Rebecca Perry Recounts Childhood Literary Inspirations

Poet and novelist Rebecca Perry has detailed her formative literary experiences, highlighting the profound impact of childhood fairytales and specific authors on her creative development. Perry's earliest reading memory dates back to approximately age five, when she read Spike Milligan's "On the Ning Nang Nong." She recalls sitting on the floor of her shared bedroom, with her brother present beside her, engrossed in the book. This early exposure to Milligan's work established a foundational connection with literature.

From the ages of seven to ten, Perry was captivated by a collection of fairytales presented in a large yellow hardback book. She described the intense emotional response elicited by the story of "The Little Mermaid," particularly the despair she felt upon discovering the mermaid's transformation into sea foam. This narrative moment served as an early, impactful lesson in the reader's lack of control over a story's outcome, a concept she found both distressing and formative. Among these fairytales, a Scottish story titled "The Black Bull of Norroway" held particular significance. Perry stated that this particular fairytale has, in many ways, remained an underlying influence on all of her subsequent writing, suggesting its thematic or narrative elements are deeply embedded in her literary output.

Beyond fairytales, Perry also cited the poet Frank O'Hara as a source of inspiration, indicating a broader appreciation for diverse literary styles and voices. The influence of Doris Lessing, a Nobel Prize-winning author, was also mentioned, underscoring Perry's engagement with significant figures in literature. The poet Federico García Lorca is described by Perry as having "hit me like a bolt of lightning," signifying a powerful and transformative encounter with his work. This strong reaction suggests Lorca's poetry or prose had a particularly resonant and impactful effect on her artistic sensibilities, potentially shaping her understanding of poetic expression or thematic concerns. The specific nature of this impact, while described as lightning-like, implies a sudden, profound, and illuminating experience that likely catalyzed new creative directions or deepened her artistic vision. Perry's reflections provide insight into the diverse literary landscape that has shaped her career as a poet and novelist, from the imaginative worlds of childhood fairytales to the profound influence of acclaimed literary figures.