Author David Peace delves into the Munich air disaster of 1958 with his latest novel, 'Munichs.' Inspired by conversations with his late father about the 'Busby Babes,' Peace aims to illuminate the event's profound impact on Manchester United, British society, and fans worldwide. The book explores the club's resilience and the legacy of the tragedy, offering a fresh perspective on a well-documented historical event.
Paul Fennessy ALMOST 67 YEARS on, the impact of the Munich air disaster on football and British society remains palpable.The author recently caught up with The 42 for a chat…I had written ‘The Damned United’ and ‘Red or Dead,’ and I had it in my mind to write another football book. I thought it would be about Manchester United , but I just wasn’t entirely sure when I would do it and of the structure of the book.
We talked so much throughout my life about football, it was a way to write the book he would want to read, to keep the conversation going. And then the novel, by trying to dramatise the things that I’d read in the non-fiction books, and to make it more immediate for the reader, I was trying to put myself back into 1958 and hopefully, to put the reader back into 1958 — living the events as the characters who survived the disaster.How tough a balancing act is it blending truth and fiction?
I think there’s something about the history of Manchester United that is a good way to write about the history of Britain. And then contrast him with someone like Bill Foulkes — they didn’t always get on, that kind of double act that there is there, I found fascinating.Absolutely. I always wanted to write about Manchester United, and I thought it might be based on Bobby Charlton because I found him so intriguing.
I think because that potential was never fulfilled, and then George Best comes along, and Bobby Charlton sees him as not fulfilling his potential. Although Best did incredible things, it’s not exactly that Best squandered his career if you think about it.The thing that struck me was if you think that Harry Gregg and Bill Foulkes walk away from the crash, and within two weeks, they’re running out at Old Trafford playing Sheffield Wednesday, having seen their friends die.
United fans may remember Liam Whelan because of Munich, but I don’t think people appreciate how great a player he was. But he comes across as almost a saintly figure. And I hope that’s one of the things the book does — in Ireland, he is well remembered — but to bring him back to people’s minds a little bit more.Well, the biggest challenge was to write it so that it honoured those who had died and the survivors.So many books have been written about it — and very good books. And I didn’t want to be writing a book to exploit the tragedy.
The book provides an insight into a world that no longer exists. Was that something you were consciously trying to achieve? And the hate mail that the pilot James Thain received, or even Dennis Viollet, letters from so-called supporters saying: ‘You shouldn’t play in the team. You’re keeping the young lads out.’
Before Munich, he was already one of the most famous footballers in the country — he had sponsorship deals and a book written about him.And so when United played that first game after the tragedy, he was still alive — United played on the Wednesday, and he died on Friday morning.
Munich Air Disaster Manchester United Football History David Peace Busby Babes
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