendship with the person I named Jean Paul Georges (Ringo to his friends).

I have also recently finished reading Wakefield Press’ latest Via translation Trouble in the Swaths. This surreal romp is Vian’s first novel, although it was not published until 1966 – seven years after his death. It was written for the amusement of family and friends during the occupation of Paris but has all of the typical Vian humour and inventiveness. Terry Bradford has done a splendid job on the translation of an untranslateable author.