Next month the University of Brighton is extremely lucky to be hosting an evening with acclaimed author Irvine Welsh. Taking place on Friday 8th April at the Sallis Benney Theatre, Welsh will be talking about his new book, The Blade Artist. Based on his most notorious character, Begbie, The Blade Artist has been described as Welsh’s darkest book ever.
Francis Begbie made his debut in the cult classic Trainspotting but has now found the perfect life in California with his wife, Melanie and their two daughters. “Well established as a successful sculptor and family man he is completely unrecognisable, even to himself. But he has a long history of dark deeds and Melanie soon discovers something gruesome, which indicates that her husband’s violent past might also be his psychotic present. Things start to go very bad, very quickly – and that’s before he’s drawn back across the Atlantic to his native Scotland, for the funeral of a murdered son he barely knew.”
The Scottish author has ten previous novels under his belt and firmly sits as one of the greatest authors in a generation, producing modern classics such as Trainspotting, Filth, Skagboys and A Decent Ride. When Trainspotting was adapted into a movie filmed by Danny Boyle featuring Ewan McGregor and Jonny Lee Miller, it became an instant classic and has gained cult status for film fans. His third film adaptation, T2 (aka Porno) will be directed by Danny Boyle this year, with the original Trainspotting case. Join Irvine Welsh in conversation right here in Brighton on the 8th April. You can book your tickets here.
Holly Martin
holly@brightonjournal.co.uk
feature image:Leslie Martin/The Daily Record
