Iain Sinclair’s latest book, Pariah Genius, follows the life of photographer John Deakin, whose chronicles of Soho life – and the world of Francis Bacon and his friends – have so influenced our perception of that generation’s work. He talks to author and broadcaster Horatio Clare about why Deakin remains such a compelling figure.

Iain Sinclair is a British writer, documentarist, film maker, poet, flaneur, metropolitan prophet and urban shaman, keeper of lost cultures and futurologist. His written works include London Orbital; Lights Out For the Territory; Downriver; and The Last London.

Writer and broadcaster Horatio Clare is author of Running for the Hills; A Single Swallow; Down to the Sea in Ships; and Orison for a Curlew, among others. His broadcasting output includes working as an arts radio producer for the BBC.

Photo Iain Sinclair © John Minihan; Photo Horatio Clare © Caroline Flinders