Nick Cave and Sean O’Hagan
Nick Cave’s new book – Faith, Hope and Carnage – has been described by his publisher Canongate as “a meditation on faith, art, music, grief and much more”.
It was written in collaboration with Guardian and Observer journalist Sean O’Hagan.
Alex Green of the Press Association (PA) gives his review below, giving the book an 8/10.
For the past five years, Nick Cave has largely avoided interviews.
Instead, the 65-year-old Australian musician and author, who has long lived in Brighton, has connected directly to his fans through his website, The Red Hand Files, and answered their questions on a semi-annual basis.
That’s partly what makes Faith, Hope and Carnage – a collection of conversations between Cave and journalist Sean O’Hagan – such a fascinating read.
They go deeper and look at his creative process and how he’s become more abstract and less literal since 2013’s Push the Sky Away, how he’s responded to the forced self-reflection of lockdown and how he’s dealt with the tragic deaths of two sons in the last years.
There is a heavy trauma over these conversations, but there is also a lightness and humor that comes from the chemistry between interviewer and interviewee.
O’Hagan is adept at searching for the most interesting conversation points, but it’s Cave’s words that are the star of the show.
The man speaks as if he were writing poetry and the way he describes making music will delight fans and casual listeners alike.
Faith, Hope and Carnage by Nick Cave and Sean O’Hagan was published by Canongate Books last week. The bound book costs 20 euros and the e-book 15.99 euros.
