Brighton based literature

[Buzzer]

Inspired by the thread showing old Brighton it reminded me of reading Patrick Hamilton's novels. They really do paint a brilliant picture of what Brighton and Hove used to be like to live in at the turn of the 20th century and recommend them as a very good read.

Any other literature evoking old Brighton? Off the top of my head we have the obvious but great Brighton Rock, the misogynistic Dirty Weekend, Day of the Triffids.

 

[SussexSpur]

I can read Patrick Hamilton's novels over and over and over again, though think he does seedy drunken London slightly better, in "Hangover Square" (I know it also involves Brighton) and the "20,000 Streets Under Thy Sky" trilogy.

Keith Waterhouse published a novel called "Palace Pier" a couple of years ago, set in Brighton - flimsy but fun(-ish), although certainly no "Billy Liar".

In Evelyn Waugh's "Handful Of Dust", the unfortunate Tony Last has to go to Brighton, pretending to spend a dirty weekend with a mistress so his wife can get a divorce.

Am sure there must be many more, will have a think...
Also Waugh, some of the characters in "Vile Bodies" go motor-car racing at Goodwood, I think, with plenty of driving and drinking through Sussex... "And Stephen Fry's film version, "Bright Young Things", was partly filmed in and around Worthing.)

Jane Austen also gives Brighton a few mentions.
Know there must be many, many more, will keep pondering...

 

[Buzzer]

Spike Milligan writes of being in barracks in Brighton and Mapp and Lucia are based in Rye.

there's a very good book I read many years ago called Saint Rachel where the main character owns a hotel in Worthing.

 

[The Large One]

If you ever pick up a book called 'Brightonomicon', put it down again - it's awful.

 

[Gwylan]

Part of Vanity Fair is set in Brighton.

But Patrick Hamilton's the daddy: marvellous books.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

anything by Peter James.

Play it to the end.
Dead Simple
Long Time Dead

All Brighton based Detective stuff, wouldnt be surprised if they didn't turn them into a TV series like "Morse"

Great stuff.

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

On eof Robert Goddards novels takes place in Brighton. Can't remember which one.

After reading Dead Sýmple I couldn't go past that new building on the front (forgotten it's name) without thinking of the guy throwing (being thrown?) out of the house onto the street below.

 

[Fourteenth Eye]

Others by James Herbert is set in Brighton and most of his books have references to Sussex in them but then he does live in Hurst

 

[SussexSpur]

anything by Peter James.

Play it to the end.
Dead Simple
Long Time Dead

All Brighton based Detective stuff, wouldnt be surprised if they didn't turn them into a TV series like "Morse"

Great stuff.

"‘Shoestring’, ‘Taggart’, ‘Spender’, ‘Bergerac’, ‘Morse’. What does that say to you about regional detective series’?"
- "There’s too many of them?"
"That’s one way of looking at it. Another way of looking at it is, ‘people like them, let’s make some more of them’ ... Think about it. No-one had heard of Oxford before ‘Inspector Morse’. I mean, this will put Brighton on the map."
- ".... why would I want to do that?"

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

"‘Shoestring’, ‘Taggart’, ‘Spender’, ‘Bergerac’, ‘Morse’. What does that say to you about regional detective series’?"
- "There’s too many of them?"
"That’s one way of looking at it. Another way of looking at it is, ‘people like them, let’s make some more of them’ ... Think about it. No-one had heard of Oxford before ‘Inspector Morse’. I mean, this will put Brighton on the map."
- ".... why would I want to do that?"

Here is my pitch to the BBC.

A Gay/Bi-Curious alcoholic (played by Julian Clary or Graham Norton), ex cop living in kemptown uncovers a plot by the Masons or someone to build a soccerball stadium in a field that no one wants except a Lunatic Landlord with a pub on a bridge over a motorway.

The plot thickens when there are a series of grisly , ritualistic ripper like murders of councillors involved in opposing the Masonic plot, the bodies all bear the same calling card, a picture of a seagull with the words "the south will rise again" (written in crayon) on them, in a hitherto sleepy county town famous mainly for ropey antique shops and a castle.

Driving his classic citroen 2CV our hero embarks on a tragi/hilaric quest to uncover the sinister cabal behind the dastardly scheme, headed, he believes by an elderly gentleman with his glasses on some string who goes by the psuedonym "The Knight"

In a thrilling finale, our hero pursues the cloaked assassin through the Lanes and Pavillion Gardens until there is a showdown outside the Bulldog....

What dya reckon?

 

[Lokki 7]

I had the misfortune of reading Gullhanger by Mike Ward. Much of that is set in Brighton funnily enough.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

I had the misfortune of reading Gullhanger by Mike Ward. Much of that is set in Brighton funnily enough.

He posts on here I think.

I read and enjoyed it.

 

[aftershavedave]

travels with my aunt by graham greene starts off in brighton

 

[Lokki 7]

He posts on here I think.

Do you think he will give me a refund then?

 

[33057 Seagull]

Here is my pitch to the BBC.

A Gay/Bi-Curious alcoholic (played by Julian Clary or Graham Norton), ex cop living in kemptown uncovers a plot by the Masons or someone to build a soccerball stadium in a field that no one wants except a Lunatic Landlord with a pub on a bridge over a motorway.

The plot thickens when there are a series of grisly , ritualistic ripper like murders of councillors involved in opposing the Masonic plot, the bodies all bear the same calling card, a picture of a seagull with the words "the south will rise again" (written in crayon) on them, in a hitherto sleepy county town famous mainly for ropey antique shops and a castle.

Driving his classic citroen 2CV our hero embarks on a tragi/hilaric quest to uncover the sinister cabal behind the dastardly scheme, headed, he believes by an elderly gentleman with his glasses on some string who goes by the psuedonym "The Knight"

In a thrilling finale, our hero pursues the cloaked assassin through the Lanes and Pavillion Gardens until there is a showdown outside the Bulldog....

What dya reckon?

It could work.

 

[pasty]

This is quite a good read

Breakfast in Brighton

 

[unnameable]

Glenn Chandler, creator of ITV's Taggart, has written two detective novels that are set in Brighton: Savage Tide (2003) and Dead Sight (2004).
Every day this week, I have been late for work as the street in which my office is based has been blocked by filming of The Oxford Murders, based on the book by Guillermo Martinez. Elijah Wood is in the film.

 

[scooter1]

The A to Z is pretty informative

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

Every day this week, I have been late for work as the street in which my office is based has been blocked by filming of The Oxford Murders, based on the book by Guillermo Martinez. Elijah Wood is in the film.

Is he a Hobbit or a member of the ICF in it?

The guys talent knows no beginning.

 

[Buzzer]

The guys talent knows no beginning.

Neither does his neck.