Francis Spufford is a writer of non fiction and more recently of novels. He teaches at Goldsmiths College, London, where he is Professor of Creative Writing.
His books include the Costa First Novel Award-winning Golden Hill, the memoir The Child That Books Built, and Unapologetic, possibly the sweariest ever work of Christian apologetics.
He is married to the Anglican priest and writer Jessica Martin, his mother was the historian and spiritual writer Margaret Spufford, and his daughter shows every sign of becoming a writer too.
Interview Timestamps 0:00 Childhood family tragedy and escape into books 31:24 Finding Narnia. From an unbreakable code to a portal 53:20 Rough and Tumble: Learning to read from the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings 58:47 Boarding school: The loss of childhood faith and discovery of utopian politics 1:09:23 An educational conveyor belt: Cambridge University, and a vast depressive sulk 1:21:28 An attic and a large typewriter: Dreams of becoming a writer 1:32:54 I May Be Some Time: the forest of repressed feelings behind polar exploration 1:38:55 The Child That Books Built and Red Plenty: A turn towards fiction 2:01:40 The move towards conversion: Grace and mercy, and writing Unapologetic 2:39:33 Light Perpetual: South London 1944 and a German v2 bomb 2:44:03 How Jesus has changed: From aid in catastrophe to pattern for storytelling -- For all things ExtraECC, go to: ExtraECC.com Audio versions of these interviews are at: @extraecc Follow us on FB www.facebook.com/ExtraECC, and Twitter @ecc_extra