Dear Alexander
We are about to 'teach' your book, "Stuart" at the International School of Prague. I would love to get in touch with you to ask some questions.
Dianne Caskie

Thank you - how wonderful. What are the questions? Fire away!

WOW....I am delighted that you have replied! Would it be appropriate if the kids accessed this website and asked questions OR would you be able/willing to have a SKYPE interview with the group? We are on chapter 4 and the kids are fascinated by Stuart, your voice and the unravelling. There is quite a homeless problem in Prague, what with the Roma etc. Hear from you, Dianne

Of course - ask the questions here. I've been trying to clean up my atrociously untidy room, and have come across some extra bits and pieces about Stuart - pictures, video footage etc - that I ought to get online, now that I've finally decided to do something about this website. Your pupils can goad me on ...

KAMARI, a young Nepalese woman, with cerebral palsy has just received Nepal's biggest literary prize..thought this stanza might intrigue you. She's addressing her father in the first line:

Half formed by you
fully formed by my mother
am I, the child of the street
Why did you damage me
on a corner of the street?
Why did you fill my mind
with gunpowder?
Its transformation will leave
your society and you
poisoned

here's a link to an article:
http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue/105/Literature/10242

The kids are writing questions for you as we read along. I've just read your comments about the screenplay...keen to show the students the film too.
I will be in touch with next steps BUT am keen, if you are , for a skype interview ( answer all the questions in one GO....or do you fancy a trip to Prague? See you, Dianne

I've finally started replying! I'll try to do three or four a day.

Hello Mr. Masters,

I am Mrs. Caskie’s student at ISP and I would like to ask you a question regarding your book Stuart:
You have written the book in such a way that we alternately felt both sympathy and disgust towards Stuart. Was it your intention to affect our emotions towards Stuart so frequently throughout the book? And if yes, what was your goal in doing so?

Thank you very much for replying,
Trinh Nam Son

Dear Trinh Nam Son, I never was a very prompt student, so I'm sorry for being so slow to start my replies to your class. To answer your question: yes, that was the intention, and the reason was because that's how Stuart affected me. I tried to replicate it for the reader. It took me a long time to work out what my reactions to Stuart were: I liked him almost as soon as I met him, but I didn't understand his life one bit - so I didn't always know how to react to him. He was an extremely complex, sometimes dangerous (though never, I think, to me) character who could also be extremely kind, thoughtful and much more observant of other people and sensitive to their needs than I ever was - it was a confusing mix and led to a muddle of reactions.

I'd like to speak with Simon Norton about Networks and Maps. Whereas these are concerned with getting from any A to any B as swiftly as possible, much of my life's work has been in causing millions of people to get from defined As to defined Bs with as much confusion and pleasure as possible. Please call me on 01258 458845. Adrian Fisher

The best thing for you to do is contact Simon care of the Cambridge maths faculty.

Hi

Since I saw Stuart a Life Backwards I keep thinking whether this could be or indeed is, available as a play. I think it would be an amazingly powerful production to put on if you have any thoughts about this I'd be delighted to know.
Thanks in advance.

Lesa Bates

There's somebody working on that now. He paid me a bottle of whiskey for the rights. I had all sorts of thoughts about it too. Before he came along there were several other people interested, but I thought I wanted to have a go at it, and even wrote most of the first act (a two-hander, which featured a talking teapot, for reasons I won't try to explain.) After the book and the film script, I'd come to the end of my thoughts. If I can ever get round to being efficient about this website I will put in a page about the work on the play, and, at the least, put up when it's due to be performed. Are you involved in the theatre?

I've just been reading "Stuart" and I wonder if you've recently thought about this rather amazing passage;

On the other side of the road, Stuart notices a Gypsy camp. "Did you know Gypsies steal homeless people?"

This makes me laugh so much.

"Yeah, pinch them off the streets. Force them to work. Make them lay Tarmac."

Gypsies achieving the impossible: marching befuddled alchies and junkies off to labour.

!!

Presumably you've seen the news reports?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/13/four-remanded-in-slavery-case?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

The victims were indeed forced to lay tarmac. And it all happened in Bedfordshire ie not far from Stuart and his mates. I don't blame you at all for not believing his story, it's crazy and creepy enough, but to think it was true and word was spreading amongst the homeless community...

I did read about that, yes, and thought the same. Stuart wasn't the only one who talked about it either. I remember quite a few mentioning it at the hostel where I worked, though I don't think anyone ever said they'd been kidnapped, only that they'd known someone who knew someone -- God help the person who had to drive on that tarmac.

