Hexham Book Festival

A photograph and a few words...

I suspect that in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' when Kurtz cries out "The horror! The horror!" he is not recoiling from the black void at the centre of the human soul, but simply recalling a trip to the Gateshead Metro Centre. The Metro Centre is vast. The walk across it takes so long it's a surprise Wainwright never wrote a guide. It is hotter than the rainforest. You expect to turn a corner and come across a group of tribesmen hunting for wild pigs.

From Harry Pearson's 'A Far Corner'

I wrote about my visit to Hexham's Tyne Valley Film Festival a few weeks back, and last week, I was back in the town for the Hexham Book Festival. It's an annual event that lasts ten days and this year featured over fifty writers covering politics, poetry, fiction, history, nature, philosophy, and non-fiction. There were also creative writing workshops. Writers discussing their work included David Nicholls, Will Hutton, Stuart Maconie, and Chris Mullen.

I went along to listen to a couple of favourite writers of mine, Michael Chaplin and Harry Pearson, both from the northeast of England, and Oliver Lewis, whom I have not read, a historian and writer who has recently published a new book on George Orwell – 'The Orwell Tour' - a biography of Orwell through the lens of place. In the book, Oliver follows Orwell to the places he once lived, and that inspired his writing. Over three years, beginning in Northern India, Oliver travelled from Eton to Wigan via Catalonia, Paris and Marrakesh, exploring how Orwell experienced each place and how that place now remembers him. Oliver ends the book in the Oxfordshire village of Sutton Courtenay, where Orwell, too, ended his life's journey.

I might have asked myself whether I needed another book on Orwell. I have all his novels (including a facsimile of the typescript/manuscript of Nineteen Eighty-Four), essays, book reviews and other writings for publications such as Tribune. I also have copies of his diaries and many of his letters. The last book I bought on him was the excellent 'Orwell’s Roses' by Rebecca Solnit, in which she explores his love of gardening and its influence on his writing. As Orwell wrote, "Outside of my work, I care most about gardening".

In addition to works by and about Orwell, I have another excellent book - 'Eileen - The Making of George Orwell' by Sylvia Tapp. Before Sylvia wrote her biography, Eileen O'Shaughnessy, Orwell's first wife, seemed a peripheral figure in his life. Yet through Sylvia's careful research, Eileen, who graduated from Oxford and was a gifted writer in her own right, appears as a powerful influence on Orwell's writing. After all, Eileen published a poem called 'End of the Century, 1984' a year before she met Orwell. After reading about Eileen, who just happened to be from South Shields on the coast of Northeast England, it's no surprise to me that after first meeting her at a party, it’s recorded that Orwell said, "Now that is the kind of girl I'd like to marry!"

And why did I Oliver’s book? Well, the theme is of interest as it chimed with a podcast I much enjoy, ‘On the Road with Penguin Classics’ in which the author and editor Henry Eliot takes a stroll with a guest writer around the locations that inspired the writing of such works as ‘The Canterbury Tales,’ ‘Tristram Shandy,’ Ulysses’ and ‘The Haunting of Hill House etc. In his talk at the festival Oliver mentioned his new project is to follow in the footsteps of John Steinbeck.

I wrote of first reading Michael Chaplin's 'Newcastle United Stole My Heart' in my piece All Our Yesterdays

Michael's father, Sid, was also a writer. Born in northeast England early in the 19th century, Sid captured through his writing the essence of life in the region with unmatched depth and sensitivity. Exploring themes of community, industry, and the struggle for dignity amidst adversity. Said to be a pioneer of what is sometimes called proletarian literature, his work is a forerunner and, some say, influence on the writers of the 'kitchen-sink' drama that became popular in the 1950s and 60s.

Sid's most prolific period was between 1960 and 1970 when he wrote five novels, a collection of short stories, a play, reviews of books and plays and a weekly column in The Guardian newspaper. All whilst working for the then England's National Coal Board. Drawing from his own experiences working in a mining community, Sid imbued his writing with a keen understanding of the lives of working-class people. His characters are not mere archetypes but vibrant individuals with hopes, dreams, and flaws that reflect the complexities of the human condition. Whether depicting the rebellious struggles of the young in 'The Day of the Sardine' or life in the coal mines in 'The Thin Seam,' Sid writes with a sense of truth that transcends time and place.

Central to Sid's oeuvre is his exploration of industrialisation's impact on ordinary people's lives. Coming of age during profound social and economic change, Sid saw first-hand the decline of traditional industries such as coal mining and shipbuilding in Northeast England. His writing serves as a lament for a disappearing way of life while celebrating the resilience and spirit of community. In works like 'The Leaping Lad' and 'The Watchers and the Watched', Sid captures the camaraderie that sustained working-class neighbourhoods in the face of hardship.

