list.co.uk/books BIOGRAPHY

DANCE BIOGRAPHY TINA SUTTON The Making of Markova (Pegasus) ●●●●●

When journalist Tina Sutton was handed the boxed-up archives of prima ballerina Alicia Markova by Boston University, she could scarcely have guessed the treasure trove that lay inside. Decades of letters, diaries, press clippings and theatre programmes poured out about a woman Sutton knew nothing about. Having sifted through

each box, and numerous biographies of other major players from 20th century ballet, she emerged knowing Markova considerably better. That intimate knowledge is now passed on to us, through Sutton’s lovingly crafted homage to Britain’s first ballet star.

Born in London in 1910, Lily Marks was only sent to ballet classes to cure her knock knees. Within a few years, she was being whisked round the world by impresario Sergei Diaghilev and his famous Ballets Russes. A teenage sensation, Markova (re-named to sound Russian, and therefore more marketable) went on to dance to great acclaim into her early 50s. Markova’s career alone would make compelling reading, credited as she is with helping lay the foundations of British ballet, but with 627 pages to play with, Sutton casts her net much wider. The ground-breaking and influential choreographers, dancers, artists

and composers in Markova’s address book reads like a who’s who of 20th century culture. So we not only learn more about Markova but Diaghilev, Frederick Ashton, Anna Pavlova, Igor Stravinsky, Marie Rambert, Ninette de Valois, Henri Matisse, Margot Fonteyn and many more: each name a legend to dance fans, brought vividly back to life by Sutton’s painstaking research and dynamic storytelling . (Kelly Apter) Out now.

FLASH FICTION

AIDE MEMOIRE by Mairi Campbell-Jack

It was the third day this Emma ‘Call me Em,’ had visited. A whiff of smoke lingered after her in the vast antiseptic cleanliness of the ward, the rudely penetrating smell of bleach only just covering the stench of ill health. Emma always made the skin under his bandages itch, despite the numbness the intravenous drugs swaddled him in. He wondered how his arm would look once the dressings unravel. Would it look smooth like wax dribbled down a candle or furrowed like wet sand as a tide goes out?

‘You have to believe me!’ Emma pleaded yet again. He went inside himself and could find nothing moving in

response to her. No quickness of breath, no fast heart, no rise of emotion in his chest. There was no ‘have’ in his mind connected to her. No urgency. He was completely and meditatively still.

‘I know that you are upset,’ he started, trying to carefully

choose his words. He didn’t want to hurt this woman’s feelings any more than he had to. ‘But look at it from my point of view. You have no proof.’ ‘All the photos, all the letters from when you were away, they were all destroyed in the fire. Everything was destroyed in the fire,’ Emma replied.

‘But there would be evidence here,’ he countered, jabbing his

finger at the blue and white icon on the tablet screen. ‘There are no profiles under our names, let alone a relationship status.’ Emma’s forehead crinkled into ridges of pain. ‘We always

agreed that we wanted to live in the real world, not online. We always said we wanted our memories to be real.’

‘I don’t remember,’ he said. A tear trickled from Emma’s left eye and slowly tracked a path down her cheek. Mairi Campbell-Jack is a writer from Edinburgh. Her poetry is published by Burning Eye Books and she tweets at @lumpinthethroat

Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication by using our ‘Add an Event’ service at list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Rebecca Monks. Indicates Hitlist entry

Thursday 18

Glasgow FREE TF Muir: The Meating Room Launch Waterstones, 153–157 Sauchiehall Street, 332 9105. 6.30pm. TF Muir launches his latest crime fiction novel The Meating Room.

Edinburgh Poetry for the Palace: Poets Laureate from Dryden to Duffy The Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, 556 5100. 9.30am–6pm. Until Sun 2 Nov. Included in admission. Celebrating the role of the Poet Laureate. Stirling Off the Page Stirling Book Festival Various venues: Stirling, 01786 432383. Times vary. Prices vary. Until Sat 20 Sept. Local festival features a wide range of authors and speakers.

Friday 19

Edinburgh Referendum Poetry Read-Round and Breakfast Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 11am. £3 (£2). Celebrate or commiserate depending on the outcome. Caesura Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 07719 481092. 7.30–10.30pm. £5. Night of poetry, performance and spoken word.

Stirling Bloody Scotland Various venues: Stirling, 01786 274000. Times vary.

