HE IS known as the “demon dog of American crime fiction” – and describes himself as one of the world’s greatest authors.

LA Confidential author James Ellroy does not shirk controversy, and more than 150 of his fans turned out yesterday to hear him speak at Oxford Town Hall.

The 61-year-old, from Los Angeles, read excerpts from his new novel, Blood’s A Rover, and answered questions before signing books and meeting the audience.

Mr Ellroy, who also wrote The Black Dahlia, told the Oxford Mail: “I’m happy to be back in Oxford. It’s a nice city and I have been here before.

“I love Britain – everybody speaks English. You guys don’t hate Americans like they do in Europe. You don’t sneer like they do.

“Let me tell you why I like Britain so much. Here, working-class people read. They may not have much money, but they spend it on literature.

“A man working in a factory will save up £20 and buy a hardback book because he wants to read. That doesn’t happen so much elsewhere.”

While The Black Dahlia is Mr Ellroy’s best selling novel, LA Confidential is probably his best known – thanks to the multi-award winning film adaptation.

Released in 1997, the film noir-style movie charts police corruption and Hollywood sleaze and features star turns from Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe and Kim Basinger.

Mr Ellroy said the talk, organised by Waterstones in Oxford, gave him the chance to take his books “to another level.”

He said: “I am an artist of the spoken word.

“Reading my lines helps create a readership for me. British book tours are the best.”

Joe Wilson, 18, from Marston, was one of the fans in the audience. He said: “I am a massive fan of Ellroy’s. All the other writers I like are dead.

“He is so charismatic, and it was brilliant to see him live. He combines high-brow fiction with powerful, base qualities better than anybody else.”

Friends Wabriya King and Prisca Shallcross, who study at the Oxford School of Drama, were recommended to attend the talk by tutors.

Ms King said: “I though he was a fantastic public speaker, and it was really interesting to hear him read.

“I haven’t read any of his books, but after tonight I am definitely going to get into his writing.”

dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk