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David Collard

@davidcollard.bsky.social

2.6K followers 420 following 5.7K posts

Autheur. Unfluencer. 'A Crumpled Swan' (2025) https://www.saggingmeniscus.com/catalog/a_crumpled_swan/ 'Multiple Joyce' (2022) https://www.saggingmeniscus.com/catalog/multiple_joyce/ (No DMs. I block anonymous followers with no bio or original posts)

www.saggingmeniscus.com

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 4h

Hadn't seen this picture of Larkin before. Assume those are his books? The Horse's Mouth, Stephen Hero, Henry Green, Beachcomber, AJA Symonds, Ivy Compton Burnett and many Beatrix Potters. And are those Observer Books behind his left shoulder?

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 6h

It's one of the less demanding restrictions imposed by the hillbilly theologians who run the whole show. They also prohibit or discourage beards, birthdays, philosophy (of all kinds), higher education, competitive sports, democracy, carnivals, festivals, blood transfusions and critical thinking.

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 6h

He's a Jehovah's Witness, which probably explains why he turned down an OBE in 2004. Other improbable rockers who are (or were) cult members include Michael Jackson, Prince, Patti Smith and David Thomas (of Pere Ubu).

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Reposted by David Collard

The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · 9h

UK start-up Books By People has launched a new certification – the Organic Literature Certification – with a group of independent publishing houses to “counter AI-generated books” 👇 #BookSky

Startup launches ‘industry-first’ certification for human-made books

ebx.sh

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 8h

They could run this up the flagpole, see who salutes.

Reposted by David Collard

Robin Allender @robinallender.bsky.social · 13h

This month on The Allender Calendar I’m delighted to be joined by the fabulous author @regretteruane.bsky.social to discuss her brilliant novels Birding and This is Yesterday. Lots of Manics chat too!

The Allender Calendar: Episode 14: Rose Ruane

This month on The Allender Calendar I talk to the fabulous writer Rose Ruane. Rose has published two novels, Birding (2024), which was longlisted for the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction, and This is...

pod.fo

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 22h

Kevin Davey's remarkable novel 'Playing Possum' is based on this hypothesis. Strongly recommended! www.aaaarghpress.com/product/play...

Playing Possum by Kevin Davey – Aaaargh! Press

www.aaaarghpress.com

David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 1d

What’s the best one-liner in movie history?

It's in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo - John Wayne's laconic response to this question (about defending the town jail from an armed gang who aim to spring their leader):

“A game-legged old man and a drunk. Is that all you got?”

“That’s what I’ve got.”

David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 1d

Cary's. 🙄

David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 1d

I'm very fond of the screen version of The Horse's Mouth, with Alec Guinness (superb) as Gulley Jimson and original paintings by John Bratby, no less. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sQM... Carey's novel 'Mister Johnson' was filmed with Pierce Brosnan. Haven't seen that.

A still from 'The Horse's Mouth' starring Alec Guinness with a wall painting of the Creation by John Bratby. Adapted from the novel by Joyce Carey.

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 1d

I've read and love 'The Horse's Mouth' but for some reason never even seen (let alone read) the other two. Are they anywhere near as good?

David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 1d

His 'Annotations to Finnegans Wake' is a literary satnav. Tells you where you are, where you've been and where you're going. I can't imagine tackling the Wake without it. A great loss.

Reposted by David Collard

Natasha Simonova @philistella.bsky.social · 1d

ONLY migrants though, no one else is to study English because it's a rip off and a waste of time, am I getting this right.

András Forgács W @andraswf.bsky.social · 1d

Well this will certainly do it www.gov.uk/government/n...

Migrants will be required to pass A Level standard of English

Migrants will be required to pass tough new English language requirements under a law introduced in Parliament today.

www.gov.uk

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 1d

A Crusty Baguette in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage
I'd rather see a loaf of bread

(with apologies to Wm. Blake)

David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 1d

They all do it, including Faber (publisher of 13 Nobel laureates FFS). I can't help feeling the Nobel people might consider changing the name of the damn thing to align with this universal misconception

Cover of the Faber edition of William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'

Cover of the Faber edition of William Golding's 'Pincher Martin'

David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 1d

Set your sights on the elusive and immeasurably more prestigious 'Nobel Prize OF Literature' which is never reported but make both the 'in' and 'for' variants look like the tawdry baubles they really are.

David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 1d

Little known fact. The Nobel Prize in Literature and The Nobel Prize for Literature are two entirely different prizes, awarded simultaneously every year. The media have never figured out how to report this clearly and many publishers are similarly confused.

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 2d

Relatedly, Kafka's Metamorphosis read in Tommy Cooper's voice is as funny as Kafka intended.

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 2d

Everyone one picked Faulkner should read this. And so should everyone who picked Joyce. And so should everyone else. www.saggingmeniscus.com/catalog/mult...
Thank you.

Multiple Joyce | Sagging Meniscus Press

www.saggingmeniscus.com

David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 2d

It was reportedly W H Auden who mischievously suggested 'New Directions' as the name for the American publishing company because he enjoyed the thought of a prim schoolmarm in a midwest bookstore asking the assistant about 'nude erections'. You can never unhear this.

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David Collard @davidcollard.bsky.social · 2d

The 2025 Liverpool Irish Festival kicks off this Thursday 16th October and features a wide-ranging online conversation between myself and author/film-maker Eimear McBride. www.artscityliverpool.com/single-post/...