Hugo Hamilton - The Speckled People - Miriam O'Callaghan Interview

[C. Flower]

On now - I haven't read anything by him, but it's a fascinating interview so far.


Live stream -
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/

"Official website"

http://www.hugohamilton.net/

Biography

http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBoQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FHugo_Ha milton&ei=sFgwTKy1BNS7jAeS3LjDBQ&usg=AFQjCNFR4ujgmr9c5FGdOJaRUovHexOPnw

His wife, Mary Rose Doorly, a journalist and film maker formerly with the Irish Press, is also being interviewed.

http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.ie%2Fentertainmen t%2Fbooks%2Fwriting-for-revenge-1422836.html&ei=wFkwTMm1F4vQjAe08MDDBQ&usg=AFQjCNGK-MUm82q1Me9o91EVizv7eJqTPA

[Andrew49]

I'm sure this interview was on the radio before, maybe Pat Kenny(?)... sounds familiar. The Speckled People is a 'thumping good read' - it's a book you'd read again.

Plot summary (http://www.skoool.ie/skoool/examcentre_sc.asp?id=4946)

[C. Flower]

I'm sure this interview was on the radio before, maybe Pat Kenny(?)... sounds familiar. The Speckled People is a 'thumping good read' - it's a book you'd read again.

Plot summary (http://www.skoool.ie/skoool/examcentre_sc.asp?id=4946)

I'll certainly read it after listening to him. He talked about his very difficult childhood, but has a lovely voice and his writing seems really lyrical in tone.

I've no idea what his book is about. He has lived in Berlin: that's something I have in common with him.

This was a new interview with Miriam O'Callaghan.

[Andrew49]

I'll certainly read it after listening to him. He talked about his very difficult childhood, but has a lovely voice and his writing seems really lyrical in tone.

I've no idea what his book is about. He has lived in Berlin: that's something I have in common with him.

This was a new interview with Miriam O'Callaghan.

The parents are fascinating ... the mother comes to Ireland to strengthen her English language skills, and marries a man who detests the English language!

Fascinating mixture of cultures.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Sounds a bit like a modern reworking of Playboy of the Western World ... would I be in the right stadium..?

[Andrew49]

Sounds a bit like a modern reworking of Playboy of the Western World ... would I be in the right stadium..?

Language is central to the experience of the author. He grew up in a household speaking and failing to communicate in Irish and German on an Island that spoke English. The father punished the author for the cultural sin of speaking English in the house. The father’s blind zeal for Gaelic culture turned him into an intolerant dictator at home who inflicted cruelty on his children.

German music like Bach and Beethoven, as well as Irish songs, feature strongly in the author’s household life. His father used the German music to soothe his wife’s hurt feelings, control her and also to celebrate imaginary milestones achieved in his quest for inventions and Gaelic Revival. The Irish ballads and songs expressed the resentments and outdated ideals of a long past Ireland that the father refused to let go of.

[C. Flower]

Language is central to the experience of the author. He grew up in a household speaking and failing to communicate in Irish and German on an Island that spoke English. The father punished the author for the cultural sin of speaking English in the house. The father’s blind zeal for Gaelic culture turned him into an intolerant dictator at home who inflicted cruelty on his children.

German music like Bach and Beethoven, as well as Irish songs, feature strongly in the author’s household life. His father used the German music to soothe his wife’s hurt feelings, control her and also to celebrate imaginary milestones achieved in his quest for inventions and Gaelic Revival. The Irish ballads and songs expressed the resentments and outdated ideals of a long past Ireland that the father refused to let go of.

I can't remember the exact words he used in the interview, but Hamilton talked a bit about how other people (readers) now owned his experience, and felt angry with his father, although he himself had found some resolution of his own hatred and anger. No one could listen or read what happened to him without feeling angry.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading this.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Sounds like a very interesting book and thanks for going to the trouble of explaining the theme .. I'll mark that down for reading...