The poet, artist and writer David Bateman discusses his new novel Dr. Sad (University of Calgary Press, 2020), with Joseph Planta.

Dr. Sad by David Bateman (University of Calgary Press, 2020). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Dr. Sad

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Dr. Sad is a novel about a middle-aged teacher and poet. He is gay and has recently been diagnosed with HIV. It’s author is David Bateman, and he joins me now to discuss it, and the character and the time of life he finds himself in. He’s getting older, and his view on mortality might alter life as he knows it. Stephen crosses the country from here in Vancouver through to smaller cities along the way like Kamloops, through to Toronto. We see what campus life is like, what small towns are like, not just physically but mentally. The reader is offered a view onto the streets of Kamloops, as well as Toronto’s Gay Village. The book is semi-autobiographical, and we’ll discuss David’s time here in Vancouver as well. David Bateman is a freelance journalist, painter, and performance poet. He has published numerous books of poetry, and has taught literature and creative writing at various post-secondary institutions across Canada. He joined me from Toronto, Ontario. Dr. Sad is published by University of Calgary Press, as part of their Brave and Brilliant Series. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, David Bateman; Dr. Bateman, good morning.

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