Professor David Wilson & Marcel Theroux - Killer Books

Professor David Wilson & Marcel Theroux - Killer Books

Why do some novels inspire people to commit murder? Which fictional characters and plots arouse lethal violence in the real world? How does crime fiction become crime fact?

With a 40-year career in criminal behaviour and host of many television crime shows, including Channel 4’s 'In The Footsteps of Killers', David Wilson is no stranger to what motivates murderers and the triggers that can set them on a killing spree.

David will be in conversation with novelist Marcel Theroux, who most recently presented 'The Playboy Bunny Murder' on ITV1 and has over 20 years’ experience in the literary field, combining their professional backgrounds to discuss books that have motivated murder and discover how fiction can sometimes arouse lethal violence in the real world.

They will discuss well known books such as Catcher in the Rye, A Clockwork Orange, The Secret Agent, and The Collector, and invite the audience to ask questions and join the discussion.

“I’m used to killers explaining that they murdered their victim because they were jealous, out for revenge, or that they had merely killed in ‘five minutes of madness’. Discussing this one day with Marcel, we discovered that there were also a surprising number of murderers who had killed because they had been ‘inspired’ to do so by a fictional character or by the plot of a novel. But how does lethal violence emerge from the pages of a novel and seep into real life creating genuine victims? Frankly, we have become obsessed with this question and we think that when you hear the stories of real murders that Marcel and I want to tell, you too will become fascinated by killer books.” - Professor David Wilson

“As a novelist, I’m fascinated by the way we make up stories and the power that stories have over us. But I’m also wary of that power. Stories have the power to do immeasurable harm: to isolate people, to justify violence, to strip away someone’s rights and humanity. In Killer Books, Professor David Wilson and I will look at the role certain stories have played in acts of murder. We’ll be looking at books that have been cited as inspiration for the most terrible crimes.“ - Marcel Theroux

Suitable for ages 16+

Starts: 7.30pm
Tickets: £31.50
Venue: The Apex, Bury St Edmunds

Prices include £2 booking fee

This event is promoted by The Apex