Margrave of the Marshes by John Peel

Margrave of the Marshes by John Peel, 1996
Read: July 2009

While Scotty was helping Kevin set up his computer at the start of the summer, I was having a nose around downstairs and came across this. I cheekily asked if I could borrow it to read and having been granted permission both Scotty and I devoured it this summer.
This is John Peel's autobiography, although tragically he himself only was able to write less than half of it before his sudden death. His wife Sheila writes the remaining chapters with the help of their children. Again the writing is so personable that you not only feel that he is talking directly to you, but he is someone you know and who knows you. It is such an easy style to read and such an enjoyable one. Sheila manages to maintain this in her section of the book and for a moment you forget that one of the most influential broadcasters is no longer with us.
The other autobiography I read this summer glossed over an uneventful childhood, but Peel recalls some great stories, from bus journeys to dormitories, life at home to life at boarding school. When he talks about being not sure what he wants to do when he leaves school, you really feel for this kid who is just looking for something....just not very actively! I had no idea he'd been in the armed forces, but it seems he did his bit...again, just not very actively! A DJ in the making already?!

His story really kicks off when he arrives in America and is a bit more compelled to do something. His small, but expanding, collection of vinyl gets him a gig on a local radio station and his Liverpudlian accent propels him even further with Beatlemania hitting America. John obviously enjoys playing his records and he gradually finds his way, by playing records and finding and buying more to play. I really loved reading this section of the book, especially the crossing of paths between John and JFK.

As I read the book I was compelled to regularly turn to the pictures section to see the one of him in his studio at home - with the tonne of records all around him. It reminds me of MVR and my dad's room of books; there is an order than only one man can understand :) I also loved mention of demo tapes that John was constantly receiving. His dedication to promoting new music has no comparison, especially considering the genres that John would become involved in.

A great coda to this book is the inclusion of two letters John wrote to his publisher when first discussing the prospect of an autobiography. These letters contain two long lists of things that John plans to include in a shorthand with hints of stories to come. Just beautiful.