Mortification: Writers' Stories of Their Public Shame [Hardcover]

Robin Robertson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2004

A writer's public life is not -- as is often thought -- a round of glamorous parties, prize-acceptance speeches, and triumphant readings to amphitheatres full of loyal, cheering fans; it is, in fact, a grim treadmill of humiliation and neglect. Mortification sets the record straight, once and for all. A collection of seventy specially commissioned contributions -- true stories of public indignity by some of our finest living writers -- this is a celebration of defeat, and a chance to indulge in that most malicious of pleasures: schadenfreude.

You will read about dashed hopes and collapsing bowels, thwarted desire and unimpeded drinking; of fans queuing up for Stephen King's blood; Margaret Drabble bidding at a mock slave auction in Dallas; Louis de Bernières and the S&M prostitute; A. L. Kennedy's disintegrating trousers; William Boyd endorsing Shake 'n' Vac; Margaret Atwood's on-air brush with the Colostomy Association; about an author wanting to kill a member of her audience or another succeeding (accidentally) in killing his host's beloved pet.

These are the best kind of stories: those told against the teller. While readers may be transfixed by the baroque twists of fate, the toe-curling embarrassments, the body's betrayals, and the mind's vanishing acts, they will also wonder at these writers' brave acknowledgment of their own vulnerability and the willingness to expose their shame, a second time, before the public.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Full of the most achingly funny, endearing accounts of total humiliation.” (Daily Mail (London) )

“As simple as Schott’s Original Miscellany and equally effective.” (Literary Review )

“Robertson keeps the atmosphere light throughout, tagging delightful epigraphs onto every reminiscence.” (Philadelphia Inquirer )

“Entertaining reading. This is a jolly romp and will make a good stocking-filler for any authors of your acquaintance.” (Sunday Times (London) )

About the Author

Robin Robertson is a respected editor and poet. He is the author of two volumes of poetry, A Painted Field and Slow Air.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harper (March 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007170580
• ISBN-13: 978-0007170586
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,384,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poets Drink A Lot, May 25, 2004

By 

Robert Derenthal "bucherwurm" (California United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mortification: Writers' Stories of Their Public Shame (Hardcover)

This is an interesting and funny compendium of accounts by fiction and poetry writers who detail their humiliating experiences as authors. After reading the book one wonders at the lengths to which novelists or poets are willing to go to promote their books.

There seem to be two main events that cause the mortification of novelists and poets:

1. Book readings. The worst possible thing that can happen at a reading is that nobody shows up for the reading. Or is it? How about when you are told that your book stunk. Or there is another author reading with you, and afterwards his book signing line stretches off toward the horizon while in front of you there is nothing but silent open space from here to the Andromeda galaxy.

I learned a curious thing about poets. Many of those represented in this book seem to have a drinking problem. Many recount experiences where they mounted the podium in a very inebriated condition, and surprisingly their drunkenness often isn't the humiliating problem. That they are besotted with drink doesn't seem to bother them in the least.

2. Media Interviews. The author typically arises at an early hour and is whisked off to a radio station for a 6AM interview. The interviewer typically has never heard of the author or his book, and has no interest in either. Questions posed are about what the author thought of his mother, or are generally of the "what is your favorite color" type of solicitation.

Some of these confessions of mortification are hilarious. One writer was put up for the night by an elderly couple who owned two very large, very hyperactive Boxer dogs. They continually leapt on him and the other guests throughout the evening, their enthusiasm being so great that they frequently lost control of their bladders. They prowled about under the dining table for the entire meal, and you can guess what all they got into there.

What mystified me most was that some of the contributors to the book seemed to have misunderstood the assignment. Their responses, in my opinion, had nothing to do with humbling experiences resulting from their trade of writing. The final episode, for instance, recounts the writer's experience being caught in the bathroom indulging in a certain solitary pleasure. Hmmm. A couple of respondents seemed to feel that this was a splendid opportunity to write some experimental literature.

All in all a fun read if you are a book lover, and are curious about the lives of those who write them. I am acquainted with about half the authors (such as Margaret Atwood, Carl Hiaasen, William Trevor, Paul Muldoon, Charles Simic, Billy Collins, and Margaret Drabble). The rest were new to me, but no less enjoyable.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Laugh till you cry, April 18, 2005

By 

Mary Brown (Near Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mortification: Writers' Stories of Their Public Shame (Hardcover)

Just a couple clunkers in this fulfilling plane-ride read. Mostly Brit authors tout the other side of achieving (varying degrees of) literary fame. One of my favorites was the essay about the children's book writer, who'd read one book in her life.

Terrific gift for any writer, poet, publisher or editor (or wannabe) you know.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light and Entertaining, April 4, 2004

By 

Emery Csulak "ecsulak" (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mortification: Writers' Stories of Their Public Shame (Hardcover)

An enjoyable book to read one afternoon. Series of short experiences by a wide range of writers. The stories mix from the funny to the dull. However, the collection of writing styles is more interesting then some of the stories. The book provides a nice way to experience some authors and find some new favorites.