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The Camp
Set in an RAF base in West Germany in the mid1950s, The Camp is a raw look at military life from the conscript's viewpoint, subject to the whim of their CO, no matter how erratic. When he wrote the The Camp, Gordon Williams had the benefit of a newsman's eye for detail and the immediacy of his own ex-conscript's experiences at the sharp end of the Cold War. He was stationed at RAF Gutersloh — the closest RAF airbase to the East German border. This was Gordon Williams first book and he hit the ground running. He went on to write From Scenes Like These (Booker listed), Big Morning Blues, and The Siege of Trencher's Farm (filmed as Straw Dogs).
First published in 1966, the novel was received with disquiet by the military, but praised by the critics.
"The Camp earns high honours", Sunday Times. "Impressive", Times Literary Supplement. "A talent at one so harsh, and so controlled." The Spectator.
First published in 1966, the novel was received with disquiet by the military, but praised by the critics.
"The Camp earns high honours", Sunday Times. "Impressive", Times Literary Supplement. "A talent at one so harsh, and so controlled." The Spectator.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2010
8 people want to read
About the author
Gordon M. Williams
22 books18 followersAka P.B. Yuill, joint pseudonym with Terry Venables.
Gordon Maclean Williams was a Scottish author. Born in Paisley, he moved to London to work as a journalist. He has written for television and is the author of over twenty novels including From Scenes Like These (1968), shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1969, Walk Don't Walk (1972) and Big Morning Blues (1974). Other novels include The Camp (1966), The Man Who Had Power Over Women (1967) and The Upper Pleasure Garden (1970).
He ghosted the autobiographies of association footballers Bobby Moore, Terry Venables and manager Tommy Docherty.
In 1971, his novel The Siege of Trencher's Farm was controversially filmed as Straw Dogs. Sam Peckinpah's cinematic treatment marked a watershed in the depiction of sexual violence in the cinema though the most controversial scenes are absent from the book. Other film work includes The Man Who Had Power Over Women, from his own novel, and Tree of Hands, as scriptwriter from a Ruth Rendell novel. Williams also wrote the book of Ridley Scott's film The Duellists.
While working as commercial manager of association football club Chelsea, he renewed his collaboration with Venables, resulting in four co-written novels. From the novels grew the 1978 TV series Hazell, which the pair co-wrote under the shared pseudonym P. B. Yuill. Under the name "Jack Lang", Williams also wrote paperbacks "for £300 a time."
Gordon Maclean Williams was a Scottish author. Born in Paisley, he moved to London to work as a journalist. He has written for television and is the author of over twenty novels including From Scenes Like These (1968), shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1969, Walk Don't Walk (1972) and Big Morning Blues (1974). Other novels include The Camp (1966), The Man Who Had Power Over Women (1967) and The Upper Pleasure Garden (1970).
He ghosted the autobiographies of association footballers Bobby Moore, Terry Venables and manager Tommy Docherty.
In 1971, his novel The Siege of Trencher's Farm was controversially filmed as Straw Dogs. Sam Peckinpah's cinematic treatment marked a watershed in the depiction of sexual violence in the cinema though the most controversial scenes are absent from the book. Other film work includes The Man Who Had Power Over Women, from his own novel, and Tree of Hands, as scriptwriter from a Ruth Rendell novel. Williams also wrote the book of Ridley Scott's film The Duellists.
While working as commercial manager of association football club Chelsea, he renewed his collaboration with Venables, resulting in four co-written novels. From the novels grew the 1978 TV series Hazell, which the pair co-wrote under the shared pseudonym P. B. Yuill. Under the name "Jack Lang", Williams also wrote paperbacks "for £300 a time."
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