On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, playwright James Graham (Toryboyz, Little Madam, Sons of York) talks about his approach to political fiction and what inspires him.

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

James Graham, Political Playwright

James Graham writes for theatre, radio, film and television. He won the Catherine Johnson Award for the Best Play 2007 for his play Eden's Empire and was awarded the Pearson Playwriting Bursary in 2006. He is Writer in Residence at the Finborough Theatre and a member of the Royal Court/BBC 50 scheme.

James's play Tory Boyz for the National Youth Theatre caused a storm during its run at the
Soho Theatre for its portrayal of young, gay men in the modern Conservative Party and
received excellent reviews. His first film for television, Caught in a Trap, was broadcast on ITV1 on Boxing Day 2008 and was picked as one of the Broadcast Magazine Hotshots in the same year. He is under commission from a number of TV companies and his play The Whiskey Taster premieres at the Bush Theatre in early 2010.

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, playwright James Graham (Toryboyz, Little Madam, Sons of York) talks about his approach to political fiction and what inspires him.

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

James Graham, Political Playwright

James Graham writes for theatre, radio, film and television. He won the Catherine Johnson Award for the Best Play 2007 for his play Eden's Empire and was awarded the Pearson Playwriting Bursary in 2006. He is Writer in Residence at the Finborough Theatre and a member of the Royal Court/BBC 50 scheme.

James's play Tory Boyz for the National Youth Theatre caused a storm during its run at the
Soho Theatre for its portrayal of young, gay men in the modern Conservative Party and
received excellent reviews. His first film for television, Caught in a Trap, was broadcast on ITV1 on Boxing Day 2008 and was picked as one of the Broadcast Magazine Hotshots in the same year. He is under commission from a number of TV companies and his play The Whiskey Taster premieres at the Bush Theatre in early 2010.

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, former MP and writer Joe Ashton reveals how much truth there is in his writing and explains why politicians often turn to writing fiction in order to spill the beans on what goes on behind closed doors.

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

Joe Ashton, Former MP and Author (Grassroots, Majority of One)

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, former MP and writer Joe Ashton reveals how much truth there is in his writing and explains why politicians often turn to writing fiction in order to spill the beans on what goes on behind closed doors.

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

Joe Ashton, Former MP and Author (Grassroots, Majority of One)

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, writer Laurence Marks discusses his political screenwriting with Maurice Gran, and in particular, The New Statesman character Alan B'Stard and reveals how far from the truth this notorious screen character is compared to those in power.

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

Laurence Marks, Script Writer.

Laurence Marks is one half of writing duo Marks & Gran with whom he co-wrote the popular sitcoms, The New Statesman, Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart. He also wrote Shine on Harvey moon and Mosley.

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, writer Laurence Marks discusses his political screenwriting with Maurice Gran, and in particular, The New Statesman character Alan B'Stard and reveals how far from the truth this notorious screen character is compared to those in power.

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

Laurence Marks, Script Writer.

Laurence Marks is one half of writing duo Marks & Gran with whom he co-wrote the popular sitcoms, The New Statesman, Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart. He also wrote Shine on Harvey moon and Mosley.

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, Research Fellow - Matthew Bailey - answers a question posed by Hazel Blears. Could a West Wing-styled drama improve the standing of British politicians?

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

Dr Matthew Bailey, Research Fellow, The Centre for British Politics, The University of Nottingham

Dr Matthew Bailey has published work on a variety of topics regarding British politics, in particular the Conservative Party and Margaret Thatcher’s election as party leader. Between 2005 and 2008 Matthew has also been working on the frontline of British politics – managing the constituency office of one of Hull’s MPs. With that experience behind him he has become poacher turned gamekeeper, assessing the representation of our political masters across a variety of fictional forms.

Recent papers on this subject include: ‘Sympathy for the Devil: must fictional portraits of politicians be so negative?’ (delivered at the 2007 Political Studies Association Conference) and ‘Stranded on the middle ground: reflections on consensus in post-war political film and fiction’ (presented to the 2009 PSA Conference).

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, academic and director of the Centre for British Politics, Professor Steven Fielding, talks about the fascination with politics by writers and filmmakers.

