“What it is is a work of art, in the fullest sense.” This is a quote from the late great American poet JT Ahearn after he read The Three Bears, a novel I wrote. It was published in 2006, and again in a slightly revised edition in 2008. It is without doubt, the best thing I have ever written and probably the best thing I will ever write. When I say ‘best’ I don’t mean it’s the best plot. the best story, the best characterisation or even the best writing, I mean it is a true work of art, it’s completely unique and wonderful in entirely its own way. By any measure it’s a long way from perfect and if I’d thought about it rationally I probably wouldn’t have published it, but I’m glad I did.
Many people, if they bothered to read the novel, would dismiss it as self-indulgent crap, and I wouldn’t blame them or be particularly upset about it. This is because it’s the literary equivalent of Tracey Emin’s Bed, a piece of art that is more vilified than praised, yet sold recently for £2.2 million, almost twice the estimate. I’m not saying I like Tracey Emin’s Bed and think it’s worth £2.2 million, and I’m not saying that The Three Bears is like Tracey Emin’s Bed in any other way, just that it’s possible for many people to dislike and vilify something that is nevertheless valuable in some way.
NOTE: The Three Bears is currently taking a break . . watch this (or some other) space