My book’s published in paperback today, and so to celebrate I’ve done a short film about Rochester’s life and times with The Arbuturian. I hope you enjoy watching it!
http://www.arbuturian.com/arbtv/blazing-star
Posts Tagged → Blazing Star
Talking History
I’m on Ireland’s Talking History programme this Sunday at around 8pm, when I’ll be discussing all things Rochester-related and trying not to swear. If you want to listen to it, I believe that the right link is at https://www.newstalk.ie/talkinghistory.
Also – I’ve started work on my third book, and will be making a formal announcement about it very soon.
A Hatchards Revel
I’m doing a lunchtime talk at none other than the illustrious Hatchards bookshop in Piccadilly on September 10th, and will be discussing all aspects of Rochester then. It should make for an illuminating hour or so – details can be found here.
Chelsea, Woodstock and Oxford residents – I will be coming to a bookshop near you soon too as well. Details to come shortly!
‘One hesitates to draw comparisons with his bedroom prowess’
I’ve done another interview with the excellent Workshy Fop blog about all things John Wilmot, in which I’ve briefly addressed some of the comments made about Rochester in the reviews so far – I’m going to return to this later but in the meantime here you go.
On the radio…
I’m going to be on BBC Radio Oxford next Tuesday at around 11am discussing all things Rochester and Blazing Star. No swearing or smut, but if you don’t mind that, you can listen to it athttp://www.bbc.co.uk/radiooxford or on 95.2 FM if you’re anywhere near Oxford itself…
More publicity
Somewhat to my faint surprise, the reviews continue to come in. There’s a lovely piece in today’s Daily Mail which describes the book as ‘the most comprehensive portrait of Rochester yet’. They’ve also made it their book of the week. I was also thrilled to see the book covered by the great Denis Donoghue in a recent Irish Times review.
There will be some more talks and signings soon – details to follow – and I’m also appearing on BBC Radio Oxford next week, and will be sure to have a few things to say about Rochester.
Blazing Star – update
I’ve written a lengthy piece about Rochester and his strained relationship with Charles II for last weekend’s Telegraph.
The book’s been reviewed incisively in the Erotic Review, and glowingly in the Mail on Sunday (‘Larman does a splendidly entertaining job of detailing Rochester’s debauchery…a witty and elegant biography’) and Scotland on Sunday (‘a very good, assiduously researched and well written book….a very accomplished debut.’)
Also a nice piece in last weekend’s Observer. I’m thinking of writing a blog soon about being reviewed – for good or ill…
I am lining up some more appearances in person and on the radio – full details to follow in due course.
And I’ve done a short piece about Rochester’s enduring appeal for the August issue of Absolutely Putney and Wandsworth.
An Evening With Lord Rochester – 9th July
Thrilled that I’m doing my first talk on Blazing Star this Wednesday (9th July) at the excellent Society Club in Soho – scene of last week’s epic launch – at 7pm. Tickets are free from Babette@thesocietyclub.com and I’m going to be talking about Rochester, his life and legacy, and then answering questions afterwards. It promises to be a hugely entertaining night.
I’ve also done an interview with them and it can be found here.
Publicity – an update
Delighted to see that there’s been a good amount of interest in the book since its publication. We had a barnstorming launch at the excellent Society Club in Soho on July 1st – it was a great night, with a packed house that included everyone from architects and writers to restaurateurs and filmmakers. I hope that this picture gives a very small flavour of it…
Anyway there have been several more reviews, which have been generally very kind. There have been a couple in the Times and Sunday Times (both paywalled alas), and a nice piece in The Book Bag as well. Hopefully there will be more to come soon!
I did a blog for my publisher Head of Zeus about what it’s like to research and write a biography of this type.
And I’ve also done another interview with The Resident magazine, which was great fun.
Book publicity
Plenty more to come, but a few noteworthy things:
– An interview with Corner magazine about Rochester, my influences and those I’m reading (and not reading) at the moment
– A piece in the Erotic Review about what a present-day Rochester would be up to
– A mention in Heywood Hill’s summer reading list
– And a lovely early review in the Daily Express.