Dear Mr. Alexander Masters,
I am from the International School of Prague, and we have recently read your book Stuart, and I have some questions that I would like to ask you.

The first one is, In chapter 15, why do you create the hospital scene as a comic one? Did you intentionally create humor?

The second one is, Did you secretly want to become famous from publishing this book? If so, what do you think Stuart's reaction would be like?

Thank you. Ana-Maria

Dear Ana-Maria,

First: yes, it was intentional, because Stuart was extremely funny about it -- also, it was a terrible situation, clearly, and in general I found when writing about Stuart that if I used humour to help describe a terrible situation, the scene was much more effective. To write about terribleness using misery as the only emotion ends up being flat and oddly unmoving. The reader knows they're being harangued. it can get whiney and irritating. Humour, if you intermingle it correctly, often seems to bring out much more poignancy in a scene than sticking with the most obvious emotion. I think it's because then the reader supplies the sadness or shock, they're not being force-fed with it. Ultimately, in my opinion, the story always belong to the reader. The reader should supply the interpretation and emotion; the writer's job is just to put the prompts in place.

Second, yes, and it wasn't secret either. The other thing is both Stuart and I wanted to make money from the book, the more, the better. That's part of the reason we got on so well, especially during the period he was alive during the writing - it was a joint business project. It was going to get us both what we wanted. It wasn't about me being noble and holier-than-he, it was about us both doing well out of it.

Dear Mr. Alexander Masters,
We are studying your book, Stuart: a life backwards, in our english class and i would like to ask you a question.
Are you aware that in chapter 15 you show your own weakness and fear. Did you create that to enhance your text?

Thank you,
Kristyna

Dear Kristyna, yes, I'm aware but, goodness, there was no need to make it up. A good part of the point of the book was to be honest about my reactions to Stuart, because I was standing in for most readers of the book, ie most readers of the book would be more or less like me: ignorant about street life, uncertain what to think or do about beggars and street addicts and never quite able to answer certain basic questions satisfactorily, eg, why don't you get a job? What don't you go into one of the dozens of available hostel spaces?

Dear Mr. Masters

I would like to ask you a question on behalf of our English Class in the International School of Prague.

How did Stuart's life affect your own? How do you think you have affected Stuarts life?

Thank you,
Kristian

Dear Mr. Alexander Masters,
I am a student at International School of Prague and I have a question to ask you. Why did you decide to take Stuart's advice and write this book backwards? Did you have so much faith in Stuart's idea even though he was an uneducated homeless man? Did you ever follow any other of Stuart's advice?
Thank you!
Sara

Dear Mr.Masters,

As you have seen in the last comments, we are from the International School of Prague and have studied your Novel "A Life backwards" for the past few weeks.I would also like to ask you some questions.

1. Why do you think that showing contrast is the most efficient way of revealing Stuart's character?

Thank you SO MUCH!
Tilly

Dear Mr. Alexander Masters,
I am a student at International School of Prague and I have a question to ask you.
When you read your book what emotions do you mostly feel? Do you tend to laugh more than feel upset or vice versa?

Thank you
Daniella

Dear Mr Masters,
I am Mrs. Caskie student from the International School of Prague and I have a question for you about the book.
Did you intentionally make some scenes in the book more dramatic? For example, you described stuart as a ‘pycho’ and a ‘ knife man’. Did you exaggerate the descriptions of Stuart to sound like a more interesting character? Or is Stuart genuinely a very dramatic person?
thank you,
nicole

Dear Mr. Masters,
I would like to ask you a question about Stuart: a life backwards.
While writing the book, were you always aware of your tone and what its impact will be? Were you always honest about your opinions and emotions?

Thank you,
Klara.

Dear Mr. Alexander Masters,
I'm from the International School of Prague and we're studying your book in english and I would like to ask you a question about the book Stuart: A Life Backwards.
Why are so few other people's opinions included in the book?

Thank you,
Pavlina

What do you want readers to feel or do after they read this book?

Dear. Mr. Alexander Masters

I am one of students in Mrs. Caskie's class from the International School of Prague and I have a question for your position of description in the book.

Do you think that you portrayed Stuart in a too positive manner? Did you deliberately omit negative aspects of Stuart character?

Thank you,
YeEun

Dear Alexander Masters,

I am a student from International School of Prague and I would like to ask you a question about Stuart: a life backwards.

What is the main purpose of this book?

Thank You in advance,
Khang.

