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Brian Aldiss - Elements of culture in the midst of war (25/79)

291 views · Published 22 May 2017 · 3:38 · Indexed 1 November 2026

Channel: Web of Stories - Life Stories of Remarkable People · 2017 · Entertainment

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To listen to more of Brian Aldiss’ stories, go to the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVV0r6CmEsFz9eyoxSk8DdLNHllsrLXYf

Writer Brian Aldiss (1925-2017) was best known for his science fiction novels and short stories. 'Non-Stop', his first science fiction novel, was published in 1958. His many award-winning titles include 'Hothouse', 'The Saliva Tree' and 'Helliconia Spring'. [Listener: Christopher Sykes; date recorded: 2014]

TRANSCRIPT: Oh and then, the other side of this barricade or fuselage... was part of a little village, and there there were only Burmese women as far as we could see, but they would come out and work... I don't know what they were doing with the grain, they were doing something or other with the grain, but they would… they would also have a dance. And so we were allowed to stand and watch them dance. And it was so peculiar that there, in the middle of this ghastly war, women danced. You know, it does say something about the other sex. Amazing.

So then we moved on again and eventually the troops took Mandalay. And so... yes, I think I was rather ill then, but our Signals truck drove into Mandalay, and we got out and walked about. And people used to sing... was that song written by Kipling? 'On the road to Mandalay, where the flying fishes lay' – 'play', sorry – 'and the dawn comes up like thunder out of China, across the bay'. Everyone knew that song.

But then, it's curious to think that even in those times, there were elements of culture. For instance, when we first went into Burma, when we were still in a kind of no-man's-land by Imphal, which was a smouldering ruin, we were then all gathered together before we dispersed into Burma. And the CO, whose name I once had, but I've now forgotten, the CO lectured to us about what we were doing for the honour of the British Empire, etc., etc. And he ended by quoting from... is it Henry V? 'Gentlemen in England now abed, shall hold their manhood cheap, whilst any speaks that fought with us, upon St Crispin's Day'.

And the effect that had was that many of… most of the troops, who'd never heard it before, shed tears or had tears in their eye. I've never forgotten it, it was wonderful that this CO should quote Shakespeare. Very fine, very fine. Yes.

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