Sid's prose is characterised by its economy and precision. While spare, it is yet evocative, conveying a wealth of emotion and meaning with an economy of words. His ability to capture the rhythms and cadences of everyday speech lends his work an authenticity that is both immediate and enduring. Using dialect and colloquial language, Sid brings his characters to life, giving voice to society's marginalised and overlooked members.

Beyond his skill as a novelist, Sid was also a talented playwright, adapting for the stage his 'The Day of the Sardine' and the more widely known musical play 'Close the Coalhouse Door', which developed from some of Sid's mining stories in 'The Thin Seam' I mentioned in Aberfan

Sid imbued Michael, who is now in his seventies, with a love of storytelling and a keen awareness of the power of language to illuminate the human experience through which he has made significant contributions to the world of theatre and television including popular dramas such as 'Act of Betrayal', 'Monarch of the Glen', 'Grafters', 'Dalziel and Pascoe' and 'Wild at Heart' earning him recognition for his ability to create compelling narratives that resonate with a broad audience. 

Michael's book 'Tyne View' vividly portrays Newcastle's riverfront community, exploring the lives of its inhabitants with sensitivity and insight. He captures the rhythms of everyday life along the Tyne, from the shipyards' bustle to the local pub's camaraderie. His stage adaptation of 'Tyne View' brought his book to life as 'Tyne,' blending local folk songs with the narrative and captivating audiences with its blend of humour, drama, and pathos. 

In 'Newcastle United Stole My Heart', Michael intertwines his autobiography, including an affectionate insight into his father Sid, with the highs and lows of supporting Newcastle United from the 1960s to today. It's the same period I've supported the team, and I even attended some of the games of which he writes. Enjoying and enduring the rollercoaster that comes from supporting Newcastle United. If I had more talent as a writer and a more exciting life story, it's a book I would love to have written. Through his heartfelt memories and personal anecdotes, Michael captures what it means to be a Newcastle United supporter, celebrating the passion, camaraderie, and enduring attachment that binds us to 'wor' (Geordie for 'our') team. 

At its core, 'Newcastle United Stole My Heart' is a testament to the deep bond between fans and the football club. Through his experiences and observations, Michael illuminates how supporting Newcastle United becomes more than just a pastime for him; it becomes a significant part of his life. He recounts the joys of victory, the lows of defeat, and the itinerant emotions that underscore the connection that unites supporters.

Beyond its celebration of football, 'Newcastle United Stole My Heart' also speaks to the power of community and belonging that football can foster. Through his interviews with supporters and past players, Michael underscores the sense of camaraderie and solidarity that results from a shared passion. Whether in the stands, the pubs, or the streets of Newcastle, Michael paints a vivid portrait of a community united by its love for the game and its team. 

Because it resonated so much with my own experience and called to mind memories of attending games with my father, siblings, and friends, there were moments reading the book (even on the second and third occasion) when moisture came to my eyes. As Franklin Foer wrote “football isn't the same as Bach or Buddhism. But it is often more deeply felt than religion, and just as much a part of the community's fabric, a repository of traditions.”

While Michael Chaplin's book brings tears to my eyes, Harry Pearson has me in stitches with his blend of wit and keen observation. Harry offers a unique perspective on the quirks and complexities of English culture through his novels, essays, and journalism. He captures that culture's essence with warmth and a deep appreciation for its humour and eccentricities. Beginning his writing career with the magazine 'When Saturday Comes', he went on to have a column for The Guardian newspaper. During this time, Harry honed his distinctive voice and style, using his sharp comedic observation to offer readers a fresh perspective on their world.

Harry doesn't just write about football. His ten other non-fiction works include 'A Tall Man in a Low Land,' a memoir of his experiences living in the Netherlands, and 'Slipless in Settle,' a witty and insightful exploration of village cricket in Yorkshire. Harry’s writing explores identity, community, and belonging. From the quirks of village life to the challenges of modernity, Pearson's writing is relatable and thought-provoking, inviting readers to laugh, reflect, and empathise with his characters and observations.

His debut book, 'The Far Corner,' which I read not long after its publication some thirty years ago, is a humorous and affectionate portrait of football culture in England's northeast, capturing the game's passion, camaraderie, and eccentricities. He admits that the stimulus to write what was an innovative style of sports writing at the time was after reading 'Fever Pitch' by Nick Hornby (who I note recently joined Substack). In that book, Nick mixes a coming-of-age autobiography with his support of a football team (Nick is a lifelong 'Gooner', a term lost on anyone who doesn't follow football) while throwing in a liberal amount of humour. In this one sentence in 'Fever Pitch' he encapsulated my young years,

"I fell in love with football as I was later to fall in love with women: suddenly, inexplicably, uncritically, giving no thought to the pain or disruption it would bring with it."

