[James]

Ken Russell's book launch of his new book ' Elgar: The Erotic Variations and Delius: A Moment with Venus'
Waterstone's
London,England - 15.03.07

http://photo.wenn.com/index.php?ref=...0d72467b0d1aba

Refresh page if you can't see the pictures.

[nodisharmony]

Originally posted by James

http://photo.wenn.com/index.php?ref=...0d72467b0d1aba

Refresh page if you can't see the pictures.

Ken Russell did many strange movies.

The book will be very strange, I can only guess?

I saw "Lair of the white worm" once.

[MarkWaldorf]

Is this book like an autobiography? Or just a random movie book.

[James]

They are described as 'novel-biographies' of some classical composers...

Ken's erotic variations
By Sally Churchward

FRESH from his stint on Celebrity Big Brother, Hampshire film director Ken Russell is back in the limelight. Russell, 79, who directed such films as Women in Love and Tommy, has two new books coming out today.

The books are novel-biographies, with each book containing two novellas, covering the lives of classical composers Elgar, Delius, Beethoven and Brahms.

Russell's film career started with the BBC show Monitor where he made several films about well-known composers so the books see him returning to an early love.

Among the films he made for television and cinema are Elgar, Delius: Song of a Summer, Mahler and Lisztomania, which blew apart the notion that composers were necessarily as solemn in their private lives as they were in their music.

The novels take the known facts about their subjects and fill in the gaps with Russell's customary imagination, wit and irreverence.

The first book features Elgar and Delius. In Elgar: The Erotic Variations Russell explores the Worcestershire composer's relationships with his wife, mistresses and muses.

For Delius: A Moment with Venus, Russell drew on the recollections of the composer's secretary who himself became a friend of Russell's in the 60s.

The second book combines the novellas Beethoven Confidential and Brahms Gets Laid.

In Beethoven Confidential, Russell relates a bizarre and compelling detective yarn, in which the mystery identity of Beethoven's secret love is at last revealed.

The title of Brahms Gets Laid gives a pretty good indication of what the reader can expect but in case anyone is in any doubt, Russell sums it up with the words: "Hold onto your hats for the sex romp of the 19th century."

Southampton-born director Russell, who now lives in Lymington with his wife Elize, has enjoyed renewed public interest since he took part in Celebrity Big Brother in January.

Although he walked out of the house following a row with fellow contestant Jade Goody over some crackers after less than a week he has again become a feature of national newspapers.

He has also taken part in TV shows, is working on a new film with Steven Berkoff and Barrie Humphries as well as having two new books published.

Russell turns 80 this year, with a star-studded party at a London art gallery planned.

5:30am Thursday 15th March 2007

http://www.thisishampshire.net/mostp...variations.php