‘We live
in a climate of fear’: Graphic novelist’s Elon Musk book can’t find UK or US
publisher
Darryl
Cunningham blames fear of ‘legal consequences’ for reluctance to take on book,
now only available in French
David
Barnett
Sat 23 Nov
2024 16.00 GMT
A biography
by a British graphic novelist of Elon Musk is struggling to find an
English-language publisher due to feared “legal consequences”.
Elon Musk:
Investigation into a New Master of the World is the latest graphic novel by
Darryl Cunningham, from West Yorkshire. Cunningham, 64, has written and
illustrated seven nonfiction books on topics ranging from the 2008 global
economic meltdown (Supercrash), to Russian leader Vladimir Putin (subtitled The
Rise of a Dictator).
His first
book, Psychiatric Tales, which drew on his time working on an acute psychiatric
ward, was called an “unsettling but rewarding experience” in an Observer review
in 2010.
Although his
previous books have all found publishers in the UK and America, there has been
silence on the Elon Musk project, despite the fact that it has already been
translated into French and published in France to positive reviews.
His French
publishers, Delcourt, shopped it around at the Frankfurt book fair last month,
and French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche called it “rich and
thought-provoking”.
Cunningham
said in a post on his Patreon website last week: “Its publication in other
countries looks unlikely. I’m told that there was interest from various
international publishers at the recent Frankfurt book fair, but there was
concern over possible legal consequences.”
He told the
Observer: “I’m surprised publishers are so seemingly cautious of publishing the
Musk book when there are already many books published on Musk and various
aspects of his businesses.
“Delcourt
had lawyers go over every single word and picture to make sure there were no
problems. I didn’t use any information that hadn’t been published elsewhere,
much of it from the book by Musk’s own mother, Maye.
“But it
looks like we live in a climate of fear where the worst people have immense
power, and because of this there’s a tendency for the individuals,
institutions, businesses and the state to run for cover.”
Cunningham
praised Delcourt, who also put out the French edition of his book on Putin, for
“having the courage” to publish the book.
It was
published in France in May, and Cunningham added that so much has happened
since then – including Musk being appointed by incoming US president Donald
Trump to jointly head up his new Department of Government Efficiency – that
Cunningham is already working on updates for subsequent editions.
The book is
certainly no glowing hagiography. Drawing on various sources, Cunningham tells
the life story of Musk, going back to his parents, Errol and Maye, and Musk’s
grandfather, who Cunningham says was “a bit of a white supremacist”.
He charts
the rise of Musk to the “billionaire class” through his various business
dealings including acquiring Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter, which he renamed X.
Cunningham
said: “Knowing what I know about the man, my conclusion is that it’s incredible
that such a mediocre figure can amass such wealth, but it was ever thus.”
Musk did not
respond to a request for comment.
Darryl
Cunningham.
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário