This is a recording of an interview which I gave to Vaughan Roderick for a BBC Radio Wales programme on Easter Sunday. Much to my surprise, it has gone onto the BBC web site, so it can be listened to in its entirety. On consideration, that's not entirely surprising, since the BBC has already done a couple of items on Sir Thomas Picton and his rather dodgy record in the field of human rights! And of course the "Garrow's Law" programme on BBC TV also featured the famous court case in which William Garrow obtained the conviction of Picton for authorising torture. Certain liberties were taken with history in that programme, as indeed I take certain liberties in the new novel, but I insist that the General Picton as he is portrayed in "Conspiracy of Angels" is closer to the real man than he who is portrayed in the history books.
Military hero Sir Thomas Picton 'tyrant of Trinidad'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-176507828 April 2012 Last updated at 14:57
History is written - and sometimes rewritten - by the
victors, which is arguably why we find the likes of General Sir Thomas
Picton being lionised.
He gives his name to the local comprehensive in Haverfordwest and is one of the people honoured as a 'hero of Wales' in the marble hall of Cardiff's City Hall.
However, his record was far from unblemished.
Pembrokeshire writer Brian John's new novel focuses on the way in which he ruled the island of Trinidad during his time as governor, describing him as a tyrant.
He gives his name to the local comprehensive in Haverfordwest and is one of the people honoured as a 'hero of Wales' in the marble hall of Cardiff's City Hall.
However, his record was far from unblemished.
Pembrokeshire writer Brian John's new novel focuses on the way in which he ruled the island of Trinidad during his time as governor, describing him as a tyrant.
4 comments:
Interesting piece and I look forward to the new book.
I saw a portrait of Picton recently in the Camarthen Law Courts and wondered whether it might not be time to take it down. It seems to represent a type of brutal oppression that hopefully belongs in the past.
I wonder what you will have to say about him.
There has already been a bit of a local campaign to have that portrait removed. In the novel I have tried to portray the general as closely as possible to the image conjured up by my research -- he does not seem to have been a very nice fellow. Brutal oppression? Hmm -- that seems to go on and on in different parts of the world......
Brutal oppression .. yes I was thinking closer to home.
Perhaps Picton's portrait (and statue) could be gifted for a Welsh version of the nobel prize, awarded to the Brute of the Year. Lots of competition! Trouble is the winners are the least likely people to return the award at the end of their year.
I shall be in Wales at the end of the month and will buy your book.
Thanks Chris -- yes, I've been having a bit of fun with General Picton. Well, it's all good marketing, isn't it?!
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