David Flusfeder, Lecturer and Director of the Centre for Creative Writing in the School of English, is celebrating the publication of his most recent novel, John the Pupil, which went on sale over the summer. David launched the novel at Kent at the Creative Writing Reading Series, a popular weekly event hosted by the Centre. Described by its publishers 4th Estate as a “medieval road movie”, John the Pupil recounts the journey taken from Oxford to Viterbo in 1267 by John, the pupil of the magus Roger Bacon, and two companions to deliver a secret package to the Pope. David Flusfeder has published seven novels (including The Gift and A Film by Spencer Ludwig), written short stories, the libretto for an opera, and been a television critic for The Times and poker columnist on the Sunday Telegraph.
The Independent reviewer described the novel as “superbly written and intellectually stimulating”. The Times commented: “There is never a dull moment on this trip… The vicissitudes of John’s journey are a delight to follow… The result is a vividly atmospheric sense of period and, in character of John the Pupil, a richly comical and engaging hero… Learned, funny and strikingly original, this is a hugely enjoyable read.”
David will also be in conversation with his colleague and fellow novelist Amy Sackville at the School’s inaugural alumni event which will be held on campus in November.