Monday, March 13, 2006
Saturday night we found ourselves suffering from an unassailable assault as a result of contracting the common head cold. So we parked ourselves in front of the tv and decided to channel surf. Lo and behold we came across Tubridy Tonight and who was walking into the studio at the time only our latest literary hero, author of 18 novels and Galway’s finest…. Ken Bruen(pictured left).For fifteen minuets we listened enraptured to Ken Bruen. We hung onto and memorised every word. Santa had just been reincarnated and we were five years old and it was Christmas morning once more. All too soon though the interview was over and even though we were suffering Ken Bruen had lifted us toward a literary nirvana.
Ok now down to some serious business. As stated above Ken Bruen is the author of eighteen crime novels. His killing fields are London and his native Galway city. “Priest” the fifth in the Jack Taylor novels that are set in Galway city went on sale in January this year.
Jack Taylor is a former Garda who dismissed from the force for crossing a politician. He immigrated to London and has recently returned to Galway city. In the Taylor novels we observe the character move through Galway city bemoaning the social and structural changes going on about him.
Ken’s London novels centre around Chief Inspector Roberts and Detective Sergeant Brant, the R&B of the London Met. Three of the Roberts and Brant novels are collected in “The White Trilogy” though Roberts and Brant’s exploits continue in Vixen and Blitz.
The crime novels of Ken Bruen abound with literary references and it is not unusual for a man character to quote a line of Yeats or Rilke while in pursuit of a criminal. The character Jack Taylor frequently takes a time out to read a novel and sustain his soul. Jack frequently mentions the crime author Derek Raymond.
“The Guards” the first novel in the Jack Taylor series, which chronicles Jack’s return to his native Galway city, is apparently due to be adapted for film soon with David Soul, of Starsky and Hutch fame, playing the role of Jack Taylor.
You might have to search long and hard for Ken Bruen’s early novels but believe me when I say that search will be worth the effort. All hail Ken Bruen, literary hero par excellence.
Comments:
I was glad to see your post. I've always thought the Brant and Roberts books did not get the attention they deserved. I've never been able to get into the Jack Taylor books, but I've loved the first six in the Brant series, and I look forward to Ammunition
I've just posted a comment about Calibre on my blog at http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/2007/04/ken-bruen-likes-karin-fossum.html, if you'd care to take a look.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Post a Comment
I've just posted a comment about Calibre on my blog at http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/2007/04/ken-bruen-likes-karin-fossum.html, if you'd care to take a look.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
