Today we talk about Before the Wall Came Down, a book by Rupert Stebbing published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Rupert Stebbing to get to know him better, what was the moment that prompted him to the writing of his book Before the Wall Came Down, as well as how he chose its title.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Is there a particular moment in your life that led you to the writing of your book? What was it?
I’d procrastinated over the book for decades. My experiences were unique but at 25 I was too young to realize that. Then Eastern Europe passed out of focus and I simply left for another day. The moment when I realized I needed to get it done was when I was with my late mother and asked her to regail me with one of my favourite stories from her fascinating life, and the memory had gone, as was she a few short years later. I have an elephant like memory but the time had arrived to get my experiences down on paper and to organize the photos, there are 100s more that are not included in the book, and leave them to posterity. I began to have the confidence to share the images and the feedback was astonishing. My amazingly supportive wife, Tatiana, even insisted during the remodelling of our apartment in Medellin that the walls were bedecked with images from 1989, which now they are.
- What would you like to hear from your readers?
I have a dream, as did Martin Luther King, to one day visit the small village to the north of Bucharest, the name of which I never knew, to take all the photos I took on that one beautiful morning and to share them with anyone that might still be there. The families literally left their houses with their children, grandchildren to have them photographed, the kids playing football lined up for a team picture. It was wondrous experience, with the exception of a shotgun being placed under my nose, and if I could give back in any small way it would bring joy to my heart. I have a fantasy of taking a camera man as I search for that village and documenting the experience. Aside from that, I would love to give my time to all any schools, colleges or universities that are studying this period – I would love to share my experiences with whoever wants to listen. For any reader who wants to explore more we will create a website with yet more images and it wil contain short videos of myself with some of the anecdotal incidents from the time. Finally, if the Hay Festival in Cartagena, Colombia, my adopted homeland wish to contact me, I would be honored to sit and while away an hour at one of their venues.
- Is there a book you are particularly attached to and that has taught you something?
1984 & Animal Farm: Orwell was a genius and incredibly misunderstood in my opinion. Despite penning (IMO) 1984, the most iconic and visionary piece of literature of the 20th century, he is disappearing somewhat from the modern day conversation. I had to retake my A Levels in the UK, I was a terrible scholar, and ironically was somewhat forced into doing English. It was in 1984 and naturally Orwell’s text was on the syllabus. As I was playing catch up, I studied with two different groups, with two lecturers who saw Orwell distinctly. I was smitten with both the author and the book. That also the year the film was released, John Hurt and Richard Burton crushing their respective role as Smith and (?) and I remember the school coach trip up to London to see it as soon as it premiered. It was utterly impossible not to write this boom without thinking of Orwell, Oceania and also the pigs at (?) – the parallels were absolutely everywhere. Orwell died sick and in relative poverty, whilst today authors who offer no vision, just worthless lifestyle tips or beach reads, are feted and live the millionaire lifestyle, it’s a depressing thought. For the record, despite being press ganged into the studies, I won the school English prize for that year.
- How did you choose the title of your book?
This is a somewhat succinct answer my apologies. As mentioned at the opening of the book, despite have a journal and 100s photos of a unique period in history, the wall literally came down at the end of the year when I travelled most extensively in Eastern Europe. But then every news agency in the world arrived, as they normally do, after the event, and completely saturated the airwaves with stories of what they had found. But most crucially, whilst their coverage was at in tremendous depth, they flew in, flew out, and it was all done ‘After The Wall Came Down’. That is why this book somewhat differentiates itself, those TV crews arrived never traversed the road to Moscow in a small van in the depth of winter or were followed around by the Romanian secret police. The initial fall of the Soviet Empire, which many see as rising once again under Putin, was a historical event but it began long before the wall came down.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
Once again a procrastination event. There are three potential avenues.
- I previously wrote the book ‘The Viva Effect’ which was true story of the first low cost airline in Colombia, where I was a board member. The airline brought joy to millions of new passengers however a combination of Covid, the knock on effects of the Ukraine war led to a buy out and the disappearance of the brand. We have recently started another projects related to the sector and the owner has asked me to write the history with the difference that this time I am involved with the airline from day 1 and not 6 years later as in the case of Viva, much more first hand / warts and all.
- After leaving Eastern Europe I led an initially bizarre and latterly successful career in finance despite never having studied the field for a day. One Friday I was working in a corporate gym in the City of London, by Monday I was sitting on a powerful derivative trading desk. It moves from London (1990s) to New York (2000-05) where I experience 9/11 and then to Medellin, Colombia where I had huge success and became the first overseas Managing Director of then countries biggest bank. I have few photos but 100s of anecdotal stories sat in my brain…..”The Boy From The Gym” would be the title.
- After 19 years in Medellin I arguably know this crazy city as well as any foreigner. Both through my business dealings and a decade as UK Consul I have had the privilege of understanding the city extremely well. It is misunderstood, both by locals and foreigners, locals may not like 100% of the content but there is a major unpacking of Medellin’s society that needs to be done.
Europe Books thanks the author Rupert Stebbing once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Before the Wall Came Down. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, may this book fascinate you and allow you to reflect on what has been here told which could resonate with your personal experiences or simply capture your curiosity and your profound understanding.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!