David Mitchell Interview: Stories Have a Number of Beginnings
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- Опубликовано: 9 июн 2024
- Chart-topping English novelist and “word-nerd” David Mitchell, commended for the novel ‘Cloud Atlas’, here explains why he likes to experiment and strives to avoid repetition: “If my books are my children, then I want them to have distinct personalities.”
Though it can be tempting to push the buttons that made his bestselling novel ‘Cloud Atlas’ (2004) such a success, Mitchell is very aware that repetition can be a cul-de-sac for a writer. He therefore tries to put some space between each of his books and seeks to be “omnivorous” in what he reads and what he writes. Books, he feels, are always evolved from several stem cells: “Stories have a number of beginnings.” Furthermore, Mitchell also attributes some of the success of ‘Cloud Atlas’ to the recklessness of his younger self, who was not afraid of trying something that might fail: “Sometimes your youth and inexperience can be an ally.”
Imagination is extremely important not only for writers, but also for human beings in general, as it “allows us to experiment with our environment without having to pay the physical consequences of that.” For a writer, the imagination also becomes a driving force, which must be processed by being transferred into text: “Writer’s don’t properly grow up. Writers continue to have invisible friends, it’s just that they become more complex and turn into Madame Bovary rather that Casper the Friendly Ghost or Frank the Monster, who lives under your bed.”
Mitchell stammered as a child and as a youth and he sees this as one of the factors that compelled him to write, as it allowed him to feed his “word-nerdery.” The fulfilment of being able to write a nearly perfect and well-crafted sentence is incomparable: “I’m an unreformed word-nerd.”
David Mitchell (b. 1969) is an English novelist. Three of his novels have been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize - ‘number9dream’ (2001), ‘Cloud Atlas’ (2004) and ‘The Bone Clocks’ (2014). ‘Cloud Atlas’ was subsequently made into a film (2012). In 2003 Mitchell was selected as one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists, and in 2007 he was listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in The World. Mitchell, who in recent years has also written opera libretti, lived several years in Japan but now resides in Ireland with his wife and children.
David Mitchell was interviewed by Kim Skotte at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark in August 2014.
Camera: Mathias Nyholm
Edited by: Sonja Strange
Produced by: Marc-Christoph Wagner
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2015
Supported by Nordea-fonden 
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I love that his writing style is similar to the way he speaks. He has a refreshing and captivating way of telling a story.
"What a lovely dog" =)
Seems like a very nice man.
He's extremely charming for a self-proclaimed 'nerd.' It's clear his personality (at least outwardly) developed along with his craft through the years.
just started reading Cloud Atlas and came here to have a look at the writer. Seems like such a lovely person!
I'm glad there are so many David Mitchell interviews on here, because watching an interview with him is almost as delightful as reading one of his books. It's a quaint thing with me - if I don't feel the writer is a sympathetic person, I have a hard time liking the book, no matter how good it might be. (Even though I realise you can't actually know a person from their novels and interviews.) I have yet to find a decent rationalisation for this ;-)
I agree with this, Anita. It's the same for musicians/bands, as well (for me).
Well put, I really love his novels...
Such a beautiful man. Always a delight to watch him speak.
God dammit! I love smart people. That ending was priceless.
As a writer rediscovering and remaking my self-permission to have imaginary friends I can't thank Louisiana Channel enough for these interviews. So many videos are "about" writing but these interviews go into the guts of it. They encourage me tremendously.
Oh my. I think I love him.
I'm incredibly late to the party, but literally finished reading "Cloud Atlas" this afternoon. I'd found a well worn copy of it in an op-shop; I'd heard of it, and given it was only going to set me back 50 cents ( ! ) I had nothing to lose by grabbing it. Thing is, after buying it, it sat on my bookshelf for a good 6 months before I touched it, as I'd a bunch of other recently rescued books ( the 2ndhand stores around here are goldmines) I wanted to read first. For some reason, the blurb on the back cover just didn't grab me (it sounded too science fictiony for my liking ). I ALMOST donated it back to the op-shop with a bunch of old clothes.......but something told me to persevere, and holy shit, am I grateful, because I soon realised what I'd been missing out on! I've been glued to the book this last week....I've lost sleep over it; I've dreamed about it.....and now I'm about to go to bed, but am restless and bereft due to there being no "Cloud Atlas" left to read. Sigh.
