In the 2nd October issue of The Penwithershins Gazette was an interview with Arthur Buxtereide, conducted by Ripley Porter, Arts Editor:
RP: Arthur, without giving too much away, would you like to tell us about your new book, which is titled Whale of a Beast?
AB: Certainly Rip. It concerns some monstrous goings on in West Cornwall, some years back. The sea plays a large part in it. It’s a mystery/romance, written as a non-linear adventure in linguistics.
RP: Sounds intriguing! Any car-chases in it?
AB: Sadly not, but the book’s not out for three weeks, I could put one in if you like.
RP: That’s very considerate of you, Arthur, but I’m sure the book is better without any input from me! So it’s out in three weeks, you say?
AB: Yes. October 18th. Published by Reid, Warbler.
RP: And is it your first book?
AB: That’s right, my first. Before becoming an author I used to install and inspect fire-escapes, mostly commercial premises, but occasionally somewhere really unusual. In fact, it was when I was installing a fire-escape on a lighthouse that I first got the idea to start writing. It was the sea, being around it on a daily basis, I found it naturally inspired me to start stringing words together, so it started from there.
RP: Quite a journey – from commercial fire-security solutions to Dadaist novel/poems, isn’t it?
AB: These things happen Ripley.
RP: Have you always lived in Cornwall?
AB: My childhood and youth I spent here. I studied philosophy at the Camborne School of Minds. During the fire escape years I was based in Dulwich. I felt I was wasting time though, I needed a more fulfilling life, a way of, I know it’s a cliche, but a way of expressing myself.
RP: So you moved back to the west-country to become a writer?
AB: That’s it exactly.
RP: Now I have to say that I’ve read the book Arthur, and it’s not exactly an easy read, is it? I mean, it’s studded with foreign words, Cornish words, a lot of apparently made-up words, long passages of free-floating word-association and stream-of-consciousness surrealism, dream-imagery… I mean, let’s be honest, the average punter is going to be totally flummoxed by this, don’t you think?
AB: Well, sure, it’s not for everybody perhaps, but I think it’ll have its audience, given time. Also, I think it’s good for readers to stretch themselves, challenge themselves a bit sometimes. There’s always a fundamental choice for any writer, any artist in any media – are you going to be yourself or are you going to pander to fashion and shape your product according to a populist concept of how a book should be, or how a film or song or pair of trousers should be? Anyway, my book’s not really all that surreal. It’s got plenty of romance for the girls and adventure for the boys, even if it hasn’t got a car-chase!
RP: Why did you decide to sprinkle the text with Cornish words?
AB: Because Kernewek or the Cornish language is the key to a much deeper poetic understanding of the place and the people. I regard it as a magical touchstone, the door to another realm, a cultural missing link that is loaded with information. Poetically, it has a unique sound and resonance, and to me, certain words of Cornish have a talismanic power, a power to enchant.
RP: Should I ask which ones?
AB: Let’s just say they’re in the book!
RP: Well, thank you very much Arthur Buxtereide for talking to me today. It’s always a pleasure to meet a local celebrity, a local success-story. I hope the book’s a best-seller! Available October 18th, published by Reid, Warbler, it’s Whale of a Beast by Arthur Buxtereide.
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