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"The Charlton Men" by Paul Breen
Henry Irving
Posts: 85,249
Comments
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No, but could be interesting0
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Paulie Breen? I think he's taking a break from posting on here after the hair controversy.4
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Picture of him on his Twit account0
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That name rings a bell. I'm tempted to buy it.0
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Hi guys, I'm the author of the book and just wanted to let you know that I am on here under the name centurion (since about April 2012 I reckon) though I tend to read rather than post stuff usually. Most of my comments about games are submitted anonymously to the blogs and forums. I'm also a member of the Supporters Trust and a season ticket holder. I've also got a new Twitter account under the name of @CharltonMen where I'll cover things about the book.
Anyway - just a bit about myself. I'm from Ireland but moved to Charlton/Greenwich in 2006 to work as a lecturer in Greenwich University, and started following the Addicks, having grown up supporting Liverpool since most people across the water follow the 'big' teams. This book started out as a factual story of becoming a Charlton supporter over five years, but when I sent it off to publishers they suggested it should become fiction. That's how the book in its present form was born, and if it's successful they want me to write another one. Essentially it's a story that combines the lives of a few characters in the Greenwich area with the story of Charlton's 2011/12 season. It's also got other bits of history from further back in there. I hope I've done justice to that, because when you're not native to a place and a club, it takes time to pick up accurate information. I hope I've captured a sense though of what it means to support Charlton, not for everybody who follows the club, but for two people with a particular set of experiences. I think the reason I have managed to get this published is because I talked to the publishers about a love affair with Charlton which is what it is in some ways. You've got the good, the bad, the bits in between, and underneath it all this attachment that builds up over time. If people like the book, I'll be happy. There's about 75,000 words and 248 pages so there's quite a lot in there, and an awful lot left out as well.
Finally I'd say it's also a hymn to the class of 2012 (as Voice of the Valley called them in their most recent post); to Chris Powell and his team. When I finished it last September, I'd say it was contemporary. Now, after the likes of Chris, Dale, and Yann have gone, it feels more historical. I'm sure more will follow them out the door this summer but I hope my book helps preserve the memory in some small way, and introduces Charlton to a lot more people out there.
I don't comment often on here, as I said, and I can't even remember when I last did, but just want to make sure supporters know I'm not somebody from outside (even though I suppose technically I am) writing about the club. I'm telling a story as I've experienced it, in a shortened form. I've been around since the days of Pardew and Parkinson and wrote about all that too, but in the final form, most of the story is about the season we got promotion and the lives of people close to the club. Maybe in some ways the last half dozen years aren't typical of most supporters' experience, and I wish I had been around in the Premier League years, but if I write another book it will focus more on those Premier days. As it is, this story is essentially about escaping the dark days, and not just for the club but for the fictional characters as well, and for London after the riots of 2011. I think it's also important to say that the views of characters in the book are not necessarily mine. It is fiction, aside from the parts where Charlton's history is described, and where the action's taking place on the pitch.
Hope this helps answer some of the questions that people might have and one last thing - thank God we didn't get relegated this season. The book does contain quite a few references as we're on our way to promotion about being glad at going up and not having to make any more trips to places like Yeovil and Rochdale. Roll on the closer surrounds of Fulham next season!28 -
@centurion Congratulations on getting your book published Paul. I reckon I'll give it a try. Hope it does well for you.0
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@centurion Can I get an electronic copy?0
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I want to read it too0
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Hi all, thanks and yes there will be e-copies of the book. I am not sure that those are available quite yet but the publishers should have them on Amazon very soon.0
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Doesn't look as if there is an e-book as yet.ExiledinManchester said:@centurion Can I get an electronic copy?
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Sponsored links:
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On the link which Henry posted to the publisher it says : This title is available to purchase as an eBook at key retailers.Solidgone said:
Doesn't look as if there is an e-book as yet.ExiledinManchester said:@centurion Can I get an electronic copy?
I would definitely wish to buy it that way, so look forward to hearing more
Good luck, Centurion, sounds like a lot of us will enjoy it.
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Hope so PragueAddick, and once I get confirmation from the publishers about the e-book I will come on here and put up the link.
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Good luck with the book. I'll take a look when its available on Kindle. Am I correct in understanding that this novel is the first in a trilogy? If so, will the next two stories also feature Charlton or focus on developing other storylines?centurion said:Hi all, thanks and yes there will be e-copies of the book. I am not sure that those are available quite yet but the publishers should have them on Amazon very soon.
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I've never seen any Marilyn Monroe lookalikes in Charlton.
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Look forward to reading the book - you started following Charlton around the same time as myself having previously followed another team, and you clearly have realised what a special club it is.
You should ask the club shop to stock some copies if you haven't done so already.2 -
Congrats on publication, Centurion, and I look forward to reading your debut novel - in proper book form, note, not electronically. Very best wishes for your writing career.0
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Thanks all - the next books will also feature Charlton, and feature the same main characters - certainly the second one at least. By the third, if the first two succeed, I hope to be waxing lyrical about Diego Poyet this season and hopefully a couple more.
@Redhenry - that's good because the last thing any writer ever wants is to accidentally write about somebody who already exists, apart from the Charlton team of 2012 and Chrissie Powell of course - the rest is fiction Maybe if the book becomes popular there's a theme for someone in next season's last away game - Marilyn Monroe. Or Marilyn Monroe in a Jose Riga suit if he's still around? 1 -
Volunteering for a part in the film. Lance sounds like a good part for me.0
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Looks interesting ...have put in an order0
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In the style of Eric Idle in Life of Brian "nice one centurion"1
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Sponsored links:
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We can help with character ideas for the next ones!2
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but does anyone from Charlton know someone called Lance? and as for birds looking like Marilyn Monroe, Woolwich perhaps.Cardinal Sin said:Volunteering for a part in the film. Lance sounds like a good part for me.
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Who's playing me in the film, Paul ?2
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Well, once the film crew arrives I'm sure I'll be looking for extras to star as the crowd. If the Hartlepool game on the last day of the season's replicated, that'll be 25,000 extras so there'll be room for everybody
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judi denchFanny Fanackapan said:Who's playing me in the film, Paul ?
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Just ordered my copy0
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No Operation Pig or suicide watch @Oggy Red but it does feature a chapter about a fictional event called Operation Red Man connected to the 2011 riots. To find out more, you can check it out. And it features a pint (with no mention of price) in Bartram's during which you get a potted history of The Valley. Fictional characters drink slow (sometimes).
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well done... I'll buy an e version when available0
