[Posted for Ian by the moderator.]
Ian McEwan writes:
I was surprised to read Matthias Matusseks account of being in my company when a well-known director, on learning that Matussek was a German, threw a Nazi salute and roared with laughter.
The story may well serve the thesis that there is anti-German sentiment in Britain, but in this case the truth is rather less interesting. It was my wife who introduced us all to the British director while we stood around on the pavement outside a restaurant. There was some small talk, then our party headed off.
Matthias is not exactly a reticent man - so it was odd that he made no reference to what would have been, in context, an astonishing insult and scandalous behaviour. Nor did he mention it when he came to interview me a few days later, even though we discussed his impressions of England.
My publicist at Diogenes, Ruth Geiger was also there that evening and she, like my wife and me, saw no salute and heard no roars.
Perhaps Mr Matussek should put his imaginative talents to better use and become a novelist.
Submitted on Fri, 2005-09-02 11:01
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Re: Ian McEwan replies to Matthias Matussek - fact or fiction?
The incident in front of the restaurant happened exactly as I describe in my article. Possibly Ian McEwan didn’t even take it in.
The tasteless joke was mainly aimed at myself and my wife, who were standing in a small group. It isn’t in fact the “astonishing insult and scandalous behaviour” that Ian calls it. These things happen in London when Germans mix with locals at a late hour, particularly when alcohol is involved.
In terms of becoming a novelist: it happens that I already published a novel and a book of short stories. Ian knows this perfectly well, because we have the same publisher - Diogenes, whose marvellous press agent Ruth Geiger was (as Ian relates) also present that evening. Ruth has known my wife and myself for fifteen years.
Must I add, that I was the only one who had no alcohol that evening; and that I have practiced journalism for twenty-five years, published fifteen books, received awards - and never had to retract a single story I've written?
Ian McEwan's response betrays a certain hostility. In our interview he refers to, and on that evening, he was adamantly in favour of the Iraq war and savaged the pacifist German position. Has his anger boiled over and clouded his judgment on this matter too?
Re: Ian McEwan replies to Matthias Matussek - fact or fiction?
Mr. McEwan,
Distortions by contributors to Open Democracy to make their points are their stock in trade. Other victims of misrepresentation and spin include Tony Blair, George Bush and their respective governments. You are in good company
