The art of invective : selected non-fiction, 1953-1994

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 Hills and 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 Foreword by Peter Bowker Edited by Ian Greaves, David Rolinson and John Williams 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 Hills and 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 Written during what is now seen as television's 'golden age' Potter's television columns are a treasure trove of insights into the industry, its critics, and a wide range of genres. The first collection of its kind, this book provides readers with direct access to Potter's distinctive voice. The quality of Potter's prose, the rigorous and insightful analysis, and the range of his topics mean that his non-fiction pieces remain an enjoyably readable body of work in their own right -- Source other than Library of Congress Dennis Potters best work is widely regarded as the high-water mark of British television Son of Man, The Singing Detective, Blue Remembered Hills and Pennies from Heaven . Published to markeighty years since Potters birth, this new anthology is a cache of rarely seen and often excoriating nonfiction, which elevates his standing as a journalist and critic to match his undisputed brilliance as a dramatist. A comprehensive selection of Dennis Potter's non-fiction writing, spanning his television criticism, political columns, lectures and radio talks.