Marlon James: A Brief History of Seven Killings

Marlon James is at the forefront of a new generation of Caribbean writers. The author of such critically acclaimed novels as "John Crow’s Devil" and "The Book of Night Women", James’s latest returns us to his lush, tumultuous homeland. Using the assassination attempt on Bob Marley as an anchor, "A Brief History of Seven Killings" explores the Cold War and gangster politics of 1970s Jamaica. At the heart of all of James’s work is a fertile historical imagination. Writer Roger Bonair-Agard joins him for a conversation on fictional characters and writerly motivations.
This program was recorded on Oct 31, 2015 as part of the 26th annual Chicago Humanities Festival, Citizens: chf.to/2015Citi...
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[@boogierooster6364]

Brief history of seven killings is one of the best books I've ever read. The actual scene of the shooting, as told by Bam-Bam, is one of the most technically skilled, exhausting, and thrilling pieces of narrative ever written.

[@vickym.p6826]

I really love this guy's personaility. I can listen to him converse 24/7. I'm surprised by how quiet the crowd was when he was trying to engage them.

[@kevaughncampbell7343]

I would love to see a conversation with Marlon James and Toni Morrison

[@dawnwilliams7457]

I met Marlon James again yesterday at Ormsby hall, Kingston Jamaica, where he read. I bought his first book John crow devil at Calabash festival … 2005/06. I now plan to buy Brief history of 7 killings as I have lived all my life in my beloved Jamaica…. And still live here...I remember 1976 as being first year I voted in a general election. Yes it was explosive. I was not afraid that we were going to become communist. Jamaicans love their little piece of land and Michael “Joshua” Manley knew this… I remember he came to my HS when I was in 6th form to speak to us and other 6th formers. It blew me away… listening to an interview online now with Marlon James… Most interesting.

[@stevenlee2484]

I absolutely love this! A stimulating conversation between two intellectual Black men. How conta-structural (given the cliche image of the "ignorant Black thug" that America likes to propagate). Thank you for hosting & showing this amazing interview. Beautiful :-)

[@deborahnunes1802]

Loved Nina!

[@lisalasoya2898]

On December 3, 1976 two days before Bob Marley was to play the Smile Jamaica Concert, seven gunman storied the singer's house. The attack wounded Marley, his wife, and his man manager. What can I say, a deranged fan. Mr. Marley had the making of an inspired artist, he brought happiness to peoples lives, there's always a nut case out there that can't handle happiness.

[@kiotsutsuki6682]

Bam Bam is my favourite character.

[@anonb4632]

Why did he call it a "brief history" when it's about 700 pages long?

[@Aquarius52978]

It about a period in Jamaica 1976 to 1991. Not about the length of the book.

[@anonb4632]

@@Aquarius52978 That's not a particularly brief length of time.

[@BrokeAccount]

You find out during the coda, but if you want the [SPOILER] it's the title of an article written by one of the characters about the climax of the story, and the aim of the article is to tie the threads explored in the book to that climax. Also it was probably just funny to Marlon James to call such a big book a "brief history".

[@anonb4632]

@@BrokeAccount I did read it earlier this year and it was my suggestion for a book club. I did get to the end, but it beat one of the members who is a seasoned reader and can get through most books.

[@audleymclean3724]

Bob Marley, Peter and Bunny, was very popular in Jamaica from inception ''studio one days'', Simmer Down, Original ''One Love'', ''It hurts to be alone'' I'm still Waiting, two latter songs where not Reggae, also Duppy Conqueror, Rat Race for Lee Scratch Perry in my opinion, what I can say is apart from Simmer Down, it Hurts to be Alone, and I'm Still Waiting, Lonesome Feeling, and Dancing Shoes lead by Bunny, mostly love song, but most of his other songs where not played at parties, instead they gravitate to singers like, Ken Booth, Delroy Wilson, Alton Ellis, John Holt, Bob Andy and a little later U-Roy,, I think the people considered his songs more of a political statement, instead of party material, not that they didn't like them, but their was a certain amount of respect for this type of music, so disk jockeys didn't consider them party material, My parents did not like Bob Marley when he became Rasta, my daughter went to a School in Jamaica St Andrews High, for girls, where patois was not welcomed, skirts had to cover the Knees, I did not regret sending her to that School though, for she still grew up knowing patois, the funny thing is that she didn't start speaking patois regular until she came to College in the USA., her Aunts where appalled, but I just said, leave her she is just discovering the joy of speaking patois as part of her culture.

[@neoaureus]

Wonderful.... interrupting narrators ! wow

[@ChannelTUT]

What is a SWOF?

[@maryvalenti6366]

Damn