Melville House Books

Why do politicians keep troubling us with their literary efforts? It’s ok when it’s Barack Obama (anything’s ok if you’re Obama) but see previous Moby posts ad nauseam for a list of people whose books you really don’t want to read. It’s not confined to the States, either: the terrifying fascist bulldog also known as Tory MP Ann Widdecombe has published four novels; our boring puritan PM Gordon Brown has written a plethora of political and history books; and just this month Labour acolyte Alastair Campbell has published his novel, All in the Mind. Isn’t it enough that we have to live with their attempts to organise us?

Alastair Campbell discussing his award-nominated scene

Well, sycophantic acclaim to the contrary, at least two of them are getting a small comeuppance. Gordon Brown’s book Wartime Courage (which, rumour has it, was put back until his popularity ratings had increased from their all-time low this spring) has sold just 193 copies since publication a fortnight ago. He’s had lousy reviews too; Helen Pidd’s article in the Guardian has more information. Even better, Alistair Campbell, who’s been given a very easy ride for his tale of a psychiatrist’s nervous breakdown, has been nominated for the most unwanted award in the literary calendar. This is none other than the Literary Review Bad Sex prize, established 15 years ago by Auberon Waugh to discourage authors from writing distasteful scenes about sex. Past winners include Sebastian Faulks and Norman Mailer, who won the 2007 award posthumously for comparing the male member to a soft coil of turd. Campbell is joined on the list of shame by John Updike (not his first nomination) and Paulo Coelho — see Sam Leith’s post at Paper Tiger for the full shortlist. The winner will be announced on Tuesday….