Die kortlys van die eerste kykNET-Rapport Boekpryse is pas bekendgemaak en die wenners word op Vrydagmiddag, 21 November aangekondig by ’n geselligheid in Kaapstad.
Die oorlog kom huis toe, saamgestel deur Albert Grundlingh en Bill Nasson, is genomineer in die kategorie: Niefiksie. Bill Nasson beantwoord 'n paar vrae.
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Bill Nasson |
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Wat beteken dit vir jou om vir die eerste kykNET-Rapport Boekprys genomineer te word?
It's a great privilege and a complete surprise, as one always assumes that edited books are never considered for this kind of recognition – especially a new and highly prestigious book prize. It's a credit to our fellow-authors as much as to me as the book's co-editor. It's especially heart-warming to have historical work recognised in a culture which is otherwise so present-minded.
Kry Afrikaanse skryfwerk, en veral Afrikaanse niefiksie, die nodige erkenning?
I think that there's always room for greater recognition of the value of non-fiction writing.
Wat het jou geïnspireer om hierdie spesifieke boek te skryf?
The true inspiration was Annie Olivier, the first-class and extremely creative publishing editor at Tafelberg. She came up with the idea, and we planned it over lunch in Decameron restaurant in Stellenbosch. Although we are veteran historians of the war, Annie Olivier breathed new life into us! I think that she deserves a great tribute.
As jy kyk na die boek in sy geheel, van die eerste gedagte tot die finale produk, wat is vir jou die lekkerste aspek van die skryfproses en wat frustreer jou die meeste?
For me, writing captions. I've always enjoyed doing it for historical photographs, trying to suggest meaning, or a way of seeing what a photograph suggests – more than what's there on the page. The most frustrating thing with edited books is trying to get individual pieces to blend into a whole, and not to be too repetitive.
Waar en watter tyd van die dag skryf jy op jou beste?
Very early in the morning (with coffee) or late at night (with shiraz or wooded chenin blanc).
Wie is die skrywers, Suid-Afrikaans of internasionaal, wie se werk jy die graagste lees?
International: The poet, Philip Larkin (ironic, sad, funny); historians EP Thompson, Gwyn Williams, Norman Stone and David Cannadine (literary quality of their historical writing); novelists, essayists and diarists: Julian Barnes (precise unpicking of the human condition, delicate language); Simon Gray (self-loathing, self-mockery, and exquisitely witty). South African: historians Charles van Onselen, Tim Couzens (imaginative power, wonderfully crafted storytelling); crime novelist: Deon Meyer (his books smell of the places they describe).
Is daar een of meer boeke, fiksie of niefiksie, wat jy gereeld herlees?
Fiction: The American crime novelist Elmore Leonard (anything and everything by him)
Non-fiction: Essays and reviews of David Cannadine and Stefan Collini.
As jy nou aan jouself dink as ’n nog ongepubliseerde skrywer, watter raad sou jy aan jouself gee?
The best advice is still from Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
Werk jy aan ’n nuwe boek?
I'm just about to publish WWI and the People of South Africa (Tafelberg), due out in November. And I'm working on The First World War and the British Empire (Oxford University Press), which is beginning to feel like a personal race with the undertaker! Who will make the deadline?
Lees meer oor die kortlys van die kykNET-Rapport Boekpryse