On its first publication in 1987 Under the Eye of the Clock won the Whitbread Book of the Year Christopher Nolan has now written a first-class novel, The Banyan Tree, which will be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson 'He has a keen sense of the generations of mute, helpless cripples who have been 'dashed and branded and treated as dross' for want of a voice to tell us what it feels like. Now that voice ... has come, and we know' John Carey 'Battling against the cruellest handicaps, he has produced a book of sheer wonder. As an author he competes as an equal with the ablest of them' Daily Express
Christopher Nolan very nearly died at birth from asphyxiation, but survived with severe brain damage, cut off in his own silent world, restricted by a mute and paralysed body. He wrote his first book, of poetry, in 1981, when he was 15, using a 'unicorn' on his forehead to punch the keys of a typewriter. His childhood memoirs, Under the Eye of the Clock, were published in 1987 and sold in sixteen countries.
Battling against the cruellest handicaps, he has produced a book of
sheer wonder. As an author he competes as an equal with the ablest
of them
*DAILY EXPRESS*
He has a keen sense of the generations of mute, helpless cripples
who have been dashed and branded and treated as dross for want of a
voice to tell us what it feels like. Now that voice has come, and
we know
*John Carey*
Severely disabled by congenital cerebral palsy, Irish poet Nolan
was 15 years old when he was acclaimed ""a brilliantly gifted young
writer'' in the tradition of Yeats and Joyce...His physical
triumphs and defeats are recorded with a striking absence of
self-pity. In passages that are lyrically descriptive, there is
abundant word coinage and expressive neologisms that capture
Nolan's thoughts on sexuality and gratitude for the ambiance that
supported him during his year at Trinity College. As Carey, his
professor, states in the preface, Nolan's handicap is "a positive
factor'' rather than a modifying condition in his impressive
achievement.
*PUBLISHERS WEEKLY*
YA Winner of England's prestigious Whitbread prize for this book, Christopher Nolan is no stranger to success at the age of 22. Six years ago he published a book of poetry, Dam-Burst of Dreams (Ohio University Pr , 1982), which was also critically acclaimed. But even more remarkable than Nolan's tender age is the fact that he was born severely disabled with cerebral palsy and wages a constant effort for the smallest moments of control in his life. Writing in the third person and assigning himself the name of Joseph Meehan, he describes battles with self-pity in early childhood, the joy of riding his sister's pony, family vacations, and the huge effort (and wonderful success) of going to a regular school and establishing genuine friendships. Throughout, a touching picture emerges of a unique family grounded in love, faith, and common sense. Nolan's poetic voice is often evident in the prose. It is, on occasion, a difficult voice which some may not be able to fully understand. However, the book deserves special consideration for its depiction of a mute Irish boy with a gift that will not be denied. Barbara Weathers, Duchesne Academy, Houston
Nolan, a 21-year-old Irishman, published an award-winning book of poems, Dam-Burst of Dreams (Ohio Univ. Pr., 1982) at age 15. Paralyzed by cerebral palsy, too spastic to write or even speak, he ``writes'' with a typing stick attached to his head. Here, he tells his life storyto dateas viewed ``under the eye of the clock'' of memory: family (constantly encouraging), school days and friendships, a term at Trinity College, literary acclaim, and media attention. Using the third person, Nolan writes with detachment and without self-pity, lyrically expressing the occasional despair and anger; the frequent loneliness; a growing faith in God; a most remarkable courage, tenacity, and will to communicate; and humor. Highly recommended. Marcia G. Fuchs, Guilford Free Lib., Ct.
Battling against the cruellest handicaps, he has produced a book of
sheer wonder. As an author he competes as an equal with the ablest
of them * DAILY EXPRESS *
He has a keen sense of the generations of mute, helpless cripples
who have been dashed and branded and treated as dross for want of a
voice to tell us what it feels like. Now that voice has come, and
we know -- John Carey
Severely disabled by congenital cerebral palsy, Irish poet Nolan
was 15 years old when he was acclaimed ""a brilliantly gifted young
writer'' in the tradition of Yeats and Joyce...His physical
triumphs and defeats are recorded with a striking absence of
self-pity. In passages that are lyrically descriptive, there is
abundant word coinage and expressive neologisms that capture
Nolan's thoughts on sexuality and gratitude for the ambiance that
supported him during his year at Trinity College. As Carey, his
professor, states in the preface, Nolan's handicap is "a positive
factor'' rather than a modifying condition in his impressive
achievement. * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *
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