Adrian Mitchell (1) (1932–2008)
Author of Nobody Rides the Unicorn
For other authors named Adrian Mitchell, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Adrian Mitchell is a poet, playwright and children's writer
Image credit: Shetland Arts
Works by Adrian Mitchell
Vasilisa the fair: Based on The frog princess and other Russian folk tales by Sophia Prokofieva & Irina Tokmakova (2003) 2 copies
Münchhausens äventyr på Ostön : fler av baronens äventyr som han berättat dem för Adrian Mitchell (1986) 1 copy
Associated Works
The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade (1964) — Verse adaption, some editions — 1,376 copies, 15 reviews
The Poetry Pharmacy: Tried-and-True Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind, and Soul (2017) 196 copies, 5 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1932-10-24
- Date of death
- 2008-12-20
- Gender
- male
- Education
- University of Oxford (Christ Church)
Dauntsey's School
Greenways School, Wiltshire, England, UK
Monkton Combe School, Bath, England, UK - Occupations
- journalist
poet
playwright
novelist
songwriter - Short biography
"Adrian had been writing poetry for over 50 years until his recent death. He came to fame with his anti-war poem "To whom it may concern" which he read at a peace rally in 1964. Even greater acclaim came in July 1965 when he read it at the Poetry Festival held at the Albert Hall. This was one, if not the highlight of the evening, when several better known foreign [mainly USA] poets' performances were a little the worse for "dubious substances" and since the Vietnam war was by then a greater worry, his poem was more frequently called by its refrain "Tell me lies about Vietnam." May the Muses tend a sadly deceased peace-loving poet I sometime met." (By member Landric)- Cause of death
- heart failure (following a bout of pneumonia)
- Nationality
- England
UK - Birthplace
- London, England, UK
- Places of residence
- London, England, UK
- Place of death
- London, England, UK
- Associated Place (for map)
- London, England, UK
Members
Reviews
The Bodyguard by Adrian Mitchell is an overlooked gem in the literature of dystopias.
It is set in an authoritarian UK at least ten years in the future of its 1970 publication date. Our narrator is a none too bright thug, a bodyguard (or BG) part of the always necessary horde of myrmidons required to come between the oppressing politicians of an authoritarian state and the people. He is relating his tale from a hospital bed where he is recovering from serious wounds he has received in the show more line of duty. He is an unreliable narrator. Some of that unreliability may be the effects of the heavy drugs he's taken as part of his recuperation, as there are at times fantastical elements to his story. But he also has an inflated opinion of himself. He often tells us he wants to be the best BG of all, and in his mind he clearly is just that, whereas in reality, while he's no Schweik, he isn't all that good at his job. (There is a need for large numbers of Bodyguards as there is a pretty fearsome insurgency, which our 'hero' refers to as The Rot, continually committing acts of violence against the leaders and apparatus of the regime.) The book, however, is a product of its time and there are some oddly hippy facets to our otherwise oppressed society. While not ubiquitous, public nudity is not uncommon in certain contexts, and some drugs such as marijuana are legal.
It is a short but quite dense book and is very well written. The author is primarily a poet, and while the prose is not purple it is refreshingly free of cliche. The author skilfully gets by without the use of infodumps, and as a reader we only gradually acquire a complete picture of the surrounding society.
If you're a fan of Nineteen Eighty-Four, Fahrenheit 451, etc, then The Bodyguards is well worth adding to that list. show less
It is set in an authoritarian UK at least ten years in the future of its 1970 publication date. Our narrator is a none too bright thug, a bodyguard (or BG) part of the always necessary horde of myrmidons required to come between the oppressing politicians of an authoritarian state and the people. He is relating his tale from a hospital bed where he is recovering from serious wounds he has received in the show more line of duty. He is an unreliable narrator. Some of that unreliability may be the effects of the heavy drugs he's taken as part of his recuperation, as there are at times fantastical elements to his story. But he also has an inflated opinion of himself. He often tells us he wants to be the best BG of all, and in his mind he clearly is just that, whereas in reality, while he's no Schweik, he isn't all that good at his job. (There is a need for large numbers of Bodyguards as there is a pretty fearsome insurgency, which our 'hero' refers to as The Rot, continually committing acts of violence against the leaders and apparatus of the regime.) The book, however, is a product of its time and there are some oddly hippy facets to our otherwise oppressed society. While not ubiquitous, public nudity is not uncommon in certain contexts, and some drugs such as marijuana are legal.
It is a short but quite dense book and is very well written. The author is primarily a poet, and while the prose is not purple it is refreshingly free of cliche. The author skilfully gets by without the use of infodumps, and as a reader we only gradually acquire a complete picture of the surrounding society.
If you're a fan of Nineteen Eighty-Four, Fahrenheit 451, etc, then The Bodyguards is well worth adding to that list. show less
Len Rossman is in hospital, he has three bullet wounds and he is being helped to record his life as a BG (Body Guard). He receives injections from time to time for pain relief, but there is an insistent voice at his bedside prompting him to continue his story.
This 1970 novel by poet and playwright Adrian Mitchell envisages a time in the early 80's when an all-party government has taken power in the United Kingdom. The totalitarian government is greatly concerned with security, because all show more those against the government have been labelled subversives. The profession of a BG has become a career move for some people who have a liking for strong arm methods, but the best of the BG's are those that can sense danger, are watchful and methodic a step up from the average thug. It has been Len Rossman's ambition to climb to the very top of his profession.
