Alan Sillitoe

Very sad news that Alan Sillitoe died today, 25 April, aged 82.

I first met Alan in Thessaloniki in February 1983, and I have very fond memories of his visit and reading, with his wife, the poet Ruth Fainlight.

He generously gave me his reading copy of "Mountains and Caverns", and a World War II map of Corfu and Epirus. Alan loved maps.

I have many of his wonderful books, but it's hard to forget the impact of "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning", both the novel and the film.

He came to Gothenburg in September 2001. That's probably the last time we met.