Ian Brady

Q. Why all the fuss over Ian Brady's new book
A. Moors murderer Ian Brady is to publish a book this November. Publisher Feral Press of Los Angeles will be printing around 8,000 copies of the 320-page book, which was to be distributed by Turnaround Publisher Services in the UK at �17.99. However, the families of Brady's victims and the Victims of Crime Trust have called the book 'disgusting' and asked bookshops in the UK not to stock it.

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Q. And its title
A. The Gates of Janus: Serial Killing and Analysis. The book was co-written by Colin Wilson, crime expert and novelist, who has also provided an introduction. Wilson's involvement does lend the venture a certain degree of authority.

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Q. What's it about
A. According to the publisher, Brady's book is partly philosophical analysis of the human condition, partly about crime in general and partly an attempt by Brady to profile individual mass murderers, such as Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliff, and poisoner Graham Young. Brady does not directly discuss his own crimes, however, though he apparently believes that he can offer insight into some unsolved murders and feels that the book may go some way towards protecting society from people like him.

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Q. Shades of Hannibal Lecter
A. You could say that.

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Q. What makes Brady expert in this field
A. Brady, with his accomplice Myra Hindley, tortured, sexually assaulted and murdered at least four young people aged between 10 and 17 before being apprehended, tried and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1966. The victims were all buried on Saddleworth Moor near Oldham, Lancashire. Given Brady's personal experience, he may be able to claim some knowledge of the subject, but he was also given access to books and articles on serial killers in order to research his work and was allowed personally to interview Peter Sutcliff in prison.

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He started work on The Gates of Janus after being moved to Ashworth mental hospital in Merseyside in 1986 following a breakdown.

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Q. Has the book been banned
A. Ashworth have taken out an injunction on the book's being sold, distributed or serialised in Britain until such time as it has been vetted by staff there, on the basis that the confidentiality of some of their patients might be compromised. They also need to check that there are no allusions to Brady's criminal activities, as the law states that, while a felon may make money from a book published during their time in prison, they may not do so if it makes reference to their own crimes. The shipment of 3,500 copies which was to arrive in Britain has duly been held back.

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Turnaround have subsequently dropped the book, apparently on the advice of the publisher. A spokesperson for the distributor said that the situation was 'under review'.

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Q. Isn't all this media attention just giving him extra publicity
A. It's bound to, though the chances of a book by such a notorious figure slipping by unnoticed by the media were always going to be slim.

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Q. Will Brady make any money out of it
A. Apparently not. All proceeds, which some estimate might be as high as �12,000 - including the $5,000 advance which has already been paid - are to go towards supporting Brady's ailing mother. Now in her nineties, Brady apparently feels guilty for having ruined her life. Whether or not this is true, the prospect of Barady making even a penny out of the venture is causing a great deal of upset to the families of his victims.

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Q. Has Bardy written an autobiography

A. Apparently, yes, though it's in the hands of his solicitor, who has strict instructions that it is not to be published until after Brady's death.

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Q. And Janus
A. Janus, in Roman tradition, was a spirit of doorways and archways . There were many jani, or ceremonial gateways, in Rome that were used for symbolically auspicious entrances or exits.

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Particular superstition was attached to the departure of a Roman army, for which there were lucky and unlucky ways to march through a janus. The most famous janus in Rome was the Janus Geminus, which was actually a shrine to Janus on the north side of the Forum. Traditionally, the doors of this shrine were left open in time of war and were kept closed when Rome was at peace.

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Janus was also the god of beginnings, and the start of every day, month and year were sacred to him - which is why the first month in the modern calendar is called January.

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By Simon Smith