Prices vary. Until Sun 21 Sept. Crime writing festival drawing on Scotland’s love of the literary macabre. Denise Mina and Christopher Brookmyre Hotel Colessio, 33 Spittal Street, 01786 448880. 7–8pm. £9.50 (£8.50). Two crime icons kick off Bloody Scotland. Part of Bloody Scotland.

Saturday 20 Edinburgh Poetry Society Surgeries with John Glenday Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. Times vary. £40. A chance to discuss your work with the poet and tutor. FREE Edinburgh All-Comers Writers Club Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street, 555 7019. 7pm. Writers are invited to read their work.

Stirling David Hewson and Peter Robinson Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, info@bloodyscotland.com. 11.45am–12.45pm. £9.50 (£8.50). See the author of The Killing and the creator of the Inspector Banks series in conversation. Bloody Scotland. Sara Sheridan and James Runcie: The Moral of the Story Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal Street, 01786 475444. 11.45am–12.45pm. £7.50 (£6.50). The writers discuss whether or not crime writing can be both good and evil. Bloody Scotland. FREE The Bloody Scotland Football Match Cowane’s Hospital, 49 St John Street, 01786 472247. 1.30– 2.30pm. Scotland v England crime writer style. Bloody Scotland. MC Beaton and Catriona McPherson Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, 01786 473544. 1.30–2.30pm. £9.50 (£8.50). The writers discuss their work and careers. Bloody Scotland. Alex Gray and Caro Ramsay Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal Street, 01786 475444. 3.15–4.45pm. £7.50 (£6.50). Gray and Ramsay discuss their 2014-released novels. Bloody Scotland.

Events | BOOKS

Sunday Herald and Bloody Scotland Independence Debate Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, 01786 473544. 3.15–4.45pm. £9.50 (£8.50). A panel discuss the referendum result. Bloody Scotland. Peter May chaired by Alanna Knight Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, 01786 473544. 5.30–6.30pm. £9.50 (£8.50). Two giants of the crime genre discuss their work. Bloody Scotland. Kathy Reichs chaired by Ian Rankin Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, 01786 473544. 7.15–8.15pm. £9.50 (£8.50). American crime writer chats to the creator of Rebus. Bloody Scotland. Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year Award Dinner Hotel Colessio, 33 Spittal Street, 01786 448880. 8.30pm. £50. The winner of the Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year award 2014 is announced. Bloody Scotland.

Sunday 21

Stirling Pitch Perfect Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal Street, 01786 475444. 11am–noon. £7.50 (£6.50). Crime fiction wannabes can pitch their novel ideas to publishers. Bloody Scotland. Sophie Hannah: Writing Poirot Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, 01786 473544. 11am–noon. £9.50 (£8.50). Hannah on continuing the Poirot series. Bloody Scotland. John Gordon Sinclair and Arild Stavrum Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal Street, 01786 475444. 2.30– 3.30pm. £7.50 (£6.50). Gregory’s Girl star turned crime writer chats to the ex-Norwegian football player, now also a writer. Bloody Scotland. Louise Welsh and Megan Abbott: You Give Me Fever Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, 01786 473544. 2.30–3.30pm. £9.50 (£8.50). Two authors talk about and read from their work. Bloody Scotland. Tony Parsons: The Crime Writing Bag Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal Street, 01786 475444. 2.30–3.30pm. £7.50 (£6.50). Parsons talks about his crime inspirations. Bloody Scotland. Ian Rankin Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, 01786 473544. 6–7pm. £9.50 (£8.50). The crime writing maestro discusses his career. Bloody Scotland.

Monday 22

Glasgow FREE Gaelic Writing Group Scottish Writers’ Centre, CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. Workshops for writing in Gaelic or Scots and English. Ages 16+. FREE Jim Carruth: Prodigal CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 7pm. The Glasgow Poet Laureate launches his new collection. Edinburgh FREE Allan Burnett: First World War Scottish Tales of Adventure National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. 6pm. Allan Burnett discusses his collected stories of World War I.

Tuesday 23

Edinburgh Nothing but the Poem Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. 6pm. £5 (£4). This week’s poet is Michael Longley. FREE Edinburgh All-Comers Writers Club Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street, 555 7019. 7–10pm. See Sat 20.

Wednesday 24 Glasgow FREE Glasgoes Poetic Various venues: Glasgow, 07918 601799. Times vary. Until Fri 10 Oct. Written and spoken word festival.

18 Sep–16 Oct 2014 THE LIST 47