CONTROVERSIAL author Andrew Malcolm literally caused a riot at his last book reading.
He made national headlines when staff at Borders bookshop in Oxford tried to stop his reading before calling police and having the Brighton author and his audience physically removed. Now, in a triumph for free speech, he has been invited back to another branch of Borders to complete the reading.
The 54-year-old philosopher will introduce his novel Making Names and talk about his book The Remedy, which charts his court case against Oxford Univerrsity Press over the publishing of Making Names, at Borders' Charing Cross Road branch tomorrow (30th January) at 7 pm. The rescheduled event comes after Mr Malcolm received a personal apology from Borders' bosses over events in Oxford.
The author, from Preston Park, Brighton, always knew his Oxford reading would be controversial as it detailed his legal battles with Oxford University Press. So when it was cancelled, apparently due to slow sales of his books, he was determined to press ahead anyway. Finding an audience had turned up after all, he started reading, only to be asked to leave amid scenes of uproar. Mr Malcolm said: "After the October event I wrote to Vin Altruda, president of Borders International operation. He sent his sincerest apologies. I was quite heartened by that."
Making Names is available from Akme Publications priced £19.95. The Remedy is also available from Akme priced £16.95.
Click for preceding story BORDERS SUMMON THOUGHT POLICE. Oxford, 4th October 2002: the first book-bust in Europe since the Nazis.
Click for text of talk WHERE IS THE UNIVERSITY?