Rippercast Audio Archives: The Maybrick Diary

[PaulB]

Hi Paul,
do you believe he and Anne were incapable of concocting such a thing?

No. It's surprising what the most unlikely people are able to do, but I question whether Mike had the application to complete such a project.

[jmenges]

Is the mp3 the audio track of the video, of which you posted a trailer Jonathan?
If so, is there any chance of uploading the complete video?

The audio recording I released is combination of two different cassette tape recordings made separate from the video. As much as I would love to release the entire video, that’s not possible at this time.
Maybe someday.

JM

[Yabs]

But the conclusion of those who have met Mike isn't based solely, if at all, on his drinking. I met him before Shirley's and Paul's books were published, when Mike's marriage was still intact, and when he was still holding things together.

Hi Paul.
Just a quick couple of questions....

Those that assumed he wasn’t capable of writing it, how did they come to that conclusion?
Was it simply his manner or general perception of his intellect, or some other reason?

Also, I was wondering were people aware in 1992-93 that he had wrote for various publications or was that something that wasn’t known until Barrett himself revealed the fact?

[Ozzy]

Is the mp3 the audio track of the video, of which you posted a trailer Jonathan?
If so, is there any chance of uploading the complete video?

[Hunter]

Hi Paul,
do you believe he and Anne were incapable of concocting such a thing?

[PaulB]

I can't help noticing that literary forgers aren't particularly well-known for their sobriety.

For instance, check out the film "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" that came out last year. It tells the true story of the hard-drinking, down-on-her luck writer Lee Israel, who, during a prolonged bout of "writer's block," turned to writing and selling bogus letters by Noel Coward, Dorothy Parker, etc. Admittedly, she was a class above Barrett, but there are certain similarities.

Konrad Kujua, of Hitler Diary fame, also loved to pound down the brewskies with his Nazi idolizing friends. They had a regular drinking club, and Kajua's background was not all that different from Barrett's. He seems to have began his career of forgery almost as a drunken joke.

Personally, I don't see how Barrett's crazy talk, erratic behavior, and heavy drinking is incongruous with the type of person who would carry out a literary fraud. Yet, many (but not all) of those who have met Barrett think that he was "incapable."

But the conclusion of those who have met Mike isn't based solely, if at all, on his drinking. I met him before Shirley's and Paul's books were published, when Mike's marriage was still intact, and when he was still holding things together.

[Yabs]

Great new episode of the podcast.
In my opinion, I think Mike was more than capable of scripting the diary.

He comes across as someone needy for praise, it's almost like he's torn between wanting to receive what he feels is well deserved credit for writing it, but at the same time, doesn't want to completely kill the mystery.

Or, perhaps he feared fraud charges if he absolutely proved he forged it.

[Abby Normal]

I can't help noticing that literary forgers aren't particularly well-known for their sobriety.

For instance, check out the film "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" that came out last year. It tells the true story of the hard-drinking, down-on-her luck writer Lee Israel, who, during a prolonged bout of "writer's block," turned to writing and selling bogus letters by Noel Coward, Dorothy Parker, etc. Admittedly, she was a class above Barrett, but there are certain similarities.

Konrad Kujua, of Hitler Diary fame, also loved to pound down the brewskies with his Nazi idolizing friends. They had a regular drinking club, and Kajua's background was not all that different from Barrett's. He seems to have began his career of forgery almost as a drunken joke.

Personally, I don't see how Barrett's crazy talk, erratic behavior, and heavy drinking is incongruous with the type of person who would carry out a literary fraud. Yet, many (but not all) of those who have met Barrett think that he was "incapable."

exactly Rj

and re his love of the pub. the pub! a veritable proving ground for yarns and tall tales!

and how many great (and famous) writers had some kind of substance abuse, drinking and or pschological problems?

the idea that he (a published author no less)was incapable of writing this silly diary is patently ridiculous.. but i guess any straw to clutch to keep the (non) mystery alive.

[rjpalmer]

I can't help noticing that literary forgers aren't particularly well-known for their sobriety.

For instance, check out the film "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" that came out last year. It tells the true story of the hard-drinking, down-on-her luck writer Lee Israel, who, during a prolonged bout of "writer's block," turned to writing and selling bogus letters by Noel Coward, Dorothy Parker, etc. Admittedly, she was a class above Barrett, but there are certain similarities.

Konrad Kujua, of Hitler Diary fame, also loved to pound down the brewskies with his Nazi idolizing friends. They had a regular drinking club, and Kajua's background was not all that different from Barrett's. He seems to have began his career of forgery almost as a drunken joke.

Personally, I don't see how Barrett's crazy talk, erratic behavior, and heavy drinking is incongruous with the type of person who would carry out a literary fraud. Yet, many (but not all) of those who have met Barrett think that he was "incapable."

[rjpalmer]

I wonder why no-one bothered to pick up the phone and dial 192?

I've often wondered why no-one bothered to dial 9-9-9 when Barrett first showed up in London with the diary under his arm.

[MrBarnett]

They did. See paragraph 4 of David Russell’s Letter to the Editor.

JM

Thanks, Jon, I missed that.

I enjoyed the podcast enormously, but probably for the wrong reasons.

[jmenges]

I wonder why no-one bothered to pick up the phone and dial 192?

They did. See paragraph 4 of David Russell’s Letter to the Editor.

JM

[MrBarnett]

A listener has inquired via Twitter as to the resolution, if any, concerning the rather nasty argument that broke out regarding the Medici art shop in Liverpool and it’s apparent non-existence at the time Mike Barrett claimed to have purchased supplies there.

Shirley Harrison addresses “the mystery of the Medici shop” at the bottom of the second image I posted directly above titled ‘Respectfully Submitted’.

JM

I wonder why no-one bothered to pick up the phone and dial 192?

[jmenges]

A listener has inquired via Twitter as to the resolution, if any, concerning the rather nasty argument that broke out regarding the Medici art shop in Liverpool and it’s apparent non-existence at the time Mike Barrett claimed to have purchased supplies there.

Shirley Harrison addresses “the mystery of the Medici shop” at the bottom of the second image I posted directly above titled ‘Respectfully Submitted’.

JM

[jmenges]