By Isaac Butler
Much has been made over the debt that the Sloosha's Crossin' seciton of Cloud Atlas owes to Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker. Less has been made over the debt the Robert Frobisher sections owes to the life of real-life composer Frederick Delius. In the final years of his life, as he wasted away from syphilis, Delius took on the young Eric Fenby as an amenuensis. Delius was too ill to write, but could remember and sing out melodies.
It turns out that Ken Russell made a biographical drama about their relationship for the BBC, all of which is available on Youtube. It makes for some fascinating Sunday afternoon viewing. Here's part one:
You can find part 2 here, part 3 here, part 4 here and part 5 here.
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