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

Professor Steven Fielding, School of Politics and International Relations

Professor Steven Fielding is Professor of Political History and Director of the Centre for British Politics: CBP at The University of Nottingham and is an expert on The Labour Party. He is currently working on a commissioned documentary for BBC Radio 4 on the media portrayal of the Labour Party under Tony Blair.

Professor Fielding is particularly focused on the fraught relationship between politicians and the society they represent in Parliament. He is also researching the fictional representation of politics in Britain and the US, focusing in part on novels, film and television from Anthony Trollope to ’The West Wing’ and ’The Thick Of It’.

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, academic and director of the Centre for British Politics, Professor Steven Fielding, talks about the fascination with politics by writers and filmmakers.

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

Professor Steven Fielding, School of Politics and International Relations

Professor Steven Fielding is Professor of Political History and Director of the Centre for British Politics: CBP at The University of Nottingham and is an expert on The Labour Party. He is currently working on a commissioned documentary for BBC Radio 4 on the media portrayal of the Labour Party under Tony Blair.

Professor Fielding is particularly focused on the fraught relationship between politicians and the society they represent in Parliament. He is also researching the fictional representation of politics in Britain and the US, focusing in part on novels, film and television from Anthony Trollope to ’The West Wing’ and ’The Thick Of It’.

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, screenwriter Tony Saint talks about an upcoming BBC drama based on the MPs expenses scandal.

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

Tony Saint, Screenwriter

Tony Saint is a screen-writer and novelist. Tony's television film Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley was broadcast in June 2008 to great critical acclaim. It has been nominated for Best Single Drama at the Broadcast and Royal Television Society Awards.

His three novels, Refusal Shoes, Blag and The ASBO Show have been published by Serpent's Tail to great acclaim.

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

On 11 December 2009, Nottingham University's Centre for British Politics held a conference at the British Academy that drew together politicians, writers and academics to explore the interaction of British politics and fiction.

In addition to the conference several video interviews were conducted with some of the speakers on the day.

In this interview taken at the Fiction and British Politics Conference in London, screenwriter Tony Saint talks about an upcoming BBC drama based on the MPs expenses scandal.

Suitable for Undergraduate study and community education

Tony Saint, Screenwriter

Tony Saint is a screen-writer and novelist. Tony's television film Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley was broadcast in June 2008 to great critical acclaim. It has been noinated for Best Single Drama at the Broadcast and Royal Television Society Awards.

His three novels, Refusal Shoes, Blag and The ASBO Show have been published by Serpent's Tail to great acclaim.

The Centre for British Politics is based in the University's School of Politics and International Relations. www.nottingham.ac.uk/politics/cbp

This lesson focuses on character analysis throughout William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies. While contemplating both direct and indirect characterization techniques, students will be able to consider how characterization builds relationships among the boys in the novel.

Students learn more about Faulkner's life and the culture of the South while exploring the use of multiple voices in narration.

Published in 1929, "The Sound and the Fury" is often referred to as William Faulkner's first work of genius. Faulkner's style is characterized by frequent time shifts, narrator shifts, unconventional punctuation and sentence structure, as well as a stream-of-consciousness technique that reveals the inner thoughts of characters to the reader. This curriculum unit will examine narrative structure and time, narrative voice/point of view, and symbolism throughout "The Sound and the Fury."

Uncover the sources of Twain's comic genius in American traditions of dialect humor and literary satire.

Lesson 2 is a study of symbols in William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies." After reviewing the general concept of symbolism, students focus on four of the most dominant symbols that permeate the novel: the island itself; the conch; the Lord of the Flies effigy; fire.

In this triumph of magical realism, One Hundred Years of Solitude chronicles a century of the remarkable Buendía family's history in the fictional Colombian town of Macondo. The three lessons presented here explore the fantastic elements of this imaginary world, the real history that lies behind them, and García Márquez's own philosophical musings on writing about Latin America.

In this lesson, students examine the use of multiple voices in narration while also exploring the use of symbolism.

In "The Sound and The Fury," Faulkner's presentation of time is unique and complex, as the Quentin chapter symbolically opens with a description of Quentin's watch, which was given to him by his father.

In this triumph of magical realism, "One Hundred Years of Solitude" chronicles a century of the remarkable Buendía family's history in the fictional Colombian town of Macondo. The three lessons presented here explore the fantastic elements of this imaginary world, the real history that lies behind them, and García Márquez's own philosophical musings on writing about Latin America.