'The Far Corner' is the book I have given as a gift more times than any other. To my friends, my children and colleagues. Although the book’s subject is northeast football and teams the likes of Dunston Federation Brewery, Billingham Synthonia and Easington Colliery etc anyone who regularly attends football matches will recognise the different characters the game attracts. Every ground has them, and Harry has a way with words that capture them, making the reader smile knowingly as Harry brings these characters to life through vivid descriptions and keen observations. 

It's not just the characters. Harry brings to life the sights, sounds, and rituals of match day, from the comments of the crowd to the smell of meat pies and Bovril, with laugh-out-loud humour that runs throughout the book, capturing perfectly that which any long-suffering football fan will recognise - the cynical pessimism that envelops many people you meet at games.

For all the humour, 'The Far Corner' also has plenty of history of football in northeast England as Harry tells the tales of glorious lower league sides, legendary amateur players and eccentric club owners. Introducing readers to a cast of characters who embody the region's deep-seated love for the game by illuminating its rich history and heritage, and celebrating the indomitable spirit and resilience of those who follow the game at every level. 

Harry followed up 'The Far Corner' with 'The Farther Corner' a few years ago. All the endearing qualities of his first book are there again: the writing style is much the same, and the book follows the same concept. However, Harry’s life circumstances are different, and we see a deeper and more emotional side of him that would have been more difficult to share in the 1990s. The quality of his writing is in no way compromised when he shares the challenges of his own mental health. Watching football was part of his recovery, as he shares at the beginning of the book…

"I went back to football for that stability, warmth and companionship. 

To get back in touch with the familiar, to find part of me that seemed to have got lost, to remember a time when I was unambiguously happy….

… Twenty-five years ago I would look around a ground - Ironworks Road, Croft Park, Brewery Fields, Kingsway, wherever - and wonder about the elderly fleece-clad folk in the unfashionable hats who leaned gingerly against the crash barriers, warming their hands on Styrofoam cups of turgid soup, wheezing condensation into the coal-scented air, chuckling throatily when the youthfulness of the match official prompted the bloke behind them to yell, 'Give it up, referee, and concentrate on your paper round.' I speculated on the circumstances that had brought them here, the drift of their lives, the joy, the love and the loneliness. I had never thought then that over time I would become one of them. What follows is an account of the 2018-19 season. It is an answer of sorts to the questions of a younger me."

Like Michael's book, Harry’s work resonated with me because of its recognisable portrayal of the people of England's northeast. The combination of humour, insight, and nostalgia celebrates the passion, tradition, and community spirit that defines those who live here.

Michael and Harry's love of football and of writing came through in the double-hander they did at the festival as they offered insight into how they fell in love with the game while sharing something of their careers through anecdotes. They also read extracts from their books.

Michael fell in love with the game while a five-year-old playing in the street close to Newcastle United's ground, St James ' Park. He suddenly heard the raucous joyous roar of the crowd and asked a friend what it was. Being more knowledgeable, the friend answered, "Newcastle United must have scored". Even at that early age, Michael wanted to be part of the sensation of so many people sharing tumultuous joy in that way. It would be another five years until he had the chance. I, too, was ten years old when I saw my first game. I described my first reaction in seeing a professional football game for the first time in my piece 'Eastenders' …

      "Within seconds of entering the ground, I was smitten. As the late Sir Bobby Robson was to write, 

'What is a club in any case? Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it. It's not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes. It's the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It's a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father's hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love'.

Well over fifty years ago, a small boy held his father's hand as they climbed up the steps into a stadium to watch an evening game together. The assault on his senses enraptured the boy. The ocean of green turf. The blinding incandescence of the floodlights. The intermingling aroma of tobacco smoke and cut grass. The gladiatorial emergence of the players. The throaty roar of thousands in encouragement and admonishment. The multitudinous explosive emotion of seeing their team score."

Harry hails from Middlesbrough and is, therefore, unsurprisingly not a Newcastle United supporter but a follower of the 'Boro'. He shared with the audience that he saw his first live game at a much younger age than Michael or me. Harry was around five or six but confessed that being so small, he saw little of the game, and his memory of it has faded.

One of the pieces Harry read to us was about the importance to him of writing about the little-known places, teams, players and people he encounters. Citing that in this transient age of Snapchat, TikTok, X, instant punditry and influencers, etc, many people might ask if there is a place for the more slowly considered written word. With clear emotion, he reminded the audience that in a world that’s increasingly here today, gone tomorrow it's through the written word that we truly memorialise those otherwise-forgotten figures and lesser-known places with depth and consideration. By writing of them, we give them perpetual 'life' as part of social history. As a reason to write goes, it's not a bad one.