This event has ended.
The Chichester Literary Society are presenting their first Open Day hosted by crime writer, Simon Brett. An all-day programme of quality literary talks.
Indoors Event
Adults only Event
Accessible Event
Dogs Not allowed
Event Dates
Start: Wednesday 2 August, 2023
End: Wednesday 2 August, 2023
Opening Times
9.30am to 4pm
Pricing
£25.00
Additional InformationTicket includes refreshments and a picnic lunch
Images
More Information
Chichester Literary Society Open Day Programme 2023
Fay Shaefer: Two side of the story – Charles Dickens and his illustrators
James Vaux: Sin, Suicide and Smörgåsbord? - the truth about Swedish literature
Rick Gekoski: My Life in Books
The programme will begin with Fay Shaefer who has a BA (Hons) degree in Creative Studies and an MA in Charles Dickens and Victorian Culture, presenting ‘Two sides of the story: Charles Dickens and his Illustrators’. Her talk will examine 19th century visual culture and the dichotomy between text and illustration - which came first and which was more important? The talk will also shed light on the complex relationships Dickens had with some of his illustrators.
Before lunch you will hear James Vaux who worked in Sweden for many years and holds an MA in Scandinavian Studies and is a popular speaker on Nordic art, design, literature and history. His talk ‘Sin, Suicide and Smörgåsbord? - the truth about Swedish literature’ looks at Sweden’s stereotypes, answering the question, does the country's literature reveal its true character? James will highlight classic novels, epics, journals and poetry - from ancient to modern - to reveal surprising truths about Sweden’s language, culture and history.
Headlining the day is the American writer, rare book dealer, Rick Gekoski author of Guarded by Dragons – Encounters with rare books and rare people. Rick Gekoski will present My Life in Books. Rick has been traversing the rocky terrain of the rare book trade for over fifty years. He has lunched with Graham Greene and played ping-pong with Salman Rushdie. A brilliant stroke of luck saw Sylvia Plath's personal copy of The Great Gatsby fall into Gekoski's lap, only for him to discover the perils of upsetting a Poet Laureate when Ted Hughes demanded its return. Hunting for literary treasure is not without its battles and Gekoski boldly broke the cardinal rule, never to engage in a lawsuit with someone much richer than yourself, while also guarding his bookshop from the most unlikely of thieves. Rick is engaging, funny and shrewd – a talk not to be missed.