Penguin is to publish an early collaboration between Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs, according to a report in The Telegraph. And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks was written in 1945, but has never been published in full.

An excerpt was published in Word Virus: the William S. Burroughs reader in 1998. According to the introductory notes to that collection, ‘Burroughs and Kerouac alternated chapters in constructing this novel and this chapter represents Burroughs’ first attempt at conjuring the scene around him at Columbus in the 1940s.’

After the stabbing death of David Kammerer by Lucien Carr, for which both Burroughs and Kerouac were arrested as material witnesses, Kerouac began writing an account of the affair which he called “I Wish I Were You”. (more…)

When an Australian debut novel gets snapped up for a reported six-figure sum by a prestigious UK publisher and is simultaneously translated and released in half a dozen other countries, it’s hard to approach it without some preconceived ideas. You expect it to be really, really good.

A Fraction of the Whole is a large novel - in both size (700 pages) and ambition. It’s not a literary novel in the traditional sense, but its construction suggests a writer of enormous creativity and intelligence. It is certainly a magnificent achievement for a first-time author.

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Sydney Opera House Studio, March 14 & 15

Russian Roulette is a celebration of Russian music and culture at the Sydney Opera House Studio featuring several of Australia’s legendary Russian music acts: Zulya and the Children of the Underground; VulgarGrad; and DJ Sveta.

2007 ARIA Award winners Zulya and the Children of the Underground perform original music inspired by the music of Zulya Kamalova’s homeland. A native of the Tatarstan-Udmurtia region of Central Russia, Zulya began performing at the age of 9.

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This short interview piece was published March 1st in City News from Alternative Media Group. The debut screening of the film is on Saturday, March 8th. See below for details.

Preserving Local History - Erskineville Stories

By Lachlan Jobbins

How well do we know our elderly neighbours? What do we really know about their lives?

These questions are the inspiration for Erskineville Stories by artist Annie Kennedy. The film traces the lives of 10 residents who have lived in the suburb since the 1920s. It screens for the first time at 6.30pm on Saturday March 8th at Harry Noble Reserve, Swanston St Erskineville. All are welcome.

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Sydney Opera House Studio, March 6-8

The Night Words Festival is a three day celebration of spoken word, performance poetry and word artistry at the Sydney Opera House Studio. Curated by spoken word artist Miles Merrill, the show gathers more than 20 performers from around Australia. “It’s a way of celebrating Australian stories instead of rehashing American and European clichés,” he says. “It’s about respecting the stories that are experienced and told here.”

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