Nicolas Tredell

After his suicide in 1973, B S Johnson became a novelist "fallen into obscurity". For some reason, all changed with the new century, probably helped by the publication of Coe's biography, "Like a Fiery Elephant". I was lucky, for I knew the works of B S Johnson while he was still alive.

Working for a bank, each day gave two half-hour bus rides and they were perfect for reading. To find suitable books, I took the TLS, and there in 1963 I found "Travelling People" his first published novel. His innovative style, form and language had me hooked and I bought and read most of his books through the next decade. Given this, "Fighting Fictions" offers me little for it is simply a string of chapters, each discussing all the novels in chronological order. For me they only revive memories, but for anyone interested in post-Joycean fiction they are a marvellous introduction to a writer at the cutting edge of his profession. Read it as soon as you can get your hands on a copy… (more)