Comments for The Venetian Vase

Comment on Lee Earle Ellroy – The Early Life of James Ellroy by Steve Powell

Steve Powell — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 23:23:59 +0000

Hi,

I viewed Ellroy’s arrest records at the Ellroy archive, Thomas Cooper Library, University of South Carolina. You must seek permission from Ellroy before you view any documennts in his archive. I’m not sure what the LAPD procedure is ordinarily but Ellroy has a very strong relationship with them now so perhaps they made an exception for him. His mugshot has also been reprinted in at least one of his books.

Best wishes,
Steve

Comment on James Ellroy on the Rodney King Scandal by plwinkler

plwinkler — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 23:20:21 +0000

The word you transcribed as “shitberg” should be “shitbird.” It’s one of Ellroy’s favorite insults.

Comment on Lee Earle Ellroy – The Early Life of James Ellroy by plwinkler

plwinkler — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:07:04 +0000

I was wondering how you obtained copies of his arrest records from the LAPD? I was interested in obtaining the detectives’ reports on the death of actor Nick Adams, who died on Feb. 7, 1968. A police representative told me the LAPD routinely destroys documents after 25 years, unless they pertain to a criminal conviction that might still be in the appeals process

Comment on Lee Earle Ellroy – The Early Life of James Ellroy by The Two Men Who Saved James Ellroy’s Career | The Venetian Vase

The Two Men Who Saved James Ellroy’s Career | The Venetian Vase — Fri, 31 May 2013 18:26:07 +0000

[…] say, it hasn’t always been this way for the author, and Ellroy has gleaned much material from his harrowing early life. But even after Ellroy began his writing career there was a period when it seemed his early promise […]

Comment on Early Ellroy by Steve Powell

Steve Powell — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:45:38 +0000

Thanks Tony,

Yes I think early Ellroy is a phase that is much undervalued and it may be time to shine more light on it. Ellroy didn’t suddenly become a great writer with The Black Dahlia, although perhaps he has contributed to this myth. These early works show great talent and development of style.

Steve

Comment on Early Ellroy by Tony Bulmer

Tony Bulmer — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:32:50 +0000

Love early Ellroy, less stylistically flamboyant than his later work. The Lloyd Hopkins trilogy is super cool; I bought it as an omnibus edition in the UK, but I haven’t seen it in America. Brown’s Requiem is a good book too, but one of the most frustrating things about it is that it changes gears so dramatically half way through. Look forward to Ellroy’s new trilogy/quadrilogy—perhaps it will incorporate the readability of his early work with the stylistic genius of the underworld USA books—one thing I do know when it comes to James Ellroy unpredictable genius is the only thing you can count on.

Comment on Lee Earle Ellroy – The Early Life of James Ellroy by Early Ellroy | The Venetian Vase

Early Ellroy | The Venetian Vase — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:23:04 +0000

[…] author. Fat Dog’s bigotry and homelessness (he sleeps on golf courses) has parallels with the harrowing early life of Lee Earle Ellroy. Brown’s Requiem is a solid, entertaining debut imbued with naive charm and Ellroy’s […]

Comment on Are the Critics Wrong About Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy? by Steve Powell

Steve Powell — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:55:02 +0000

Nader Family,

Thanks for commenting. There is only one mole in the novel as Haydon was specifically based on Kim Philby. Although the existence of the Cambridge Spy ring proves that British intelligence was riddled with traitors during this period, the other suspects in the novel are just unwittingly passing on secrets to the Soviets and are not strictly speaking moles.

Best wishes,
Steven

Comment on Looking Back on Theakston’s: The Strange Case of Stephen Leather by Steve Powell

Steve Powell — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:49:24 +0000

Famous Writer,

Thanks for the clarification and best wishes with your writing. More time writing and less twittering is good advice to all us scribes.

Steve

Comment on Are the Critics Wrong About Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy? by Nader Family

Nader Family — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:08:06 +0000

He also had to be younger and still married to Ann in order to allow for the love affair between her and Haydon. She is not supposedly much younger than George Smiley himself.
They were divorced in a previous novel, A Call for the Dead I think.
Alleline could be a second mole that lurks. Irena mentions one mole, but there is no reason that there was a more carefully coached one, like the actual historical spy gang, who didn’t know about each other until very late.
Alleline is the suspect as he is not surprised, like Toby and Roy when they are called into action the night of the shooting of Prideaux. Sir Percy walks in with smile on his face as if he can’t cover up his knowledge that the “setup” has worked out and Control has taken the bait. Why would he not be surprised if he didn’t know.
Its only him and Haydon who act as if they know Jim was supposed to have been in Checko. Haydon acts surprised for Jim being shot, but not that he was there in the first place, which he had manipulated to occur. But Sir Percy also is not questioning why was Jim in Checko. He must then have known, and was not smart enough not to react as if he had not expected Prideaux to have been in Checko.
George is certainly another possibility of being a very cool mole who acts perfectly, waiting for Haydon to be sacrificed for him to get to the top at the Circus.