ANYWAY. Now I'm a huge fan, and am determined to acquire anything and everything he has written. He's given my own word nerdery a well needed dose of inspiration, too. SO grateful and ( a little too) excited.
I hope you've now read The Bone Clocks?
@@paulshawley6490 Shamefully, I admit I have not :( . It's absolutely on my "to do" list ( and has been on my Book Depository ' Wish List' for aaaages) though!!!! I'm pretty confident that it will be worth the wait ;)
Just finished "Slade House." Dope. Looking forward to more of his stuff.
@@paulshawley6490 Update: I recently acquired a copy and devoured it last week thanks to lockdown ;) . I found it even more compelling than "Cloud Atlas"!! Pretty sobering at the same time, though- especially near the end. Need more David Mitchell!
@@ericgrabowski3896 Yeah, I think I want to buy/read that one next. Sounds creepy-cool! Looking forward to his latest: "Utopia Avenue". I think it's out in July? Soon, anyway. Eep!
Nice scarf - respect.
I just want to say a big thank you for this interview. I used it to help research an interview I just did with David. Thank you.
I'm beyond jealous that you got to interview David! I'd be a terrible interviewer though, haha. Go you. Living the life ;) . Was this interview regarding his latest offering, "Utopia Avenue"?. I can't properly express how much I'm loving this novel.
@@3leggedsharkkickssurferinballs here it is!! he was VERY generous w his time.. ruclips.net/video/dd3TztXOZxA/видео.html&lc=UgyOXqVjlyiOOwZcPQZ4AaABAg
@@NeilPasricha1 Cheers for the linkage! He certainly was generous with his time.... 3 hours! I wasn't expecting a vid that long when I clicked on the link! I have it saved in my "watch later" to savour ASAP. Hopefully this weekend. I'm embarrassingly in love with David Mitchell's mind and his literary universe. He'd be a great person to interview.
he's a genius.
Just started reading Ghostwritten and have to say he's an amazing writer. Best stuff I've read in years, decades. Will read Cloud Atlas next. Heard it's great.
Great interview.
the composition is so nice its distracting xD great video
West Cork
David gets it.
Okay His The Equivalent.
Does this author have social media ? I want to follow him
twitter.com/david_mitchell?lang=en
@@thelouisianachannel thanks
oh no the muffled sound !!
Nah You Can Have A Sense of Humorous Attitudes
Stop stealing from India, if you can't give credit Mr. Mitchell.
want to explain?
vivek vasudevan please explain. These kinds of comments are so important.
Sorry @Shine Lightborn @Sai Prasad, I haven't checked youtube in a while. The core concept of this novel is taken from the ancient Indian philosophy known as "Karma" which explains causality through a system where beneficial effects are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful effects from past harmful actions, creating a system of actions and reactions throughout a soul's (Atman's) reincarnated lives forming a cycle of rebirth. and you should note that things in the universe, not only earth is bound by this causal relationship.
I am not talking about the merit of this idea. However, I strongly believe this not purely an accidental coincidence that Mr. David Mitchell's entire plot is weaved around this idea. If he got inspired by this oriental idea he should cite it. Otherwise, it is an injustice to people who thought it out thousands of years ago.
No, it's the colonial mindset of Brits. They assume they can still steal from India without asking. If an Idea is financially viable, they can attribute it to the original one or can simply accept that they have stolen it from India.
Of course, I am talking about the plot. Karma (causality) is the plot and in this particular story 'karma' follows the chain of rebirths even after human beings become a multi-planetary species. I am not saying the 'idea' is stolen and preserved in its crude form. The concept got intermixed with the possible direction where the technological innovation and social realities are taking the human civilisation. This smear of cream above the cake is inspired by modern views on science, anthropology but the plot is Karma. 101% Indian thought and it must be acknowledged.