Black Fountain Press Publishes Into Babel by James Leader

Black Fountain Press recently announced its fifth publication of the year: Into Babel, a new novel by James Leader.

The author was present to sign books and read from his novel at the "Walfer Bicherdeeg" (Walferdange Book Days) event, which took place this past weekend under the theme "Wanderlust".

Chronicle.lu had the opportunity to speak with James Leader about his new novel.

Chronicle.lu: Please tell us a bit about your background - where you are from, how long you have been based in Luxembourg, what brought you here...

James Leader: I was born and grew up in England and left as soon as I could, straight after university. I taught English in Latin America, the Middle East, Europe and the USA. I was brought to Luxembourg in 2000 by a job at the European School. I have been here ever since and became Luxembourgish in 2015.

Chronicle.lu: How long have you been writing (novels, but other works too)? What is your preferred genre?

James Leader: I have been writing novels for 20 years. In 2016, I won first prize in Luxembourg’s National Literary Competition with The Venus Zone, a novel for young adults. My preferred genre is poetry, but I love fiction too. I started writing poetry at sixteen, and had my first full collection High Talk published by Editions Phi in 2022.

Chronicle.lu: Have you previously presented/signed your work at the Walfer Bicherdeeg or is this the first time?

James Leader: In November 2022, I presented my poetry collection High Talk.

Chronicle.lu: Please tell us what Into Babel is about.

James Leader: Into Babel is a novel about what it means to become European. The main character is an Englishman who moves to Luxembourg just before Brexit; he discovers a culture which is alien and baffling and seductive. Finally, he has to make a choice between his old homeland and his new one. Being in Europe gives him a new perspective on England and on himself - it changes him, mostly for the better. It is a comedy.

Chronicle.lu: What inspired you to write this novel?

James Leader: I realised one day that the European School is a microcosm of the whole European Union, and that a story about the school would be worth writing. The European Union has been a source of great hope and inspiration and also bitter disappointment for me and my friends in Luxembourg. I wanted to write something which would deal with the hope and the betrayal of the idea that began in Rome in 1957.

Chronicle.lu: Who is the target audience?

James Leader: The target audience is primarily alumni of the weird and fascinating world of the European School system. Secondarily, all Europeans and English people who are interested in the nature of the European Union and its institutions, warts and all.

(Photo caption: James Leader signing books at the Walfer Bicherdeeg; credit: Black Fountain Press)