Len's first step is to get himself enrolled in the training centre at Hollows Hill where the elite of the profession undertake rigorous training. It is there that he meets Anne Bauvais and Finn Murdoch, two characters that will feature in his life as a bodyguard. Once trained he is assigned duties and his first major assignment is the protection of the Minister for Education. Other assignments follow, notably the protection of the exiled (white) government of South Africa, then Sir Arthur, a Lord of the realm, however when Sir Arthur defects, Lens career takes a bit of a downturn, but triumphantly he becomes head of the security detail for the new Prime Minister who was once the guiding light at Hollows Hill. As Len records more details of his career we learn not only what it takes to be a good BG but also glimpses of the the United Kingdom under a totalitarian government. Len's job becomes more difficult as the Rot (the subversive elements) become more skilled and more successful. Len is not discouraged and works harder to keep his targets safe.
Mitchell's book is lively and entertaining with some excursions into erotica. There is some humour but it is fairly dark. I think he knew what needed to done to sell a book to a younger market and also to create some controversy : for example the exiled government of South Africa who kept a zoo, which was not for animals, but for black people or Lens' contention that Jesus's disciples were BG's because fisherman have the attributes of strength patience and quick reactions after periods of inaction. One has to remember that this is a book from the seventies written by a poet who delighted in creating satirical verse. A bit of a curiosity 3.5 stars. show less
This 1970 novel by poet and playwright Adrian Mitchell envisages a time in the early 80's when an all-party government has taken power in the United Kingdom. The totalitarian government is greatly concerned with security, because all show more those against the government have been labelled subversives. The profession of a BG has become a career move for some people who have a liking for strong arm methods, but the best of the BG's are those that can sense danger, are watchful and methodic a step up from the average thug. It has been Len Rossman's ambition to climb to the very top of his profession.
Len's first step is to get himself enrolled in the training centre at Hollows Hill where the elite of the profession undertake rigorous training. It is there that he meets Anne Bauvais and Finn Murdoch, two characters that will feature in his life as a bodyguard. Once trained he is assigned duties and his first major assignment is the protection of the Minister for Education. Other assignments follow, notably the protection of the exiled (white) government of South Africa, then Sir Arthur, a Lord of the realm, however when Sir Arthur defects, Lens career takes a bit of a downturn, but triumphantly he becomes head of the security detail for the new Prime Minister who was once the guiding light at Hollows Hill. As Len records more details of his career we learn not only what it takes to be a good BG but also glimpses of the the United Kingdom under a totalitarian government. Len's job becomes more difficult as the Rot (the subversive elements) become more skilled and more successful. Len is not discouraged and works harder to keep his targets safe.
Mitchell's book is lively and entertaining with some excursions into erotica. There is some humour but it is fairly dark. I think he knew what needed to done to sell a book to a younger market and also to create some controversy : for example the exiled government of South Africa who kept a zoo, which was not for animals, but for black people or Lens' contention that Jesus's disciples were BG's because fisherman have the attributes of strength patience and quick reactions after periods of inaction. One has to remember that this is a book from the seventies written by a poet who delighted in creating satirical verse. A bit of a curiosity 3.5 stars. show less
Much of Adrian's work has an overt political theme, often pacifist: all of it, I suspect, has, at least, an underlying theme of humanism, not in some pseudo-religious sense, but that of human beings caring for their fellows. This is why I admire him as a poet and a man.
Because of this humaneness he was given the title Shadow Poet Laureate - Shadow in the sense that MPs in the opposition party who have responsibilities matching those those of official Ministers are given names such as Shadow show more Foreign Secretary when they deal with foreign affairs. Adrian loathed the lap-dog role of Poets Laureate and gladly accepted the honour, seeing himself as following in the footsteps of Blake, Byron and others of that ilk. Much of this volume is the product of the Shadow Laureate. In consequence it is more overtly political and anti-authoritarian in content.
If you are a yes-man it may upset you, but then you upset me, yet you should read it, as an atheist should read the Bible. If you care for your fellow men beg borrow or steal a copy [not mine, even 'though such a person would return it] - and then read it again. It won't change this corrupt world in which we live, but it will make you feel less lonely. show less
Because of this humaneness he was given the title Shadow Poet Laureate - Shadow in the sense that MPs in the opposition party who have responsibilities matching those those of official Ministers are given names such as Shadow show more Foreign Secretary when they deal with foreign affairs. Adrian loathed the lap-dog role of Poets Laureate and gladly accepted the honour, seeing himself as following in the footsteps of Blake, Byron and others of that ilk. Much of this volume is the product of the Shadow Laureate. In consequence it is more overtly political and anti-authoritarian in content.
If you are a yes-man it may upset you, but then you upset me, yet you should read it, as an atheist should read the Bible. If you care for your fellow men beg borrow or steal a copy [not mine, even 'though such a person would return it] - and then read it again. It won't change this corrupt world in which we live, but it will make you feel less lonely. show less
Any volume of Adrian's poetry is worth reading from cover to cover, but I defy any decent human being to read "We bomb tonight" and not hold back at tear, nor vow never to vote for any politician be they New Labour, Tory, Republican or Democrat.
Thank you Adrian for doing for Lebanon, Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq what you once did for Vietnam. Let us hope your poems flood Israel with Peace and no one has to step into your shoes for Iran. I grew up in the '60s when some of us thought that show more there was hope in poetry and the people who wrote and read it - sadly we were mistaken, but you tried for Peace throughout your life. show less
Thank you Adrian for doing for Lebanon, Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq what you once did for Vietnam. Let us hope your poems flood Israel with Peace and no one has to step into your shoes for Iran. I grew up in the '60s when some of us thought that show more there was hope in poetry and the people who wrote and read it - sadly we were mistaken, but you tried for Peace throughout your life. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 73
- Also by
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- Rating
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- ISBNs
- 173
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- 6
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