James Walton

Morphine memories

Chapman’s Odyssey became quite famous before it was published, largely because it nearly wasn’t.

issue 05 February 2011

Chapman’s Odyssey became quite famous before it was published, largely because it nearly wasn’t.

Chapman’s Odyssey became quite famous before it was published, largely because it nearly wasn’t. Paul Bailey’s long and distinguished career, complete with two appearances on the Booker shortlist, apparently counted for nothing last year when he was reduced to what he called the ‘sheer hell’ of touting the book unavailingly round town, while living off grants from the Royal Literary Fund.

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