The Art of Invective: Selected Non-Fiction 1953–1994

Description

Dennis Potter (1935–94) was Britain’s leading television dramatist for almost thirty years and remains an inspiration to today’s programme makers as a result of such groundbreaking work as Pennies from Heaven , Blue Remembered Hillsand The Singing Detective. But he also engaged with his audience through reviews, journalism, interviews, broadcasts and speeches. The Art of Invective , the first collection of its kind, brings together some of his finest non-fiction work. Published to mark 80 years since Potter’s birth, this book includes his merciless television columns, penetrating literary criticism and angry writings on class and politics, as well as his sketches for Sixties satire shows including That Was the Week That Was. From Frost-Nixon to Coronation Street , David Hare to Doctor Who , Orwell to Emu, this collection shows Potter’s distinctive voice at its entertaining, thought-provoking and uncompromising best. Dennis Potter (17 May 1935 – 7 June 1994) was an English television dramatist, screenwriter and journalist. Beginning with contributions to BBC television's The Wednesday Play anthology series from 1965, he peaked with The Singing Detective (1986), a BBC TV serial for which he is best remembered. This work and many of his other widely acclaimed television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social and often used themes and images from popular culture. Potter was an influence on such creators as Steven Bochco, Alan Ball, Andrew Davies, Charlie Kaufman, Peter Bowker, Margaret Edson and Alain Resnais. His work has been the subject of many critical essays, books, websites and documentaries. BBC Four marked the tenth anniversary of Potter's death in December 2004 with a major series of documentaries about his life and work, accompanied by showings of Pennies from Heaven and The Singing Detective, as well as several of his plays. His influence has also extended into popular music, and he has been cited by bands such as Manic Street Preachers, Franz Ferdinand and Elbow.Foreword by Peter Bowker Edited by Ian Greaves, David Rolinson and John Williams