An interview with author Joanne Harris about all things Heyer
 In our latest Heyer Today episode, author Joanne Harris (MBE) explores why Heyer’s books have yet to be made into films, in spite of being utterly delightful.Best known for her delicious and highly successful novel Chocolat, which was made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche, Joanne is very well placed to be able to talk about the difficulties of adapting a book into film. Not only that, she’s also a huge Heyer fan. Joanne is outspoken about author’s rights, but does so with pith and humour, and lists her hobbies as “mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion of the system”.  Join Sara-Mae and Joanne Harris as they tuck in to a tasty discussion of Georgette Heyer and what makes her work so satisfying to those of us who love her. “You’re in [her] world all the time and you’re completely immersed, even though you’re aware that there is a certain amount of mockery and subversion going on. But it doesn’t tip the balance too much; it doesn’t stop you from enjoying that immersion.” – Joanne Harris As well as the difficulties of having a film adapted, we talk about a myriad of other things such as food in books, the trivialisation of romantic and historical fiction when a woman writes, and the importance of appreciating different things at different ages. We dabble in heroines and talk about ‘These Old Shades’, ‘Faro’s Daughter’, ‘The Grand Sophy’, and ‘April Lady’. Joanne’s appetite for life expresses itself through her work and the appreciation she exhibits for beauty in writing which is lyrical, delicate and yet at the same time earthy. But her greatest skill is evocation, tugging at the threads and sinews that bind the mind and heart. “[In Heyer’s novels], There’s this idea that if you are honest and open and kind, then you are never really going to fall foul of the people who matter.” “A lot of the time even fantasy historical seems to have women in very subservient, very passive, very restricted roles. Whereas Heyer’s heroines don’t seem to have this. They’re always either climbing out of windows or buying monkeys for people without permission, or setting people on fire in cellars…they’re out of control, I love that element of them.” – Joanne Harris Have a listen here and don’t forget to rate, recommend & review us so we can reach more podcast lovers and Heyer fanatics (& future converts!). We’re available on all good podcast players, iTunes, Spotify or Amazon Music. |
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Fable Gazers 