Biographers in Conversation

Nikos Papastergiadis: "John Berger and Me"

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In this episode of Biographers in Conversation, eminent sociologist and author Dr Nikos Papastergiadis chats with Dr Gabriella Kelly-Davies about his choices while crafting John Berger and Me.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

  • How Nikos’s habit of writing from memory each morning during COVID lockdowns helped shape John Berger and Me.  
  • The power of memory in storytelling and how writing purely from recollection unearthed unexpected links between John Berger’s life and Nikos’s.
  • How Nikos wove his parents’ migrant journey from war-torn Greece into John Berger and Me.  
  • Why Nikos blended biography with memoir: combining John’s story with his own allowed him to tell a richer, more personal tale.
  • The responsibility of writing about a friend who’s no longer here. Nikos reveals how he portrayed John with honesty and love to honour his legacy.
  • The creative choices behind the book’s structure, from balancing timelines and themes to weaving two life stories into one seamless narrative.
  • How Nikos found the right narrative voice for John Berger and Me.  By choosing a warm, first-person style over a scholarly tone, he made the book feel personal and alive.
    • ...more
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