Dear Mr. Masters,
I have recently finished your book and would like to ask you a few questions:

When you re-read Stuart, what aspect of Stuart did you maybe not include?
Do you believe that Stuarts language affirms his identity, or do you think that there is more to him?
Did you change your language intentionally for Stuart to understand you better?
Thank you very much for writing this great book, it's touching and inspirational!
Rudan

Dear Alexander,
we have read your book about Stuart in English class. Amazing book, I have to say, and great humour. But my question is, how did you manage to write 'Stuart-words'? The spelling had to be a nightmare.
Thanks,
Sebastian

Dear Mr. Masters,

Having read your book for English class (at the International School of Prague) I was wondering; How accurate is Stuart’s language in the book compared to his actual voice? Did you censor any parts? Did you leave out, or exaggerate anything (perhaps even add)?

Thank you,
Denis

Dear. Mr. Alexander Masters

I am one of students in Mrs. Caskie's class from the International School of Prague. Having read your book, i have a question to ask you.

What point of Stuart’s life did have the biggest impact on you?

Thank you
Balazs

Dear. Mr. Alexander Masters.
I'm from the International School of Prague and I'm in Ms. Caskie's IB English, reading and learning your book.

I would like to ask you a question,
Is Stuart in heaven? If so, does he deserve to be there?

I'm from Japan, and your books are translated into Japanese!!

I hope you can visit to our school. Our financial office will be so glad to pay the plane tickets

Best wishes,
Kurumi

Dear Mr. Masters,
I also am a student of the International School of Prague and I have a question for you:

In the book, you sometimes sound very sarcastic towards Stuart and it looks like you are mocking him. Is this this how you were talking with him in reality, too? And if yes, were you not afraid that he will punch you in the face?

Thank you for your reply,
Zbyněk Stara

Dear Kristyna, yes, I'm aware but, goodness, there was no need to make it up. A good part of the point of the book was to be honest about my reactions to Stuart, because I was standing in for most readers of the book, ie most readers of the book would be more or less like me: ignorant about street life, uncertain what to think or do about beggars and street addicts and never quite able to answer certain basic questions satisfactorily, eg, why don't you get a job? What don't you go into one of the dozens of available hostel spaces?

Hi alexander, I have just seen the movie now and I am going to buy your book because I was so moved by your story of Stuart! Not many people would have taken up a street person. You befriended him brought him into your life, you actually liked him and introduced him to your circle of friends! I think in his short angry and tragic life, you heard him, believed him and did not insult his intelligence because he was an intelligent human being! May Stuart rest in peace!!!!

i dont usually do blogs, but came accross yours and thought i would contribute. I read about Stuart when the book was relaesed, i now use his story and your book regularly in the course of my work as an addictions worker. many of the service users have read this book and could relate to various parts of it. Thank - you for givig me the opportunity to share one of the best books i have ever read x

Hi Alexander,

I have never contacted an author/writer before, but felt compelled to send you a quick note to say thank you so much for the wonderful books you have written so far! They are absolutely amongst my most favourite reads ever - although in fairness I am only half way through the genius in my basement but I have no doubt my final conclusion will be v positive. Brilliant. Keep writing!

Hallo Alexander,

I'm a great admirer of 'Stuart', the book, film and indeed the man. I worked in the Bridge drugs project on Mill Rd in Cambridge in the 80's and met many young Stuarts. I spent the rest of my working life in the drugs treatment field and completely agree with your thoughts on how funny, exasperating, sometimes dangerous ( although like you I never felt personally threatened) the Stuarts of this world can be - rewarding too.

I'm lecturing to some occupational therapy students next week and my co-lecturer will be showing Stuart - the film at the beginning of the lecture to start the discussion on working with clients like Stuart.

By the way, I noticed Bob Lucas featured in the book's acknowledgements. He was a great friend of mine when I lived in Cambridge, indeed I was his lodger for a while.

Many thanks for such good work in telling Stuart's story.

Hi there

Firstly, this is not out of fandom or obsession

You've inspired me with your words and your screenplay. Maybe even perhaps changed my life/ the way I think.

I saw the film and have read the book and it has really effected me. It's changed the way myself and my husband think and act towards the homeless.

I'd very much like to thank you and Wintercomfort for doing such an amazing job and looking after the people that need it most.

Please, if possible, accept our sincere gratitude. We'd maybe like to come visit Wintercomfort at some point.

ALSO we run a Brighton based comedy night. I've run a few charity nights in my time but would love to base one on Wintercomfort...and maybe even include your story.

Warmest regards,

Nikki McDonnell

Dear Alexander

Just wanted to say thank you to you and Stuart for sharing Stuarts story. Bittersweet, complicated, painful, funny. You did Stuart proud in producing a non-sentimental piece of truth.
Sarah

Thank you for sharing this information. The information was very helpful and saved a lot of my time.


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